JVGS Atari 2600 Game Reviews
 | Here you will find my brief reviews of Atari 2600 (VCS) games, along with a rating from 1 to 10. A rating of 9-10 indicates a great game; 7-8 is a good game; 5-6 is an average game; 3-4 is a poor game; and 1-2 is a horrible game. At the bottom of the page can be found my Top 10 list. |
Latest additions:
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| Adventures of Tron | 8 |
| In this action game, you move through the four floors of each level, collecting floating "bits" and avoiding enemies. There are elevators that can take you up a floor, but they are only activated once you cross the I/O beam running down the center of the screen. You can drop down a floor at any time. There are three types of enemies to avoid, the most dangerous being the tanks, which can shoot at you. Once you grab all of the "bits," the screen turns blue and the I/O beam warps you to the next level, where the pace is quicker. Adventures of Tron is a very fun game with a good challenge level; it doesn't seem too easy or too hard. | |
| Air Sea Battle | 6 |
| In this shooting game, you can control a mounted gun, a submarine, a ship, or a jet--depending on the game variation you choose. The object is to shoot at various targets (often other ships or jets) and outscore your opponent to win the game. Most variations are intended strictly for two players, although some single-player games are also included. But don't expect any artificial intelligence; the computer does nothing more than shoot continuously. Overall, Air Sea Battle provides a decent two-player experience, but it is not recommended for solo gamers. | |
| Asteroids | 6 |
| This is a simple action game in which you shoot asteroids, many of which break apart into smaller asteroids when hit. You start out in the center of the screen, surrounded by asteroids of various colors. You can move your ship, but it's usually more beneficial just to stay in the center. Occasionally a satellite or UFO will fly by; shoot them for bonus points. Asteroids is a decent game, but it's never been one of my favorites. | |
| Atlantis | 7 |
| In this action game, it is your job to defend the underwater city of Atlantis from the attacks of the evil Gorgon Fleet. You fire on the Gorgon ships by using three cannons: One on the left, one on the right, and the command post in the middle. Once the command post and the six other underwater installations have been destroyed, the game is over. Atlantis is a simple, but enjoyable, shooting game. | |
| Barnstorming | 3 |
| In this side-scrolling flying game from Activision, the object is to pilot your biplane through barns. Depending on the game mode you choose, there are 10, 15, or 25 barns to pass through. Complete each course in the shortest time possible, and then play again to beat your best time. You'll also have to avoid crashing into windmills, geese, and the roofs of the barns along the way. The gameplay is somewhat like Sky Jinks turned 90 degrees; rather than moving left and right to go through pylons, you move up and down under barns and above windmills. While the concept may be unique, the game itself is dull and not much fun to play. | |
| Basketball | 4 |
| It's the green stick figure versus the purple stick figure in this early Atari sports game. This one-on-one game lets you play hoops against a friend or the computer as you try to outscore your opponent before the four-minute clock expires. The graphics are poor, even by 2600 standards, but fortunately the game does run at a swift pace. On offense, you can run and shoot the ball; on defense, you can go for the steal or jump to block a shot. Basketball on the 2600 can be mildly entertaining for a quick game or two, but it has little lasting value. | |
| Battlezone | 7 |
| You command a military tank in this action game. You must shoot the enemy vehicles (tanks, super tanks, jet fighters, and UFOs) before they shoot you. Your radar will tell you where the closest enemies are; turn your tank to face them and blast away. Battlezone is quite challenging and games tend to end quickly, but it's still fun to play. | |
| Berzerk | 6 |
| In this action game, you wander through maze-like levels and shoot robots. Be careful not to touch any of the walls or you'll be electrocuted. In some of the game variations, you'll also have to avoid Evil Otto. He will kill you quickly, and do it with a smile on his face. The gameplay is extremely repetitive; each screen is just the same thing over and over again. | |
| Breakout | 5 |
| This is a simple Pong variant in which you break bricks. A ball bounces around and you control a paddle at the bottom of the screen. By moving left and right, you have to hit the ball to keep it in play. Try to aim it so that it hits the blocks above you. Even though there are a number of game variations available, the gameplay still becomes boring quickly. | |
| Centipede | 6 |
| In this shooting game, your main goal is to use your magic wand to destroy the segmented centipedes. You shoot at them as they descend from the top of the screen. After being shot, the segments turn into mushrooms that can clutter the screen. But you'll also have to watch out for other pests including spiders, fleas, and scorpions. Centipede provides some simple entertainment for a while, but it quickly becomes repetitive. | |
