Games That Never Get Old For Atari 2600!!

Ever wonder if there are any games on Atari's 1977 VCS 2600 that are still fun to play today? Well here's a run down of 34 Games that I still find fun even today in far off future of 2023!
Game Featured: Adventure, Atlantis, Basketball, Beamrider, BMX Air Master, Bowling, Chopper Command, Combat, Cosmic Ark, Demon Attack, Enduro, E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial, Frostbite, Gremlins, H.E.R.O., Kaboom!, Krull, Montezuma's Revenge, Off the Wall, Pete Rose Baseball, Pitfall!, Pitfall II - Lost Caverns, Radar Lock, Raiders of the Lost Ark, RealSports Volleyball, River Raid, Robot Tank, Skate Boardin', Solaris, Space Shuttle, SpaceMaster X-7, Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back, Stellar Track, Superman, Video Pinball, Yars' Revenge
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[@GregsGameRoom]

Thanks for taking the time to watch the video! Check out my Instagram: instagram.com/gregsgameroom/ Every Konami NES Game: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4CUoqWcr953qqs Atari 2600+ Review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHy4gpx_otmFrdU 10 Things You Don't Know About Atari: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4GzXoJ4eN2Kg7c

[@DrScrobo]

So good to see someone acknowledge Atari's Bowling. Pretty solid game for the time it was released. My grandma and I would play it all the time, as she bowled in leagues. A really nice memory. To see Cosmic Ark in there as well... classic game. Loved it.

[@GregsGameRoom]

Agreed. Bowling is fun!

[@d.vaughn8990]

Bowling is sooo great! One of my favorites! I usually pretend I’m Norm Duke! My best all-timescore is 284.

[@WriterBren]

My top 3 - E.T., Yar's Revenge and one I didn't see here, Jungle Hunt.

[@GregsGameRoom]

Jungle Hunt is an arcade port and I wasn’t covering those this time.

[@WriterBren]

@@GregsGameRoom ahh. I don't know much about the history of the games :) I have enjoyed your videos.

[@archbishop718]

Really appreciated seeing "Superman" mentioned as I also continue to play it to this day. Most people now don't know about this game as it doesn't get included in Flashbacks & compilations due to licensing issues, but back in the day it was one of my favorites.

[@Freshbrood]

StarCastle on the 2600 does exist now. It's an excellent homebrew.

[@adamln1977]

My first experience with an Atari is at my cousins house. I was four in 1982 and still remember watching everyone play Pitfall while laying on my uncles bed and watching it on a small tv on his dresser.

[@Cafeman_2D]

I also love Frostbite. But at 13:08 -- you are supposed to eat the fish for big points!

[@highergroundgaming7202]

Great list! I would have to add Vanguard and Circus Atari 😁

[@The_Real_DCT]

The first Easter egg was in a Fairchild channel F game but like all things Adventure's is the most remembered because it was a popular game on a more popular system

[@GregsGameRoom]

Yeah I was hedging my bets a bit because I knew Adventure couldn’t have been the first.

[@Jolt7800]

Great list! The Pitfall games definitely set the bar high.

[@GregsGameRoom]

The classic of classics!

[@bluediamonddirector]

Pitfall II: The Lost Caverns is my favorite Atari 2600 game. I remember playing it so much as a kid. Still play it now. Almost have gotten a perfect score on it.

[@LydiaKrow]

Wow, most of these are my favorites too! I never played E.T. or Gremlins, but I love that you included Atlantis and Cosmic Ark - man, back in the day I was so impressed by the graphics on those! Very addicting. Kaboom was another big one for me, but I was so tickled to see you pick Video Pinball! I can't describe why this one is so good but I would spend HOURS as a kid playing this thing, just to see where the ball would go and what powerups I could get.

[@johnrickard8512]

That baseball game looks like a Colecovision game tbh...and for the Atari that is a supreme compliment to the developers!

[@SvennyMcG]

Some great selections! Happy to see Superman make the list 🦸‍♂️

[@NOLADEEJ]

Krull especially!! The arcade version is fun too

[@GregsGameRoom]

Finally a good movie to video game adaptation!

[@EngineHeadCW]

Yes!! Someone else who thinks E.T. is a good game! Thank you! I totally agree. Everyone needs to give this game more than 2 minutes attention.

[@DeathMetalDerf]

I also thought it was just fine. If more people were smart enough to crack open the manual that came with the cartridge, I really don't think it would have the reputation it has.

[@KristianWontroba]

Agreed 💯

[@GregsGameRoom]

We’re going to right this boat eventually!

[@EngineHeadCW]

@@GregsGameRoom God I hope so. The world blaming E.T. for the '83 video game crash is ridiculous. And furthermore, I could name 200 officially licensed Atari games WORSE than E.T.

