part0013

The Atari 7800 ProSystem was a solid upgrade over the 2600 and the 5200, both of which were great consoles, but had a number of increasingly obvious shortcomings. By 1986, when the 7800 hit store shelves, the 2600 was drastically outdated (blocky graphics just wouldn’t cut it anymore), and the aging 5200, which had fragile, non-centering joysticks that were the subject of much derision, had ceased production in 1984. When the 7800 hit the scene, gaming traditionalists were thrilled with the system’s trio of arcade-quality (if not arcade-perfect) launch titles, which included Joust , Ms. Pac-Man , and Asteroids , the latter of which offered two-player simultaneous action. Pole Position II , a less impressive port, was the pack-in game with the system.

Unfortunately for Atari apologists, the wildly popular Nintendo NES had launched in the U.S. the year before, ushering in the next generation of home gaming. The dynastic NES boasted the vaunted Super Mario Bros. , one of the best, most influential games in the history of the industry, and the console would soon become the home of such ground-breaking titles as Metroid and The Legend of Zelda . The 7800, though blessed with nice arcade ports and a number of other interesting titles (such as Midnight Mutants ), simply couldn’t compete with the Nintendo juggernaut. The NES saw vastly superior marketing and third-party support, and its cartridge library contained a plethora of games that were expansive in nature and advanced in terms of both gameplay and graphics. The 7800 also had to compete with Sega’s Master System.

Theoretically, the Atari 7800 could have launched in 1984, since it had been designed and tested by that time; hence its inclusion herein. However, former Commodore executive Jack Tramiel had bought the video game and computer divisions of Atari from Warner Bros. in 1984, and, for a variety of reasons, shelved the 7800 until 1986, after the NES had already staked an enormous claim on the market. It’s been reported that Tramiel preferred computers over consoles, that he was skeptical until he saw the money Nintendo was bringing in, and that he had some licensing issues to work out. Whatever the case, the 7800 made it into stores a couple of years too late. In addition, the system was hindered by Atari’s continued support of the 2600, and by the confusing introduction of the Atari XE console, which played cartridges designed for Atari’s line of home computers.

The Atari 7800 is a powerful, graphically capable system that can handle lots of moving objects at once with little to no slowdown or flicker. Also, it is backwards compatible with the Atari 2600, meaning it can play most of the games in the 2600 library. One a less positive note, its sound capabilities are comparable to 2600 audio, and many gamers complain about the system’s controllers, which are sturdy (compared to Atari 5200 joysticks), but tiring on the hands. The side buttons are thumb-killers when lots of continual pressing is required. The system is compatible with any Atari 2600 joystick, but only for one-button games.

Production of the Atari 7800 came to a halt in 1991, and the system left with the reputation of an underachiever. Given an earlier release date, more marketing support, and more console-defining games, the 7800 could have challenged Nintendo on a more even playfield. Unfortunately, that just wasn’t meant to be.

Atari 7800 system with two controllers. Released in 1986, the 7800 couldn’t compete with the ubiquitous Nintendo NES, which had more advanced games. The 7800 had some nice ports of older arcade titles, but seemed dated upon release.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Absolute Entertainment. Flight Combat Simulator, 1 player. 1988.

This first-person game puts players in the World War II–era Royal Air Force, piloting a RAF Mosquito through the not-so-friendly skies, shooting or bombing U-boats, JU88 bombers, ME 109 fighters, and V1 rockets. Players view the action through five different screens, including directly below the plane. The relatively complicated action includes loading up the plane with missiles, bullets, and fuel canisters, operating a variety of plane controls (thrust, engine speed, altitude, flaps, boost, etc.), putting out engine fires, and more. The cockpit controls look great, and there are plenty of things to do for the patient gamer. The controls are sluggish (the computer versions benefit from keyboard control), and the game moves slowly, but Ace of Aces is superior to Tomcat F-14 , F-18 Hornet , and Super Huey (similar games for the 7800).

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Atari. Light Gun Shooter, 1 player. 1990.

Although Alien Brigade is light gun compatible, it can also be played using a standard Atari 7800 controller. Players point the gun at (or guide a cursor around) the screen, shooting such targets as aliens, brainwashed soldiers, helicopters, tanks, and spaceships while trying not to harm mermaids, panthers, civilians, and other innocents. Weapons include a machine gun, a flamethrower, a laser, a dart gun, and more. There are lots of things to shoot, but the action sometimes experiences slowdown when the screen gets too busy. The rapid-fire gameplay is fast-paced, and the detailed graphics feature some nice animations, such as aliens dissolving after being shot.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: General Computer Corp. Non-Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1986.

Asteroids for the Atari 7800 is a brilliant port/upgrade of Atari’s 1979 arcade smash. The game controls about like the 2600 version, but includes a number of features that make it stand out, such as textured, colorful, spinning asteroids that evoke the space rocks found in Blasteroids (arcade, 1987). More importantly, the game has a couple of awesome two-player modes: competitive and cooperative, the latter of which lets friendly fire pass harmlessly through the players’ ships. Arcade purists may scoff at the raster visuals (the coin-op classic had black-and-white vector graphics) and the controls (the original benefited from a five-button layout), but open minded shooter buffs will absolutely love this game.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: General Computer Corp. Sports/Futuristic, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1987.

