Atari's Crazy Climber: An Atari Age EXCLUSIVE for the 2600

[@KingEdAV]

My dad owned a coin-op Crazy Climber that was out on location. One of my favorite Arcade games. Really got good at single and dual joystick games. Became a Robotron master! Also, got very good at Zaxxon.

[@GenXGrownUp]

Very cool!

[@MattKlein-j9w]

Your mention of arcade controls reminded me of Paperboy in the arcade. I never got too far, but I kept coming back because I thought working the handlebars was really cool.

[@lorensims4846]

The two joysticks to climb on the arcade version reminds me of the dual controls on the arcade Battlezone where you control the tank treads on each side separately. I had an attendant complain to me about pulling back too hard on the handles when I had a missile coming right at me.

[@KingEdAV]

Battlezone was fantastic. One of brother’s top games along with Missle Command.

[@d.aardent9382]

The arcade cab of Battlezone was one of the first games i found to be actually fear inducing as the sounds and atmosphere were just perfect for instilling anxiety and panic as the enemy tank stalks ya. As ya have to get moving to dodge shots but have to sit still to fire accurately and the pressure gets put on ya real fast.

[@synthsoniq]

For a split second, I thought it was Spider Man for the Atari 2600!

[@sjntube]

Never had Crazy Climber growing up. While a loyal member of the Atari Club and avid reader of Atari Age Magazine, I just couldn't afford it. Would LOVE to see you cover Atari Age magazine in an upcoming episode. The tome was a pretty significant part of my childhood. Especially the 1st issue, page 15, the Game-Grams section that revealed for the very first time the secret in Adventure. I was so lucky to grow up when I did!

[@OriginalGrasshopper]

My sister bought me this game through the Atari Club when I was 14. It was so much fun, but a real “joystick breaker” (much like the 1500 meter run on “Activision Decathlon”).🕹

[@bleirdo_dude]

Cool sis. 👍

[@speedbird737]

I still play the arcade original on my AtGames Legends Ultimate stand up cabinet!

[@drno-xc1yt]

I had an Entex Crazy Climber handheld as a kid - I wish I still had that thing!

[@GenXGrownUp]

Memory unlocked! 🔓 A kid in my neighborhood had that tabletop Crazy Climber and I only got to play with it a couple of times. I'll certainly be on the lookout for one, now.

[@sjellenoff]

Yes I had this handheld it was pretty good. Played it a ton.

[@SkiBumMSP]

I used to dog this game when I was kid. Usually can get to the forth building, but never was able to complete it. So wanted this game for the Atari 2600, but never was able to convince the parents to order it for me. We did have a subscription to Atari Age, wish I knew what happened to all those issues we had. Mother probably threw them away. I did find a single issue that somehow survived all those years in my basement. It was the issue about the Real Sports that Atari was coming out with and there is an ad in there to order Crazy Climber. Another really cool game I remember playing a lot of was called Fire Trap. Had much of the same mechanics as Crazy Climber including the dual stick climbing, but you also had to fight fires on the way up as well. The "WayBackGuy" channel here on KZbin has a video on it.

[@jayme69]

Great playthrough Jon! I still play this game on the Nintendo Switch via Arcade Archives and it's like patting your head whilst rubbing your tummy :-) Keep up the awesome work!

[@watchman1159]

One of my favorite arcade games. Its can be very intimidating to play the actual arcade machine as the joysticks seems to always have a problem. I have never seen the 2600 version. Looks darned close, all the elements are there. I have the arcade version on the switch and I love it. Thanks for showing this gem Jon. TC Bud.

[@sjellenoff]

Thanks for posting. CC was one of my all time favorites as a kid. I cannot believe I never knew about this game on 2600. I am amazed how good this seems on such a limited platform. I would have died and gone to heaven if I owned this back in the day.

[@miketendopower]

Such a classic. Awesome seeing this version.

[@ZMAN_420]

I remember 1 friend having this particular game. I've only played it a handful of times. The music made me really remember lol. Great Video!

[@ctbinary42]

Very interesting gameplay. The girder sound would have driven my family nuts! I wish I had it back then 🤣

[@GenXGrownUp]

I'd have played it double volume, then!

