20 Best ATARI 2600 Games Still Fun to Play Today

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  • Опубліковано 30 тра 2024
  • With hundreds of games for the Atari 2600 it's hard to tell where to start! Here are the 20 BEST games for the Atari 2600. Did your favorite make the list?
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 997

  • @JohnRiggs
    @JohnRiggs  3 роки тому +35

    10 BEST games for Sega Genesis - ua-cam.com/video/0nAKj1AQ4rM/v-deo.html
    NES games that you didn't know were also Atari 2600 games
    part 1 ua-cam.com/video/5nYZHzgerRU/v-deo.html and part 2 ua-cam.com/video/UtWSz7oYtcY/v-deo.html

    • @TheTenthArt
      @TheTenthArt 3 роки тому +3

      I must give my contribution for your list :)
      Beamrider
      Keystone Capers
      Laser Gates
      Pole Position
      River Raid
      Snoopy vs. the Red Baron
      These are very good!

    • @rioncitylife1917
      @rioncitylife1917 3 роки тому +1

      "2600", hi Riggs, the old Atari great system did you ever pick up the Atari VCS the new one?

    • @IuriFiedoruk
      @IuriFiedoruk 3 роки тому +2

      I loved the video, except for that it is lacking 60 fps, that hurts a lot for 2600 games.

    • @rioncitylife1917
      @rioncitylife1917 3 роки тому +1

      @@IuriFiedoruk can i download atari 2600 games on a Xbox One or do you know i bet it would have 60 fps then

    • @IuriFiedoruk
      @IuriFiedoruk 3 роки тому +1

      @@rioncitylife1917 it is a matter more of video encoding than where the games was running.

  • @joeboo8626
    @joeboo8626 3 роки тому +117

    If you hold down the reset button when powering up the system with Space Invaders, you can double fire.

    • @robinmarshall5704
      @robinmarshall5704 2 роки тому +48

      PFFT; **NOW** you tell me!! Where were you 40 years ago?? lol

    • @lostfan5054
      @lostfan5054 2 роки тому +6

      I heard the FF1 save music in my head when I read this comment.

    • @saltysalt844
      @saltysalt844 Рік тому

      Exactly the same as cuphead rapid fire glitch

    • @ziraprod6090
      @ziraprod6090 Рік тому +1

      I didn't need it.

    • @amamsurri5454
      @amamsurri5454 Рік тому +6

      Im going to try this right now
      Update: it works 😏

  • @morganerickson439
    @morganerickson439 3 роки тому +108

    When people complain about flicker or frame rate or graphics in modern games I immediately know they didn't grow up playing an Atari 2600.
    I got Asteroids for Christmas one year. Opened the present weeks early, played the heck out of it and rewrapped it every night before the parents got home from work. Good times!

    • @chiroquacker2580
      @chiroquacker2580 3 роки тому +21

      Just because modern game consoles are many thousands of times more powerful than a 2600, it doesn't mean the games themselves are thousands of times more fun. Someone playing Space Invaders back in the day was having as much fun as someone playing the latest Battlefield game today. They are very different experiences, but the overall fun is the same.

    • @TheMaskedheel
      @TheMaskedheel 3 роки тому +5

      We did this with our Nintendo we played Pro Wrestling and Zelda weeks before Christmas.

    • @chrisandrea4963
      @chrisandrea4963 3 роки тому +6

      Who cares about them? Atari 2600 is the best

    • @KabukiKid
      @KabukiKid 3 роки тому +8

      Asteroids was the best. I remember when that came out for the Atari, it was almost like a rumor. Someone at school said that so-and-so had a copy. "No way! Really? It really exists?" Not sure why we didn't know it was coming, but sure enough, it was real. Yeah, we needed to all have it after that. :-) If I was to own one old-school arcade cabinet, it would be an Asteroids cab.

    • @Zaphod-ef9yz
      @Zaphod-ef9yz 3 роки тому +9

      My kids complain when Netflix has to buffer... I try to tell them about having to hope the TV was free at a particular time and day so I didn't miss my favorite cartoons! Haha... such basic times

  • @alfulton5946
    @alfulton5946 3 роки тому +44

    Moon patrol was one of my favorite games for the 2600

    • @mikel6989
      @mikel6989 3 роки тому +3

      That is hands down my favorite game for the 2600.

    • @KabukiKid
      @KabukiKid 3 роки тому +3

      Another great one! He could have done a Top 50 list, probably. heh :-)

    • @armygrunt13
      @armygrunt13 2 роки тому +2

      Never played it on the 2600, but I still play it to this day at a local arcade.

    • @MrDintheD
      @MrDintheD 2 роки тому +2

      I almost forgot about Moon Patrol. Another great one!

    •  2 роки тому +2

      I was looking for that one guy who would say Moon Patrol, and, lo and behold!

  • @SubaruMalibu
    @SubaruMalibu 3 роки тому +41

    My all time favorite 2600 jams:
    1) Jungle Hunt
    2) Dark Cavern
    3) Keystone Capers
    4) Berzerk
    5) Plaque Attack
    6) River Raid
    7) Revenge of the Beefsteak Tomatoes
    8) Amidar
    9) Missile Command
    10) Haunted House

    • @MrNb22
      @MrNb22 2 роки тому +1

      omg keystone capers, i forgot all about that one. great freakin game - the AI cheated so much though

    • @pleasuretokill
      @pleasuretokill Рік тому +1

      Juding by that list you would also like Megalomania and Demon Attack.