| Chopper Command | 7 |
| This is a shooting game that has gameplay similar to that of Defender. In each level, you can fly to the left or the right as you shoot at enemy jets and helicopters, both of which fire missiles at you. Your goal is to protect the truck convoys that drive across the bottom of the screen. A radar scanner lets you view the location of the enemies and your trucks. Overall, Chopper Command is a solid, enjoyable game. | |
| Combat | 7 |
| This action game was one of the first Atari cartridges ever released. There are 27 game variations that let you battle in tanks, biplanes, or jets. The object of the game is to shoot your opponent more than he/she shoots you. The tank levels take place in simple mazes while the biplane and jet levels can take place in clear skies or in the clouds. Combat is fun when playing against a friend, but unfortunately there are no one-player modes (despite the instruction manual's claim to the contrary). | |
| Cosmic Ark | 8 |
| This is an action game that has two very distinct modes. In the meteor shower mode, you must shoot asteroids that come at you from all directions. It starts out easy, but later levels require very fast reflexes. In the other mode, you leave the cosmic ark and visit various planets in a small shuttleship. You must use a tractor beam to capture two animals of each species and bring them back to the ark. The gameplay alternates between the two modes. Cosmic Ark is a unique and challenging game that I enjoy quite a bit. | |
| Dark Chambers | 3 |
| In this adventure game, you try to safely make your way through 26 different dungeons. The main goal is to find the exit of each level, but you'll also find and use keys, shoot enemies, avoid traps, and collect treasure. Unfortunately, the gameplay is slow and dull. The lack of excitement makes this a very boring game. | |
| Defender | 7 |
| This is a shooting game in which you fire at aliens and attempt to save the humanoids of your city. There are seven types of aliens, each of which behaves differently. If an alien kidnaps a humanoid, you must quickly fly to its rescue; shoot the alien abductor and catch the humanoid before he falls to his death. The control seems a bit awkward when changing directions, but overall, Defender is a good game. | |
| Dig Dug | 4 |
| You play as an underground miner in this action game. You dig through four layers of dirt as you defeat enemies and search for vegetables. Enemies can be defeated by pumping them full of air until they pop or by causing boulders to drop on them. Dig Dug isn't a horrible game, but it is a bit dull. | |
| E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial | 6 |
| This is an adventure game based on the classic movie of the same name. Your goal is to help E.T. return to his home planet. You'll have to find the three pieces of his interplanetary telephone, use it to "phone home" from a certain location, and be at the landing site when the spaceship arrives. But you'll also have to avoid the FBI agent, who takes away your phone pieces; and the scientist, who drags you back to the lab. This game is a bit short for an adventure game and it has little replay value, but it is fairly entertaining while it lasts. | |
| Frogger | 9 |
| This is the home version of the classic arcade hit. The object is to guide Frogger first across a busy highway and then across a dangerous river. You'll have to be careful to avoid snakes and alligators as you make your way home. If you can rescue your mate along the way, you'll score some bonus points. Frogger is an excellent game that's a lot of fun to play. | |
| Frogs and Flies | 8 |
| In this unique action game, you control a frog and you try to eat more flies than your opponent. You can control the angle, direction, and height of your jump with the joystick; press the button to snatch flies with your tongue. You can jump onto two different lily pads, but you may fall into the pond if you're not careful. This game is very simple, but it's also very fun when playing against a friend. | |
| Galaxian | 5 |
| This shooting game is nothing but an average Space Invaders clone; you control a cannon at the bottom of the screen and you have to shoot the aliens overhead. The only significant difference is that here, individual ships will break from formation to dive bomb at your cannon. Galaxian isn't a bad game, but I'd rather play Space Invaders or Phoenix. | |
| Gravitar | 3 |
| In this action/shooting game, you must travel to twelve solar systems and destroy the bunkers on each planet. The concept of Gravitar isn't a bad one, but the gameplay doesn't hold up. The biggest problem is that your ship is very hard to control. Trying to carefully maneuver through small passages while fighting gravity and inertia is not an easy thing to do. It also doesn't help that you have no brakes. | |
| Joust | 7 |
