Classic Game Room - ATARI FLASHBACK 2+ console review

[@dave4shmups]

You CAN hack a cartridge slot into the Flashback 2, or have someone do it for you. Then, you can play all of your 2600 games on this.

[@SNARC15]

Actually the Atari Flashback 2 console could be modded with a real 2600 cartridge port so you can play more games on it. Not sure about the 2+ though.

[@torlawrie13]

I believe the cartridge slot can be installed on the 2+ as well

[@SNARC15]

I figured, but as I never owned a 2+ (just the 2 original) I wasn't certain. Thanks.

[@blacktoaster]

Todd Hargosh That's why I originally got it. Then I realized my soldering skills weren't anywhere near good enough to take on that project. As I recall, the only difference between the 2 & the 2+ was they replaced the Activision games with some of the prototypes.

[@mattorama]

Todd Hargosh Wouldn't it be easier to just start with a 7800 and get an AV mod done?

[@torlawrie13]

maybe...I haven't tried the mod yet on my flashback 2, but a working 7800 costs more, at least where I am

[@gtPacheko]

I'm getting this for my dad for his birthday. He is always talking about how much he played and loved the 2600 when he was a kid. He'll probably love it ^-^

[@strangevision99]

Fatal Run is fantastic, I had it for the 7800 and it was my favourite game for that system. I've never played the 2600 version though, I wonder how it compares.

[@KonElKent]

I wanted one of these so badly for Christmas 2005, and I got one! Fourteen and a half years later, I still pull it out on occasion, but the joysticks have held up so well that I use them with my Retron 77 after its pack in stick broke.

[@ChalkTeacher]

I own the Flashback 2 and it's amazing. Endless sessions of River Raid and Secret Quest. Now, if it had Keystone Kapers, it would've been an instant 10/10 for me. Sadly, it doesn't work pretty well with LCD screens. Asteroids for example would show either the asteroids, or your spaceship, but never both. ;_;

[@arcadeheroes_coinop]

Give Save Mary a good try as well. That is a fun puzzle game that would have been released in 1989/90 and one I play on the FB2 often. BTW - The Flashback 2 has solder points where you can mod the console to add a cartridge slot and play the original carts on the machine. Not sure if the FB2+ has that or not but I wouldn't see why not.

[@wildbilltexas]

Nice review! I wish Atari (or whoever owns it now) would make a flashback console with a cartridge, USB or SD slot. I also wonder whats the hangup of a company like Hyperkin from making a 2600 or 7800 clone console?

[@KonElKent]

I know it's been a few years, but the Flashback 2 was actually designed to allow the end user to hack in their own cartridge slot, and even be able to switch back and forth between the built-in games and carts (doing so WILL void the warranty though). And Hyperkin has released the Retron 77, which plays 2600 games, has a mini SD card for saving games, comes with a few homebrew games on said SD card (but they're not anything to write home about), and has a 720p HDMI output. If I have one complaint, it's that the pack in joystick, while having a long chord to allow me to lounge in bed while playing on my bedroom TV and was comfortably ambidextrous, was not very sturdy and broke not long after purchase. Fortunately, it supports the retro controllers of the original 2600 and the Flashback 2.

[@matthewharrop5154]

I'm going to get the Atari Flashback 2+ soon. I just hope that I can put on a cartridge slot on the console. That would be AWESOME!

[@RyanKentBarnhart]

I bought one of these a while back just for the controllers, they're excellent.

[@Killersharkboy]

I can thank my babysitter for getting me into Atari, she had one of these and I loved it, already loved arcade games so it was something very interesting to me, I actually have one now set up on a 19 inch 2007 Phillips tv and honestly I’ve played both the original Atari and this, since they run off the same hardware unlike when at games took over I’m happy enough with just that, I prefer the original played on a 1980s tv set that I no longer have

[@JLOCLamborghiniFan88]

Yes Mark! Aquaventure freakin' rocks!

[@Alaska1925]

But.. Mark said it was an unreleased game for the old system.. I don't remember that being the case :/

[@somedeerboi]

+Alaska1925 I think it was released in Brazil or something.

