I played Hero and xevious (7800) with a friend of mine many many nights as a teenager. She has since passed away so this will bring back great memories.
John, I'm a huge fan of your videos. You have introduced me into the beauty of the pre Nintendo era and have helped me make incredibly informed buying decisions. If this console didn't get your stamp of approval I would not have reserved a unit. Love ya man!
Told my dad about this and he ended up pre-ordering one...I don't think my dad has ever Pre-ordered anything...and hasn't bought a game for himself in like 25+ years. Cheers John! Awesome Review!
Russell Smith Atgames may make an improved Intellivision flashback next year. Unfortunately the lesser known consoles from the '70s and early '80s don't sell that well in reproduction / emulation form. I would like to see a 7800 reproduction (which would also play 2600 games, like the real thing), but that is unlikely to happen.
This might not be the greatest or cheapest way to way to play Atari games, but damn, my dad is going to love this as a Christmas present. He had an Atari 5200 with an adapter that allowed it to also play 2600 games and made me play them before he bought me my first console (N64) when I was a kid. TV's these days don't have the proper ports to hook it up to them anymore, and the controllers aren't working too well, so I'm excited to finally have a good idea of what to get him for Christmas.
I upgraded my original paddle controllers with replacement POTS and they work like a dream. You can also upgrade the original joystick controllers too and they work a brand new 40 year old controller. Great video.
I miss playing the atari-2600 complilation for the ps2. My ps2 bonked out over a year ago. My favorite games on the compilation were Spider Fighter,CrackPots,River-Raid,Enduro,MegaMania,and KeyStone Kapers.
I know you put this out a few years ago i just placed my order for one the price was $199.91 it's gonna be worth it i love star ship and space invaders and moon landing i think it's called great video you sold me..
This almost makes me want this... I really just wish it had an SD card reader like the portable. Then it would be a done deal. You are lucky to get one sent to you from At games :)
Seriously just emulate all the games on a Homebrewed Wii with component 480p or a Wii to HDMI adapter in 480p, with a Wii Arcade stick/ Fight stick, and you will be better served, AT@Games does not deserve our money after all the crap they have released over the years ripping off consumers with crap product.
Have to say @tgames really seem to have upped their game with this one, I didn't grow up with Atari, for me it was a spectrum. However seeing this great package makes me want to give it a go and try some of these classics. Great video as always sir!
Most fans of the 2600 complain about the flashback controllers feeling "different" than the original 2600 controllers. I actually like them. They do feel softer but IMO softer in a good way. You can tell what input is being used. That may be to the difference in construction. The new models use the rubber membrane contactors. The old ones from the 70s use the laminated PCB board construction. And that old style make them feel stiffer.
In pitfall we used to go the opposite direction, it was easier to jump the crocodiles and you would get gold quicker as well. I went through so many joysticks playing centipede and millipede.
I bought the Atari Flashback 8 (standard edition) when it came out and most of the games are on both it and the Gold Edition. I believe that AtGames has negotiated with both Atari and Activision to feature as many of the most sought for games on these Flashbacks as possible.
Thank you for the interesting review! So pitty they didn't include Pacman - one of the iconic games of all times! Good luck with further creative activity!
It would have to have Pitfall II on it for my sister to buy it. Agree on the Space Invaders thing where it should have both. I got an Atari 2600 for xmas in 1981 when I was 11 and would love to relive playing that Atari version. Thanks for the review.
I might wanna buy this thing, mainly for collector's reasons. I already have a retropie emulation console with a ton of roms, but this thing is still cool.
Fingers crossed that the same amount of care is taken for the up coming Genesis Flashback with HDMI and hopefully they get the audio right this time. Great content as always
Found this on sale for £30 with the paddles. I’m waiting until Christmas to open it so me and my dad (he played these games a lot back in the day) can play together. I already have the handheld Atari flashback and really enjoyed it but playing Breakout without paddles was getting annoying as hell so this is going to be fun.