Released two years after the Atari 5200 version, Ballblazer for the 7800 improves upon the formula just a bit by giving the game sharper graphics (the ships and ball have smoother edges) and better controls. For the uninitiated, the game is basically futuristic, one-on-one soccer, but with hovercrafts instead of players and no out-of-bounds. The split-screen perspective, dazzling sound effects, and excellent two-player action have truly stood the test of time.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Atari. Light Gun Shooter, 1 player. 1988.

This inferior light gun game has nice graphics and a fun setting, but little else going for it. Players fire away at bottles, cans, gophers, watermelons, pumpkins, rabbits, ducks, and other targets across four levels of play: the Barnyard, the Cornfield, the Barn, and Gramps’ Bonus Screen, the latter of which features an old man redundantly throwing bottles into the air. Some gamers may get a mischievous kick out of shooting Gramps himself. Moving targets, which appear on-screen just one at a time, only travel in straight lines and are easy to hit, helping make Barnyard Blaster a boring game.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: BlueSky Software. Sports/Basketball, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1990.

This rowdy game of two-on-two basketball lets players shoot hoops and fight on three different courts: a street, a junkyard, and a rooftop. The referee is outfitted with a knife (that he throws at players) instead of a whistle, emphasizing the no-rules gameplay. Players can punch and even throw the ball at one another, and this is as fun as it sounds. There are six different players from which to choose and three power-ups to grab for enhanced strength, speed, and power. Players can team up against the computer or play competitively. Injured players are not replaced, forcing some highly entertaining two-on-one situations. The best sports game for the system, Basket-Brawl is an Atari 7800 exclusive.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: General Computer Corp. Non-Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2 players (alternating, simultaneous). 1987.

Now this is the way to port a coin-op classic to a home system. Like the 1980 Atari arcade game on which it is based, Centipede for the 7800 provides fun-filled shooting action for gamers of all persuasions (Centipede was one of the only shooters of the era with a large female following). The mushroom field looks great (though it is surrounded by a border for some unknown reason), the controls are smooth, and all the original creatures and other elements are in place (nitpickers will notice that the spider has just four legs). Plus, 7800 fans are treated to a system-exclusive two-player simultaneous mode, which lets gamers cooperate or compete. The cooperative mode displays individual scores, plus a cumulative total that gives players a real sense of teamwork. The competitive mode, in which players shoot at each other (in addition to the creatures and mushrooms), adds a whole new strategy to the formula. Centipede is an essential title in the 7800 library.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Ibid. Side-Scrolling Shooter, 1 player. 1987.

Unlike the Atari 5200 version of Chop-lifter! , which was a port of the original Apple II game, the 7800 rendition appears to be a translation of Sega’s 1985 arcade game. Unfortunately, it is missing the surface-to-air missiles and the fuel factor of the coin-op classic, and the game simply ends after 64 POWs have been captured. Not surprisingly, some graphical detail and the digitized voice effects have also been removed. Despite these setbacks, the game is a lot of fun, thanks to solid controls and the inherent coolness of piloting a chopper, blowing up enemies (tanks, jet fighters, and drone air mines), picking up hostages, and delivering said innocents to a U.S. embassy.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Sculptured Software. Vertical Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2 players (alternating). 1989.

A fine port of the Data East arcade game (1985), Commando for the 7800 has players guiding a Rambo-like character through hostile territory, shooting bullets and firing grenades at enemies and their jeeps, dynamite trucks, motorcycles, and pillboxes. The screen is frequently busy with obstacles and enemies, so the action stays hot and heavy most of the time. Thanks to the inefficiently designed 7800 controller, this can cause the player’s hands to get tired, but the fun gameplay is worth the fatigue. The graphics have taken a slight hit, and the characters are smaller than their coin-op counterparts, but these small gripes (so to speak) shouldn’t keep anyone away from playing this great game. Fans of Front Line and Ikari Warriors will feel right at home with Commando .

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Atari. First-Person Shooter, 1 player. 1988.

Crack’ed is a potentially interesting game with a fatal flaw. Players guide a cursor around the screen, shooting a slingshot at bluebirds, owls, fish, ghosts, snakes, aliens, and other creatures that are raiding the nests of rare South American hornbills. If a creature does pick up an egg, the creature can be shot, and the egg can be caught and carried back to the nest. There are five nesting sites—Tree, Sewer, Sea, Dungeon, and Moon—and one bonus stage called Rooster Ranch. The game sports interesting, varied visuals and a nice concept, but is ruined by the lack of light gun support. The cursor moves jerkily around the screen, making it hard to aim.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Absolute Entertainment. Light Gun Shooter, 1 player. 1988.

One of the best arcade ports available for the Atari 7800, Crossbow is based on the 1983 Exidy arcade game, which has a faux crossbow peripheral for taking aim at the ghosts, witches, frogs, alligators, slime monsters, archers, pterodactyls, and other enemies. The 7800 version offers light gun support and includes all eight levels from the original, including a nicely rendered Evil Master boss. The objective is to keep a group of friends safe as they walk through the jungle, village, caverns, and other colorful, richly detailed environments by basically acting as a sniper. Naturally, the high resolution graphics found in the coin-op classic have been toned down just a bit, but the game still looks fantastic.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Atari. Action/ Adventure, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1988.

