Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration will very likely set the bar for future retro compilations, and not necessarily because of the content included. In fact, quite a few of the 100 or so releases included here is something that is impenetrable on the perimeter. What sets it apart is the way the packaging is presented.
While you can jump directly to games organized by release year or platform, the compilation also features a museum-like interface that traces Atari’s origins to its later years. The galleries presented at are chock-full of trivia, archival footage, photos, and more, and are quite engaging.
Adding context to the set of paraphernalia, of course, is the aforementioned playable game selection. Overall, there’s a real warmth and novelty to this package that’s rarely seen. For example, learning about Pong’s origins allows you to actually play it. It features beautifully rendered borders inspired by original arcade cabinets.
All games have instruction manuals reproduced in their entirety, as well as advertising leaflets and other interesting documentation. Emulation is also very good as far as we know. For example, you won’t find an online leaderboard, but you can save your progress and use different filters that try to recreate the traditional CRT display.
Don’t ignore how dense this compilation is. Although there are obvious inclusions from the Atari 2600 era, missile command When centipededeveloper Digital Extremes has created a virtual replica of Atari’s old 1978 handheld game. touch meindicating the level of commitment displayed here.
Atari Lynx and Atari Jaguar are represented, but perhaps due to licensing and legal issues, cracks When alien vs predator I am absent. ET extraterrestrial life form, which also leaves out an important cog in the Atari story. But there is still much to be grateful for here. Tempest 2000, food fightWhen i robot Be patient today.
And that doesn’t even touch on the reimagined series created specifically for this package. air worldfor example, unexpectedly sword quest series, accompanied by the three 1980s titles that preceded it. in the meantime, Haunted house Atari’s iconic survival horror reimagined as a lighthearted 3D maze game.
Also, the self-explanatory Neo breakout4-player tank title quadra tankvector-based mashup VCTR-SCTRand flashy Yar’s Revenge: Enhanceconfusingly, is a completely different experience than the recently released Age: ChargedAdditionally, you’ll find various unreleased prototypes that ultimately add to the overall mystique of the package.
Honestly, few games grab your attention, but the presentation is both introspective and interesting. It celebrates Atari but does not downplay the company’s failures and shortcomings. And there’s a clear respect for the pioneering platform owner here in that it’s earned real credibility, but presents a wart and a point of view on everything, and it’s appreciated.
Conclusion
Many of the included games may be near-impossible to play from a modern perspective, but the attention to detail in Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration is very easy to understand. From interviews to original drawings, the museum-like carousel of content is beautifully presented, so you won’t be drawn into Atari’s dramatic story. And then there’s the fact that over 100 of the company’s most famous titles are masterfully emulated using the original instruction manuals, adding playable context to much of the content. This is an impressive overall experience, not only for those who have seen Atari’s rise (and decline), but also for younger players eager to learn a little more about him, one of the industry’s true pioneers. .
