Atari 2600's Atlantis from Imagic: I'll Bet You Learn Something NEW!

Atlantis is a fixed shooter video game released by Imagic in July 1982 for the Atari 2600. It was written by Dennis Koble who also wrote Trick Shot for Imagic. Atlantis was ported to the Atari 8-bit computers, VIC-20, Intellivision, and Magnavox Odyssey 2.
Atlantis was a video game competition in which players of the Atari 2600 version were encouraged to mail photos of their high scores to Imagic to receive a special edition of the game named Atlantis II.
The player controls the last defenses of the City of Atlantis against the Gorgon invaders. The city has seven bases, which are vulnerable to attack. Three of these have firepower capabilities to destroy the Gorgon ships before they manage to fire death rays at one of the settlements. The gun bases have fixed cannons; the center base fires straight up, while the far left and far right bases fire diagonally upwards across the screen. The center cannon also creates a shield that protects the settlements from the death rays, so once the center cannon is destroyed, the remaining settlements become vulnerable to attack. The enemy ships pass back and forth from left to right four times before they enter firing range, giving an ample opportunity to blow them away. Lost bases can be regained by destroying enough Gorgon ships.
Regardless of the player's efforts to avert the tragedy, Atlantis is doomed. The only way the game can end is when all bases are destroyed. However, a tiny ship then rises from the rubble and speeds away.
#atari #imagic #atlantis #genxgrownup
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[@DoubleDguitar]

This and Cosmic Ark were a couple of my faves as an early teen, and still are to this day.

[@grey_wulf]

I played the heck out of Atlantis as a kid, as well as its follow-up Cosmic Ark. Imagic games were really good.

[@guidogouweloos]

Very nice game when I was little. Imagic had some beauties back then. Demon Attack, Dragonfire and Atlantis. Loved them all ❤

[@misterray818]

I used to play this game quite a bit as a kid. I remember for the Atari 2600, Imagic had some of the best boxes and artwork for their games. The shiny multicolor packaging will always live rent free in my earliest memories

[@ButterSpider3]

This is one of my favorite 2600 games. Lots of details here that I did not know. Never seen a book for this game. Thanks, Jon. Another fantastic video play through and explanation.

[@GenXGrownUp]

My pleasure!

[@WowplayerMe]

This game is an absolute classic. For anyone just now getting into retrogaming, this is in the top ten list of "Must Play" games on the 2600.

[@ctbinary42]

I always liked Cosmic Ark more than this but the graphics are amazing for the era

[@cdwvideography3930]

Cosmic Ark felt like a sequel.

[@skrumy70]

One of my favorite games. Was happy to see it work on the 2600+. I remember the last paragraph of the manual hinting at Cosmic Ark.

[@machfront]

Loved it!!! Always shoot up. Just and only use the side cannons when desperate. Keep center, and you’ll keep getting it back. Also, as a kid…. It was cool knowing that when you ‘lost’ that folks escaped. Cool. Nice. Fun. And as a kid in 1983, it was so beautiful.

[@johnnym196]

Hi again, Jon. Oooo Atlantis! I remember this for the Intellivision. Looks about the same as the Atari 2600. Love the game! Thank you for the retro lookback. Once I can get my Intellivision fixed I will be getting this game again.

[@slappymcphee]

Atlantis gave me so many hours of challenge and fun as a child!

[@DrDavelope]

I’ve never played Atlantis. It looks great. I’ll often open a game I’ve never played from my console. I won’t know what the hell to do, and then give up and go to the next one. What I love about your videos Jon, is that you go through them is such detail that it’s then easy when I then go and play it myself. Yes, I may look at downloading the manuals to make things easier. Thanks again for this great video!

[@PitfallHarry72]

I kind of did that with Mr. Run and Jump, which I bought along with my 2600+. Though I've opened the box, I've not yet tried it.

[@briansellers7673]

One of my favorite 2600 games. I, like you, never knew the details on scoring and about the center also being a shield. Great video!

[@GenXGrownUp]

Glad you enjoyed! 😁

[@zudemaster]

Imagic made some great 2600 games! Loved Atlantis.

[@aaronhiggs]

Omg. I was describing this game and I couldn’t figure out the name. I was looking everywhere. Thanks Jon!!! Just bought a copy on eBay!!

[@GenXGrownUp]

Really? What a crazy coincidence! 😁 Happy to have (accidentally) helped.

[@aaronhiggs]

@@GenXGrownUpyes. I remember playing this at my cousins and I described it as missile command with space ships. I was just telling my wife about wanting that game and now I do!