A slower, less enjoyable take on Gauntlet , Dark Chambers has players exploring 26 scrolling, maze-like dungeons, gathering treasure while using guns, daggers, and bombs to destroy surprisingly non-aggressive wraiths, skeletons, wizards, grim reapers, and spawners, the latter of which hatch new ghouls. Traps and poisons should be avoided, but potions, food, keys (for entering secret rooms), hearts (which can revive the player’s dead partner), and shields should be picked up as needed.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: General Computer Corp. Side-Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2 players (alternating). 1987.

Sometimes referred to as “Zaxxon in the sand,” Desert Falcon has a number of things in common with Sega’s arcade classic, primarily its isometric viewpoint and faux 3D graphics. The shooting action is similar as well, but Desert Falcon is enhanced by a spiffy power-up system involving combinations of three hieroglyphs that give players invincibility, air bombs, decoy powers, and more. Unfortunately, grabbing the power-ups requires walking, which interrupts the action. Another flaw is that it’s difficult to tell where the falcon is in altitudinal relationship to the enemies, making for some unnecessary deaths. On a more positive note, players must confront a very nicely rendered Sphinx at the end of each level.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: General Computer Corp. Maze, 1 or 2 players (alternating). 1987.

This port of the Atari/Namco coin-op classic (1982) isn’t perfect, but it comes about as close as could be expected on a system of the era. The graphics are slightly blocky, the title screen has been altered, and the flowers and scoreboard don’t look quite right, but the characters are a nice, colorful upgrade from those found in 5200 version of the game. More importantly, the game plays extremely well, and all the details (such as the bonus vegetables) are included. Players guide the title character as he digs underground tunnels, using a pump to blow up (or drop rocks on) two types of strange looking enemies: Pookas and Fygars, the latter of which breathe fire. Bottom line: Dig Dug for the Atari 7800 is a very nice translation of one of the greatest arcade games of all time.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: ITDC. Climbing, 1 or 2 players (alternating). 1988.

Just like the NES version of the game, Donkey Kong for the Atari 7800 is missing the Conveyor Belt screen and the animated intermissions. Coin-op faithfuls will notice some relatively minor deficiencies in the graphics as well. Where the game really drops the ball is in the sound effects and music, which are terribly off key. Instead of squeaking, Mario’s patented shoes make a bland, Atari 2600–like sound. Also, the designers put the levels out of order. Coleco did Donkey Kong (which is based on Nintendo’s 1981 arcade classic) about as well six years earlier for their ColecoVision system.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: ITDC. Climbing, 1 or 2 players (alternating). 1988.

As in Donkey Kong for the 7800, Donkey Kong Junior has off key music, good graphics that could have been a little better, and sound effects that incorporate way too many bleeps, bloops, and buzzes. Also, the screens are out of order. However, unlike Donkey Kong , this game includes all four original levels and even a little animation sequence after the final screen. Both Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Junior are solidly playable arcade ports, but their flaws are noteworthy. Donkey Kong Junior for the Atari 7800 is based on Nintendo’s 1982 coin-op classic.

PUBLISHER: Activision. DEVELOPER: Imagineering. Side-Scrolling Combat, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1989.

Based on Taito’s 1987 arcade hit, Double Dragon for the Atari 7800 has four levels of play, just like in the original. Gamers control Billy or Jimmy Lee as they walk, jump, punch, and kick their way through City Slums, Industrial Areas, Outskirts of the City, and The Enemy Base of the Shadow Boss. Unfortunately, the graphics are somewhat blocky, the various moves are hard to pull off, and certain weapons are missing, including dynamite, rocks, oil drums, and crates. The enemies are very aggressive in this version, making for a tough game to beat. Unlike the superior (in most ways) Nintendo NES rendition, this game does incorporate the arcade version’s standard two-player simultaneous mode.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Sculptured Software. Demolition/Combat Racing, 1 player. 1990.

Fatal Run is sort of like Pole Position , but with a post holocaust theme and the ability for players to destroy the cars they are trying to pass. Power-ups and weapons include machine guns, dynamite, shields (for temporary protection), death crystals (allowing players to crash into cars unscathed), rockets, oil, nitro (for increasing acceleration and gas mileage), and smoke. Players can also effect repairs and purchase car parts. The game takes place over 32 levels and, thankfully, a password feature lets players save their progress (a rarity for the golden age). Interestingly (not to mention disturbingly and amusingly), at the end of each level, several onlookers explode, the number of which depends on how fast the player completes the course.

PUBLISHER: Absolute Entertainment. DEVELOPER: Absolute Entertainment. Flight Combat Simulator, 1 player. 1988.