    • @RetroGamingStories
      @RetroGamingStories Рік тому +1

      Excellent choice!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥

    • @em2johns
      @em2johns 4 місяці тому +2

      Missile Command and Plaque Attack. Spent a lot of time on those

  • @DiRF
    @DiRF 3 роки тому +112

    The version on 2600 wasn't called "Frog Bog", that name was used for the Intellivision version. The 2600 version, same developer and basic gameplay, was called Frogs & Flies.

    • @pajordan
      @pajordan 3 роки тому +9

      I thought that sounded off!

    • @d.vaughn8990
      @d.vaughn8990 2 роки тому +4

      I wrote the same response - but deleted after I saw you beat me to the punch!

    • @MrGundam0083
      @MrGundam0083 2 роки тому +2

      OHH i remember that i played that a good bit pretty simple but still fun

    • @mlobeatsfcp
      @mlobeatsfcp 2 роки тому +2

      The strange black cartridges

    • @geraldford6409
      @geraldford6409 2 роки тому +1

      5 Retro Geek Demerits for Riggs

  • @chiroquacker2580
    @chiroquacker2580 3 роки тому +18

    44 years after it came out they are still selling Atari 2600 consoles in the form of the retron 77, and people still make games for it.

  • @robertanderson2898
    @robertanderson2898 3 роки тому +24

    The Cannibals from Jungle Hunt and Evil Otto in Berserk used to scare the bejesus out of me. Two of my favorite games along with Defender and Demon Attack.

  • @jasonaz7310
    @jasonaz7310 3 роки тому +29

    The inclusion of Frostbite made this list legit, well done! Far too many forget about or don't even know about it. My all time favorite.

  • @joeboo8626
    @joeboo8626 3 роки тому +21

    Excellent list! I grew up with Atari. You have to respect the programmers for delivering so much with so many limitations, most of the Atari box art was amazing, and you can't go wrong with Activision games.

  • @Robamillard1
    @Robamillard1 3 роки тому +20

    Pitfall 2 was easily the best game for the 2600. Also very good were Starmaster and Enduro

    • @JustMe99999
      @JustMe99999 Рік тому +1

      It's amazing that they were able to create something like Pitfall 2 on the 2600.

    • @uj7110
      @uj7110 Рік тому +1

      Phoenix was better on the 2600 than the arcade

    • @RetroGamingStories
      @RetroGamingStories Рік тому +1

      Exactly!!! 😃

  • @gdashafe1001
    @gdashafe1001 2 роки тому +24

    Joust was a pretty incredible port. Mario Bros was a lot of fun and decent too. Moon Patrol, Warlords, Star Raiders would have been on my list. Combat was a blast but you needed two people.

    • @RavenRuled
      @RavenRuled 2 роки тому

      Joust was a game we played all the time as well as California Games (Motorcross)

    • @Bootyhunter1971
      @Bootyhunter1971 Рік тому +1

      Warlords! Best party game on the Atari 2600

    • @rodrigoalves-cg6xv
      @rodrigoalves-cg6xv Рік тому

      Bobby is Going Home is also great

  • @Sarcophagus74
    @Sarcophagus74 3 роки тому +30

    Pitfall has an end. Just like Pitfall 2.

    • @granderwishes
      @granderwishes 2 роки тому

      Yep, I believe it's collecting 20 golden bricks

    • @davidstaiti
      @davidstaiti Рік тому

      ​@granderwishes Pitfall ends when the 20 minute timer runs out. 2 ends when you find the cat thing.

    • @stevenwheat3621
      @stevenwheat3621 Рік тому +3

      Pitfall 2 was way better for me.
      I was dazzled on how the levels were..
      AND YOU COULD SWIM?!

    • @davidstaiti
      @davidstaiti Рік тому

      @Steven Wheat the game play in Pitfall 2 was a huge step forward for that platform. Even now, my teen daughters play Pitfall 2 on my original 2600 and they consider it one of their all-time favorites.

    • @jamesfischer2427
      @jamesfischer2427 Рік тому

      ​@@granderwishes you had to collect all 20 treasures (5 Gold Bars, 5 Silver Bars, 5 Diamond Rings, and 5 Money Bags (which looked very similar to the snake when you were moving fast...)

  • @leesarcade
    @leesarcade 3 роки тому +18

    Keystone Kapers is my all time favorite!

  • @jaredhammonds8255
    @jaredhammonds8255 3 роки тому +19

    What I love about classic games is that graphics couldn't be a reason to like them. They had to be fun to play and they are! Even today I still play Atari. H. E. R. O is number 1 for me!

  • @Black01Dragon
    @Black01Dragon 3 роки тому +15

    Frog bog was also called frogs and flies. I loved the setting where you could free jump and land in the water..

    • @jeffb.6642
      @jeffb.6642 3 роки тому +3

      Oh yeah, I remember it now, it was one of those weird "chisel tip" shaped cartridges.

