10 Amazing Atari 8-bit Exclusives

[@AgentM79]

“Tail of Beta Lyrae” is one of my all-time Atari 800 favorites. I put up a score of 9,865 recently and was quite pleased with myself. I DO stink at the game, though. I love the musical score and intro as well, and the gameplay is fast and fun. I’ll look for APX’s “Wyzle”. That looks like fun! May I recommend Synapse Software’s “Dimension X” to your attention? It is a mash-up between “Battlezone” and”Star Raiders”. It has great visuals and haunting intro music. Programmer Steve Hales did a great job on this game. Reception on this game was mixed, but I have always loved it. Messages which include “Shields Collapsing” and “Zone Deflection”.will raise your tension level. I actually broke two “Triga Command” joysticks playing this game “back in the day”. Another great vid. Thanks!

[@TheLairdsLair]

I've not played Dimension X, I'll have to try it out, might be a candidate for a follow up video.

[@terminus8444]

Another Dimension X fan, right on! I played the hell out of that game. It was quite nice to look at and technically very impressive. "The first and only game to feature Altered Perspective Scrolling" was the tagline on the original box. As for Tale of Beta Lyrae, the first time I booted it up and heard the intro music I was hooked! That was a great game from the masters at Paradise Programming. And the scramble alert at the end of the intro is the best klaxon EVER!! ✌

[@lurkerrekrul]

I remember seeing a short review of Dimension X in a magazine and it listed it as being available for the Atari 8-bit and C64. Of course a C64 version was never made. I was really disappointed at the time as the screenshot and description had me hooked. Everyone always said "Just play Encounter, it's a better game.", but I wanted Dimension X. Now there's emulation. :)

[@joejacobsonwales]

Cool video! The atari computers need more love!

[@MarkTheMorose]

2:30 Unexpected: Tangerine Dream music as backing for an Atari advert. And £12.95 for that Gremlin tape game? And I thought we had it rough paying £2 more on the C64 than the Spectrum for the same game!

[@ridiculous_gaming]

Flip na flip was an amazingly fast title and visually fantastic.

[@dreamcaster4754]

Great selection of games Laird! There are a couple here I've not played here either, so I'll have to fire up my Atari Max later on!!!

[@dragokills6990]

Awesome selection of games!

[@retrojoe85]

OH YEAH! "MIssion Shark" and "The Extirpator" chiptune soundtracks give me goosebumps!

[@mustangj0hn]

I used to listen to the music from Tail of Beta Lyrae on my RobC menu maker disk all the time, that and Cosmic Tunnels. Happy memories 😀

[@MarkTheMorose]

"Rob C Menu Maker". There's a term I've not heard in 40 years. I was a C64 lad, my mate had an Atari 800 and disk drive, and I remember him making up a disk of games once. 'Insert a Rob C Menu Maker disk' was the prompt that appeared on the screen.

[@daviniarobbins9298]

I had an Atari 65XE back in the day. You weren't missing much. It was the poor man's computer as my parents couldn't afford a Commodore 64 or Spectrum at the time. Games software were limited on the Atari 8-bit range and flipping heck cartridge and disk based games were expensive. Tape games were cheap but the loading time of 30 minutes was annoying.

[@TheLairdsLair]

I had a Spectrum (rubber key then a +2) but if I could go back in time I would choose the 65XE without question.

[@timlocke3159]

Being the UK, I can see your point because most people, especially school kids, had a ZX Spectrum or Commodore 64 and there were lots of games. By 1985, no more games were being released on the Atari 8-bit computers due to rampant piracy, at least in North America, making it impossible for game creators to make a profit. Piracy was at least as rampant in the Commodore 64 community, but because the system sold many millions more units, game creators were still able to make a profit so games were made up to about 1993.

[@b.o.4492]

Ordered the book based on this video. Liked and subscribed.

[@TheLairdsLair]

Thanks! I hope you like it!

[@wallacelang1374]

The 10 exclusive Atari 8-Bit games were all fine, but I have a different list of games that I would have included raising the list up to at least 20 games for the Atari 8-Bit computer system.

[@kranibal]

Just awesome content as usual!

[@timlocke3159]

An Atari 8-bit exclusive I like is Electrician.

[@TheLairdsLair]

I'll have to try that out - it looks great!

[@JVHShack]

"Baja" is the Spanish word for "below", therefore, it should be pronounced like "bah-ha".

[@TheLairdsLair]

Correct, I lived in the Canary Islands for nearly 3 years and speak a decent amount of Spanish, however in that region they speak the language quite differently to mainland Spain and indeed South/Central America. A lot of people there refer to it as Spanglish in fact and will mix English and Spanish in sentences. There was a place I used to frequent called the "Baja Bar" (because it was downstairs in a big complex) and was run by a guy from Leeds with a very strong Yorkshire accent and he always used to say "BAR JAR" so it very much stuck and everyone ended up saying it that way - old habits die hard I guess!