F-18 Hornet puts players in the U.S. Navy, piloting a ground attack fighter jet. Four missions take gamers over the China Lake Naval Weapons Range in the Mojave Desert, through the middle of a Warsaw Pac invasion of Europe, and to Central America and the Indian Ocean. Objectives include dropping supplies to resistance forces, bombing enemy headquarters, firing missiles at planes, tanks, and helicopters, and more. The controls are relatively simple, and the plane lacks machine gun fire. The cockpit control panel depicts an air speed indicator, an engine thrust gauge, an altimeter, a fuel gauge, and other relevant instruments. Despite nice graphics (especially the landscaping and cockpit), F-18 Hornet doesn’t do a very good job of making the player feel like he or she is flying a plane.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Imagineering. Sports/Boxing, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1988.

Adapted from the Commodore 64 game, Fight Night for the Atari 7800 gives players 12 humorously rendered (and named) boxers from which to chose, each of whom has his own strength and weaknesses. Fighting moves are limited to jabs, body blows, fakes (useless), and guarding maneuvers (mostly useless), making the game a simple button masher. Disappointingly, though the boxers have special moves, only the computer-controlled boxers can pull them off. The fighters look pretty good, but poor animation, a lack of backgrounds, spotty collision detection, and shoddy sound effects ruin the experience. Fight Night is the only 7800 boxing game. Too bad it’s not a better representation of the sweet science.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Atari. Action, 1 or 2 players (alternating). 1987.

A very nice port of Atari’s highly entertaining arcade game (1983), Food Fight has players guiding gluttonous Charlie Chuck around the screen, avoiding manholes, angry chefs, and flying food items. The goal is to make it to an ice cream cone before it melts. Luckily, Charlie can throw spinach, salads, tomatoes, pies, watermelons, and other food items at the chefs. The graphics and concept in general are simplistic, but the gameplay is fast and fun. This 7800 exclusive is a favorite among owners of the system.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: General Computer Corp. Slide-and-Shoot, 1 or 2 players (alternating). 1987.

A semi-satisfactory port of Namco’s awesome arcade shooter (1981), Galaga for the Atari 7800 features solid shooting action, respectable sound effects, enemies that behave like their coin-op counterparts, and, of course, challenge stages and dual-ship action (the two defining aspects of the original game). On a less positive note, the player’s ship is too small, the graphics have lost some of their crispness and color, the stage indicator badges have been replaced by simple numbers, and the action has been slowed down a little. Despite these weaknesses, Galaga is a nice addition to the 7800 library, especially since the game never made it to the 2600 or the 5200.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Ibid. Sports/Hockey, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1987.

This simple hockey game is a faithful port of the Bally Sente arcade game from 1984. Viewed from an overhead perspective, the two-on-two action pits one goalie and a skater against another goalie and a skater. The goalies, which are basically human Pong paddles, move in sync with their skaters, and the skaters, which can steal the puck, simply shoot in the direction the joystick is pushed. After each two-minute game, a Zamboni machine cleans up the mess. The controls in Hat Trick seem to have a bit of a delayed reaction, but the programmers may have purposely included this perceived flaw to emulate skating on ice.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Imagineering. Vertical Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1989.

Despite uneven visuals, Ikari Warriors for the Atari 7800 is an excellent port of the 1986 Tradewest arcade game. One or two players trudge through the jungle (which includes rivers, the sea, and bombed-out buildings), shooting or throwing grenades at soldiers, bunkers, helicopters, tanks, and gates. Power-ups, fuel, and ammunition can be picked up along the way. As in Front Line , players can occasionally commandeer tanks. The ultimate goal is to rescue the colonel at the end of the last level. The coin-op version of Ikari Warriors boasts rotary controls for aiming in all directions, but the 7800 joysticks do a respectable job in this regard. Fans of Commando will enjoy this action-packed game.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Man Development. Action/Adventure, 1 player. 1987.

Impossible Mission for the 7800 would’ve been a good adaptation of the puzzling computer game if it weren’t for one fatal flaw. The objective is to search a bunch of rooms to find 36 card key pieces for use in making nine card keys that can unlock Professor Elvin Atombender’s secret lair. Riding elevators, jumping over obstacles, avoiding robots, and solving puzzles are all part of the action. Unfortunately, some of the pieces are hidden under computer terminals that cannot be searched, literally making the game an impossible mission. The flaw was corrected for the PAL format foreign release, but that didn’t do much for American gamers who had wasted their time trying to find unreachable items.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Softgold. Balland-Paddle, 1 player. 1989.

Jinks is a disappointing game that tried to improve upon the brick-busting Breakout formula by introducing hyperspace, chomping teeth, a space age theme, a screen-shake feature (for freeing the ball from repetitive patterns), horizontally scrolling playfields, and a triangular paddle that moves freely and can be inverted. Regrettably, sluggish gameplay, a distinct lack of challenge, and primitive audio visuals (voice effects notwithstanding) ruin the experience.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: General Computer Corp. Non-Scrolling Platform, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1986.

Joust for the Atari 7800 is an admirable port of the 1982 Williams arcade classic. It features several details that the 5200 version left out, including the engine-like roar of enemies at the beginning of each level and the buzzards that fly in to pick up the riders that hatch from eggs (in the 5200 game, eggs simply hatch into riders that that are already mounted atop buzzards). There is one setback regarding the 7800 controller, however, since pushing the side button again and again to keep the mounted ostrich afloat can get tiresome. To remedy this, players can simply plug in a 2600 joystick.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Ibid. Side-Scrolling Combat, 1 player. 1988.