I played Space Invaders arcade machine at Midwest Gaming. That was the first time Space Invaders was like a thousand times more awesome. The cabinet designs, the sounds were just 100 better, that booming bass Speed kick up as things Sped up. I played that more than anything in there heh
Good vid man! I played Adventure at the Midwest Gaming Classic recently and remembered having it on the 2600. I think I might buy this thing exclusively for that game. Well, and Pitfall. And Kaboom. And...
That's cool that you have the Sears "heavy-sixer" console. Found one of those a couple years ago. The nice thing about this Flashback is that you can plug in wired controllers or PADDLES! Kaboom can only be played with real paddles, after all. The only thing really missing is the library from Imagic, that had great games like Demon Attack and Dragonfire. All in all, this looks very nice!
I've been waiting to see this version and God Bless you for showing it off. I have been a collector of these mini's since day one. I'm a 70's kid so I love my Atari.. I too wonder if At@Games if always using two sides of the same coin. On one hand, you get a reasonable portable version with an SD slot but limited compatibility, and then you get another version of the same console since version 2. Version 1 was a flop and can be picked up for .00$ but it had A7800 titles! As much as I want and will buy, why is it we cannot get these companies to compromise on access to the devices without owner modification. Heck, give the retro community the full Atari! If At@Games owns title rights and IP's then why have we not seen a A5200, 7800 version at times when Nintendo is selling thousands of these that can't even been found now that it's out of production. Onto SNES Mini this fall and the Atari Falshback HDMI with save/pause and wifi NOT RF line of sight control. Would be nice to see partnership with Atariage for these units to showcase homebrew development ion the USA or around the world.
The cordless joystick was very hard to use. I just got mine today. I like that the cordless joystick has the reset button on it so you don't have to get up out of your seat. I hope when I test it out with normal paddles and joysticks that it won't make me have to get out of my chair to press the reset button. Overall I give it a 3 out of 5.
From your recommendations, I am definitely keeping an eye for an Atari Flashback 2 online for a good price!! To actually have an Atari system to play the original games on is quite exciting!!! :D
Another great review by the great John Hancock,love this channel. very informative and honest review!!! thank you so much!! a fan from the island of enchantment Puerto Rico.
Ms Pacman would have been sweet. Weird about Frogger and space invaders too, 2p invaders in Atari is great and arguably the cart that gave critical mass.
I picked up the Flashback 8 at Rite Aid on sale for $17.50 (75% off). The controllers aren't the best especially for games like Pong, Breakout, Kaboom. The movement is so erratic that those games are unplayable with the prepackaged controllers. I ended up purchasing a separate paddle style controller and it works MUCH better. Thanks for the Flashback 8 Gold edition review. Maybe later I'll pick up a wireless controller too. Based on your review they sound like a worthwhile investment. Semper Fi!
Bought one for my kids for Christmas, both wireless remotes would not bind with console (new batts) Now I can play go back to target and play wait in customer service line from hell just to get a miserable customer service Lady to hassle me game Happy new year
Thanks for the review John! I read an article that said it did have an SD card slot. The lack of one might be a deal breaker for me unfortunately. I was looking forward to playing some games that aren't included on the device such as Halloween or Porky 's. Still an interesting console though.
Nice video and if I see this somewhere I will pick it up. Too bad it didn't have a slot to play games as well. I still have a bunch of games in the attic I would of love to use.
picked this up recently. a great feature for me is the instructions screen when you select a game. a huge help to new gamers, or just rusty ones. the classic games like missile command (my old fav) look and play beautifully. sadly though, some games did not translate well to the 2600 graphics limits. crystal castles is a confusing mess, and tempest is horrendously blocky, practically unrecognizable, and as a result, almost unplayable. overall though, great system, and a welcome flashback to grizzled old gamers like me.
Certainly come a ways, nice to see HDMI replacing Composite on these things, would like more output ports but I guess an adapter down to Component would work for a SD-TV. Like those ports, plenty of accessories too cost prohibitive to replicate and that Paddle Only P&P before was a dead end solution. Skittles buttons. :P I sort of appreciate the cost reduction angle the poster/instruction approach achieves to have some print material, guess you could leave the bottom loose for reading if you hang it. Would rather have more general classic Atari poster images instead of product shots on the poster. Cost, not terrible but not great.