| In this unique action game, knights atop buzzards do battle in the air. If your spear is higher than your opponent's spear when you collide, you will win the battle. Your opponent will be reduced to an egg, which you should grab before a new buzzard hatches. This is a decent one-player game, but most of the fun comes when you're jousting against a friend. | |
| Jr. Pac-Man | 6 |
| This is a very challenging variation of Pac-Man. The object is still essentially the same: You've got to eat dots to clear mazes while avoiding ghosts. If you eat a power pill, the ghosts turn blue and you can eat them for big points. This version has large mazes (perhaps too large) and the screen scrolls up and down to follow the action. Even though this may be an official Pac-Man game, it feels like just a mediocre Pac-Man clone. | |
| Jungle Hunt | 7 |
| Journey into the jungle in this unique action game. You'll have to swing on vines in the forest, swim past crocodiles in the river, make it through a field of bouncing boulders, and jump over the savage cannibals. Foil their plans and rescue your wife, Lady Penelope. The variety of gameplay styles works well and it makes Jungle Hunt an enjoyable game. | |
| Kaboom! | 8 |
| This action game requires use of the paddle controllers. By controlling buckets of water at the bottom of the screen, you must catch bombs that are dropped by the "Mad Bomber." You start with three buckets, but you lose one of them each time you miss a bomb. Catch all of the bombs to go to the next level, where the bombs are faster and each catch earns you more points. The action gets fast and furious, but fortunately the game has excellent control to help you keep up. The addictive gameplay keeps you coming back for "just one more game" to try to beat your high score. I also like how the Mad Bomber will smirk when you miss a bomb. Kaboom! is an all-around quality game. | |
| Kangaroo | 5 |
| As a mother kangaroo that wears boxing gloves, you must rescue your baby. The action is reminiscent of Donkey Kong; each level has you climbing your way to the top of the screen. You will also fight monkeys and avoid the apples they throw. Picking up fruit along the way will give you some extra points. While Kangaroo isn't a bad game, it still isn't a game I'd recommend. | |
| Midnight Magic | 6 |
| Midnight Magic is pretty advanced for an Atari pinball game. It has two sets of flippers that you can control, several bumpers, numerous targets, and a spinner. You can also activate kickers and a center post that can help you stay in the game longer. It's certainly a decent pinball simulation, but it's not one of my favorite games overall. | |
| Missile Command | 6 |
| In this action game, you must defend the cities of your planet from an alien attack. Your enemies are firing ballistic missiles and cruise missiles at you. You must use your planet's anti-missile missiles to intercept them and keep your cities intact for as long as possible. The gameplay is decent, but it gets quite repetitive after a short time. | |
| Moon Patrol | 10 |
| This is a side-scrolling action game in which you drive a moon buggy. You'll have to jump over craters and land mines, blast any rocks that are in your path, battle with tanks, avoid land rockets, and shoot UFOs that attack you from above. While you're playing, you'll hear some of the best in-game music that you'll find on the 2600. Moon Patrol has always been one of my favorite Atari games. | |
| Ms. Pac-Man | 9 |
| This is a very good conversion of the classic arcade hit. You roam through mazes, avoid ghosts, and eat pellets. When you eat a large "power pellet," all of the ghosts turn blue for a short time. While they're blue, you can eat them to rack up a lot of points. Once you clear the screen of all pellets, you go on to another maze. The great gameplay of Ms. Pac-Man makes it one of the best Atari games out there. | |
| Night Driver | 6 |
| In this driving game, you speed down winding roads under the darkness of night. You must stay within the pylons that mark the edges of the road while also avoiding oncoming traffic. The object is to drive as far as possible before the time limit expires. There isn't much scenery along the way, just occasional trees and houses. The game uses the paddle controller, and the control is pretty good once you get the hang of it. Night Driver is fun to play for a while, but it doesn't have much lasting value. | |
| Phoenix | 10 |
| This is a shooting game that resembles Space Invaders at first glance. But Phoenix has more variety that makes it more exciting to play. The first two waves of action feature small birds that swoop down at you, while the third and fourth waves feature larger birds which have regenerating wings. The final wave pits you against a huge UFO; you must blast through its rotating shield and kill the alien inside. This fun game also has good sound and a helpful force field that can be activated to protect yourself at almost any time. | |
| Pitfall! | 8 |
| Journey through the jungle in this action/adventure game from Activision. As Pitfall Harry, you travel on the ground, through underground tunnels, and swing on vines as you search for valuable treasures. You'll have to avoid many obstacles such as rolling logs, scorpions, snakes, tar pits, and more. Some enemies and hazards cause you to lose a life; others just take away points. The game has a 20-minute time limit--collect as much treasure as you can for a high score. Pitfall! has excellent control and is very enjoyable to play. | |