Originally a computer game, Karateka lost something in translation. Players guide a karate expert through six levels of one-on-one fights, punching, kicking, and jumping their way to victory. Unfortunately, victory is hard to achieve, thanks to a one-life setup and horrible, unresponsive, counterintuitive controls. The computer versions benefit from keyboard input, but there’s no excuse for how poorly the 7800 rendition handles. Also, the graphics seem adequate at first glance, but then the characters start moving, thus revealing the game’s choppy animation.

PUBLISHER: Absolute Entertainment. DEVELOPER: Absolute Entertainment. Side-Scrolling Combat, 1 or 2 players (alternating). 1989.

Based on the Data East arcade game (1984), Kung-Fu Master has players walking, jumping, punching, and kicking their way through five levels of henchmen, knife throwers, midgets, dragons, snakes, killer moths, and other enemies and obstacles. At the end of each level, a boss, such as Stick Fighter or Boomerang Thrower, lies in wait. The game takes place in the Evil Wizard’s temple, where players must rescue Princess Victoria. The mummy ninjas from the fifth level of the arcade game are missing, and the graphics and sounds have taken a slight downturn, but the real problem with the game is clunky controls. Specific moves are hard to pull off with the stiff 7800 joysticks.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: ITDC. Non-Scrolling Platform, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1988.

Coin-op ports from the golden age of gaming rarely (if ever) boast arcade-perfect visuals, and Mario Bros. for the 7800 is no exception. However, it is a very faithful rendition of Nintendo’s 1983 arcade game, featuring all the elements that made the original great, including the essential two-player mode. It even has some of the details that the 5200 rendition missed, such as the screen after the bonus round in which the coins collected are on display. Nitpickers will notice that the 7800 version does play a bit fast.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: BlueSky Software. Sports/Wrestling, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1990.

Inspired by Taito’s Mat Mania (1985) and Mania Challenge (1986), Mat Mania Challenge boasts lots of moves, including flying kicks, hammer throws, pile drivers, overhead slams, punches, kicks, atomic drops, and more. Fancier moves reward players with higher scores, but simple button-mashing seems to work pretty well. The game looks okay, but lacks the outrageous personality and raucous nature of “real” pro wrestling. Also, gameplay seems like fighting the same guy again and again, unlike in the aforementioned arcade games, which featured distinctive wrestlers with such names as Insane Warrior, Hurricane Joe, and Golden Hulk.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Accolade. Sports/Golf, 1 or 2 players (alternating). 1989.

This hard-to-find golf game gives players a solid (if unspectacular) video rendition of the popular sport. To hit the ball, players follow the standard three-tap system, which controls the power of the shot and determines whether the ball hooks, slices, or goes straight. Trees, sand traps, water, and other obstacles dot the 18-hole Pebble Beach course, which features a nice variety of layouts. When putting, the game switches from a behind-the-golfer perspective to an overhead view, and players must take into account which way the greens break. Mean 18 Ultimate Golf is based on Accolade’s Mean 18 computer game, which boasted multiple courses and a course editor (elements lacking in the 7800 version).

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Atari. Light Gun Shooter, 1 player. 1990.

In Meltdown , players must protect the reactor cores of 20 different nuclear power plants that have been sabotaged by terrorists. This is done by aiming the light gun at the screen and shooting five different types of “sparkx” that bounce off the walls and off the reactor core in the middle of the playfield. There are also power crystals to shoot, which can repair control rods, double the size of the shots, give the gun continual fire, and more. Meltdown has some nice features (including a password system) and inventive ideas (missed shots create temporary barriers), but the screen annoyingly blinks with every shot fired, and the gun isn’t very accurate. Players willing to overlook these shortcomings will find something to enjoy, as will fans of Reactor (a somewhat similar Atari 2600 game, sans the light gun).

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Radioactive Software. Action/Adventure, 1 player. 1990.

The closest thing the Atari 7800 has to a Legend of Zelda –type adventure game, Midnight Mutants consists of 10 atmospheric, highly detailed areas to explore, including a mansion, a church, a graveyard, and a pumpkin patch. Each area is teeming with zombies, vampires, bats, mutant bosses (including Dr. Evil), and other killable monsters. The goal is to save Grampa Munster (yep, the one from the television show), who is being held at “Plasmic Prison.” Fortunately, Jimmy, the character players control, can pick up a number of helpful items, including a knife, a cross, an axe, a blaster, a key (for entering the crypt), diamonds (to increase Jimmy’s health), and more. Regrettably, there is no password feature for saving progress, and control is a bit awkward, thanks to the isometric perspective and Jimmy’s inability to walk diagonally. However, awesome graphics and sounds, non-linear gameplay, and a fairly unusual concept make the game a worthwhile entry in the 7800 library.