[@HerrinSchadenfreude]

Atlantis always reminded me of an updated and slightly faster version of that old vector coin op game SeaWolf from the arcade. Thanks for the memories!

[@GenXGrownUp]

Interesting!

[@Tyrannt316]

I just played this for the first time last night. I had no idea the acropolis was so important. Fun, entertaining and informative vid (as always).

[@markracer3281]

Awesome score and great seeing you last weekend at Retrorama!!!

[@GenXGrownUp]

Thanks! You too!

[@ZMAN_420]

I do remember planning this game, probably 85, 86. Oh the memories, great video Jon. I learned alot about the game.👍🏻🇺🇲

[@Datan0de]

I spent SO much time as a kid playing Atlantis! Happy to report that I *did* know all of the Atlantis trivia (including the name of the Acropolis Command Post)... up until you mentioned the second, harder version of the cart. That's awesome! This may just be me, but I always found that once a ship is below the top row, it's easier to hit it with the side cannon on the opposite side of where it's coming in rather than the one on the same side where it enters. I feels there's a higher chance of a hit when the ship is flying straight into the bullet's path. Also, so jealous that you have the original box! Imagic's box art was amazing!

[@adroharv5140]

a simple enough concept which is executed incredibly well. People don't talk ill of this game but I don't think they know just how very good the game really is. Getting quite skilled at it is key as is with most games that ramp up in difficulty as it then makes for a more satisfying prideful experience. Definitely one of the best games for the 2600 along with Demon Attack but take time to learn how to best use the right and left guns

[@PitfallHarry72]

One of my favorites when I was a kid.

[@erickent3557]

OMG, Man From Atlantis hahahah, almost forgot! My cousin pretended to swim like him. I remember trying Atlantis at a video rental store while a Flash Gordon VHS played on TV... "Flash! Ah-ahhh. He'll save every one of us!"

[@billcook4768]

Imagic were always my favorite 2600 games back in the day. Props to you for understanding the title is a play on imagination and has nothing to do with iMacs.

[@palmerther]

It's been nice to re-visit some of this from my youth. Thank you for the nostalgia. For a lot of us there is a console that we remember more than others, for me that was the Genesis. I faintly remember this game, but I don't think I ever played it.

[@KristianWontroba]

I spent SOOO many hours playing this game in childhood. Great stuff man! 🤘🏼❤

[@howy3333]

This was such a good game!!! Graphics were so advanced for their time!!

[@jayme69]

Great game design with this one :-) Thanks for sharing and keep up the awesome work Jon!

[@tedadamgreen]

Very cool game I missed back in the day! Thanks for the coverage Jon

[@GenXGrownUp]

You bet!

[@robert_roland63]

That’s is one of the best games, but man talking about Man from Atlantis is taking me back! The only thing I can remember is the main character swimming. If I tried to remember any episode plots, I’m clueless.

[@tomevil6]

Knowledge is power ! Great video !

[@mr.pavone9719]

Jon: Whenever I read the manuals before playing, I always learn something new. Maybe you'll learn something too! Me: As if. I read those manuals like a biblical scholar. You aren't gonna teach me... Jon: If you blow up the bomber it clears the screen but you only get points for the bomber! Me: well it looks like I just got schooled...

[@karasstig1207]

Love this game, love this channel! Great video as always!

[@kenhill3230]

I loved Atlantis and Demon Attack. Imagic had some good games.

[@Androsynth75]

Good video. I'd forgotten that everything had a name in this, been years since I glanced at the manual. There are a couple of other 'secret sequels' on the VCS too. My fav is Rescue Terra I from Venturevision. Great (super rare, play a rom) little shooter with a lot of variety, but the company folded before it could release further games in the series, and the sequel was bought and released by Imagic as Laser Gates, which is a fantastic shooter in it's own right. A third game was planned but went unreleased. Two games nobody talks about, but which are both top tier VCS games with a ton of replay value.

[@klacustoms]

I used to play this game all the time when it first came out. The graphics still look amazing today for an Atari 2600 game. I also had Imagic's other game, Riddle of the Sphinx, which to this day, still don't understand it. Was never able to complete it.

[@SatoshiMatrix1]

I wasn't born yet during the 2600 days and have no bias towards any developer. It's clear to me that Imagic were among the best. Atlanis is the kind of third party title that added to the console. I don't like it as much as Demon Attack or Dragonfire, but this is a game that I think should be given to any kid as an example of what the VCS was all about, even above many Atari's own titles. This one still holds up.