[@Miesiu]

10:54 - Mission Shark - orginal: Misja - was created by Laboratorium Komputerowe Avalon from Poland. Zeppelin the only sold game in West Europe and other part of world.

[@TheLairdsLair]

You either skipped through the video or didn't have the audio turned on clearly . . . . .

[@TheEvilDindon]

Cool ! Defo have to try sidewinder

[@donny121able]

Zynaps best shooter for atari, bounty Bob 2049er best platform, crazy Colin was a fun game collecting items on a bike involving skill. Caverns of Khafka was an interesting game and worth a look too. Great memories of childhood...

[@TheLairdsLair]

I assume you mean Zybex, as Zynaps was on the Atari 8-bit. All good games though!

[@donny121able]

@@TheLairdsLair 100% Thanks

[@imranahmad2733]

k-razy antiks and defender where my favourites on the 600xl, defender was almost arcade perfect, did have Mario Bros but wasn't one I enjoyed but graphically it was good.

[@nickolasgaspar9660]

The issue with Sidewinder is that it has a bug on level 5 where the timing of 3 beams is meshed up making it impossible to finish the game.

[@goddessesstartrekonlinefle3061]

Good to see some classic game reviews ^^. A lot of those games look rather like later released third party attempts to replicate mainstream earlier games. o Sidewinder seems a reimagining of Fort Apocalypse (82), o Wyzl by APX also seems to take alot of influences from Fort Apocalypse, o Hawkquest looks like a poor version of War Hawk (86). You mentioned the other look alikes. RedRat definitely did some great games :).

[@TheLairdsLair]

What game do you mean by APX? As that is the Atari Program Exchange, a publisher, and put out some of the earliest games for the A8.

[@goddessesstartrekonlinefle3061]

@@TheLairdsLair oh yes, sorry my mistake there :). Thanks for the nice video (bow)

[@Edgel-in6bs]

That Hubbard tune was sanxion on the c64!

[@TheLairdsLair]

Correct!

[@cessnaace]

Some of the games for the Atari 8-bit line have received homebrew ports to the Atari 2600 such as Caverns of Mars (Conquest of Mars). The Arcade game Space Zap was ported as Vault Assault. I own both ports. You showed footage of Space Zap in your most recent video on Atari 8-bit games. I can't find it listed for the system under that name. I'd love to see AtariAge release some of the 8-bit games that had Pokey support for the 7800 with their PokeyOne. AtariAge have been publishing a lot of Atari ST (and some Amiga) game ports for the Atari Jaguar. I can't keep up but I'm trying. 😀

[@TheLairdsLair]

Where did you look? It's in the AtariMania database: www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-space-zap_4864.html I'm not interested in the ST to Jaguar ports myself, don't see the point in them.

[@cessnaace]

@@TheLairdsLair Wikipedia; List of Atari 8-bit games. en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Category:Atari_8-bit_family_games&from=S

[@lurkerrekrul]

Flip & Flop - You're not supposed to hop on the flashing squares. You lure the enemies chasing you onto those squares and they'll get stuck for a couple seconds, allowing you to get away. Also, a tip: Every other round is played with the perspective under the level. This can really mess with your orientation. However, it's possible to train yourself to see the level as being right-side up and the monkey as standing on his head. It doesn't quite look right, but it makes those levels easier to play. Sort of like those optical illusions of a 3D cube, where it can look like the cube is facing two different ways depending on how you see it. Baja Buggies - "Baja" is pronounced "Ba-ha". It's a Mexican state, Baja California.

[@TheLairdsLair]

I'm not playing Flip & Flop in this video, the brief clip you see near the start is from the free to use Hyperspin library. I explained my pronunciation of Baja in another comment.

[@lurkerrekrul]

@@TheLairdsLair I figured as much with Flip & Flop. I just couldn't resist commenting on it. :)

[@captaincorleone7088]

Thanks for this list. I now have an 800XL and will check them out. 🙂

[@TheLairdsLair]

Glad I could help!

[@ridiculous_gaming]

The difficulty of these titles is equal to past arcades. Today's youth have no patience for the level of difficulty offered by most of these titles...fantastic!

[@nickolasgaspar9660]

Here is a list of some future exclusives...off the top of my head. 80's-90's title 3d24 Cavernia Deimos Excelsor Dark Chambers Dark Abyss 2000's-today Albert 3plex Atari Blast! Battle Eagle Betty issues Crazy Cat Final Assault 1.1 Thetris Ridiculous Reality RGB Laura Assembloids Last Squadron Heli in Caves Callisto Harem RC1 Druidarium Ditch CYCTRIKS

[@TheLairdsLair]

Dark Chambers isn't an Atari 8-bit exclusive, it was also on the 2600 and 7800 too. In fact the Atari 7800 was the lead version. I try not to include homebrew games as I'll probably cover that category separately, Thanks for the other suggestions though, a few there that I didn't know!