Midnight Mutants for the Atari 7800, complete with manual, box, and cartridge. The artwork depicts none other than Al “Grampa Munster” Lewis.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: BlueSky Software. Motorcycle Racing, 1 player. 1990

MotorPsycho has been called a motorcycle version of Pole Position II , and that’s a pretty good description of the game. There are four different tracks comprised of winding roads, vehicles to pass, and roadside signs to crash into. Also, the vehicle has two speeds (high and low), and the object is to get through each course as fast as possible. Sound familiar? One thing that separates MotorPsycho from Pole Position II is the fact that the motorcycles can jump over enemy bikes, arrow signs, cones, and ramps for extra points. Also, the roadways in MotorPsycho are hilly at times. The game’s title is misleading, however, as there is nothing really psychotic about the game, other than the following bit of information found in the instruction manual: “To save wear and tear on your thumb, strap a rubber band around the joystick button that controls acceleration for long play sessions.”

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: General Computer Corp. Maze, 1 or 2 players (alternating). 1986.

The lipstick on Ms. Pac-Man’s famous mug is about all that’s missing in this near-perfect port of Midway’s 1981 arcade classic. The character’s round edges have been leveled off just a bit, but this is a small complaint. Unlike the coin-op classic, the 7800 version lets players select the starting level, meaning anyone can jump straight to the banana screen. This is one of the most faithfully reproduced arcade ports of the era and one of the two or three best Atari 7800 games.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: BlueSky Software. Sports/Golf/Side-Scrolling Combat/First-Person Shooter, 1 or 2 players (alternating). 1989.

A highly original creation, Ninja Golf combines three different genres to come up with one very good game. The golfing aspect is simplistic, since all players really do is aim, judge the distance, and hit the ball. The fighting action is basic as well, consisting primarily of running, jumping, and kicking. After the ball is hit, the ninja runs to the ball, encountering gophers, frogs, ninja guards, water hazards (which include sharks), sand traps (which include snakes), and other obstacles along the way. Items to pick up include throwing stars, magic shields, warps, and more. When the ball gets to the green, there is no putting. Rather, players hurl ninja stars at a dragon. This graphically impressive, first-person scene is reminiscent of the shurikenthrowing bonus rounds in Shinobi .

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Man Development. Sports/Basketball, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1987.

This is a complete, finely programmed port of the popular computer game starring NBA superstars Dr. J. and Larry Bird. The controls take a little getting used to (thanks to the stiff 7800 joysticks), but the game has smooth animation, a nicely rendered hardwood floor, and some entertaining one-on-one hoops action. Players can steal, rebound, shoot three-pointers (Bird is a better outside shooter, naturally), charge, travel, get fatigued, dunk the ball (Dr. J is the superior dunker, of course), and more. On a particularly vicious dunk, the backboard will shatter, prompting an angry ref to come out and sweep up the broken glass. Excellent sound effects accompany this amusing scene.

PUBLISHER: Absolute Entertainment. DEVELOPER: Absolute Entertainment. Sports/Baseball, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1989.

Despite slightly sharper graphics and a better color scheme, Pete Rose Baseball for the Atari 7800 is disappointingly similar to the 2600 version of the game, and one should expect more from a next-generation system. Also, though it plays a good game of America’s favorite pastime, and it’s superior to the 7800 version of RealSports Baseball , the infield defense in Pete Rose Baseball could use some fine tuning. Sometimes the player closest to the ball can’t reach it, forcing gamers to switch to another infielder who must come all the way over to help.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Atari. Vertical Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2 players (alternating). 1990.

The prequel to Alien Brigade , Planet Smashers has players defending Earth from alien invaders. Despite the familiar concept, the game does have a couple of original aspects: the need to shoot colored coded warp capsules in order to progress to the next level and an Earth shield that gets a little weaker with every enemy that gets by the player’s starship. Once the shield is gone, the game ends, even if there are starships in reserve. Basic gameplay involves moving a ship around the bottom 1/3 of the playfield, shooting fighters, bombers, rammers, and alien cargo vessels while catching cargo (weapon power-ups, a cloaking device, and shield restoratives) as it falls from destroyed alien ships. The bosses are impressive in appearance, but the rest of the game looks pretty ordinary. The sound effects are limited, and the shooting action is tiresome on the thumb (thanks to the 7800’s side-button joysticks).

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: General Computer Corp. Formula-1/Indy Racing, 1 player. 1986.

Pole Position II is one of the weaker arcade ports in the Atari 7800 library, which is unfortunate since it was the pack-in game with the system. It’s not as fast or as exciting as Atari’s 1983 arcade game, the explosions aren’t as intense, the cars don’t look as cool or as colorfully detailed, and the twisting, turning action isn’t as smooth. It’s far too easy to accidentally down shift (the programmers should have utilized the second fire button as the gear shift instead of the joystick), and the steering wheel from the coin-op classic is greatly missed. On a more positive note, the game does include nicely detailed mountain ranges and all four original racetracks. Interestingly, the billboards have been changed to Atari symbols, and the “Qualify for Start” flag that flies across the screen at the beginning of the game has been altered to “Prepare to Qualify,” which was the wording in the original Pole Position .

PUBLISHER: Activision. DEVELOPER: Spectral Dimensions. Action, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1989.