    • @mutrain
      @mutrain 3 роки тому +2

      Yup I have it as the frogs and flies version. Great game

    • @jst25
      @jst25 3 роки тому +2

      I love Frogs and Flies, never heard it called Frog Bog before.

    • @bonemasterd1
      @bonemasterd1 3 роки тому +3

      It was called Frog Bog on the Intellivision

    • @Black01Dragon
      @Black01Dragon 3 роки тому +1

      @@bonemasterd1 an Intellivision game on an Atari 2600 video?!?! The nerve! 😝

  • @Zanctum
    @Zanctum 2 роки тому +9

    Pitfall, in fact, has an end, when you collect all the treasures in time, which is really challenging.

    • @sandal_thong8631
      @sandal_thong8631 8 місяців тому

      There's guides on the web telling you to go left or right up or down to collect them all in 20 minutes, but you have to jump like 19 scorpions. Too bad there's no reward fanfare for winning like Adventure and Haunted House. I've won it twice, once 40 years ago, and once a few years ago, so no need to play it again today. I never got Pitfall! 2.

  • @misterkumquat7911
    @misterkumquat7911 3 роки тому +16

    I recently got an Atari and I appreciate the video.

    • @chiroquacker2580
      @chiroquacker2580 3 роки тому +3

      Long live the king of game consoles!!!

    • @Zaphod-ef9yz
      @Zaphod-ef9yz 3 роки тому +2

      If you arw just getting into ut I can strongly recommend getting a Plus Cart - best purchase of 2021 for me.

    • @misterkumquat7911
      @misterkumquat7911 3 роки тому

      @@Zaphod-ef9yz Can ya explain what a plus cart is for me?

    • @BriansManCave
      @BriansManCave 3 роки тому

      Cool thing is that most of the great games are cheap to pick up ;-)

    • @Zaphod-ef9yz
      @Zaphod-ef9yz 3 роки тому

      @@misterkumquat7911 Oh it's amazing. It's a cartridge that connects the 2600 to the internet (seriously) and you can go on a server and literally play hundreds and hundreds of games. All the popular ones , rare ones and the homebrew scene has a lot on there too.

  • @robart1979
    @robart1979 3 роки тому +14

    Pitfall 2 is the best platformer on the system, plus it has bgm, ahead of its time. Cosmic ark, Congo bongo, xevious, I could go on but it's been awhile.. Riggs, you're the best, man!!

    • @LoroTalby
      @LoroTalby 2 роки тому +1

      How, how, how is Pitfall 2 not on this list. Makes no sense.

    • @sandal_thong8631
      @sandal_thong8631 8 місяців тому

      @@LoroTalby It came out in 1984, and not many people bought it. So if he doesn't have it....
      I liked Cosmic Ark, but whether I can beat my high score is another matter, as it was pretty fast at that level.

  • @jeremyrebel8931
    @jeremyrebel8931 3 роки тому +8

    No Combat!? That was such a good multi player.

    • @dokka3785
      @dokka3785 3 роки тому

      I just made a version of this on game builder garage. My kids have a blast playing it

    • @Zaphod-ef9yz
      @Zaphod-ef9yz 3 роки тому

      @@dokka3785 I'm planning on getting GBG this weekend and have been thinking about remaking some 2600 games.

  • @what3801
    @what3801 2 роки тому +7

    One of my earliest and favorite memories is, watching my mom and grandma (both who are not gamers) playing Kaboom together, having a blast, yelling and laughing their heads off. Great time.

    • @matthewlane518
      @matthewlane518 7 місяців тому

      I have similar memories lol so cool

  • @jeremytheloner
    @jeremytheloner 3 роки тому +7

    John, this is SUCH a great list, and judging by your entries here we're obviously very close in age. I could write paragraphs about my memories of each game, but I'll spare you the details! Thanks for the nostalgia kick! Also, I hadn't seen or thought about Dragon Fire since about 1984, so that was definitely a treat.

  • @steelerman1974
    @steelerman1974 3 роки тому +4

    Two games that are still so much fun with 2 players are Combat and Freeway. Racing game that I loved also was Enduro. Most people think Pole Position with racing on the 2600, but Enduro was great at the time with the sky changing colors, and even a snow level. Still have a 2600 hooked up and ready to play on a moments notice. Priceless!

    • @KabukiKid
      @KabukiKid 3 роки тому +1

      Air Sea Battle was also a blast with two players. I owned the Sears Tele-Games version of the cartridge, which they re-titled to Target Fun for some reason. lol

    • @steelerman1974
      @steelerman1974 3 роки тому +1

      @@KabukiKid Agreed! Atlantis was fun too. So many games that could make a top 20 list.

    • @brianmason8287
      @brianmason8287 4 місяці тому

      My favorite two player games are slot racers and outlaw.

  • @spittingfire420
    @spittingfire420 3 роки тому +5

    2:09 Grandma's Boy 🤘🤯
    I used to spend hours playing Kangaroo at the arcade punching the monkeys always made me laugh

  • @NateB1976
    @NateB1976 3 роки тому +9

    I got to show some love for Dig Dug and Galaxian. Spent a lot of time with those two. When it comes to fun 2 player vs the ultimate classic was Combat. For it’s time you had so many options of game play. Many’s the hours we spent on that one!