[@lorensims4846]

$799 for the 800 was too expensive for me. I had to wait until the 1200XL was released and the 400/800s went on closeout. I was able to talk my wife into letting me get my 800 for $299. It came with the BASIC cartridge and the new 1010 data recorder. I was in heaven. I learned everything I ever needed to know about computer Science on that Atari 800. And still people kept calling it "just a game machine."

[@GenXGrownUp]

It was soooo much more.

[@markedge9777]

As a young teen, I was an Atari age subscriber too. Never had Crazy Climber but I did talk my parents into getting me Quadrun which was also an Atari Age exclusive as well as a track ball controller which. I believe was also only available through Atari Age. Boy oh boy did I love that trackball controller. Never met anyone else nearby that had one so it was as good as the Lost Ark to me. Ha ha. Sadly, it wound up biting the dust after only a couple years and that was a sad day, going back to Centipede and Millipede with a joystick. Like you, I later sold my entire Atari 2600 and 7800 collections fairly cheap in my early 20’s when my brother and I had jumped onboard the NES craze. Never thinking that one day that old Atari stuff would hold any value.

[@karasstig1207]

Excellent video my friend!!!! You inspired me to go play it! Cant get as high as your score, but Im really surprised this one passed me by for so long! Thank you!! Great game!

[@GenXGrownUp]

This got you to try it for the first time? Awesome! I love that. 😁

[@The_Badseed]

Good video. I remember playing this in the arcade. The two joysticks were kinda innovative at the time.

[@davidbenson7592]

Loved the arcade version of Crazy Climber! Never saw this 2600 version.

[@RandyWaage]

I LOVED this game in the arcade & was SUPER EXCITED to play this for the Atari 2600. Way back in 1983 a friend had it and I was able to borrow it for a month. I think I let him borrow my copy of Centipede. It's very playable & a great port for the VCS. Worth selling for an Atari 800. Random, but the game great/playable with the controls on the Switch.

[@Pjoseph23]

How fun! I never had an Atari (Intellivision guy), but liked the arcade version. I played along with your video on my emulation device and had a good time. Only 11,000 points on my first time through. Thanks for sharing this lost game! Sorry you don’t have your original. Maybe you’ll get lucky and reunite some day.

[@GenXGrownUp]

Wouldn't that be amazing?! Thanks for watching. 😁

[@rennervision]

About 15 years ago I sold my CC complete in box on eBay for over $700. Recently I missed owning it in my collection, so I ended up buying back a loose cart for around $100. One of my favorite Atari games and a very faithful port of the Arcade version which I also loved.

[@tigerclaw4537]

Loved the reference/comment about birds laying eggs on you... 🤣

[@hardkoregamer1981]

Awesome share Jon thanks buddy 👍

[@sotheresthat7882]

I forgot about this, but my uncle owned a pizza place in town, and they had a Crazy Climber machine. That and Tempest were the only two games I ever heard him mention, but he loved them. He thought the bird s**tting on him was hilarious.

[@kenwheeler3637]

I always loved Crazy Climber and played it a lot at a local arcade. I had no idea back then that there was a 2600 port. If so I definitely would have snagged it. I didn't find out until many years later and by then they were pricey.

[@PaulMiller-mn3me]

$27 adjusted for inflation is $85 today (2024)… thank your dad again!

[@GenXGrownUp]

I sure wish I could. 🥲

[@andys_gameroom]

I had this. It was fun and cool to have it at home, even though it was definitely a different experience. I remember getting it from Atari Age way back then. That and Gravitar.

[@GenXGrownUp]

Sweet.

[@jasmeerlabeer4591]

Loved this game as a kid.

[@catholicactionbibleonlyist1813]

Wikipedia said it's Baby elephant walk,it's also use in daneing homer As of this post Closest to a game like Crazy Climber is a mini game on the Simpson's(for the Sega genesis and SNES):Bart' s nightmare called bartzellia, it's 2nd act has you climbing up a Building however never made it to 2nd act

[@Datan0de]

I had no idea they ported Crazy Climber to the 2600! I'd love to be able to play it using your character from Spider-Man. It would be a neat crossover.

