Super Breakout: Atari Archive Episode 60

The VCS sees a new brick breaker thanks to Sears, as the retail giant debuted a timed exclusive release of Super Breakout. While the arcade version of Super Breakout wasn't the earthquake its predecessor was, it introduced some fascinated twists on the Breakout formula, and those are faithfully reproduced here on the VCS thanks to the work of Carol Shaw and Nick Turner.
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[@natethefighter]

That audio when you manage to rack up a bunch of hits in a row is so satisfying

[@davy_K]

Super Breakout on the 2600 is on my very short list of perfect games. As good now as it was at launch with perfect paddle control and pure gameplay. It doesn't really need any changes to make it better.

[@wusstunes]

Enjoying this series. Really whets my appetite for a hypothetical 5200 series.

[@sandal_thong8631]

I so wanted to get a better console in late 1982 to '83. Back when I got the Atari, other kids were mocking its sports games; then along came the Intellivision ads saying the same. Atari seemed to know what it was doing in 1981 as its titles were successful and inspired so many investors and companies to release games for the VCS/2600/Sears Telegames in 1982. But the years 1982-3 showed that it did not, as their profit estimates declined and its 5200 would only sell as many units as the Odyssey².

[@GamingTheSystems1]

I'm glad you are still making these videos. You are helping to preserve history.

[@absolutezeronow7928]

It's nice to see both the 2600 and the 5200 versions of Super Breakout will be on the Atari50th collection. Like Arkanoid after it, Breakout seems best played on a paddle controller (I wonder if Arkanoid 2 is more like Super Breakout in some ways). Definitely a game that still holds up today.

[@jpbishi]

I'll be honest, I never really had a lot of nostalgia for breakout. We had a pong machine growing up, but never owned breakout on 2600. My aunt had it on 5200 but she also had Kaboom so, yeah.. Though I've always loved the history of the game and Woz's involvement with the arcade version and how it inspired him to really put in graphics for the Apple II. I will say though I've always loved the boxart. That dude in the spacesuit playing space squash. Always a good time.

[@Hologhoul]

Amusing how they somehow created a storyline for the two variants, I wondered what that guy in a spacesuit was doing on the box!

[@MockduckPlaysGames]

Just wanted to say that you have a lot of sourcing and research in these videos, please make sure to save your research notes for the future so it can someday be shared or used!

[@8bitrocketstudios]

Amazing work as always!

[@Phediuk]

Another outstanding episode. I am always impressed by how many obscure sources you're able to dig up for these videos.

[@jeffkaczmarek3577]

This and Kaboom were the only 2 paddle games I had as a kid. I used to love how hitting reset changed the sound effects each time you did. Thank you for another great video.

[@jcchaconjr]

The original BreakOut was one of my early favorites on the VCS. It was my second game purchase (my first being Basketball). So when I saw the flyer advertising Super BreakOut, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy, considering that I had played the arcade version. IMHO, it managed to improve on the original by introducing new ideas in order to refresh the gameplay. I easily consider it one of my top 5 personal favorites from my collection of about 25 games back in the day.

[@mrnmrsifl]

Next time on _Atari Archive_ , "Games" by Apollo...

[@anactualmotherbear]

Love your videos!

[@ATW2k]

loved playing the 5200 version, a game that does well with those sticksi

[@sandal_thong8631]

Did he just pick a variation on the 5200 that had bad colors and sound? The 2600 looks and sounds so much better.

[@Savannah_Simpson]

The whole Sears selling the VCS under its own branding thing still blows my mind. Imagine a Switch with Walmart branding or a PlayStation with Target branding.

[@gynandroidhead]

My favorite game for my Atari

[@DQSpider]

OK, who came up with the color scheme for Stellar Track? I just want to talk

[@sandal_thong8631]

Atari Logbook challenge: play game 5 with the difficulty switch on A. Pro (Apprentice Ace): 3000 Master (Wall Buster): 5000, Wizard (Smashing Success): 8000. I don't know when I got this but despite being good at Breakout, I have yet to make Pro. I blamed the paddles, but even using less-jittery ones and cleaning them with acetone, I couldn't do it.