    • @AndrewDenny-Tassielad
      @AndrewDenny-Tassielad 2 роки тому +1

      Dig Dug is a top 20 Atari game for sure 👍

    • @brantnuttall
      @brantnuttall 11 місяців тому +1

      Playing Combat with anyone in my family was great fun, It was my free game that I got with the console and there were SO many options..........

  • @caine0316
    @caine0316 3 роки тому +7

    I used to love Plaque Attack for the 2600

  • @johnhancockretro
    @johnhancockretro 3 роки тому +71

    Great list! Berzerk is one of my favorites.

    • @robertanderson2898
      @robertanderson2898 3 роки тому +2

      I was always in awe of Evil Otto, fascinating every time he popped up on the screen and started chasing you :O

    • @JohnRiggs
      @JohnRiggs  3 роки тому +10

      I wanna remake it in Game Builder Garage for Switch.

    • @Sebastian-jk9kk
      @Sebastian-jk9kk 3 роки тому +5

      Beamrider is tops on my list

    • @berzerk2600
      @berzerk2600 3 роки тому +4

      Obviously one of my faves!! See my name?

    • @TheMaskedheel
      @TheMaskedheel 3 роки тому +3

      I made my own text alert it says, “Intruder Alert”.

  • @jamesanthony8438
    @jamesanthony8438 2 роки тому +2

    "Frogger," "The Empire Strikes Back," "Centipede" (with the Trackball), "River Raid," "Joust"... loved all of them and still have them in my collection, today.
    I still get the music from "Vanguard" and "Moon Patrol" stuck in my head. =)
    I've always been disappointed that people don't seem to remember really cool systems like the 2600, 7800, Colecovision and Vectrex. They had great games!

  • @davidluopa4627
    @davidluopa4627 3 роки тому +20

    Warlords with two sets of paddles and four people is still a blast.

    • @TheMaskedheel
      @TheMaskedheel 3 роки тому +3

      Absolutely, also the paddle game Demons to Diamond was the only game me and my siblings literally played it until it burnt out.

  • @tom957a
    @tom957a 3 роки тому +5

    Vanguard was also one of my top favorites. Good call on Yar's Revenge, too. I loved the super grim sound effects on that one as a young kid.

    • @sandal_thong8631
      @sandal_thong8631 8 місяців тому

      I don't think I ever got to the third Gond, it was just too fast to maneuver by the third level. I did see the arcade game once at a pizzeria, where the paths were diagonal.
      The last time I played Yars' Revenge to beat the logbook challenge high score (game 6a: 100K, 230K, 500K), I hit the line that gives the programmers initials and froze the game.

  • @cedarvalleygaming
    @cedarvalleygaming 3 роки тому +7

    Activision had so many great games, glad to see you include River Raid! One of my favorites that I had as a kid was Chopper Command, played so much of that game back then.

    • @jamesfischer2427
      @jamesfischer2427 Рік тому +1

      Chopper Command, Barnstorming, and Stampede.

    • @sandal_thong8631
      @sandal_thong8631 8 місяців тому

      I think I prefer The Empire Strikes Back to Chopper Command the last time I played Atari.

  • @danieldoyle8724
    @danieldoyle8724 2 роки тому +1

    Great list. You're giving me great ideas on games to look for!

  • @Spartan77
    @Spartan77 3 роки тому +3

    Excellent choice of Atari 2600 games. Chopper Command, Dodge 'em and Carnival are 3 of my favorites for that system.

    • @sandal_thong8631
      @sandal_thong8631 8 місяців тому +1

      For Dodge 'Em I beat the logbook challenge on difficulty b, scoring perfect game of 1080 and didn't need to play again. A few years ago I realized I'd never won the game on difficulty a's! So I did that on slow-random and fast, but haven't done it on both fast and random positions of enemy cars (both difficulty a). So I think that one's worth still playing to learn the patterns to win.

  • @retrospective83
    @retrospective83 3 роки тому +3

    Great list John so many great memories so much of my childhood was spent on the 2600 playing ghostbusters mario bros and jungle hunt.

  • @jerrybrace2209
    @jerrybrace2209 3 роки тому +14

    Seaquest would be in my top 5.

    • @The_Bad_Guy.
      @The_Bad_Guy. 3 роки тому +4

      Heck yeah man I loved that game too! An absolute classic! That game never gets the recognition it deserves.

    • @gdashafe1001
      @gdashafe1001 2 роки тому +3

      I still play that one to this day. It is amazing in every way.

    • @corrosyon
      @corrosyon 2 роки тому

      That game and Moon Patrol.

  • @fuzzfrancis435
    @fuzzfrancis435 3 роки тому +2

    Superman was my all time favorite Atari 2600 game. I still have the cart today. Great video sir!

    • @travisolson9413
      @travisolson9413 3 роки тому +1

      Superman was my favorite N64 game. Look how far they came from the 2600 Superman to the N64 Superman. Tremendous improvement.

  • @bartdunbar5108
    @bartdunbar5108 3 роки тому +2

    Nice to see vanguard get some love.