[@andymerrett]

I'm sure something came out for the Atari 8-bit computers, I remember hiring a cartridge. Don't know if it was Crazy Climber or even an Atari own-label release. Can't find what it is now, but it was similar concept, with arguably better graphics thanks to the higher spec of the 8-bit systems.

[@mikesilva3868]

😊my family member had some classic 2600 games like pacman space invaders

[@franktovar1237]

Still have mine. Luckily it was never released like they did with Gravitar when the Tramiels took over. Gravitar was Atari Club exclusive as well. I had ordered that one also then years later it was released.

[@Androsynth75]

I was lucky enough to find one of these in the wild years ago and it rapidly became a favorite. Much like crystal castles, it’s only kinda similar to the arcade but it’s just as good in its own way. It ain’t pretty, but it’s got it where it counts. Cool to see this getting a more accessible release. Hopefully Quadrun will too.

[@funfun_2001]

So glad I stumbled upon your channel! Have you done one on Pitfall 2 yet? That was probably my favorite 2600 game back in the day.

[@GisherJohn24]

I grew up with Atari but missed out on this. I think I was diverting to other consoles at the time. Including the infamous 5200

[@KristianWontroba]

It reminds me of Spider-Man a little bit! Great review! 😊

[@GenXGrownUp]

It does!

[@jmogler]

Fantastic port!

[@NightBazaar]

I think I heard about this game from a video or computer gaming magazine, but never saw it available anywhere near me.

[@MrClawt]

I enjoyed this one a lot as a kid.

[@thegamesninja3119]

Crazy Climber's story is actually about the lengths Jon goes to obtain an obscure videogame. Retro gamers everywhere can relate. On another note, it is interesting what game programmers did to get arcade games to fit the 2600. Arcade Gauntlet having items under the monster generators was a clever solution to sprite limits. And I thought the controls worked on the 2600 Crazy Climber.

[@GenXGrownUp]

I'll certainly take a few eggs to the noggin if I can get a good deal. 😉🥚

[@thegamesninja3119]

@@GenXGrownUp but the girders?

[@VolJoe]

I loved Crazy Climber- one that I play on my MisterFPA every now and then I didn’t know there was a 2600 version. I chuckled when the 2600 played the theme song- it’s slightly off tune enough that it kind of says “we tried our darndest but this is all we could get out of this thing”

[@GenXGrownUp]

Hahaha! Actually not bad at all for the 2600. 🤪

[@VolJoe]

True! Great video!

[@miked4377]

i like crazy climber ! i loved the arcade game! and the 2600 does a good job in my opinion i love the 1982 year on the game! and i get how you want 'your'atari age crazy climber! i wish i had alot of things i stupidly got rid of....😢😢😢😢

[@sotheresthat7882]

We were financially challenged back then, to say the least. I was upset that I couldn’t afford to order it-I got a 2600 for Christmas, and had to play Combat with my sister until I got Vanguard for my birthday.

[@sotheresthat7882]

And yet somehow we could afford a subscription to Atari Age 🤷‍♂️

[@GamerHobo]

Looks pretty tough. Building 4 on difficulty 2 must be brutal.

[@GenXGrownUp]

Like that owl and his Tootsie Pop, the world may never know. 😉

[@Aaron-by3ke]

Not as bad as the Electronic Games reviewer of Crazy Climber for the Atari 2600 made it sound like. It's impressive to see four distinct buildings and the girders falling with nice graphical effect. Very possible this could be among the 39 new games due to being an Atari Age exclusive.

[@GenXGrownUp]

That would be cool. Don't know what happened to the license after Nihon Bussan was sold.

[@Aaron-by3ke]

@GenXGrownUp A company named Hamster has the rights to Nihon Bussan's properties.

[@AgedYouth68]

Most excellent vid !

[@GenXGrownUp]

Thanks!

[@mikesilva3868]

​@@GenXGrownUpplayed this game on a emulator 😊

[@maddumass]

I was addicted to the arcade version and stole the laundry money, a roll of quarters from my mom. A little till the roll was nearly gone in one day!