[@IamPowerdriven]

So much fun. I enjoyed it every time that I played it. I give it an A.

[@hardkoregamer1981]

Cool stuff Jon! Thanks buddy 👍😎👍

[@GenXGrownUp]

Thanks 👍

[@marcusgurley9495]

i played the HELL out of this and Yar's Revenge! thanks for the nostalgia

[@pex_the_unalivedrunk6785]

i loved this game! it takes some twitch reflexes, I cannot remember what my high score was, but I think it was over 100k. learning the timing for the side cannons is crucial, the center cannon is what creates the shield, and yeah, it is easier to use, but will be too late to shoot when the bombers get low. the sound, graphics, lore, and gameplay make this an all time great! cool review!

[@kenwheeler3637]

8 million is simply insane How is that even possible. Some people must have the reflexes and precision of an android. I do about as well as you do, John. It's a fun and enjoyable game but there was no chance that I ever would have received one of those Atlantis 2 carts in the mail.

[@miked4377]

imagic was incredible.....cosmic ark and atlantis no exception..

[@DLoc567]

I still have the VIC-20 version of this game (bought it on 9/28/1984 for Fl 19.90 ~ $10). The VIC-20 version doesn't have the center cannon, only the side cannons. You fire them by moving the joystick left or right without pressing the fire button. The fire button activates the blitz bomb that destroys all ships on the screen. But there's only one blitz bomb per attack wave.

[@FusionDeveloper]

Great game. The sound effects are funny and great.

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Great video. Thanks for posting this. Have a nice day.

[@GenXGrownUp]

Thanks, you too!

[@andresucharew763]

I wish they would bring the game into the modern era and really expand the story, it could be a major hit. Like piloting the saucer through debris and doing missions before making it to the ark!

[@JumboJosh-lv3mo]

Jon, if you are wondering on how someone could get 80 million is when the game reaches max difficulty, the game actually gets easier as you know what to expect and this helps you focus on what’s important. For example (yars’ revenge) An average player would worry about the extremely low wait time between Qotile attacks, but a player with expertise would know that the Qotile will fire soon ounce he’s bright white, this reduces panic as you’ll know when the Qotile will fire.

[@GenXGrownUp]

*8 million (according to Twin Galaxies)

[@fleecyproduct2497]

Always liked this one … good stuff!

[@captaincomedian6320]

Easily one of my favorite 2600 games of all time. The sense of speed and urgency really suck you in!

[@patsfan4life]

A class game for the 2600…. S tier for sure

[@treyslay753]

Thanks for the information. Atlantis is a very solid 2600 game. The Intellivision version is amazing though. It has deeper gameplay and improved graphics. I'm not a huge Intellivision fan, but Atlantis is a top tier game for the system.

[@GenXGrownUp]

Many viewers have mentioned the INTV version. I gave it a quick try and noticed it had more of a Missile Command feel with the aiming reticle rather than three fixed turrets. It feels like a VERY different game and it didn't immediately grab me, but I'll be giving it a closer look. Thanks for watching! 😁

[@treyslay753]

@@GenXGrownUp Try to find the manual online if you don't have it. You also need to know the functions of the keypad. It's really fun once you understand how to play it. Give it a second look.

[@Volk715]

the version for intellivision is a masterpiece

[@SkiBumMSP]

Oh man, I loved this game as a kid. I cannot recall what my best ever score was, but I think was over 100K. If I recall, it got to the point where I was just defending that one generator next to the center Acropolis base and did not worry to much about the rest of it. I also remember buying it out of the bargain at the time of the "Great Video Game Crash" for something like $5. I thought the graphics and the sound effects were awesome for a 2600 game. I never did play Cosmic Ark and did not even realize it was a sequel to this game. I guess "GenXGrownUp" will need to cover Cosmic Ark next.

[@andresucharew763]

Love your videos!

[@GenXGrownUp]

Love you for watching. Thanks! 😁

[@bradleyconrad678]

There is a shader in RetroArch the gives a CRT curve (as well as pretty darn good scan lines) that would look fantastic with your TV bezel.

[@GenXGrownUp]

I love those creative shaders. Do you know what it's called? There are so many!

[@bradleyconrad678]

@@GenXGrownUp I’ll look at my settings and get back to you.

[@johnsensebe3153]

I wrote a neural network AI that learned to play retro games, and this was of the ones it was successful at. It could play indefinitely because it learned to protect a single building and would ignore the rest.

[@GenXGrownUp]

That's neat.

