Arcade translations

[tkarner]

I started a thread over in the 2600 forum. I thought I'd ask for your input over here too.

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=126662

 

Basically I'm looking to collect the best versions of classic arcade games whether it's for the 2600, 7800, or 8-bit.

[peteym5]

I read your post on the 2600 forum, to make a fair assessment, you should play a few of the 8-bit games on an emulator. The 8-bit/5200 most of the time exceeded the 2600 simply because the ANTIC/GTIA is much more powerful than the TIA, but is not quite as powerful as the 7800 MARIA. Many do say the 5200/8-bit systems has the best sound coming from the POKEY, 4 voices with a lot of control on them.

 

PAC-MAN, MS PAC-MAN, MISSILE COMMAND, JOUST, GYRUSS, ATARI INVADERS (Ataris' Space Invaders) POLE POSITION, are some very good arcade translations. Some poor arcade ports were Asteroids and Star Wars.

 

The 7800 had more graphics potential but the problem was it wasn't a good system, it was Atari being ran by Jack Tramiel at the time who delayed it first, than released it after the Nintendo Entertainment System already revived the video game market. Atari has trying to gear everything toward the ST systems also and trying to make themselves into a professional computer company. Remind you that the ST had some very accurate arcade ports.

[littleman jack]

I agree,

Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Gyruss, and Joust are all excellent on the 8-bits, and Star Wars is quite bad. Also, Donkey Kong is really excellent (and it has all 4 screens). Maybe this has all been mentioned on the 2600 thread. I'll look for it. Good luck hunting for games.

[littleman jack]

Just checked out your 2600 post.

 

Zaxxon, Defender, Spy Hunter, and (as mentioned by peteym5 a few posts back) Pole Position are all very good on the 8-bits. And Frogger is quite good on the 8-bits (however, there may be two versions like on the 2600, by two different companies).

 

The 8-bits have a ton of arcade inspired games, as well, that are really excellent (such as Miner 2049er, Preppie and Preppie 2, Pacific Coast Highway, Jawbreaker, and on and on). The 8-bits have a ton of arcade-like games that are just great. Check the posts for listings about game suggestions to newbies. The list of 8-bit games is much bigger than the 7800 and 5200 lists. And many of them are arcade inspired.

Edited June 10, 2008 by littleman jack