  • @carlskiles4187
    @carlskiles4187 3 роки тому +11

    This is a pretty solid list. Glad to see some Maze Craze love. I would add Pitfall II and Keystone Kapers as honorable mentions.

    • @ostiariusalpha
      @ostiariusalpha 3 роки тому +5

      Pitfall II pushes the 2600 so hard, it doesn't feel like it even belongs on that console.

  • @rpgspree
    @rpgspree 2 роки тому +3

    Some interesting choices. Others that I've enjoyed were BMX Air Master, Dig Dug, Keystone Kapers, Missile Command, Moon Patrol, RealSports Volleyball, Secret Quest, Solaris, Tennis, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes, Venture, and Warlords. Some of them can have limited replayability, but they're fairly fun for awhile. BTW, Pitfall has an ending: get all of the treasure before the time runs out. I doubt that very many have manged to do it. I certainly never did. Never beat Solaris either.

  • @a.f.warrick0404
    @a.f.warrick0404 Рік тому +2

    I can’t believe you left the most enjoyable game of all time for the 2600-E.T.!! Seriously though, I’m glad I discovered your channel. As a kid in the 80s, you can def appreciate how far we’ve come! As someone else mentioned, I absolutely loved Warlords with the paddle controllers, Combat for 2-player tank battles, and Activision’s Defender knock-off: Chopper Command. Keep up the great work!

    • @sandal_thong8631
      @sandal_thong8631 8 місяців тому +1

      Last time I played E.T. I won 5 times before running out of energy on hard. The thing with Atari (and its competitors) was that it was designed for 2-player games from 1977-1979, like Combat. By 1981 it became a 1-player game system with hits like Space Invaders, Missile Command and Asteroids.
      Warlords was the multi-player exception, and probably the last 4-player game released. Even though I got M-Network's Baseball and Armor Ambush in 1982, they didn't have 1-player options (the Intellivision versions didn't either, I'm told!), and other kids didn't want to learn the control, or even buy their own copies to get proficient.

    • @syrinx9196
      @syrinx9196 11 днів тому

      E.T. is a lot more fun than some 2600 games.

  • @apocalypticminister1369
    @apocalypticminister1369 3 роки тому +5

    Darn right John.. My experience with gaming in the 80's was about the same brother 😎

  • @mjeromee
    @mjeromee 3 роки тому +4

    Good list. My sister and I would play Frogs and Flies all the time. I would have exchanged Phoenix for Demon Attack. Didn't care for Vanguard and I'm stunned Missile Command didn't make the list. Along with Yars' Revenge & Frostbite, Missile Command was my favourite.

    • @sethralavode9012
      @sethralavode9012 2 роки тому

      Phoenix was really easy. Demon Attack however…

  • @allanpeck8523
    @allanpeck8523 2 роки тому +5

    My favorite game was "Starmaster" by Activision. I still have it including the original box & booklet. It was way ahead of it's time in gaming, tactics & design.

    • @creamcheese6662
      @creamcheese6662 2 роки тому

      Played for hours, loved it!

    • @IslandBoy-808
      @IslandBoy-808 2 роки тому

      Activision made a lot of great games for the Atari 2600.

  • @FatMarioHeads
    @FatMarioHeads 3 роки тому +1

    Good list. I didn't grow up with the Atari but I've grown to like it over the years and even have a collection of my own. Fun fact, a friend of mine broke his arm a couple of months ago which rendered him unable to play most games. So I brought over my Atari 7800, paddle controllers and paddle games and we had fun playing some Warlords. He's a few years younger than me so he didn't grow up with Atari either but he enjoyed it

  • @wiz3421
    @wiz3421 3 роки тому +1

    I had bought an Atari Flashback system. It was missing a few games I was interested in. Then I had a buddy convince me to just get the system and physical games. An Atari 2600 Jr. And 70 games later I owe him so much gratitude. Love the Atari 2600. I'm not sure I could narrow my choices down to 20. H.E.R.O would top any list with Yars Revenge right behind it. Burgertime, Pitfall 1 & 2, River Raid, Frogger, Keystone Kapers, Jungle Hunt, Miner 2049er, Tapper, Super Cobra, Mr..Do!, Solar Fox, Crystal Castle, Congo Bongo, & M.A.S.H, are games I always end up playing when I start an Atari session.
    Just glad I was able to build up a decent library before prices rose.

  • @soltydog
    @soltydog 3 роки тому +5

    Great list. I still have most of those games. A couple of my other favorites were Shark Attack, Entombed and Quick Step.

  • @The_Bad_Guy.
    @The_Bad_Guy. 3 роки тому +5

    Star Master was always one of my favorites. I think it holds up really well today. It was really ahead of it's time when it came out. I would have to say it really stretched the Ataris hardware for all that you could do in that game.

  • @ERogerCoswell82
    @ERogerCoswell82 2 роки тому +1

    We got an Atari 2600 Christmas of 87 when I was 5 and I loved it.. The fact that I could go to the local 99 cents store and they had a HUGE bin of brand new 2600 games for a buck each was epic as a kid.. A couple of Saturdays a month I would come home with like 10 new 2600 games.. By the time I got an NES in like 1990 I had around 70 2600 games.. My all time favorites Ms. Pacman, Combat, Astroids, Journey, Joust, Donkey Kong, Q-Bert, and my all time favorite 2600 game is and always will be Moon Patrol.. Me, my mom(who wasnt a gamer), and my sister were literally obsessed with Moon Patrol.. Lol.