Thank you for playing Space Invaders! Not the OG but I'd still play the heck out of it. As a kid, there was a 2600 around my house for a couple weks, and that was THE game. In the early 90s I stumbld across a homeless guy who had the system and a grocery bag of games in his over-filled cart of belongings. Didn't ask questions, just gave him $20 for it all. Love all the vids and info and fun and inspiration you give us, John. Thank you to you, and to the rest of the MJ Crew.
It would have been fun if they let you load a game from a USB stick. This way, retro game hobbyists could play a much wider range of games including ones they might be making or games from other hobbyists shared online.
Lol John Hancock, I am definitely one of those people that would want to have the 2600 version of Space Invaders. I thought it played better, looked cooler, sounded cooler, and all the awesome play options were too good. Not to take away from the Arcade classic version, but I am very fond of the 2600 version, and that's a big strike in my book, of what is otherwise a pretty badass package! I wish they put in this much care with the Sega plug n plays.
It seems odd. I've got one of the older flashbacks and there is plenty of room in those shells to orient the board however they want. If they were going to put something on the side, the power socket would have made more sense as the connector isn't big and bulky like a hdmi cable.
This is probably the flashback that I will finally brake down and buy. Mostly because of the wireless controllers and HDMI. Have you heard anything new about the new Atari Box?
It has HERO? Sold!
I was waiting for MJR to say that :D
Well it could help save the wear and tear on your real cartridge. But then again I think you have more than one ... am I right? ;)
nice! :)
MetalJesusRocks yea, u like HERO!
I played Hero and xevious (7800) with a friend of mine many many nights as a teenager. She has since passed away so this will bring back great memories.
You always look so happy in your intros, cheers me up no end :D. Loving your work dude :D
Sanvy I said that as well!!!! Dude looks so happy and humble. He makes you wanna get him things.
Your passion for retro really shows - in really nice way. I enjoy watching these videos.
John, I'm a huge fan of your videos. You have introduced me into the beauty of the pre Nintendo era and have helped me make incredibly informed buying decisions. If this console didn't get your stamp of approval I would not have reserved a unit. Love ya man!
Thanks for the preview John. I can tell you really enjoy doing your videos.
atari should make a 7800 FLASHBACK
Love the video. Reviewed with plenty of heart.
NICE VIDEO TAKES ME BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD...I AM 48 NOW DO REMEMBER THOSE CLASSIC GAMES😀😀
Told my dad about this and he ended up pre-ordering one...I don't think my dad has ever Pre-ordered anything...and hasn't bought a game for himself in like 25+ years. Cheers John! Awesome Review!
Yes! 6:15, my favorite Activision game (Dragster) IS included!:). Thanks for reviewing this unit, John.
"Almost got the ship"
I had to do a double take to make sure you weren't cursing lol.
I never owned an Atari growing up so this is tempting. I was an Intellivision kid!
Russell Smith
Atgames may make an improved Intellivision flashback next year.
Unfortunately the lesser known consoles from the '70s and early '80s don't sell that well in reproduction / emulation form. I would like to see a 7800 reproduction (which would also play 2600 games, like the real thing), but that is unlikely to happen.
Good thing you're immortal, with so many games to play.
Great video, as always. Thanks!
This might not be the greatest or cheapest way to way to play Atari games, but damn, my dad is going to love this as a Christmas present. He had an Atari 5200 with an adapter that allowed it to also play 2600 games and made me play them before he bought me my first console (N64) when I was a kid. TV's these days don't have the proper ports to hook it up to them anymore, and the controllers aren't working too well, so I'm excited to finally have a good idea of what to get him for Christmas.
Great review, as always. I'm super excited for this HD version!
KABOOM IS THE BEST ACTIVISION GAME :) ALL CAPS BECAUSE ITS THAT GOOD! PADDLES DEFINATELY REQUIRED
My favorite Activision is Megamania. That game is a blast!
Shane Kemp definitely*
I upgraded my original paddle controllers with replacement POTS and they work like a dream. You can also upgrade the original joystick controllers too and they work a brand new 40 year old controller. Great video.