| Pole Position | 7 |
| Go for the checkered flag in this racing game. You must first complete the qualifying lap within a certain time span; if you succeed, you can compete in the four-lap Grand Prix. This game lacks options and game modes, but it is still fun to play. | |
| RealSports Baseball | 5 |
| This is a mediocre baseball game from Atari. While the controls for batting and pitching are not very intuitive, they work fairly well once you learn the correct way to do them. The artificial intelligence isn't very good, as the computer will often do stupid things. This isn't one of the best sports game out there, but it can still be mildly entertaining with two players. | |
| RealSports Football | 5 |
| This is a fast-paced football game from Atari. The screen scrolls from side to side to follow the action. You can choose from seven plays on offense (including punt/field goal) and five plays on defense. My biggest complaint is the running game, or lack thereof; it's extremely difficult to run the ball with any success. Over 99% of the yards gained will come through the air. The game is mildly fun to play, but it's nowhere near as good as Super Football. | |
| Skiing | 6 |
| This skiing game from Activision allows you to hit the slopes in either slalom or downhill racing. The slalom mode requires that you pass through a certain number of gates, while the goal in downhill mode is to reach the bottom of the mountain as quickly as possible. In both modes, the novice and intermediate courses are slow and boring. The faster expert and Olympic courses are where the fun is. I recommend playing the game with the left difficulty switch set to the "A" position; this enables the screen to scroll horizontally as well as vertically, giving the skier more freedom. Skiing may not have a lot of replay value, but it is fairly entertaining in short bursts. | |
| Sky Jinks | 4 |
| The object of this flying game is to pilot your airplane through courses filled with pylons in the shortest amount of time possible. You have to slalom around the pylons, flying to the right of red ones and to the left of blue ones. You'll also have to avoid crashing into trees, hot air balloons, and the pylons themselves. Unfortunately, the gameplay is dull. You alternate moving left, then right, and then repeat. You can press the fire button on the joystick to speed up your plane, which adds a tiny bit of strategy, but the game is still too monotonous to be enjoyable for more than a couple of minutes. | |
| Solaris | 9 |
| This is a space shooter that resembles Star Raiders in some ways. You view a galactic map that shows the location of enemies and planets, you must "hyperwarp" to reach other sectors, and you can refuel at a Federation base. But Solaris uses a third-person perspective and has planet missions in addition to the outer space levels. It also has some of the most impressive graphics I've seen on a 2600 game. Overall, Solaris is an excellent, action-packed game that has become one of my Atari favorites. | |
| Space Invaders | 7 |
| In this shooting game, you must defend the planet from alien invaders. They come in groups of 36, lined up in 6 columns and 6 rows. They move from side to side as they descend towards Earth. Use your cannon to blast them all. For bonus points, try to shoot the UFO that will occasionally fly overhead. There is also a two-player mode that lets you compete against a friend. Overall, Space Invaders is an enjoyable game. | |
| Stampede | 7 |
| The object of this unusual game is to score points by roping cattle. You ride horseback as you try to lasso four breeds of dogies--each with different behaviors and point values. Herding cattle in front of you is also important; roping each dogie immediately is often not the best strategy. Let too many dogies stray past you, and the game is over. The concept of Stampede is quite unique and the game is fun to play. | |
| Star Raiders | 7 |
| This is a space combat game played from a first-person cockpit view. You must defend your starbase from the Krylons, who seek to destroy it--and you. This game requires the Video Touch Pad accessory, which you can use to view the galactic map, hyperwarp to another location, or activate/deactivate the ship computer and shields. If you survive your mission, you are given a rank and class that summarizes how well you did. Star Raiders may not be my favorite Atari game, but it is an enjoyable one. | |
| Super Football | 8 |
| This is the best Atari sports game I've played. You play the game from a 3D viewpoint, similar to that of the John Madden games that were released on other systems. You can choose from nine formations on offense and defense; you can run, pass, punt, or kick a field goal. It's a fun game, whether you're playing against the computer or against a friend. | |
| Swordquest: EarthWorld | 3 |