  • @jonmullaly6274
    @jonmullaly6274 3 роки тому +7

    Cosmic Ark (Imagic) is one I always play whenever I have the 2600 out.

    • @Harerazer
      @Harerazer 3 роки тому +1

      Imagic turned out a bunch of Good to Great games.

    • @TheMaskedheel
      @TheMaskedheel 3 роки тому

      I still remember seeing the commercial for this game when watching Saturday morning cartoons.

  • @smallmj2886
    @smallmj2886 3 роки тому +4

    The main 2600 game that I enjoy is River Raid.

  • @allthatsmagic06
    @allthatsmagic06 3 роки тому +1

    Love these old atari 2600 games John I play them still on my 7800 once in awhile and bought the carts 1 and 2 for my Evercade hand held system

  • @mpkrist5701
    @mpkrist5701 3 роки тому +2

    Snoopy and the Red Baron. It’s my favorite game and someone needed to say it. Never gets any mention.

  • @jtasrtrash
    @jtasrtrash 2 роки тому +3

    Man, I almost forgot about these great games! But for my personal list, Joust is definately missing! It made so much fun flying around with these birds by flapping the wings while fighting against a friend trying to hit them from above. So easy gameplay but so great.

  • @heathedgecombe2441
    @heathedgecombe2441 3 роки тому +4

    Loved the Atari! Brought back some great memories

  • @ebls2000
    @ebls2000 2 роки тому +2

    Man..., I played so much River Raid, Moon Patrol and Frostbite when I was a child... I still love these games and play occasionaly using the Stella Emulator, but seeing how much games evolved in things like Mass Effect or The Elder Scrolls (my new favorite games) is incredible.

  • @Major73Problem
    @Major73Problem 3 роки тому +1

    Thanks for this! I forgot about most of these. Going to look for Dragonfire.

  • @fresnokila3
    @fresnokila3 3 роки тому +3

    My favorite has to be Megamania. Still enjoy playing it today!

    • @mrp4242
      @mrp4242 3 роки тому +2

      Great choice

  • @jimmylarson7856
    @jimmylarson7856 3 роки тому +3

    I agree with Pitfall being the best. I love maze craze too. It’s rarely mentioned but I love Bowling too. It’s so simple but so much fun

  • @sithcritic8906
    @sithcritic8906 3 роки тому +1

    Thanks for showing this classic console some love.

  • @TheGIChef
    @TheGIChef 2 роки тому

    Excellent run down! I loved playing those games and more back in the day.

  • @kpyrz
    @kpyrz 3 роки тому +5

    There is kind of an end to Pitfall. You have to take a certain path through all the screens utilizing both underground and above ground paths in order to get every treasure in the game. Personally, though, I never bothered with all that, and would always just run in a straight line to the right of the screen.

    •  3 роки тому

      Yeah, there is definetely and ending, I watched a speedrun of it recently, you got to collect all gold treasures in the time limit

    • @jeremiahthomas8140
      @jeremiahthomas8140 3 роки тому +1

      Once you collect all 32 treasures the game does end by freezing. Still an ending though.

  • @thickmancrew3787
    @thickmancrew3787 3 роки тому +4

    For the best top score game its Tapper!

  • @tempestfury8324
    @tempestfury8324 3 роки тому +2

    We always just called it Atari just like in the mid 80's Nintendo was just Nintendo not the NES.
    I have to add Combat to my list. Yes, it's two player only but there is so much variety to that cartridge.
    Stargate is so much better than Defender, you won't want to play the latter again.
    Other games I really enjoyed were StarMaster, Atlantis, Circus Atari, and Warlords.

  • @markaitkenguitar
    @markaitkenguitar 3 роки тому +2

    Wow Hero looks awesome. So bummed I missed this back in the day!

  • @PercyPumpkinheart
    @PercyPumpkinheart 3 роки тому +5

    Tac-Scan is really fun and unique for a vertical shooter. You control a squad of 5 ships and can lose/regain them as you go. It also uses the paddle controllers.

  • @KINGDUDE74
    @KINGDUDE74 3 роки тому +7

    Dude how could you not include Enduro. It had to be the best racing game on the Atari 2600.

    • @KabukiKid
      @KabukiKid 3 роки тому +2

      He could probably make a list just from Activision games. (Back when Activision was a game-changing, innovative company!)

    • @sandal_thong8631
      @sandal_thong8631 8 місяців тому

      Technically Indy 500 is the only "racing" game; the others are just passing-traffic games. But because it came with Steering Controllers, no one ever made another game with those controllers, like a sequel or Tempest.

  • @litoxcas
    @litoxcas 2 роки тому +2

    I loved the Activision titles; a few not mentioned: Spider Fighter, Megamania, and Chopper Command. Non-Activision, Centipede was a good port

  • @MrEd20901
    @MrEd20901 2 роки тому +2

    Nice list few of my favs and some I need to try out. For 2 player fun, I always enjoyed combat (so many options), armor ambush, and artillery duel.