[@ZMAN_420]

Cosmic Arc I remember owning, I hadno idea about the games were related. The cartridges were a weird shape if I remember correctly? Like Tengen games for the NES. Not a square rectangle but a curved end on the carts I think.🤘🏻👍🏻🇺🇲

[@ultimatemaitai]

Pretty good graphics in that game too.

[@jeremiahthomas8140]

Good choice.

[@GenXGrownUp]

I think so too!

[@kaibaman87]

Hopefully someday current atari can buy Imagic Back-cataloque, like they did intellevision catalog and rerelease all imagic games on modern systems.

[@theTemplar08]

I know we have cosmic ark but never realized it was a sequel.

[@IsaacKuo]

I didn't give Atlantis a chance back in the day, because I thought the inability to aim was primitive compared to Missile Command. But I didn't understand how the aiming restrictions actually make the game deeper.

[@machfront]

It might be worth spending a lil bit of time analyzing the Imagic cover art, as they often used easily purchased cheap toys mixed with models (Demon Attack cover art) or other ‘kit bashing’ (Star Voyager cover art obviously uses a good deal of a Millennium Falcon model). Might be fun content. Cheers, brother!

[@kevinlawson1746]

What's interesting is Imagic made a game called Touchdown football which ended up on the PCJR , but later that same game was also on the Atari 7800 under Electronic Arts . So is that Atari 7800 game really an Imagic game?

[@andymanaus1077]

Now i want to hear that Patrick Duffy story.

[@GenXGrownUp]

Hahaha! Epic.

[@Modellbaustammtisch]

Hey Jon Great work, as always 👍🏻 Did you play Atlantis on the 2600+? I'm asking because my Imagic Cartridges (Demon Attack & Atlantis) almost don't fit into the 2600+ slot. Feels like I'm gonna break the cartridge or the console's slot / pins. I have no problems with Atari, Coleco, US-Games or Activision Carts. But Imagic Cartridges just don't fit the way they should. Strange...

[@jeremiahthomas8140]

One thing I do is fire one of the side cannons before the ship comes out. Time it right, and you have a 50% chance at an easy, double points kill.

[@richardivey6945]

loved this and Cosmis Ark.. Do you plan on review Alien Abduction from Audacity games?

[@GenXGrownUp]

You bet. My bundle is on the way!

[@cdwvideography3930]

You should check out the Intellivision version it’s pretty challenging,

[@ksmith1298]

Loved this and C A.

[@neugey]

This one fell between the cracks for me. I played Cosmic Ark and several other Imagic games though.

[@avabethmcghee3048]

I heard $800 and was a little surprised to not hear "thousand" after it.

[@GenXGrownUp]

Ha!

[@wallacelang1374]

I have the original Atari 2600 Atlantis by Imagic as well as Atari 2600 Cosmic Ark by Imagic, for I liked playing Atlantis and yet I stink at playing Cosmic Ark. 🤔

[@bland9876]

I always just thought they shot the center one first because duh they wanted to make it harder for you to kill them.

[@GenXGrownUp]

Exactly my thinking until this week!

[@Saterno]

Hey there! Have you ever checked out the atari game Haunted House? I think it may have been one of the first (if not THE first) of the survival horror genre!

[@Saterno]

Nevermind, I decided to search it up and found your video on it, watching it after this!

[@johnrussell8086]

I'm going to say an obvious recommendation but I'd love to see you review it through the plus and maybe the GSP. And that Game would be Kaboom. How well will it work on them?

[@JohnVideo1969]

7 year old me was SO upset at Dallas for taking Patrick Duffy from one of my favorite shows.

[@GenXGrownUp]

Ha! 🐠

[@datassetteuser356]

Great game. Just noticed that the score looks a bit odd, the numbers look more like something that would fit well in a Western setting, not very scify-like. But anyways, good stuff!

[@GenXGrownUp]

@@datassetteuser356 Atlantis is an ancient city, so maybe their font is, too. 🙃

[@carlsaveus1735]

Imagic and Activision had the best titles..

[@katmacoconnor]

💜🕹️

[@mikesilva3868]

😊😊😊😊great

[@GenXGrownUp]

Thanks 😊

[@mikesilva3868]

@@GenXGrownUp keep it up 🎱

[@905JimRaynor]

Intellivision Atlantis was way better.

[@GenXGrownUp]

Firstly, that's a matter of taste. 😉 Secondly, I gave it a quick try, and looks like no center turret? Felt much more like Missile Command than the VCS version.

[@PixelzNcreatureZ]

I have this for 2600 and Intellivision, Imagic stuff is is great