[@backpackingtony1779]

Friday Plays and cannabis makes the perfect way to end the work week!

[@ronm6585]

Thanks. 😊

[@GenXGrownUp]

You're welcome!

[@IamPowerdriven]

Great game. I played it a lot.

[@m0nde]

I have to get this!

[@tomevil6]

Great video!!!!

[@GenXGrownUp]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mikesilva3868]

​@@GenXGrownUp😊 great

[@tedadamgreen]

Crazy fun game!! 👊🏻😎🕹️

[@KeithPhillips]

Wow, I don't even think I've ever heard of this one?? Definitely gets the distinction of literally the only VCS game that seems to have randomly generated sounds.

[@riversarcadereview385]

it took three months longer than promised to deliver

[@urkodehoyos4286]

Whoa I don't remember this game 😮

[@riversarcadereview385]

during the novice game, you are not harmed from falling objects although you lose points

[@domeshtan1677]

Just CC on the sign? Lol. I suppose it would be to hard to put in Nichibutsu. Still got to track down Nichibutsu Arcade Classics (volume 1) for Super Famicom someday to fill my Crazy Climber needs.

[@sidneyvandykeii3169]

I played this game a lot in the arcade and loved it. It is horrible on the 2600. I felt I wasted my allowance buying it.

[@GenXGrownUp]

Oh, no!

[@mikesilva3868]

Awesomeness 😊

[@GenXGrownUp]

Thanks 🤗

[@mikesilva3868]

@@GenXGrownUp 😎ok

[@MrSheckstr]

Is the mad doctor dropping flower pots, or knowledge bombs?

[@GenXGrownUp]

Ooooh, that's a thinker. 😁🧠

[@krathoon2338]

You can actually get the original arcade version on the Switch. Might as well get that instead of trying to find the old Atari cartridge.

[@GenXGrownUp]

Depends on which variation you want to play.

[@turret72]

I was able to get a copy of Crazy Climber at a show. It was okay. But playing the arcade version on emulated systems is a pain. You aren’t sure you are using the controllers right, or even if the controllers cover all the game’s functions. It can be a headache trying to figure out. P.S. I still have my 2600 copy.

[@hellobnice]

loved the game i fogot about this

[@KingEdAV]

Your “teaser” image states “Look Out Below.” Shouldn’t that say LOOK OUT ABOVE! 😁😁😁

[@ericsonofjames4573]

I thought the King Kong was in the Atari version. But clearly it isn’t.

[@adm712]

Sorry you got rid of your Crazy Climber cart years ago. If it's any consolation to you, I did the exact same thing years ago, only with ny Jaguar and Jaguar CD :(

[@GenXGrownUp]

Sorry to hear!

[@GenXGrownUp]

Sorry to hear!

[@katmacoconnor]

🕹️💜

[@bigdog9215]

Atari is so --- O L D S C H O O L

[@syntaxerror9994]

Eggs huh....sure... That's what it is

[@TheGravygun]

I thought this was a video game of a guy installing floor tile?

[@GenXGrownUp]

Why is that?

[@edwardmclaughlin719]

You just got out of the hospital, but don't you feel climbing buildings is a health risk?

[@GenXGrownUp]

I've been on the mend for a couple months now, so it's back to scaling tall buildings! 🏢

[@agentmith]

My biggest regret is liquidating my snes collection for $100 because of an ex gf. I had literally all the games that are ridiculously cost prohibitive today. I’m glad I never did that with any other consoles; at the time no one wanted Atari games otherwise I probably would have sold those too.

[@jm131719]

Sorry, but "Beauty and the Beast: fir Intellivision is way better. This one is kind of "meh:...

[@GenXGrownUp]

You don't need to be sorry. kzbin.info/www/bejne/enO6YaGcqsd_qdE

[@thomascolucci4815]

Had a copy of this as a kid , wont be able ot find this for my atari 2600 +lol

[@Cafeman_2D]

5:29 OMG the Mad Doctor is actually BARNEY!