You don’t get much more retro than the Atari 2600+ (Picture: Atari)
GameCentral takes a look at the new Atari 2600+ and discovers just what sets it apart from other retro mini-consoles.
Although the media often likes to characterise video games as a new concept, enjoyed only by younger people, if you were playing an Atari 2600 when it first came out in 1977 as, say, a seven-year-old, you’d be well into your fifties by now. Atari as a company doesn’t really exist anymore but those currently in charge of its name and back catalogue did an excellent job celebrating its 50th anniversary last year, with releases like Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration.
As fascinating as that compilation was, as a sort of interactive museum, it did illustrate how some video games, from the very earliest days of the industry, are becoming almost unplayable – certainly for anyone that didn’t experience them the first time round. That’s generally not true for Atari’s coin-ops, but their home console titles are certainly at the stage where you need to understand exactly what you’re getting yourself in for before you start playing them.
It’s into that reality that the Atari 2600+ has been released, a remake of the most successful hardware from the second generation of video game consoles and the format which helped to create many of the standards and conventions that are still followed today.
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To be specific, this is a recreation of the 1981, four-switch version of the console, back when it was still called an Atari VCS (Video Computer System). The Atari 2600 name only came into official use after this model, to help distinguish it from other Atari hardware of the time. For some reason, the 2600+ is 80% the size of the original – so we’re not sure why they didn’t either make it much smaller or the exact same size as before – but it does still have an ultra-retro bit of wood panelling at the front, so that’s neat.
Originally, all console models played the same games and the 2600+ comes with a cartridge featuring 10 titles: Adventure, Combat, Dodge ‘Em, Haunted House, Maze Craze, Missile Command, RealSports Volleyball, Surround, Video Pinball, and Yars’ Revenge. Also included is the iconic CX40 digital joystick, allowing you to immerse yourself in a crash course in pre-NES video game history, using hardware all but identical to that from the early 80s.
The included games were all made and developed by Atari but while some, such as Adventure and Combat, are cast iron classics others are not. There’re also some notable absences, such as the Atari 2600 versions of Asteroids and Centipede.
Like any console, many of the best titles on the Atari 2600 were third party, with Activision being one of the most lauded publishers (like Atari, the entity currently called Activision is not really the same company) with games like Pitfall!, River Raid, Enduro, and Megamania.
A lot of the other top games were conversions of popular Japanese-made coin-ops, including Ms. Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Frogger, Dig Dug, Pole Position, and… Donkey Kong and Mario Bros.
Those aren’t represented either and yet, in theory, they could be, because the console’s biggest selling point is that it accepts original Atari 2600 and 7800 cartridges. So, if you manage to dig one up out of a landfill you can happily play E.T., or any other game, on this new console (more or less, there’s a compatibility list here). In fact, it’s so backwards compatible that even original controllers will work with it, although the chances of having any of those in working condition is low.
While the 2600+ looks like just another mini-console its purpose is actually quite a bit different and while it can be used to introduce younger gamers to the format it’s also meant as a replacement or back-up for older fans whose original consoles have stopped working.
Naturally, there’s now a HDMI socket, to connect it to modern TVs, and USB-C output, but other than that, and the slightly reduced size, this is exactly the same console as was originally released in 1981.
You can’t get more retro than wood panelling (Picture: Atari)
What it isn’t is a Classic Mini NES or Mega Drive Mini style compilation of the best games on the system. However, such a mini-console already exists, as the Atari Flashback, which has been updated multiple times over the years and most recently had a 50th anniversary version with over 100 games installed. It’s also notably cheaper at just £69.95.
The build quality isn’t as good, but it’s clear that the Flashback is the better option for newer and more casual gamers, whereas the 2600+ is the real deal for hardened fans.
It’s clearly no accident that the Atari 2600+ is releasing just before Christmas but at £99.99, exclusively from Amazon, it’s still a fairly expensive gift to be giving. And that’s before you start considering any of the optional extras.
We were also sent a Paddle Controller Bundle, which comes with two additional controllers and four games – Breakout, Canyon Bomber, Night Driver, and Video Olympics – and costs £29.99. Paddles are basically analogue dials, which were relatively commonplace in the early days of video games (the Taito Egret II mini arcade console has similar optional controllers) but have been largely forgotten today.
The paddles are neat but the games are super basic (Picture: Atari)
On top of that, Berzerk is, for some reason, being sold separately for £24.99 on its own cartridge. It’s certainly one of the better games (it was clearly an inspiration for Robotron: 2084 and the arcade version is famous for being the first video game to feature synthesised speech) but there’s no obvious justification for it being released standalone for a quarter of the price of the console – especially as it’s an Atari title that wouldn’t have required any additional licensing.
But then maybe we’re just missing the point and the fact that you can buy a new cartridge for such a prehistoric console is worth the price of admission alone. Although, oddly, the only other game that’s currently available separately, for the same price, is Mr. Jump And Run, which is a brand new title created this year.
If it had been released back in the day, it would’ve been considered one of the format’s best but even by the standards of the 80s it’s mercilessly difficult and staggeringly ugly (the home versions have alternate modes with better graphics).
If you’re a hardcore Atari fan then you’ve probably had this on pre-order for months, in which case we’re sure you’ll be very happy with it. For anyone else though it’s a difficult sell, especially as the Flashback offers so many more games.
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There’s definitely a tactile thrill in plugging a brand new cartridge into a console but seeing and playing games this old is comparable to a cinephile sitting down to watch a Lumière brothers film. It’s fascinating to do so from an academic point of view, but you don’t necessarily do so expecting to be entertained in the same way you would by more modern media.
Nevertheless, the Atari 2600 era is important to remember, and keep in the modern consciousness, and if you want to do so in the most authentic way possible then the 2600+ cannot be beaten.
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GameCentral takes a look at the new Atari 2600+ and discovers just what sets it apart from other retro mini-consoles.