  • @watson3047z
    @watson3047z 3 роки тому +5

    Maze Craze was fun back in the day and still is. I played it a few weeks ago on my Atari VCS I think.

  • @dot-bob
    @dot-bob 3 роки тому +5

    I would have had combat, warlords, dark chambers, and surround on my list. I probably played more mulitplayer then single player games due to growing up in a large family and needing to share the only TV.

  • @TheMultiGunMan
    @TheMultiGunMan 3 роки тому +2

    I use to go to my cousins house on Saturdays all the time and played her Atari 2600 all the time. My favorite was a tank game. I think it was called Tank.

    • @TheMaskedheel
      @TheMaskedheel 3 роки тому +1

      Was it really called tank? Not Combat or BattleZone? Combat rocked!!

  • @not2tired
    @not2tired 3 роки тому +1

    Solid list! And most of them can be found for cheap! These are my 2 favorite "new" releases: Space Rocks (Asteroids with option to play 2-player simul), Medieval Mayhem (easy to play 4-player simul). Basically Darrell Spice Jr. makes top-notch games.

  • @bonemasterd1
    @bonemasterd1 3 роки тому +5

    This is a great list. QBert is my favorite game that you didn't mention.

    • @zzbudzz
      @zzbudzz 2 роки тому

      I had a Q-bert watch, I forgot all about that until now. Lol

    • @sandal_thong8631
      @sandal_thong8631 8 місяців тому

      That's still worth playing today.

  • @ridiculous_gaming
    @ridiculous_gaming 3 роки тому +3

    Out of your list, Hero was and still is absolutely incredible.

  • @AbSYNthBacklash
    @AbSYNthBacklash 2 роки тому

    Glad you mentioned Hero and Berzerk. I spent so much time as a kid playing those.

  • @walkers198
    @walkers198 Рік тому

    Love this - thanks for the great memories

  • @timpize8733
    @timpize8733 3 роки тому +4

    Pretty nice, I didn't know a bunch of those. My favorites are there though. There was also a really cool and addictive shooter called Spider Fighter, probably one of the few I'd still play to be honest.

  • @6vibe150
    @6vibe150 3 роки тому +9

    When I was a kid with an nes and saw an Atari I would think, who would buy that? Now I’m here spending $100 for a 2600 with games lol

    • @volvoguy804
      @volvoguy804 2 роки тому

      Lol! Just made the same decision for the same price today.

  • @SacTownLions0
    @SacTownLions0 2 роки тому +1

    My all time favorite: River Raid by Activision! Could go on forever. All the "even" levels actually changed. You felt like you were getting somewhere.

  • @charlesfatt
    @charlesfatt 5 місяців тому

    So many memories,thanks for the video

  • @pajordan
    @pajordan 3 роки тому +3

    Adventure is my go to 2600 game. Glad to see it on the list. Surprised you didn’t mention the Easter egg.

    • @KabukiKid
      @KabukiKid 3 роки тому +1

      The "transmolecular dot!" heh That is what everyone used to call it, at least.

    • @pajordan
      @pajordan 3 роки тому +1

      @@KabukiKid oh funny, never heard that

  • @silverserpentor6710
    @silverserpentor6710 2 роки тому +3

    Love me some H.E.R.O.. Keystone Kapers, Megamania, Plaque Attack, and Moonsweeper are definitely up there for replayability. And Combat was great for 2 players.

    • @SokemRokemRobot
      @SokemRokemRobot 2 роки тому +1

      I completely agree with you about Moonsweeper. It was one of my favorites.

  • @jerrodbalzer7317
    @jerrodbalzer7317 2 роки тому

    Great list! I also loved Missile Command, Fast Food, and Coconuts.

  • @outletpro
    @outletpro 3 роки тому +2

    Lots of good ones on your list. For me I would add Pressure Cooker, Keystone Kapers, Space Jockey, and yes.. Krull. Also the Star Wars games.

  • @syadkir
    @syadkir 3 роки тому +3

    John, good list...yet where's Private Eye, Warlords, Space Shuttle and Roc'n' Rope?

  • @MrDintheD
    @MrDintheD 2 роки тому +8

    Great list! Kudos for mentioning Kangaroo, Space Invaders, Frogger, Vanguard, H.E.R.O.and Jungle Hunt. I would also add Ms. Pac-Man, Pitfall II, Circus Atari, and Q-bert. Now, if you were to include homebrews made over the last 20 years, the list would be very different because there are so many great homebrews as good as or better than the ones from back in the day!

  • @PixelSlayers
    @PixelSlayers 2 роки тому +1

    Great list! One I love that I don't hear talked about enough is Star Trek Strategic Operations Simulator (great name, I know). I have a complete copy that even has the controller overlay! Pretty fun and has two different ship perspectives at the same time. Still visit that game quite a bit.

  • @mikejsretroarcade4612
    @mikejsretroarcade4612 2 роки тому

    I love that you mentioned vanguard I still play a lot of that today! Two I would have mentioned is millipede and centipede, love those! Great list John! Never played hero but that looks awesome! Great video!