I miss playing the atari-2600 complilation for the ps2. My ps2 bonked out over a year ago. My favorite games on the compilation were Spider Fighter,CrackPots,River-Raid,Enduro,MegaMania,and KeyStone Kapers.
I love how you always put emphasis on "The Immortal"
great video review as usual John, thanks! grettings from Chile :)
Love it.I buy one to my dad.Soooo much fun and cool moments from my childhood.
I know you put this out a few years ago i just placed my order for one the price was $199.91 it's gonna be worth it i love star ship and space invaders and moon landing i think it's called great video you sold me..
This almost makes me want this... I really just wish it had an SD card reader like the portable. Then it would be a done deal. You are lucky to get one sent to you from At games :)
Seriously just emulate all the games on a Homebrewed Wii with component 480p or a Wii to HDMI adapter in 480p, with a Wii Arcade stick/ Fight stick, and you will be better served, AT@Games does not deserve our money after all the crap they have released over the years ripping off consumers with crap product.
well said sir!
Thank You, but it boggles my mind how AT@Games stays in business producing this crap year after year.
hey i know you remember me
+Commodorefan64
You don't even need to emulate. Not many have noticed but Atari released two volumes of like 100 games or something on PS4.
Have to say @tgames really seem to have upped their game with this one, I didn't grow up with Atari, for me it was a spectrum. However seeing this great package makes me want to give it a go and try some of these classics. Great video as always sir!
Most fans of the 2600 complain about the flashback controllers feeling "different" than the original 2600 controllers. I actually like them. They do feel softer but IMO softer in a good way. You can tell what input is being used. That may be to the difference in construction. The new models use the rubber membrane contactors. The old ones from the 70s use the laminated PCB board construction. And that old style make them feel stiffer.
I got this one and a year later I got the Atari Flashback 9 Gold a cool new feature is the sd card slot to add games. Really cool, fun.
you're awesome, john. thank U.
It seems like AT Games is doing a much better job lately.
In pitfall we used to go the opposite direction, it was easier to jump the crocodiles and you would get gold quicker as well. I went through so many joysticks playing centipede and millipede.
You sound a lot like John C. Reilly lol
I bought the Atari Flashback 8 (standard edition) when it came out and most of the games are on both it and the Gold Edition. I believe that AtGames has negotiated with both Atari and Activision to feature as many of the most sought for games on these Flashbacks as possible.
Bings back my first ever gaming experience....top review John!
Thank you for the interesting review! So pitty they didn't include Pacman - one of the iconic games of all times! Good luck with further creative activity!
Pac-Man was trash on the 2600 tho.
Can't wait. Great review.
I just got the Flashback 9 Gold for Xmas & I am sooo in love with it!
It would have to have Pitfall II on it for my sister to buy it. Agree on the Space Invaders thing where it should have both. I got an Atari 2600 for xmas in 1981 when I was 11 and would love to relive playing that Atari version. Thanks for the review.
I might wanna buy this thing, mainly for collector's reasons. I already have a retropie emulation console with a ton of roms, but this thing is still cool.
Fingers crossed that the same amount of care is taken for the up coming Genesis Flashback with HDMI and hopefully they get the audio right this time. Great content as always
Found this on sale for £30 with the paddles. I’m waiting until Christmas to open it so me and my dad (he played these games a lot back in the day) can play together. I already have the handheld Atari flashback and really enjoyed it but playing Breakout without paddles was getting annoying as hell so this is going to be fun.
Just picked this up -- the Activision edition, though, because it contains Spider Fighter, one of my all-time favorites!
Duneedon Activision edition is better.....
I am addicted to the version of Frogger that is on this Flashback 2600
I played Space Invaders arcade machine at Midwest Gaming. That was the first time Space Invaders was like a thousand times more awesome. The cabinet designs, the sounds were just 100 better, that booming bass Speed kick up as things Sped up. I played that more than anything in there heh
Good vid man! I played Adventure at the Midwest Gaming Classic recently and remembered having it on the 2600. I think I might buy this thing exclusively for that game. Well, and Pitfall. And Kaboom. And...
No Berzerk
That's cool that you have the Sears "heavy-sixer" console. Found one of those a couple years ago.