Rampage for the Atari 7800 has fewer colors and is less sharp visually than the overrated Bally Midway coin-op semi-classic (1986), but it does include all the enemies and items. In addition, it keeps the essential two-player mode intact, and it plays about the same (with the one drawback being the poorly designed 7800 controllers). Players guide giant monsters George, Lizzie, or Ralph as they climb buildings, smash buildings, eat people (and other items), grab money, and punch helicopters, trolleys, boats, police cars, and tanks. In all, there are 132 cities to destroy.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Atari. Sports/Baseball, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1988.

An improvement (but not a significant leap) graphically over the 2600 and 5200 versions, RealSports Baseball for the Atari 7800 is a decent looking, nicely animated game with solid controls. However, it does contain a few flaws that put it in league with the 2600 rendition, namely poor fielding, uneven base-running, and lousy sound effects. Also, playing the computer is brutal, especially since there are very few areas of the field to safely hit the ball. Gamers should stick with the superior 5200 version.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: General Computer Corp. Non-Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2 players (alternating). 1987.

Robotron: 2084 for the 7800 would be an acceptable port of the 1982 Williams arcade game if it weren’t for a couple of key setbacks. Unlike the superior 5200 version of the game, which was packaged with a special dual controller holder, this rendition expects players to somehow hold both controllers at once (or perhaps fit the controllers together with tape or some other method). The game is playable with one controller, but this hardly evokes the coin-op experience, as gamers must shoot the way they are moving. Also, it is impossible to shoot while standing still. On a less important note, the graphics aren’t quite as colorful, and the sound effects aren’t quite as busy. Gamers who have never played the coin-op classic will get some enjoyment out of the inherently intense action, in which a man runs around the screen, shooting hordes of evil robots and rescuing innocents. However, arcade rats need not apply.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: BlueSky Software. Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 1990.

The closest thing the Atari 7800 has to Super Mario Bros. , Scrapyard Dog is the type of side-scrolling platform game that was popular during the late ’80s and early ’90s. Players guide an ugly, big-nosed guy named Louie through six rounds (17 levels in all) of junk-yards, cities, and sewers, jumping on or throwing cans (or bombs) at gangsters, rats, birds, and other enemies. There are some tricky jumps and lots of obstacles, meaning the shields players can acquire (and store up) come in handy. Bonus rooms throughout the levels contain mini-games and special items, and there are shops for purchasing super cans, extra lives, and other helpful items. Scrapyard Dog is a must-have for 7800 devotees, since it’s the only game of its type for the system, but the lead character lacks the charisma to be considered a console mascot.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Atari. Sports/Olympics, 1–8 players (alternating, 2-player simultaneous). 1987.

A good looking, nicely playing port of the popular computer game, Summer Games for the Atari 7800 lets players compete in six different Olympic events: Diving, 4 x 400-Meter Relay, 100-Meter Dash, Gymnastics, Freestyle Relay, and 100-Meter Freestyle. Unlike the 2600 version, this game does not include Rowing or Skeet Shooting, but a variety of graphical upgrades make these omissions fairly easy to overlook. The opening ceremonies alone are a marvel to behold.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Atari. Flight Combat Simulator/First-Person Shooter, 1 player. 1988.

This port of the Cosmi computer game suffers from the lack of keyboard control, which is used in the computer simulation to land, change altitude, control pitch, load and arm missiles, and other such maneuvers. The joystick and fire buttons work fine, however, in arcade mode, which has players simply guiding a cursor around the screen, shooting enemy helicopters. Reality mode is a combination of arcade mode and flight school, the latter of which is more trouble than it’s worth. The instrument panel in this complicated game depicts ammo supply, radar screen, fuel gauge, rpm readout, compass heading, oil pressure, and more. Fans of Tomcat: The F-14 Flight Simulator may want to give Super Huey a whirl.

PUBLISHER: Absolute Entertainment. DEVELOPER: Absolute Entertainment. Sports/ Skateboarding/Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 1988.

Unlike most skateboarding titles, including 720° and Skate or Die , this game doesn’t feature any actual skating moves, such as aerials, rail slides, or hand plants. What Super Skateboardin’ does have are coffee makers, projectors, radios, TVs, computers, and light bulbs to turn off, the latter of which require jumping in order to reach. The building players skate in is a maze of rooms connected by doorways, elevators, escalators, and air ducts, and it’s easy to get turned around. Gamers with a good sense of direction can memorize the routes and item locations after repeated play, but the game doesn’t offer enough long-term fun to warrant that kind of attention. The graphics are colorful, and the sound effects are varied, but the there’s nothing particularly “rad” about the game, other than its use of the now outdated term on the box.

PUBLISHER: Froggo. DEVELOPER: Froggo. Vertical Scrolling Tank Shooter, 1 player. 1988.

Players commandeer an XT-87 attack vehicle in Tank Command , one of the harder to find games in the 7800 library. The objective is to capture the enemy flag, which is a mere three levels away. The game is short, but the difficulty level amps up in a hurry, making for an uneven gaming experience. Piloting the tank is a dangerous job, since the terrain is covered with pillboxes, heavy artillery, camouflaged traps, anti-tank weapons, and other obstacles. Players can blow up missile silos, ammo and fuel dumps, buildings, huts, and other items for extra points, and it’s important to refuel when necessary. The pink color scheme is off-putting, but the game has sufficient graphical detail. Tank Command is marginally enjoyable, but fans of vertical scrolling war games should stick with Commando or Ikari Warriors .

