by Brett Weiss
every shot fired, and the gun isn’t
very accurate. Players willing to
overlook these shortcomings will
find something to enjoy, as will
fans of Reactor (a somewhat sim-
ilar Atari 2600 game).
Midnight Mutants
PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Ra-
dioactive Software. Adventure, 1
Although the Atari 7800 didn’t have a light gun of its very own, player. 1990.
Meltdown and Barnyard Blaster were compatible with the XG-1 light gun, which was packaged with the Atari XE game system.
The closest thing the Atari
The XG-1 was sold separately for the benefit of 7800 owners.
7800 has to a Legend of Zelda–
ATARI 7800
19
type of adventure game, Midnight Mutants
formation found in the instruction manual:
consists of 10 atmospheric, highly detailed
“To save wear and tear on your thumb, strap a
areas to explore, including a mansion, a
rubber band around the joystick button that
church, a graveyard, and a pumpkin patch.
controls acceleration for long play sessions.”
Each area is teeming with zombies, vampires,
bats, mutant bosses (including Dr. Evil), and
Ms. Pac-Man
other killable monsters. The goal is to save
PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: General Com-
Grampa Munster (yep, the one from The Mun-
puter Corp. Maze, 1 or 2 players (alternating).
sters television show), who is being held at Plas-1986.
mic Prison. Fortunately, Jimmy, the character
The lipstick on Ms. Pac-Man’s famous
players control, can pick up a number of help-
mug is about all that’s missing in this stellar
ful items, including a knife, a cross, an axe, a
port of Midway’s 1981 arcade classic (which im-
blaster, a key (for entering the crypt), dia-
proved upon its predecessor, Pac-Man, by fea-
monds (to increase Jimmy’s health), and more.
turing four mazes, faster gameplay, moving
Regrettably, there is no password feature for
fruit, and smarter enemy A.I.). The title char-
saving progress, and control is a bit awkward,
acter’s round edges are a little jagged (making
thanks to the isometric perspective and
the NES versions look more polished), and the
Jimmy’s inability to walk diago-
nally. However, awesome graph-
ics and sounds, nonlinear game-
play, and a fairly unusual concept
make the game a worthwhile
entry in the 7800 library.
MotorPsycho
PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER:
BlueSky Software. Motorcycle
Racing, 1 player. 1990.
MotorPsycho has been called
a motorcycle version of Pole Posi-
tion II, and that’s a pretty good
description of the game. There are
four different tracks comprised of
winding roads, vehicles to pass,
and roadside signs to avoid crash-
ing into. Also, the vehicle has two
speeds (high and low), and the
objective is to get through each
course as fast as possible. Sound
familiar? One thing that separates
MotorPsycho from Pole Position II
is the fact that the player’s vehicle
can score extra points by jumping
over enemy bikes, arrow signs,
cones, and ramps. Also, the road-
ways in MotorPsycho are hilly at
times. The game’s title is mislead-
ing, however, as there is nothing
Two excellent Atari 7800 ports of arcade classics: Ms. Pac-Man, really psychotic about the game,
the world-famous maze game, and Xevious, the highly influen-other than the following bit of in-
tial vertical scrolling shooter.
20
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
playfield is square (as opposed to rectangular)
is basic as well, consisting primarily of run-
to accommodate the shape of most television
ning, jumping, and kicking. After the ball is
screens, but these are small complaints. Unlike
hit, the ninja runs to the ball, encountering go-
the coin-op classic (or the NES versions), this
phers, frogs, ninja guards, water hazards
rendition lets players select the starting level,
(which include sharks), sand traps (which in-
meaning anyone can jump straight to the ba-
clude snakes), and other enemies and obstacles
nana screen. In addition, the pre-game anima-
along the way. Helpful items to pick up include
tion introducing the ghosts by name is intact
throwing stars, magic shields, warps, and more.
(a feature missing in the NES versions). Also
When the ball gets to the green, there is no put-
released for the Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Gene-
ting. Rather, players hurl ninja stars at a
sis, and numerous other systems. Followed by:
dragon. This graphically impressive, first-per-
Pac-Man Collection (Game Boy Advance), Pac-son scene is reminiscent of the shuriken-
Man Fever (PS2, GameCube), Pac-Man World
throwing bonus rounds in Shinobi.
3 (various), and numerous other sequels and
offshoots.
One-on-One Basketball
PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Man Develop-
Ninja Golf
ment. Sports/Basketball, 1 or 2 players (simul-
P
taneous). 1987.
UBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: BlueSky Soft-
ware. Sports/Golf/Side-Scrolling Combat/
This is a complete, finely programmed
First-Person Shooter, 1 or 2 players (alternat-
port of the popular computer game (which was
ing). 1990.
simply called One-on-One) starring NBA su-
A highly original creation, Ninja Golf com-
perstars Dr. J. and Larry Bird. The controls take
bines three different genres to come up with
a little getting used to thanks to the stiff 7800
one very good game. The golfing aspect is sim-
joysticks, but the game has smooth animation,
plistic, since all players really do is aim, judge
a nicely rendered hardwood floor, and some
the distance, and hit the ball. The fighting action
entertaining one-on-one hoops action. Players
can steal, rebound, shoot three-
pointers (Bird is the better outside
shooter, naturally), charge, travel,
get fatigued, dunk the ball (Dr. J is
the superior dunker, of course),
and more. On a particularly vi-
cious dunk, the backboard will
shatter, prompting an angry ref to
come out and sweep up the bro-
ken glass. Excellent sound effects
accompany this amusing scene.
Also released for the ColecoVision
(as One-on-One). Followed by:
Jordan vs. Bird: One on One (NES,
Game Boy) and Jordan vs. Bird
(Genesis).
Pete Rose Baseball
PUBLISHER: Absolute Entertain-
ment. DEVELOPER: Absolute Enter-
tainment. Sports/Baseball, 1 or 2
players (simultaneous). 1989.
/> Three Atari 7800 sports games: Hat Trick, One-on-One Bas-
ketball, and RealSports Baseball, each pictured with box, in-Despite slightly sharper
struction manual, and cartridge.
graphics and a better color scheme,
ATARI 7800
21
Pete Rose Baseball for the Atari 7800 is disap-Pole Position II, in which players speed
pointingly similar to the Atari 2600 version of
down twisting, turning streets (from a behind-
the game, and one should expect more from a
the-car perspective), passing other cars while
next-generation system. Also, though it plays a
avoiding crashing, is one of the weaker arcade
good game of America’s favorite pastime, and
ports in the Atari 7800 library, which is unfor-
it’s superior to the 7800 version of RealSports
tunate since it was the pack-in game with the
Baseball, the infield defense in Pete Rose Base-system. It’s not as fast or as exciting as Atari’s
ball could use some fine tuning. Sometimes the 1983 arcade classic, the explosions aren’t as in-player closest to the ball can’t reach it, forcing
tense, the cars don’t look as cool or as colorfully
gamers to switch to another infielder who must
detailed, and the action isn’t as smooth. It’s far
come all the way over to help. Like its 2600
too easy to accidentally down shift (the pro-
counterpart, the game features an onscreen
grammers should have utilized the second fire
umpire and catcher, cheering fans, the ability to
button as the gear shift instead of the joystick),
move around in the batter’s box, a warning
and the steering wheel from the coin-op clas-
track, a fence the ball can bounce off of, and
sic is greatly missed. On a more positive note,
six camera angles (including a behind-the-
the game does include nicely detailed moun-
pitcher perspective).
tain ranges and all four original racetracks:
Test, Fuji, Seaside, and Suzuka. Interestingly,
Planet Smashers
the billboards have been changed to Atari sym-
P
bols, and the “Qualify for Start” flag that flies
UBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Atari. Vertical
Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2 players (alternating).
across the screen at the beginning of the game
1990.
has been altered to “Prepare to Qualify,” which
was the wording in the original Pole Position.
The prequel to Alien Brigade, Planet
Smashers has players defending Earth from
Rampage
alien invaders. Despite the familiar concept,
PUBLISHER: Activision. DEVELOPER: Spectral
the game does have a couple of original aspects:
Dimensions. Action, 1 or 2 players (simultane-
the need to shoot colored-coded warp capsules
ous). 1989.
in order to progress to the next level; and an
Earth shield that gets a little weaker with every
Rampage for the Atari 7800 has fewer col-
enemy that gets by the player’s starship. Once
ors and is less sharp visually than the overrated
the shield is gone, the game ends, even if there
Bally Midway coin-op classic (1986), but it
are starships in reserve. Basic gameplay in-
does include all the enemies and items. In ad-
volves moving a ship around the bottom third
dition, it keeps the essential two-player mode
of the playfield, shooting fighters, bombers,
intact (though the three-player mode is miss-
rammers, and alien cargo vessels while catch-
ing), and it plays about the same (with the one
ing cargo (weapon power-ups, a cloaking de-
drawback being the poorly designed 7800 con-
vice, and shield restoratives) as it falls from de-
trollers). Players guide giant monsters George
stroyed alien ships. The bosses are impressive
the Ape, Lizzie the Lizard, or Ralph the Wolf
in appearance, but the rest of the game looks
(who is missing from the NES version of the
pretty ordinary. The sound effects are limited,
game) as they climb buildings, smash build-
and the shooting action is tiresome on the
ings, eat people (and other items), grab money,
thumb, thanks to the 7800’s side-button joy-
and punch helicopters, trolleys, boats, police
sticks. The end of the game is basically an ad-
cars, and tanks. In all there are 132 cities to de-
vertisement for Alien Brigade.
stroy (the NES version has 128 cities while the
SMS game has 50 levels spread over 10 cities).