[@MultiScooter68]

Pooyan and Ssssnake were far worse than ET.@@EngineHeadCW

[@danandtab7463]

For games that never get old, much love for Chopper Command and River Raid. Chopper Command for that satisfying shooting sound and controls and River Raid for that progression that keeps you starting back from the beginning every time you blow up, because you want to know what's beyond that one bridge you haven't passed yet.

[@kurtmager1626]

Chopper Command was an.interesting one back in the day because it was a clone of Defender, but it also was released well before the home port of Defender.

[@one7decimal2eight]

Air Sea Battle is a classic.

[@lurkerrekrul]

Not too long ago, there was an updated port of The Empire Strikes Back created for the C64. It looks great, but the only thing I dislike about it is that not all of your shots register on the walkers. That's not a bug, it's by design. So you can't count the number of hits you've made because it will always take a different amount of shots to destroy one.

[@GregsGameRoom]

I’ve seen it. It looks really good.

[@crookedmouth1971]

I love that port but miss the ability to land for repairs of the original.

[@monolalia]

Apart from the *utterly baffling* absence of Moonsweeper? A wonderful tour through the best the system has/had to offer

[@ericmiller2052]

I don't have the same nostalgia for the Atari 2600 that a lot of people do as I was born in 99, and grew up with a PS2. However, I've been playing a 2600 a lot lately, and am addicted to adventure, asteroids, and yars revenge. A couple others that I play a lot are Haunted House and Chopper Command.

[@Richard-ys9zo]

Someone did make a Star Castle on the 2600

[@jeremiahthomas8140]

I played E.T. and Raiders of the Lost Ark for real for the fist time this past summer, and I enjoyed them both. I think I need to do the same for Krull.

[@jonusiak5123]

Wow, these are like, all my favorite Atari games. I honestly really like ET and Raiders. They were great puzzle games for their time, and I actually find myself playing Raiders more than Adventure. You are also the first person I found that Mentions Robot Tank. Such a great game with huge variety. Superman is not that bad either once you know how it works.

[@MichaelCharles-zn6rh]

The only game that I would add is Spider Fighter. The best shooter on the 2600 IMHO. Still play it to this day.

[@GregsGameRoom]

It’s not bad.

[@MichaelCharles-zn6rh]

@@GregsGameRoom 🙃

[@Madmanguruman]

Great video, just one small nitpick. When describing Pitfall II's music you mentioned a POKEY. 2600 sound is generated from the TIA, there is no POKEY in a 2600.

[@GregsGameRoom]

Yeah, I meant to say TIA but it works either way. The POKEY isn't producing the music either. ;-)

[@ukeyaoitrash2618]

I liked ET too when I was young XD

[@user-qq9nt8nm7u]

No astroids or maze craze or the cowboy one or commando for some reason i got hooked on maze craze me and my little cousin play it all the time it was the first old game he'd ever played he went from PS4 to Atari 2600 then started playing Zelda on NES heart warming to see him play the classics and actually appreciate them

[@ghostly836]

I keep debating with myself about getting this system. My earliest system was the NES but I appreciate the older games as well. Maybe this Christmas I'll finally get one. My wife might enjoy it to cuz she used to have one as a kid.

[@nick6var]

But the fish give extra points! You can also press the button to change the direction of the ice floe. I discovered this in the last couple of years, and both techniques are needed to earn the Activision patch for Frostbite. There was the Activision Anthology for PS2 and GBA. Activision Classics is a lesser choice for the PS1, though there are a few issues with emulation.

[@duskomarincic367]

Considering the time period and technology, Pitfall II was one of the best games ever created in my opinion. Megamania was one of my favorites, but you didn't mention it, oh well!. I did like ET too!

[@SinistarPro_Mike]

I share the same reasoning behind SpaceMaster X-7, I was thinking... what is this game being played and how do I get it? All solid choices though my friend that never get old. These are some of the greatest games from that era that anyone today can pick up and immediately start playing. That alone says so much! This is the type of video that even if you missed a few, a part 2 would still only scratch the surface of some of the real gems on the 2600. Good one indeed!

[@GregsGameRoom]

Might could do a Part 2, but arcade ports would probably be next.

[@SinistarPro_Mike]

@@GregsGameRoom That'll be neat! 👍 You ever check out Imagic's No Escape? That's what I've been playing lately and it gets pretty hard in the later stages. I wasn't expecting much, but I've been really into it.