PUBLISHER: Absolute Entertainment. DEVELOPER: Absolute Entertainment. Sports/ Wrestling, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1989.

A graphical upgrade over the 2600 version of the game, Title Match Pro Wrestling for the 7800 nevertheless suffers from the same horrible, needlessly convoluted control technique, in which players alternate between “joystick mode” and “button mode.” Simple punches and kicks are the easiest, most effective moves, since airplane spins, power lifts, and other fancy maneuvers are a chore to pull off and deplete the wrestler of energy. The tag team match is the best mode of play, but that’s not saying much.

PUBLISHER: Absolute Entertainment. DEVELOPER: Absolute Entertainment. Flight Combat Simulator, 1 player. 1989.

This update of the Atari 2600 game features the same type of realistic flight combat simulation, but offers more in the way of graphical detail, especially in terms of the cockpit control panels. Unfortunately, enemy bogeys are harder to engage, making for a less enjoyable game.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Imagineering. Sports/Football, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1988.

The only gridiron game available for the 7800, Touchdown Football is flawed almost to the point of being unplayable. The six-on-six action offers plenty of plays to select from (nine formations and three blocking schemes), and the field and players look pretty good. However, field goals are all but impossible to make, the animation is choppy, the action moves much too slowly, and rushing is limited to the quarterback running the ball. Interestingly, there’s only one cheerleader on the sideline, and she looks as though she may have had one too many shots of testosterone.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Atari. Climbing, 1 or 2 players (alternating). 1988.

Tower Toppler is a good looking, highly unusual game in which players guide a frog up stairs, up elevators, across platforms, and over gaps in order to reach the top of eight different smoothly rotating towers. The frog is equipped with snowballs for destroying bouncing cannonballs and flashing blocks, but the rest of the enemies and obstacles, which include evil robots, mutant molecules, flying eyes, and rolling cannonballs, are indestructible. Between each level there’s a side-scrolling bonus round in which the frog hops in his sub and stuns and catches fish. Certain jumps must be timed perfectly, and some floors will vanish, making for a frequently frustrating experience. However, the game has a certain quality that virtually forces players to stick with it until they have at least reached the top of two or three towers. Interestingly, the computer version of Tower Toppler is called Nebulus while the NES rendition is called Castelian .

PUBLISHER: Froggo. DEVELOPER: Froggo. Sports/Water Skiing, 1 player. 1988.

This vertical scrolling game has players maneuvering a boat up a river, pulling a water skier through three mediocre looking levels of rocks, piers, tree stumps, alligators, and other obstacles, some of which, frustratingly enough, are hidden. The game ends after the third level, but it’s very difficult to get there, thanks in part to frustrating controls that take lots of time getting used to (the buttons move the skier right and left while the joystick operates the boat). Water Ski is one of the harder to find (not to mention harder to play) games for the Atari 7800.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Atari. Sports/Olympics, 1–8 players (alternating, 2-player simultaneous). 1987.

This nicely realized port of the popular computer game lets players compete in four Olympic events: Speed Skating (a two-man race), Ski Jump (points are earned for distance and style), Bobsled, and Biathlon (crosscountry skiing and rifle shooting). The game plays very well and is loaded down with graphical detail, but it’s missing the Luge, Slalom, and Hot Dog events found in the 2600 version, as well as Figure Skating from the Commodore 64 game. The lavishly produced opening ceremonies do a great job of getting players in the spirit of things, but it’s too bad there are no closing ceremonies. It would’ve been nice to watch the contestants accepting their medals.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: BlueSky Software. Platform Shooter, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1989.

Despite the lack of a three-player mode and the fact that gamers can only control Mr. M. Brace (Col. Poupon and Dr. Kwack aren’t offered as playable characters), Xenophobe for the Atari 7800 is a terrific port of the 1987 Bally Midway arcade game (which was undoubtedly inspired by the Alien films). Players walk, crawl, and jump their way through nine different space stations, hitting, shooting, and throwing grenades at critters, pods, tentacles (the floor-based tentacles from the arcade game are missing), rollerbabies, and snotterpillars. There are weapons (such as electric rifles) and bonus items (such as skulls and screwdrivers) to pick up and elevators to ride. Some may find the going a bit slow, but the two-player split screen mode (which actually lets gamers play at the same time, unlike the 2600 version) will please most anyone looking to kill some aliens.

PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Atari. Vertical Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2 players (alternating). 1987.

Xevious is an extremely accurate port of the 1982 Atari arcade game. The screen has been shortened to accommodate home use, and the blaster targeting sight is closer to the ship (meaning players have to get dangerously close to ground-based targets before they can shoot them), but the sound effects are about 90% accurate, the graphics are nicely emulated, and the much-maligned 7800 joysticks are perfectly designed for the action. Also, scrolling is smooth, and the game handles lots of onscreen activity with seeming ease (there are more than 20 different types of enemies to shoot). Nitpickers will notice that the ground-based targets don’t blink like they do in the coin-op classic.