[@dr.frankenstein5421]

There are two hidden games on the flashback 2. To unlock the games, you enter 1972. 1972 is the year Pong arcade was released. Push up on the stick 1 time, down nine times, up seven times and down 2. If you do this right, the screen will show two extra games. Soo the Atari Flashback 2+ refers to the two extra hidden games on the system.

[@tschak909]

The Flashback 2 series consoles are basically an Atari 2600 in an FPGA. They can be modified to play normal Atari 2600 cartridges, and the information to do so, is readily available. 2 seconds with Google. :)

[@gluserty]

I have the Atari Flashback 2 (I guess the difference is that the Realsports titles took the place of "Pitfall!" and "River Raid", which I don't think is a great tradeoff). Right now I don't have it plugged in due to having all my a/v ports occupied, but someday i plan on purchasing a switch adapter to remedy that issue. Anyway, I'm quite fond of my flashback, and glad it was reviewed on this channel.

[@KillThad]

When I bought one on eBay, instead of the having AV cord hardwired, it had ports. I thought "Maybe it's a late revision", but a few days later, I could hear rattling in there when I'd move it. So I opened it up, and it turns out the previous owner had modded the system and left a note (literally a folded up piece of paper) inside that explained what he had done.

[@michaelmuchness]

Just got one (new in the box) for $9 at the Good Will store. Yippie!

[@kevinfishburne]

I have a new one my neighbor gifted to me after having to move, which I'm looking forward to hooking up to my Trinitron consumer CRT TV. I wonder if it outputs 480i or 240p. Probably the latter, which would sadden me.

[@TheBlueSkyRanger]

Secret Quest was released in the US. As far as I know, it was the final official commercial release for the 2600. It was by Nolan Bushnell's (the founder of Atari) company. They also did the sadly-unreleased Save Mary.

[@Keith2XS]

Thanks Tim! that was a good contribution!

[@RichardCraig]

5:04 - Actually it will. Unlike later models, this Flashback uses a full 2600 SoC instead of emulation, and the motherboard has clearly-marked pin-outs where you can solder on a cartridge port, turning it into an even better 2600 than either of the originals. On a side note, Louisville, IL isn't pronounced weird like it is in KY... it's just "loo-eee-ville" instead of "loo-uh-ville".

[@RichardCraig]

Richard Craig Well damn, guess 800 other people noted the same thing about the cartridge port... derp.

[@HMods1991]

Yes I'm planning on getting one to wire a cart port to... Mark you should totally wire one in!

[@punk51984]

I thought the regular Asteroids used solid graphics for the asteroids not those outlined ones.

[@BillRoyMcBill]

Andrew Ryan They were filled on on the original.

[@phoenixstopmotions]

does anyone know which of the fladhback games have the most accurate pong to the original? with paddle support preferably, thanks

[@KillThad]

Phoenix Stopmotions This one.

[@phoenixstopmotions]

KillThad Thanks

[@Drakelx55]

None of the above, go buy an Atari Pong console jk despite the fact that I did just that

[@bland9876]

3:40 what other collection (of atari games) I only know of the ones by namco, konami, and midway

[@BadBrad119]

I found my Atari Flashback 2 boxed and complete at a thrift store for $15. it was really cool. I'm not an Atari collector, so it's cool to have at the very least

[@solonsaturngaming3727]

Did he ever had anyone from Canada on that map or no?

[@georgef551]

There's visual flaws I've noticed, on games I noticed. (1) Asteroids were hollow in original remake, 2600 version were solid. (Not sure about the deluxe version.) (2) When you beat Yar, the psychedelic background had a thick black vertical line in it, shouldn't exist. (3) Strange linear artifact over the missile stockade in Missile Command. Nothing beats the originals.

[@sanicyouth6540]

+georgef551 That's a shame.

[@benrlego]

actually rev b or c of the 2 fixed all these issues but they are worth 50 to 70 bucks cause they only made a few they are like heavy sixers lol

[@georgef551]

benrlego Glad to see that.

[@jasonmoyer]

Yars' Revenge played on a real 2600 definitely has a black line over the explosion. That's how you trigger the easter egg, actually.