The nice thing about this Flashback is that you can plug in wired controllers or PADDLES! Kaboom can only be played with real paddles, after all. The only thing really missing is the library from Imagic, that had great games like Demon Attack and Dragonfire. All in all, this looks very nice!
I've been waiting to see this version and God Bless you for showing it off. I have been a collector of these mini's since day one. I'm a 70's kid so I love my Atari.. I too wonder if At@Games if always using two sides of the same coin. On one hand, you get a reasonable portable version with an SD slot but limited compatibility, and then you get another version of the same console since version 2. Version 1 was a flop and can be picked up for .00$ but it had A7800 titles! As much as I want and will buy, why is it we cannot get these companies to compromise on access to the devices without owner modification.
Heck, give the retro community the full Atari! If At@Games owns title rights and IP's then why have we not seen a A5200, 7800 version at times when Nintendo is selling thousands of these that can't even been found now that it's out of production. Onto SNES Mini this fall and the Atari Falshback HDMI with save/pause and wifi NOT RF line of sight control.
Would be nice to see partnership with Atariage for these units to showcase homebrew development ion the USA or around the world.
The cordless joystick was very hard to use. I just got mine today. I like that the cordless joystick has the reset button on it so you don't have to get up out of your seat. I hope when I test it out with normal paddles and joysticks that it won't make me have to get out of my chair to press the reset button. Overall I give it a 3 out of 5.
From your recommendations, I am definitely keeping an eye for an Atari Flashback 2 online for a good price!! To actually have an Atari system to play the original games on is quite exciting!!! :D
Now this is a console I could get down with
Thanks for the upload, dude. I'll probably pick up one of those eventually.
very cool! great review, definitely worth picking up
wow kinda like the idea of the upgraded arcade ports, space nvaders would be pretty awesome! might have to track one down when it's out.
Another great review by the great John Hancock,love this channel.
very informative and honest review!!!
thank you so much!!
a fan from the island of enchantment Puerto Rico.
Chopper Command was my favorite Activision game
Ms Pacman would have been sweet. Weird about Frogger and space invaders too, 2p invaders in Atari is great and arguably the cart that gave critical mass.
Worth it for Pitfall and Riverraid alone
If you use the HDMI and an HD tv, the lag renders some of the best games unplayable!
I picked up the Flashback 8 at Rite Aid on sale for $17.50 (75% off). The controllers aren't the best especially for games like Pong, Breakout, Kaboom. The movement is so erratic that those games are unplayable with the prepackaged controllers. I ended up purchasing a separate paddle style controller and it works MUCH better. Thanks for the Flashback 8 Gold edition review. Maybe later I'll pick up a wireless controller too. Based on your review they sound like a worthwhile investment. Semper Fi!
Chris Nizer dude those are paddle games....
all I have to say is Yars Revenge! one of my personal favorites. Why? I have no idea. Also Defender! keep up the great work John.
Bought one for my kids for Christmas, both wireless remotes would not bind with console (new batts)
Now I can play go back to target and play wait in customer service line from hell just to get a miserable customer service
Lady to hassle me game
Happy new year
Thanks for the review John! I read an article that said it did have an SD card slot. The lack of one might be a deal breaker for me unfortunately. I was looking forward to playing some games that aren't included on the device such as Halloween or Porky 's. Still an interesting console though.
Great review
So cool they just send you the stuff....
Get the atari volume games on the PS4, cheaper and better with online leader-boards
autobots rollout lots of Atari games are almost unplayable on a d-pad...
@@Charmander009 but still horrible tho
Looks great. Wish they had original Space Invaders though. Spent so many hours with my VCS. Thanks
:D I bought one! Thx John for a good revieuw. Greets from Belgium!
Looks pretty sweet, I kind of just want it for the Wireless controller
It looks super cool! Like you said John,a little disappointing that there's no sd card slot.
Funny..... Frogger reminds me of the EGA MS-Dos version I played back in 1988 on my parents 286 PC.
Awesome video John your videos always make my day I do hope you get to review the SNES mini.
I love Atari. Really brings back some great memories. Hey John, how is the room expansion going? Look forward to an update video!