| The Swordquest games from Atari are perhaps the most confusing games ever released for the 2600, and this first game of the series is no exception. By randomly leaving certain item combinations in certain rooms, you may access a clue, which references a page of the comic book that came with the game. A hidden word on that page, theoretically, gives you a clue to the larger puzzle. Unfortunately, the whole system doesn't work well and the game is excessively complex. And with 16 items and 12 rooms, finding the right combinations is tedious work. The only semi-enjoyable parts of EarthWorld are the mini-games, namely those that play like Frogger. But overall, Swordquest: EarthWorld is a dud. | |
| Swordquest: FireWorld | 1 |
| This game provides much of the same item dropping nonsense as Swordquest: EarthWorld. (You receive clues by randomly leaving items in certain rooms). The main difference between the two games is that the mini-games of FireWorld are far less enjoyable than those in the first Swordquest. One of them plays like Kaboom, but is ruined by poor control. In others, you must continuously catch or avoid objects, even as they turn invisible. You may fail at a mini-game for no apparent reason, even when you were seemingly doing well. And the game has glitches, such as one that lets you pass through walls. As bad as EarthWorld was, FireWorld is even worse. This is truly a horrible game. | |
| Vanguard | 6 |
| Try to reach the City of Mystery in this shooting game. Numerous enemies will come at you as you fly through tunnels, but fortunately your spaceship has the ability to shoot in four directions to blast them all. Scattered throughout some levels are energy pods, which make you invincible for ten seconds. The game has five distinct types of levels, including both horizontally-scrolling and vertically-scrolling stages. There is also a boss enemy (Gond) at the end of the tunnel, though it only takes about one second to defeat him. Meanwhile, the boring Stick Zone levels seem to drag on forever. The amount of variety in Vanguard is certainly impressive for a 1982 Atari game, but still the game is only moderately fun to play. | |
| Venture | 7 |
| In this action/adventure game, you play as a treasure hunter named Winky. You journey into haunted dungeons while avoiding "hallmonsters." Each dungeon has four chambers; three of them are filled with enemies and one has electrified walls that move. Grab the treasure, shoot the enemies, and move on to the next room. The graphics are bad even by 2600 standards (you're just a tiny dot on the hallway screen), but Venture is actually quite fun to play. | |
| Warlords | 10 |
| Using paddle controllers, up to four players can go to war in this exciting action game. Each player controls a mobile shield and uses it to protect his castle. The object of the game is to hit a fireball past your opponents' shields, break down their castle walls, and kill the rival warlords. You can let the fireball bounce off your shield, or you can catch it and release it. Warlords is one of my favorite multiplayer games on any system. | |
| Word Zapper | 3 |
| In this game, you pilot a space ship and shoot at an alphabet that scrolls across the top of the screen. You are shown a word (or scrambled letters in some variations), and you must shoot the correct letters to spell out that word. Complete three words within 99 seconds to earn the highest ranking of Zapper. To keep you on your toes, there are various asteroids that you must avoid or shoot. Some will just bump your ship to the left or right, while others will scramble the scrolling alphabet or even destroy your ship. But for the most part, Word Zapper doesn't provide much of a challenge. The game isn't a whole lot of fun either. And because there are no real high scores to shoot for, there's little reason to play it more than a couple of times. | |
| Yars' Revenge | 9 |
| In this original game, you play as a fly (known as Yar) and your mission is to defeat an enemy called a Qotile. To do so, you'll first need to chip away at the Qotile's protective shield. Shoot missiles at it, or go up to it and eat the blocks away. Once a path to the Qotile has been cleared, you must use the Zorlon Cannon to defeat it. The cannon will be available after you eat part of the shield or touch the Qotile itself. But all the while, an energy missile is chasing after you and you must also avoid occasional swirl attacks from the Qotile. There is a neutral zone where you are safe from the energy missile (but not safe from the swirl). Yars' Revenge is more complex than most Atari shooters, and it will take a few games before you really get the hang of it. But when you do, you'll find a challenging and intriguing game that will keep you coming back for more. The graphics aren't bad, either. | |
| This is my list of the best games that I have played for this system. This list will change over time as I play more games in the system's library. |
| Moon Patrol | |
| Phoenix | |
| Warlords | |
| Frogger | |
| Solaris | |
| Yars' Revenge | |
| Ms. Pac-Man | |
| Cosmic Ark | |
| Pitfall! | |
| Kaboom! |
Atari 2600 - Game Boy - Game Boy Advance - Game Boy Color - GameCube - Genesis - Jaguar - Jaguar CD - Lynx - Nintendo - Nintendo 64 - PlayStation - PlayStation 2 - Super Nintendo - TurboGrafx-16 - Virtual Boy - Wii |