[@TheLastLineLive]

Looks great except for the lack of a cart slot. I wonder why there is a disturbing lack of aftermarket atari consoles that do work with the carts. The aftermarket genesis plug and play systems play the Genesis carts and still have the built in games.

[@CODMarioWarfare]

downphoenix With a little hacking you can use cartridges on this model.

[@TheLastLineLive]

Perhaps but it should just be built-in.

[@sanicyouth6540]

+WNivek So basically keep it as cheap as possible to the point where the intended market will not notice. The intended market being casual people who are nostalgic for retro games but aren't purists, enthusiasts, and experts of the real hardware.

[@artdropbox1950]

Of all the Atari Flashbacks to own, this one has a single chip reproduction of the circuitry in the original Atari. Meaning it exhibits all the quirks and everything that the original 2600 had and games run, play and sound just like they did on the real VCS. And as mentioned, this one is a modders dream. In that you can install a cartridge system and play the real carts on this system. The motherboard even has areas highlighted for this procedure. Also, if you plug in a set of Atari Paddles you can access two hidden titled: Warlords and Super Breakout. And an additional secret game can be accessed from the test screen "Off the Wall"

[@MaximumRD]

Yes the + means something, a change up in the built in games list..........

[@MaximumRD]

***** NO Flashbacks never have or had cartridge slots unless added / modded by the user. You are comparing to an original 2600.

[@MaximumRD]

Here is the deal, no wiki needed, the original flashback did not have the feature either because well those were ported games and it was in fact a NES on a chip implementation and was pretty much regarded as garbage. The Flashback 2 and YES the 2+ (the only differences is list of built in games) both had traces on the boards to accommodate the addition of a cartridge slot making it compatible with the vast majority of 2600 carts. This is due to the company that was contracted to do the FB2 / 2+ were related to the design and engineering of the original 2600 and so those models were pretty much just re-engineering of the original hardware thus the compatibility. From the 3 on they cheaped out giving the contract to cheap chines manufacturers going with the cheapest emulator on a chip with no traces for a cart slot and nothing to accommodate a modder for doing so. This is why only the 2 / 2+ have been or can be modded with a cart slot. This is info from someone who has lived throuigh and followed very closely the development and people involved from the original consoles to today's Flashbacks. I only got the 2+ because it was the only was I was interested in. ***** lol Sorry I only read the rest of your comment after typing all this but YES you know what you are talking about and have detailed it very well.

[@phoenixstopmotions]

does this console have the arcade pong version that is black and white and can us epaddle as well as joystick? thanks

[@rahilprakash5619]

Phoenix Stopmotions you can

[@OldsXCool]

This is one part of my childhood that I never wanna have a flash back to. As far as I'm concerned, I started playing video games when the Nintendo came out.

[@TheLARRYSUGGS]

I have the flash back 2 and an original Atari 2600 4 switch woody.. I just love having the cartridges more

[@MrSwiftretro]

In the uk televisions still have the RF slot so luckily we don't have to go through buying stuff to play it!

[@dbpooper7512]

Oh man. I wish Atari would release Aquaventure on a cart (via Atari Age perhaps).

[@theadventuresofee8666]

I saw this console the other day at Smiths. I was close to picking it up but decided against it.

[@mikemac2188]

I actually own this thing and I was quite impressed considering I'm Atari 2600 lover

[@Charlie_is_sad]

Man mine does not start up it just makes a weird noise

[@seraphim3r]

You can also mod it and install the innards or a Harmony cart/SD card if you don't want to mod it for the regular cartridges. The guy who made the circuit board purposely made it for the regular cartridge mod and the harmony internals.

[@Mr4real0316]

that brings back memories, great review

[@Mr4real0316]

man those sounds bring back memories.

[@Caveira138]

My boss at my old job bought something similar for our break room. Except that one had God awful wireless controlers, but I did find myself playing space invaders on many occasions.

[@thedebug3866]

Ah, they made the controllers wired on this one. I bought one of these and the P1 controller had a short in it which caused the batteries to start heating up majorly even before the controller was turned on.

[@Jonpo]

did they fix it with the newer versions.

[@Darkbeatdk]

but does it have Venetian Blinds?

[@lacreciawilliamson6778]

does the flash back 2 have pacman built in

[@tartuffethesprywonderdog5883]

Where's that Fatal Run review?