[@nickolasgaspar9660]

@@TheLairdsLair I thought titles for the 2600 and 7800 were included since they all are 8-bit. You are welcome!

[@waltciii3]

Baja Buggies was my second Atari game after Star Raiders. Unfortunately I got it as a tape game. Man, those slow tape load times made me not want to play this game. Eventually the tape failed. I need to try it as a ROM file, maybe it would feel better.

[@waltciii3]

Found it!!

[@TheTuubster]

"Megablaster".

[@qualli13]

What is that game with the kangaroo at the beginning of your video?

[@TheLairdsLair]

That is Flip & Flop by First Star Software.

[@PeBoVision]

If I've mentioned it before on The Laird's Lair, apologies, I'm an old fart forgetting what he's talked about preveiously. Somehow, through multiple "Best Atari 8-bit games" or in this case "exclusive" games one title is repeatedly overlooked (It's Canadian, and we get ignored for the most part). Captain Beeble is a devilishly clever side-scrolling shmup where you control a little dude on in a Jetpack who is fighting hordes of critters similar to the Shamus variety of enemies. You have to fly to the end of the maze, set a bomb, which sets a timer for you to fly back to your starting base as time runs out. You can fly around freely, but any maze surfaces that are white mean instant death. The number of white surfaces increases as levels increase. Written by Bob Cole and published by InHome Software, when I traded my 99-4A for an 800XL, Captain Beeble was the primary game that made me choose Atari rather than Commodore, and I consider it one of the best games on the Atari 8-bit line. 16K Catridge. No one EVER mentions it. And that is an injustice for a great Atari exclusive from the land of Maple Syrup, Hockey and Lacrosse. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2q5oWishJmcldU&ab_channel=gedzior84

[@MilosMolnar]

I love Captain Beeble!

[@2001pl]

isn't Fort Apocalypse an Atari 8-bit exclusive ? If so, it would so so so deserve to be in this list, this game was (still is) amazing.

[@TheLairdsLair]

No, it also came out for the Commodore 64.

[@2001pl]

@@TheLairdsLair oh ok then, thanks !

[@ITGuyinaction]

💪😎👌 R E T R O I S T H E B E S T!

[@b213videoz]

How could you have missed Star Raiders? 🤪

[@TheLairdsLair]

I didn't, Star Raiders isn't an exclusive!

[@nasty_niff]

BA HA buggies is how it's pronounced

[@joejacobsonwales]

I bet you're fun at parties!

[@AndersJohansen1]

Red Rat looks more like a Xevious clone than anythng else…

[@TheLairdsLair]

I assume you mean Hawk Quest, as Rad Rat is the company that made it. It's definitely a Tiger Heli clone.

[@AndersJohansen1]

@@TheLairdsLair whoops sorry about the naming. OK then, I always thought Xevious came first. Perhaps there's some indirect connection.

[@lucasjokiel]

Red Rat? Or SWIV? ;)

[@TheLairdsLair]

I assume you mean Hawk Quest, Red Rat is who made it. Yeah, it's similar to SWIV but it's a clone of the arcade game Tiger Heli (which came first).

[@lucasjokiel]

@@TheLairdsLair Right! Mixed up the developer/game. So SWIV is the third clone? Wow.

[@colinmcdonald2499]

The sound on some of those is toooooo close to 1978 4-bit era. Awesome in its own right. But terrible if mom/dad forked over 1/2 months salary for a computer in the mid eighties ( even a 1/4 or 1/8th month salary!) In 1983 but 20:48 is it just lazy programming?

[@TheLairdsLair]

The Atari 8-bit computer first came out in 1979, so that's hardly a surprise.

[@joejacobsonwales]

The pokey chip is awesome, very advanced for the time

[@colinmcdonald2499]

@@TheLairdsLair I didn't know it was that old

[@nickolasgaspar9660]

Well Gary Rimmer, the programmer of the game responded to this "accusation" on Pete Davison's review of this game on his youtube channel. He on purpose increased the difficulty by introduced randomness as an agent in this game. Jay Miner's hardware (co processors) was way more advanced compared to what programmers of that period could imagine plus all the tools and trackers enabling Saw-tooth sound waves weren't available for the platform yet. The cost of computers during that period is truly a sad story!

[@dietmarbertling5884]

What is the name of the game beginning at 2:00?

[@TheLairdsLair]

Tiger Attack by Atari, another good exclusive that didn't quite make the cut for this video.

[@dietmarbertling5884]

@@TheLairdsLair thanx for the info. Aquatron is another worthy exclusive title for your next video.

[@TheLairdsLair]

Excellent, I'll check that out as I am definitely doing a follow up, thanks!

[@terminus8444]

@@dietmarbertling5884 Nice! Although a "Defender clone", Aquatron was a fantastic game that added some nice twists like your fighter cracking up if you enter the water too fast. Love the day/night cycle as well, and the SFX are top notch! I still play Aquatron to this day! ✌