I love me some Pitfall, but I'm sad that Pitfall 2 didn't make it. That was one HELL of a game!
Nice video and if I see this somewhere I will pick it up. Too bad it didn't have a slot to play games as well. I still have a bunch of games in the attic I would of love to use.
I wish they would add cart support. I hate having to buy a flashback only to buy another flashback later when they add like 20 more games.
I'd buy this in a heart beat if it only had Battlezone. Tasmanian devil game was classic too and of course one of my all time faves was Mouse Trap.
Man the sounds from Pitfall scared me as a little kid
Adventure is still my favourite game ever
The price is always high for the first buyers. When at retail, it is usually less, plus find the store's $20 off coupon!
Scan line option? I like that they add more retro and make it seem less blocky. Your thoughts on how that looks, John?
Love you videos man!
I think that Frogger is the one that was created for the Starpath Supercharger.
my 2 favorite games on the Atari was pitfall & star trek
Seems like a really product. Price point is a bit much for me, though I am tempted that they put the ports on to use original joysticks.
picked this up recently. a great feature for me is the instructions screen when you select a game. a huge help to new gamers, or just rusty ones. the classic games like missile command (my old fav) look and play beautifully. sadly though, some games did not translate well to the 2600 graphics limits. crystal castles is a confusing mess, and tempest is horrendously blocky, practically unrecognizable, and as a result, almost unplayable. overall though, great system, and a welcome flashback to grizzled old gamers like me.
Brilliant and Love the New look Space invaders
That Frogger looks like Sega's official version for the starpath. The atari 2600 cassette version.
keystone kapers and yars revenge! totally buying one when i see it.
Certainly come a ways, nice to see HDMI replacing Composite on these things, would like more output ports but I guess an adapter down to Component would work for a SD-TV. Like those ports, plenty of accessories too cost prohibitive to replicate and that Paddle Only P&P before was a dead end solution. Skittles buttons. :P
I sort of appreciate the cost reduction angle the poster/instruction approach achieves to have some print material, guess you could leave the bottom loose for reading if you hang it. Would rather have more general classic Atari poster images instead of product shots on the poster. Cost, not terrible but not great.
Thank you for playing Space Invaders! Not the OG but I'd still play the heck out of it. As a kid, there was a 2600 around my house for a couple weks, and that was THE game. In the early 90s I stumbld across a homeless guy who had the system and a grocery bag of games in his over-filled cart of belongings. Didn't ask questions, just gave him $20 for it all. Love all the vids and info and fun and inspiration you give us, John. Thank you to you, and to the rest of the MJ Crew.
the telegames 2600 was my first game console bought at Sears and the store is closing for good
It would have been fun if they let you load a game from a USB stick. This way, retro game hobbyists could play a much wider range of games including ones they might be making or games from other hobbyists shared online.
That sears model is the one i had the store that i bought it is closing this year i remember it was sold in the sporting department of sears
That space invaders look more like the Atari XL version. I wore out a few crappy Atari joysticks :)
Loving that new HD beard!!!
Lol John Hancock, I am definitely one of those people that would want to have the 2600 version of Space Invaders. I thought it played better, looked cooler, sounded cooler, and all the awesome play options were too good. Not to take away from the Arcade classic version, but I am very fond of the 2600 version, and that's a big strike in my book, of what is otherwise a pretty badass package!
I wish they put in this much care with the Sega plug n plays.
Excellent video as always.
Looks like a nice little system. But did they have to put the HDMI connector on the side?!?
All the best.
I dont know why, maybe easiest way to add to existing board design or shell?
It seems odd. I've got one of the older flashbacks and there is plenty of room in those shells to orient the board however they want. If they were going to put something on the side, the power socket would have made more sense as the connector isn't big and bulky like a hdmi cable.
Agreed
This is probably the flashback that I will finally brake down and buy. Mostly because of the wireless controllers and HDMI. Have you heard anything new about the new Atari Box?
Awesome review from The Immortal One!
Great review thank you
I once did six levels straight in Space invaders on the "Invisible mode."
I wish they did Atari flashbacks for the other Atari systems, I'm tired of a barely improved upon 2600 VCS.
Damn you man you make me wanna buy it even more!