[@OverDriveOnline7921]

Had a 2600 back in the day and have an identical replacement, a boxed light sixer with controls but sadly not Combat, came with something else that even as a kid I wasn’t really interested in. Also tracked down a mint in box Cosmic Arc which I used to love as well. Quite a few of the games you mention I also had, empire, pitfall, yard revenge, raider of the lost Ark, robot tank, though some would not either be available or popular here in the U.K. that you mention so some I’ll have never seen. Was a great trip down memory lane though and I’m certainly looking into getting a 2600+ sometime soon as each time an old console is powered on is one power on closer to its last one, plus it’s so damned authentic in its hardware, it’ll be like using the real thing anyway!

[@mcorleonep]

Some honorable mentions include, Circus Atari, Stampede, Megamania, Star Master…

[@JaimeSalcedoA_72]

Oh, the Star Master! Magnificent space combat game, similar to Star Raiders. I still have it with its box and manual... Greetings!

[@MaximumRD]

Oh great pics, a whole lot of classic 2600 goodness, played and loved them all back in the day and have several 2600 consoles today still.

[@retrofidde]

In Frostbite you have to catch the fish, not avoid it, it gives you more points 🐟

[@GregsGameRoom]

Ah

[@Boswd]

My 10 year old son and his friends LOVE Atari Basketball... Kids who live on their Xbox finding a lot enjoyment from this game ... Just proves it's not just graphics it's game play... And Atari nailed games play

[@itsjustagamechannel]

Huge fan of Atlantis. I love the sounds in this game.

[@ambst95]

Space shuttle was my jam! I still remember buying it at Hill’s Dept Store.

[@luxdico]

lots of nice memories, thx 4 your video.

[@rabapab23]

Great video! Your assessment of ET was spot on.. if you know how to play it, it's actually a decent game. Subbed.

[@mr.b2423]

in frostbite you need to eat the fish! 200 points baby.

[@operationshutdown155]

Great video. Introduced me to a few new games, too!

[@OGHUGO]

Dude another great video ! ! keep em coming.. Thanks !

[@GregsGameRoom]

Thank you!

[@goenemigo]

One sports game that I feel should be on here is Ice Hockey by Activision. Especially playing 2-player. So satisfying when you win a fight and score!

[@imaxjunior6531]

Very Good Video. Was wondering, since no arcade conversions here, how about your favorite 2600 arcade conversions from least to best?

[@AdamCoate]

My favorite obscure Atari 2600 exclusives which weren't mentioned: Demons to Diamonds Quadrun Threshold Overall a great list and it made me learn of Spacemaster X-7 for the first time which is a very inventive game for the time. Did you know this was based on a 1958 scifi film? I didn't know about either until now.

[@teddym2808]

I wish they had an official way to play Combat online with random human opponents. I honestly think there's a market for that and they should have added it to Atari 50 version. Maybe that can be done via Steam remote play for the PC version, dunno as I have no gaming friends. In fact, I'll be 51 in a few weeks and I can't think of a single friend that still enjoys gaming.

[@ShamrockParticle]

Good list and points, but weren't the home ports made to be won easier, and not have the identical difficulties as the co-op - the co-ops wanted quarters and having Ms Pac-Man's ghosts react the same way would not help. Atlantis, Cosmic Ark, Frostbite, TESB, and Beamrider are pretty solid. Bowling was too fun despite its simplicity. ET is underrated, as is Raiders. HERO is an all-time great. River Raid became insane very quickly LOL.

[@freebobafett]

Circus Atari, Circus Atari, Circus Atari!!!

[@d.vaughn8990]

You stated, (paraphrasing) why play anything other than the original arcade game (with emulation)? Funny…as a kid, all I ever dreamed about, was playing the arcade game machines. The Atari 2600 versions were always a big disappointment. Fast forward to today, and I am no longer so critical of the 2600 games. I find them more playable than the arcade version, and more charming! Plus, minimalist electronic toys are so interesting!

[@MisterSplendy]

THANK you for showing people how much fun these classics are. Some person on Reddit argued the Atari 2600 did not hold up today. Baloney. As for the Intellivision (I owned both as a kid)....almost nothing on the Intellivsion holds up today. Bland, ugly brown or mud colored junk.

[@rocknrace9685]

another game that doesn't get old: SeaQuest

[@phiberknight]

In yars revenge if you fly up the black line on the screen during the explosion the game will reveal the programmer's initials. just keep flying on the black line

[@GregsGameRoom]

You also have to shoot the Quotile in mid-air.

[@lurkerrekrul]

That "Easter egg" made me rage quit the game MANY times! Eventually I stopped playing it because I never knew exactly what triggered it and it wasn't worth it to get involved in a game, be doing great and then have it suddenly end. While I agree that the programmers deserved credit for their work, and I don't mind them hiding their initials or names in their games, Howard Warshaw royally pissed me off by not including some way to resume your game. Would it really have been too much to ask that after ten seconds or so, it goes back to the game? Or that you can continue by pressing the button? An Easter egg should NEVER just end a person's game!