Pole Position II
The view is from the side, and the action moves
PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: General Com-
at a slow pace. Also released for the Atari 2600
puter Corp. Formula-1/Indy Racing, 1 player.
and Atari Lynx. Followed by: Rampage World
1986.
Tour (various), Rampage Through Time (Play-
22
CLASSIC HOME VIDEO GAMES, 1985–1988
Station), Rampage Puzzle Attack (Gameboy Ad-
have never played the coin-op classic will get
vance), and other sequels and offshoots.
some enjoyment out of the inherently intense
action, in which a man runs around the screen,
RealSports Baseball
shooting hordes of evil robots and rescuing in-
PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: Atari. Sports/
nocents. However, arcade rats need not apply.
Baseball, 1 or 2 players (simultaneous). 1988.
Also released for the Atari Lynx. Followed by:
Robotron X (PlayStation) and Robotron 64
An improvement (but not a significant
(Nintendo 64).
leap) graphically over the 2600 and 5200 ver-
sions, RealSports Baseball for the Atari 7800 is Scrapyard Dog
a decent looking, nicely animated game with
P
solid controls. It features bunting, eight pitch-
UBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: BlueSky Soft-
ware. Side-Scrolling Platform, 1 player. 1990.
ing variations (including fast balls, curves,
change-ups, and sliders), and high, low, and
The closest thing the Atari 7800 has to
normal swings of the bat. However, it does
Super Mario Bros. , Scrapyard Dog is the type of contain a few flaws that put it in league with
side-scrolling platform game that was ex-
the 2600 rendition, namely poor fielding, un-
tremely popular during the late ’80s and early
even base-running, and lousy sound effects.
’90s. Players guide an ugly, big-nosed guy
Also, playing the computer is brutal, especially
named Louie through six rounds (17 levels in
since there are very few areas of the field to
all) of junkyards, cities, and sewers, jumping
safely hit the ball. Gamers should stick with the
on or throwing cans or bombs at gangsters,
superior 5200 version. On a historical note, the
rats, birds, and other enemies. There are some
RealSports line of games was originally intro-
tricky jumps and lots of obstacles, meaning the
duced
to compete with Mattel’s Intellivision
shields players can acquire (and store up) do
sports games, which were generally much more
come in handy. Bonus rooms throughout the
sophisticated than their Atari 2600 counter-
levels contain mini-games, and there are shops
parts. The RealSports moniker stuck when it
for purchasing super cans, extra lives, and other
was time to create sports titles for the 5200 and
helpful items. Scrapyard Dog is a must-have for 7800.
7800 devotees since it’s the only game of its
type for the system, but the lead character lacks
Robotron: 2084
the charisma to be considered a console mas-
PUBLISHER: Atari. DEVELOPER: General Com-
cot. Mario, Sonic, Bonk, and Alex Kidd have
puter Corp. Non-Scrolling Shooter, 1 or 2
it all over Louie.
players (alternating). 1987.
Robotron: 2084 for the 7800 would be an
Sentinel
acceptable port of the 1982 Williams arcade
PUBLISHER: ResQsoft Productions. DEVELOPER:
Imagineering. Light Gun Shooter, 1 or 2 play-
classic if it weren’t for a couple of key setbacks.
ers (alternating). 2002.
Unlike the superior Atari 5200 version of the
game, which was packaged with a special dual
In Sentinel, players must protect a large
controller holder, the 7800 rendition expects
orb as it glides across the surface of four differ-
players to somehow hold both controllers at
ent alien planets, each of which contains such
once (or perhaps fit the controllers together
backgrounds as buildings and mountains. This
with tape, rubber bands, or by some other
is done by shooting the various enemies (rings,
method). The game is playable with one con-
tubes, stars, cubes, satellites, hover crafts, and
troller, but this hardly evokes the coin-op ex-
the like) that attack the titular orb. Players can
perience, as gamers must shoot the way they
also find power-ups, including super shots
are moving. Also, it is impossible to shoot
(smart bombs that explode when the orb is
while standing still. On a less important note,
shot), energy pods (which circle the orb), and
the graphics aren’t quite as colorful, and the
movement (which increases the orb’s vertical
sound effects aren’t quite as busy. Gamers who
speed). When an enemy is killed, the orb absorbs
ATARI 7800
23
the resultant energy and grows larger. The pro-
in the computer simulation to land, change al-