tkarner Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Hat Trick is often near the top of the list of worst 7800 games. When you compare it to other 3rd generation console hockey games, like Slap Shot for Sega and Blades of Steel for NES, it's just not in the same league. But I still enjoy it, and here's why. Its one-on-one simplicity makes it a quick pick up and a great party game- drink a Labatt every time you get scored on. And to paraphrase Obi Wan, I look at it from a different point of view. Compared to the other home console ice hockey games, it falls short. But as a home version of the arcade game (which is what the 7800 was best at) I think it succeeds. The designers never set out to create a sophisticated hockey game. They set out to create a home version of arcade Hat Trick (like they did with Galaga, Centipede, Dig Dug, etc.) and I think they captured the look and experience of the arcade game pretty well (well, except for the audio). Anyway, that's my view - discuss... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoundGammon Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Plays even better with a Trak-Ball! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edladdin Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Not that great playing against the AI, but Hat Trick is a lot of fun against another person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 I've evolved my feelings on Hat Trick since first popping it in years ago. Yes, it's simplistic - but playable at least. When you think about it, Hat Trick is little more than a slightly fancier, free roaming version of tennis or pong. Just wish it ran a little smoother is all. Never thought of playing it with a trakball - will have to give that a try! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BydoEmpire Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 I'm with you, I find Hat Trick to be pretty enjoyable. Yeah, the graphics are choppy, but the actual gameplay is pretty fun. You can get into a nice rhythm of stealing the puck and scoring goals. It's not a great game, but IMHO it's nowhere near the bottom 5 7800 games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinMos3 Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Im with you. Ive always liked Hat Trick. I always thought it was a lot of fun and really liked the intermissions with the zamboni. I never thought of using a trackball. Ill have to try that sometime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inky Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 I find the choppy movement of the characters in the game ruin the whole thing for me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dauber Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Also in defense of Hat Trick.... Because of Hat Trick, Harry Dodgson was able to produce a bunch of monitor cartridges, making Atari 7800 homebrewing possible. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+GoldenWheels Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 I like to defend the 7800 in general but man, forget Blades of Steel, I don't even think Hat Trick compares well to Activision Ice Hockey...on the 2600...which came out 5+ years before it. THAT is a very fun hockey game. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlidellMan Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 I do think that Hat Trick has room for improvement. Come on, Bally Sente could have added power-ups or different rinks just to spice it up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DracIsBack Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 Out of curiosity, how does the 7800 version compare to the arcade version? Never played it in the arcade ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoundGammon Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 I worked for a company back in the day of arcades and we had a Hat Trick at our local college game room. Looks pretty much the same but the animation was better. You can play it on MAME! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noah98 Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 (edited) I love arcade Hat Trick! I used to play it with my friends in the arcade all the time. It is a lot like Activision Ice Hockey. Simple, but fun. The problem with the 7800 version is that it is so choppy. Really, there is no excuse. If the 7800 can run Robotron smoothly, then Hat Trick should not be pushing the hardware too much. Seems like either a rushed development or lazy programming. ? Edited January 15, 2018 by Noah98 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kisrael Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Agree with both the pro-7800 Hat Trick and the pro-Activision Hockey sentiments Come to think of it, my Sophomore year (93-94) had a lot of Hockey and Senior (95-96) had a lot of Hat Trick. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc78_2005 Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 hat trick imo is pretty enjoyable especially with two players 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlidellMan Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 Fun fact: Bally Sente used CEM 3394 chips in their hardware. These chips are also used in the Sequential Circuits MultiTrak and Doepfer Dark Energy synthesizers. Sources: http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=607 http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=608 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynxpro Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 Also in defense of Hat Trick.... Because of Hat Trick, Harry Dodgson was able to produce a bunch of monitor cartridges, making Atari 7800 homebrewing possible. How was the Hat Trick PCB so special that Harry was able to do that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynxpro Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 (edited) I do think that Hat Trick has room for improvement. Come on, Bally Sente could have added power-ups or different rinks just to spice it up. Well, I know how the 7800 version could be improved... 1. NATIVE TRAK-BALL SUPPORT. [just like the arcade original]. Of course then you run into the problem of CX22s and CX80s only having 1 fire button. And if anyone mentions that Video 61 fake 7800 Trak-Ball, I'll hurl a few E.T. cartridges in your direction. 2. Use more RAM/ROM for improving the animation. 3. HSC *if* it's one of the few launch cartridges that didn't feature it. I don't remember and I don't have an HSC cart, a Concerto, or an XM to test whether it does. 4. POKEY audio. Otherwise, it's a great game if you have 2 players. Edited January 23, 2018 by Lynxpro 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariLeaf Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 I find the choppy movement of the characters in the game ruin the whole thing for me. I love the arcade game but Inky's right, the choppy animations are just horrible. If that were fixed I'd probably own it today. Maybe someone can hack it for smoother animation. I love me some old school hockey video games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dauber Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 How was the Hat Trick PCB so special that Harry was able to do that? Big Lots had a ton of them on sale, so Harry got 'em cheap. Not even kidding. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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