[@ggeorge747]

This was the best Flashback since it is a true 2600 on a chip developed by Curt Vendel. And yes, it has traces for a real cart port to be added. Wish every all-in-one units were as good!

[@ShreyashUSA]

2+ is its valency (term in chemistry). symbol for the 2600 = At. formula for some chemicals = 1) AtO = atari2600 oxide 2) AtS = atari2600 sulphide

[@xj0462]

i have one of these units hooked up to my TV Right now!

[@TehGoodcat]

I found it interesting that you pronounced it Lou-eh-ville. I live in Louisville too and so many people get that wrong.

[@nrrork]

I think some of the Atari Flashback models DID have the cartridge slot. Ah well, it's not really for collectors. My cousin got one of these for her kids last Christmas, but I think we grownups hogged it a lot more! What really impressed me is how good the games looked on an HDTV. I guess because the graphics are SO primitive and blocky that it doesn't really matter that they get stretched past their native resolution.

[@johneygd]

WhIle it is emulation based, it looks pretty cool with it’s woodgrain finish along with controller ports on the back wich are even compatible with those old existing atari 2600 controllers and those flashback controllers do look very cool as they do say atari on the front of them😁

[@ZombieRyushu]

These can be modded to have a Cartridge Port.

[@ky-gp4sz]

None of the games with an expansion chip will work

[@GaggleofDoozies]

Love me some Flashback.

[@MatryxVEVO]

is there frog pond on the 2+?

[@leoviper]

Great system, I need one.

[@gterry180]

flashback 6 doesn't support in game use of " left and right" on the d-pad of a genesis controller.

[@prophismusic]

Great review

[@TiberiousNeruda]

What's the framerate on this hardware like? I had a Plug-and-play Atari stick, and the games felt like they went too fast (playing at 60FPS instead of 45 like the real hardware, I later found out). If it plays titles too fast, I'll have to give it a pass, but if it's legit the same speed as the original, I'll have to look into getting one.

[@benrlego]

late but yes this is a real 2600 you can even put a cart port in it you will most likely get the non + version which comes with pitfall and river raid instead of sports games it works with my wico controllers and even has some of the debug menus i highly recommend this but make sure to get the flashback 2 or 2+ cause 1 and 3-7 are emulation and pick up fast these things are getting rare

[@Riggy1991]

i hope you get to get your hands on an Atari flashback 4 at some point, it's a great emulator console and i'd love to see you review it i'd give you mine but....that involves giving it away and i'd rather not XP

[@uodhyfdyhyfriuihuduyihcdwm5179]

mark plzz make sega genesis/mega drive techno clash game review and make a game colection review

[@stevenormandin2448]

I want a flashback,but where I can buy one other than internet?There's a better version than this one?(with more games)If somebody can answer me It would be great...Thanks in advance ;)

[@mickmanga3541]

That looks awesome, the audio seems so much better then sega genesis flashback. Kind of makes me want to get one.

[@joyos71]

I found this one at a buy and sellfor $25🤷🏻‍♀️. now to spring for an old tv🙄

[@MrTripcore]

Is there anything bad about the console?

[@nutzeeer]

but does it have E.T.?

[@rawhide2803]

Never released in the UK :-(

[@saigokun]

Looks like a great collection.

[@BakiX]

Ya know I'm interested in getting one of these units, I normally prefer the real thing over these "plug n plays" but I really don't have much interest in collecting for the Atari and this just seems to actually be a really nice looking and well made plug n play. So my question is for those in the know, maybe you folks can help. *Which is the best Atari Flashback Unit to get?* I hear there up to flash back 5 deluxe but that one seems to have wireless controllers which is a pretty big turn off to me. So which one would you recommend? Thanks for the advice in advance =)

[@millieman76]

I have the Flashback 5. The Deluxe only brings the wireless controllers. But the standard edition has wired controllers. They both have 96 games. Double than the Flashback 2

[@centipede167]

Man, they were selling Atari 2600's into the early 90's. I had one because my parents were too cheap to get me a Mega Drive.

[@sanicyouth6540]

+Centipede The Atari 2600 sure did have a pretty long life span. I don't think any other video game console will surpass it.

