Video Game Collecting

 
Here we have Popeye for the Atari 2600.  In many respects its a reasonable port.  The first stage is closer to the arcade version than the NES version (you can only go down the ladder and not up).  It even has most of the music though the Popeye theme seems to repeat too early into the song.  All of the sprites are a single color (which can’t be faulted too badly since Popeye on the ColecoVision version was only white, while all the other enemies were multicolored).  I have a difficult time recommending this but since it’s all we have for the 2600 I’d suggest getting it, but spend no more han $4 for it.

A decent port of the arcade game, Q*Bert for Atari 2600 meets the requirements of the arcade game.  Visually its close enough.  The pyramid is there, the enemies react the same way, it seems perfect right?  WRONG.  This is the only version of Q*Bert for a console that I know that REQUIRES diagonal presses of the keyboard.  All other versions including the NES version will allow you to press diagonal, or up down left right with a slightly tilted controller.  Because of the requirements to be perfectly diagonal on the 2600 version you’ll frequently find yourself not hopping at all.  If you can get passed this one little thing then I’d highly recommend it, but since I can’t I’d say pass, unless you can get it for $2 

Based on the arcade game of the same name, Kangaroo is similiar to Donkey Kong Jr.  Basically you’re a mother kangaroo trying to rescue your kid but you got monkeys and other perils in your way.  Decent music, fast paced, and bright colors, but way too much flicker.  Recommended – but don’t spend more than $2.

Dragster is one of the most frustrating games on the Atari 2600 – well for me it is.  Basically you’re going to race down a track and try for the best time.  You hold the button down to apply gas and use the joystick to change gears.  Hold the gas down for too long before changing gears and your dragster explodes.  Real life drag racing lasts less than ten seconds, and thats about how long the interest in this game lasts.  Pass.

Combat for Atari 2600.  Tanks.  Biplanes.  Jet Fighters.  Can you think of another video game system that had a war game as the “pack-in” title at launch?  There have been special edition current generation systems that had Metal Gear Solid 4, or Call of Duty packed in, but the Atari 2600 was the only system I recall that launched with a war game. 

It seems strange that a game that people are so familiar with features no mascot, no story, no soundtrack, and no special edition DLC.  No one camped out over midnight for it, and no one complained about it being hacked.  People bought the system, sat down, and went to war.  Period.  Killing each other in the living room then is no different than it is now, except the element of imagination has been removed.

If you’ve never played Combat I’d recommend finding a friend and playing it for no less than an hour together.  Do all of the variations, then do them all again.  And if you’re committed to winning, or have even the slightest drive to be competitive you will find some joy with Combat.

For a war simulation I can’t imagine it getting simplier than this.  Two weapons relentlessly attacking one another until time runs out.  At first it sounds like this doesn’t work, because after all most videogames give you lives.  Three lives and you’re out.  One life and you’re out.  Something to that effect.  But war isn’t always a game about firepower, but one of stamina – and this is where competitive gaming has gotten kinda stale.

But this is about Combat and not competitive gaming.  So enjoy Combat, and the simplicity it offers!

Hey!  I started a website that focuses on video game pick ups after this lousy adventure I took photos of.  Visit it here http://www.videogamepickups.com

PRESS RELEASE
NintendoLegend.com
NOT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
To be posted: Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

NintendoLegend.com – Eric Bailey has loved the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) video game console for over 20 years. Although he does enjoy picking up more titles, he has always been more of a player than a collector, preferring loose cartridges that he can actually push into the machine than any complete-in-box sets. He has a huge respect for such collectors, but a couple years ago, he had an issue when he was trying to research information on NES games he did not have and wanted to possibly try playing sometime.

He found that he was dissatisfied with the available reviews currently residing throughout the Internet. Nobody, not even certain NES experts, had a full set of trusted reviews available to browse. In fact, many sites that had a section specifically for NES reviews were woefully incomplete. But on sites with reviews for every title, like GameFAQs.com, the reviews varied wildly in their opinions, length, writing quality, factual legitimacy, and style. This was especially an issue for slightly obscure titles, where nobody could seem to agree on whether it was any good, nor could they express their opinion in clear terms.

Exactly one year ago, he began his mission to simply have one page on the Internet where all the NES titles were listed in alphabetic order, and each title had a review for it, with a rating score. Thus began the NintendoLegend.com project, which he often describes as “one crazy retro gamer’s quest to write a quality review for every NES video game ever released in North America.”

In one year, that first review has been followed by over 150 more, and has truly become a labor of love. What began as a generic WordPress blog and a new Twitter account has blossomed into a website with 8-bit flavor, a humble following, and a swell of new visitors through NES-related Google searches and links from more prominent websites such as NESGuide.com.

“The best part of it, probably, is the conversations I’ve had the privilege of having with fellow retro gamers passionate about the NES,” Bailey explained. “There’s always been a great source of enjoyment in finding commonalities with people, and retro gaming is no exception. I’ve had a blast doing this, and I think people are really beginning to realize that I’m serious about building this library of what I hope to be a complete collection of informative, comprehensive, well-written, fairly objective, enjoyable-to-read NES game reviews. We’ll see.”

Despite a couple significant hiatuses brought on by “real life” events, questions concerning his direction and techniques, and the occasional minor controversy or disagreement brought on by a review or Facebook post, Eric has consistently shown a commitment to a formula of simply posting NES reviews, one after the other, as a following gradually builds to see him through the entirety of the challenge and wish him the best.

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Eric “Nintendo Legend Bailey”
thenintendolegend@gmail.com

http://NintendoLegend.com
Webmaster, Writer

Eric is available for voice interviews via Skype or text interviews via e-mail. All inquiries can be directed to thenintendolegend@gmail.com.

Yar’s Revenge is considered to many to be a pinnacle achievement on the Atari 2600.  I’ve never quite felt that way, but I will admit it’s a unique game.  Basically you are that giant sausage fly and you need to penetrate through that red barrier.  As you do so a phantom screw appears on the left side of the screen which you can use to destroy that thing that looks like a snake head hiding behind the barrier.  All the while a cursor follows you around.  You can chew the barrier or you can shoot it.  The seizure inducing forcefield is rough on the eyes, and serves as no real purpose (to me at least) than to annoy.  Recommended – but not for more than a buck!

Defender purists would tell you that the Atari 2600 port is crap.  And compared to the arcade game it probably is.  But it’s almost all there: aliens, people, scrolling terrain, lasers, and hyperspace.  Two things afflict this game, the first is the flicker.  You fire your laser and for almost a second you’re missing from the screen.  The second is the jittery hap-hazard movements of the aliens.  There is nothing wrong with a little challenge but when they flicker around with no rhyme or reason it kinda makes for an agonizing experience.  This title has some of the best label art on the Atari 2600 – too bad my copy is ruined.  Recommended, but don’t spend more than a buck for it!

Vanguard for Atari 2600 is almost impossible to photograph.  What could have been an early “Gradius” or “R-Type” winds up being an overly complicated shooter.  Basically you press and hold the fire button and hold the joystick in the direction you want to shoot.  Release the button and you can fly around avoiding enemies and the terrain.  This could have been a million times better had they gotten the controls right.  Picking up energy is a nice touch however.  I recommend this title but don’t spend more than a buck.  There are hundreds of copies of this game on eBay and any Atari 2600 lot is sure to have a copy in it.