[@DeathMetalDerf]

The only people who think E.T. was a bad game were the people who were too silly to READ THE INSTRUCTIONS that clearly tells you what's up and what to do.

[@The_Real_DCT]

That and they are mostly parroting what the internet was saying for years

[@GregsGameRoom]

If they started on Game 3 they’d like it better.

[@lurkerrekrul]

I have to admit that the the hacked version which alters the game so that you only fall in the pits if your feet touch them, is a lot less frustrating to play.

[@justanobody0]

I've heard someone else also say ET was a good game, they also said Superman was a good game (which you have on the list)

[@davypi2]

Given that you like Robot Tank and Solaris, I'm surprised Starmaster is not also on the list.

[@alexshadowfax1119]

I recently just played some Atari games for the first time and surprisingly they are quite fun. On a side note, when playing the empire strikes back is the whole game just destroying the walkers ? I feel like I shot down one after the other for like 20 mins and I'm unsure if it changes at all or resets or that's the whole game? Any help would be appreciated, thanks for the videos and the encouragement I needed to not look down on this older console and give the games a try!

[@JaimeSalcedoA_72]

In reality, the Walkers never end up leaving! Until, wave after wave, their speed increases, becoming unstoppable and ending the game; In other words, it is a game of the highest score you can make, typical of the time. Although, in a way, this is faithful to the same movie; since the rebels were never able to stop the imperial onslaught, hehe. By the way, I still have this game with its box and manual; since it was a birthday gift in 1982. Best regards from Ecuador! (Using translator).

[@CSanykdotCom]

You should have mentioned Mountain King.

[@joeg4707]

POKEY sound is superior to anything on the 2600, and it was used on-cart in a few 7800 titles (e.g. Ballblazer). When you were talking about the on-chip enhancement for Pitfall II, I think you meant to say that it's clearly not the TIA.

[@ChristheShrinerdawg]

Hey! Ease up off of Zelda! 😂

[@KabukiKid]

Have to agree that E.T. get a bad rap. Yeah, it has the pixel collision issue with the pits that even HSW said he wished he had time to iron out, but if you just get good at that aspect of the game, the game is quite fun. Biggest mistake people did was not reading the manual, which is utterly necessary in playing the game properly. The reputation as worst game ever made is just people parroting what they heard. Heck, it isn't even CLOSE to the worst game on the SYSTEM! EDIT: btw... there is a "fixed" ROM floating around out there where someone took time to remedy the pixel collision issue with the pits, so that is worth seeking out if you want to play it closer to the way HSW envisioned, if he had enough time to properly finish the game.

[@DeathMetalDerf]

FUN FACT: If you toss 500 Atari 2600 cartridges into a closet and close the door, then wait seven days, a full 63.476% of those cartridges will have turned into copies of COMBAT! 😂

[@GregsGameRoom]

LOL!

[@Jolt7800]

😂

[@NALTOHQ]

Oops, All Combat!

[@wardrich]

This system is a bit before my time, but I grew up with one and I swear it came with 3 pack-in games: Breakout, Warlords, and Combat EVERYBODY seems to have at least one copy of all three of those 😂

[@Colt45hatchback]

​@@wardrich I dont have a copy of warlords 😅 i have like 100 other games though, and like 5 astroids and 3 combats 🤣

[@AloanMoreira1]

5:24 - wow they outshined i nthe graphics here! there is another game that shines but I don´t know the name. You have a cursor and you shoot and there is always this guy passing from left to right that you have to protect accross several screens in different places

[@cootmaster]

WORST is both FIREFLY/ sorcerer broken mess

[@artfm3917]

First time ever a video that says the true about E.T not all the bull5h7 that every ones repit and repit worst game ever bla bla bla, nice video

[@geodaet83]

for some reason I knew "Cosmic Arc" as "Black Hole", maybe a German thing?

[@Breakfast_of_Champions]

E.T. was not motorically correct, and having to read a manual breaks the first rule of arcade games. That's hard to sell. Plus, when you understand what's going on, every five year old can solve it in a few minutes. ET never even stretched his neck in the movie!! So it's really got what it deserves, I was one of the kids who got it packed in with the console as a gift horse😥

[@JaimeSalcedoA_72]

Give it another chance, come on! When you grow up you see things very differently than when you were a child, hehe. Who knows? Maybe you can even like it and bury those bad memories permanently... Best regards from Ecuador! (Use translator).

[@Rottedlucky]

Any other zoomer Atari fans here?