[@athena8561]

Centipede it's called the neo geo

[@kyrieirving9735]

i am a big fan dude your awesome i just orderd a atari flashback 6 on Amazon

[@TheDamino]

I have the Flashback 5, with 80 games

[@luigi6492]

Do you use the wireless controllers?

[@TheDamino]

Yeah

[@ryanbruneau1197]

TheDominator1307 I thought 5 has wired sticks?

[@TheDamino]

Hu Flung Dung Nope.

[@tartuffethesprywonderdog5883]

I've got that one, but I use a Genesis controller.

[@matthewzepess5721]

Someone needs to make a flashback just like in the video but with a sd card slot for homebrew. or maybe even one with a cartrige slot

[@AnTran147]

+Matthew Zepess The Flashback 2 can be modded to have a cartridge slot so you can play all your old games. I'm guessing they left it out of the device to save costs.

[@Min3r_R]

I got one and im enjoying it sooo much (atari flashback 6 I got)

[@alekarkin2510]

The Atari Flashback joysticks are WAY better than the original atari joysticks. So good i use them with my four switch model as well. It's worth getting it just for the sticks. I found a flashback 2 at a garage sale for $2 :). but that doesn't mean i wouldn't pay the full price, it's better than the first and the third... and maybe even the original considering the superior output setup and the option to mod for use with original cartridges.

[@segagirladventurespico]

Wow you get so mAny gifts! Great video

[@AllardRT]

No Pitfall though? What a shame.

[@marcustrelle4898]

A podcast said this was only 18 dollars when it first came out.

[@matthewschark]

But was it approved by Lord Karnage?

[@drjoshfox]

I had ne of these but it shorted out sadly, I'm not sure why. Either way I loved it

[@KillThad]

drjoshfox Early models have that issue.

[@drjoshfox]

thats unfortunate

[@KillThad]

The best way to solve the issue is to just unplug it from the back when you're not using it.

[@CaptainRufus]

If only the later Flashbacks used the internals of the 2+. Or they made a 7800 or XEGS flashback.

[@mcearl8073]

Does this have river raid on it?

[@KillThad]

Yes, the non-plus version does.

[@Mintcar923]

Do these Flashback systems save your high scores? If not, I'd rather stick with Activision Anthology on my PSP..

[@sanicyouth6540]

+Michael Guerra You could write down your high scores.

[@countrykarts]

Ethel the cyber ninja?

[@toniamorgan8381]

To play you need to insert batteries to work

[@rajreddy288]

love it mark

[@bencheshire]

So after watching about a million videos I have to say: have you ever noticed that you say Nine-ting 80's instead of Ninteen? Every time it sounds like TING to me.

[@Cade_Squirrel]

If only this had a cartridge slot and high compatibility, we could have the ultimate Atari 2600...

[@EnigPartyhaus]

yet still no Atari XL/XE Flashback with 5200 games and good 8-bit computer games.

[@newtab1234]

this atari flashback 2 has real atari hardware in it,no emulation

[@robertknight4672]

Newtab 123 I've you can mod those to play cartridges

[@Doorhenge]

At the beginning he should have tried to put that new Atari into the cartridge slot of an old Atari. Then the whole universe would have gaysploded.

[@westy229]

I this for christmas last year :D

[@ErectNegro]

I have one of these, its nice

[@maximumpro5189]

i have it but dont use it anymore

[@centipede167]

Ooh, look! It's got Centipede! LoL

[@letstalktv1276]

it is a very fun system I have it. I also have Atari flashback 3 and 5 not 1 or 4. I want them just do not have the. I also have a flashback of the Intellivisioin and the Colecovision all of thoes are from the late 70's early 80's The best flashback that I have is from a company called At Games. It is a Sega Genesis with like 60 built in games. Also if there is a game the you lov for the Genesis that is not built in there is a slot to put a game .

[@letstalktv1276]

Let'sTalkTV also have a pulg and play with ten atari games.

[@cjr3559]

Long live Lord Karnage!

[@HKT-4300]

Hi mark!

[@EmberGyaru]

I spagged to this video. You know what that means. Verscetillio for everyone!