    • @sandal_thong8631
      @sandal_thong8631 8 місяців тому

      Definitely Centipede. That was fun to play either as the Atari version or the original arcade for Playstation!

  • @miketate3445
    @miketate3445 3 роки тому +3

    Dude, you gotta upload at 60fps if you're doing 2600. It's chaos otherwise.

  • @mrp4242
    @mrp4242 3 роки тому +1

    Great list. I started playing the 2600 in the early 80s at my cousins house and at my friends house. I eventually got a 7800 in 1988 and was able to get about a dozen 2600 games for that. Played it quite a bit until I ‘upgraded’ to the SNES (my favorite console of all time).
    My top 20 would be:
    20) Kaboom. A neighbor gave me this one along with the paddles and I was addicted.
    19) Keystone Kapers. Another ACTIVISION gem.
    18) Combat. Old school. Must play as 2P.
    17) Defender. A lot of folks disparage this one, or prefer the second one, but I’m with you Riggs, I liked this defender. Had a lot of fun back in the day.
    16) Dig Dug
    15) Yars Return/Yars Revenge (yup, lumping both together)
    14) Commando. This one got a huge boost with the 7800, but the 2600 one plays really well.
    13) Galaxian. Honorable mention to Phoenix and Demons attack.
    12) Dig Dug. Pretty solid port. Not nearly as good as the NES version, but was available well before.
    11) Toyshop Trouble. Another great homebrew.
    10) Space Invaders. It’s the killer app of the 2600.
    9) Ms Pac-Man. Big boost when it went to 7800, but this is a solid port.
    8) Berserk
    7) Missile Command
    6) River Raid
    5) HERO
    4) Frogger
    3) Wizard of Wor. Huge fan of this game. Probably spent more time playing this with my friend in the early 80s than any other game
    2) Pitfall/Pitfall 2 . I realize these are completely different games, but I wanted both on here...
    1) Mario Bros.

  • @joeg4707
    @joeg4707 2 роки тому +1

    Great video. Kaboom with paddles is the best! Tough to argue with the list. There are some other Activision games I played a lot: Seaquest, Pressure Cooker, Crackpots, Decathlon, Keystone Kapers. I also enjoyed Millipede, Phoenix, Ms. Pac Man. So many good ones.

    • @sandal_thong8631
      @sandal_thong8631 8 місяців тому

      Phoenix and Ms. Pac-Man are still worth playing today. I didn't get any games after 1983, but Centipede is still good.

  • @Every1LovesButters
    @Every1LovesButters 3 роки тому +3

    Megamania is the premier shooter on the 2600 IMO.

    • @jst25
      @jst25 3 роки тому

      Megamania is my favorite game on the system. Also, leaving Warlords off the list is criminal. And Planet Patrol was a great game, too.

  • @DireSwift
    @DireSwift 2 роки тому +3

    I still remember the excitement of beating Adventure just as multiple dragons are closing in and that game never got old no matter how many times you played it. In Pitfall I always thought I beat it once in all the hundreds of times I played it but to be honest I don't know, it's been nearly 40 years lol

  • @TioMostFrio
    @TioMostFrio 3 роки тому +2

    I played the heck out of EggoMania and Breakout. I know EggoMania is not a big hit but man that dirty bird got me every time

  • @JaminWarrenPMS
    @JaminWarrenPMS 2 роки тому +2

    There is an end to Pitfall. You have to get all the treasure before the time limit. And you need to memorize the underground because it isn't 1:1 with the over world.
    If it were my list Combat, Joust and Warlords would be on and possibly Breakout. The 2600 was a great multiplayer system.

  • @GameplayUnknown
    @GameplayUnknown 3 роки тому +3

    I’m glad my two favourite 2600 games are included frogger and jungle hunt, definitely still fun to play. Along with most of the games on this list.

  • @LATR3NDS
    @LATR3NDS 3 роки тому +3

    I'm 20 years old and even though the 2600 came before my time, I can't help but love it!

  • @seltzerbing
    @seltzerbing Рік тому

    Nice video. Really enjoying all your videos. Riverraid is the Atari game that is most playable today. Perfect game back then and still is.

  • @blatherskite3009
    @blatherskite3009 2 роки тому +1

    Quite a solid list, there. Two that I would have included, because they gave me a lot of fun as a kid, were Chopper Command and Wizard of Wor. Chopper Command was a lot like Defender but without all the flickering; it played well and looked good. Wizard of Wor was great with its simultaneous 2-player mode where you could co-operate or be treacherous :)

  • @djpaulhannon
    @djpaulhannon 3 роки тому +3

    It was a terrible console then, and still terrible today.

    • @misterkumquat7911
      @misterkumquat7911 3 роки тому +3

      I disagree

    • @PhantasyStarved
      @PhantasyStarved 3 роки тому +2

      obvious troll is obvious

    • @tempspace2145
      @tempspace2145 3 роки тому +2

      If by terrible, you mean awesome

    • @djpaulhannon
      @djpaulhannon 3 роки тому +1

      @@PhantasyStarved it’s called an opinion, ya commie tool.

    • @djpaulhannon
      @djpaulhannon 3 роки тому

      @@tempspace2145 no, I mean terrible. Even by the standards at the time.