Overrated and Underrated Atari Games

[Chuck D. Head]

A lot of what came to my mind has already been mentioned, but I have a few more to throw in the ring for underrated:

 

• Fathom - Lots of fun for me, but probably not for someone who was not into mapping the item locations.
• Mountain King - nice graphics, awesome use of sound, a "secret world" to discover and lots of challenge
• Tax Avoiders - not saying it is one of the greats, but tons more fun than it gets credit for
• Human Cannonball - along with Skydiver, Surround, Dodge Em and Flag Capture already mentioned, this one is something I just keep going back to for simple fun

[AtariLeaf]

I really like Human Cannonball. I've always been drawn to games that use the mechanic of needing to judge wind, trajectory, and shot power which is why I'm a huge Worms fan.

[Goochman]

Not sure how the overrated context is being used - Pitfall was hugely ground breaking when it came out, it really was different and fun to play. In todays context most people probably would find it a bit underwhelming as platformer's evolved to such a high degree post Pitfall release.

 

Just my $0.02

[Zwackery]

Not sure how the overrated context is being used - Pitfall was hugely ground breaking when it came out, it really was different and fun to play. In todays context most people probably would find it a bit underwhelming as platformer's evolved to such a high degree post Pitfall release.

 

Just my $0.02

 

Yes, that's my issue with this whole thread: the way these terms are being used. Pitfall! is a very significant title in terms of game design and the evolution of platformers. I was showing it to my students and collectively blew their minds when I demonstrated that you could turn and run to the left!

[Chuck D. Head]

I really like Human Cannonball. I've always been drawn to games that use the mechanic of needing to judge wind, trajectory, and shot power which is why I'm a huge Worms fan.

 

...and also, anything where little stick figure humans go splat is always fun, so maybe that is why I like this and Skydiver so much.

[+thegoldenband]

I think this whole topic is, however, faulty as neither term (overrated/underrated) was really defined. There are several overrated games that, from a game design perspective, are quite significant, and I would never place them on such a list.

 

I can't speak for the OP, but when I think about the idea of an "overrated" game I think of two main possibilities, with lots of overlap between them:

 

• Games frequently held up as technical or historical achievements -- but that (in the opinion of the poster) aren't very fun or don't have lasting enjoyment value, at least in proportion to their praise/reputation.

• Games frequently cited as the console's best or must-have games -- but that... (etc.)

 

Similarly, when I think of "underrated" games, I think of:

 

• Games that haven't been fully appreciated for any number of reasons -- bad marketing, rarity, unpopular genre, lack of presentation/flash -- but that turn out to be really fun or rewarding.

• Games that are often reviled/mocked outright, but which (the poster thinks) are far better and more rewarding than their reputation. Typically there's a RTFM issue in there too.

 

If the default metric for a game's success is fun/enjoyment -- a reasonable starting point, I think -- then overrated/underrated are really pretty straightforward. Of course it's possible to say "the historical significance of this game as a technical/design achievement is overstated/understated", but if anything I think many "overrated" games are specifically cases where people are saying "Yes, it may be a great technical/design achievement, but the game's not very fun so that doesn't matter to me."

 

I personally love Pitfall, but I can absolutely understand where people are coming from when they call it overrated. I don't agree, mind you, but I can totally imagine how someone would play it for a while and say "...That's it?"

[Jinks]

Overrated. pitfall, adventure, pole position. All to me boring.

 

Underrated. Vanguard, space attack and armour ambush.

[R.O.T.S]

Overrated - KOBOOM!,

Under - E.T , Riddle Of The Sphinx

 

I have said this somewhere before maybe on another thread but I believe Riddle Of The Sphinx along with Raiders Of The Lost ark where rejected by many people back then who saw them as over complex in an era of single joystick single button, in fact accessing menus using other switches or using second joysticks was ahead of its time and showed the inginuity of the game designers as they battled against the restrictions of the technology of the time.

[AtariLeaf]

 

...and also, anything where little stick figure humans go splat is always fun, so maybe that is why I like this and Skydiver so much.

 

and Circus Atari

[+wongojack]

On 9/2/2014 at 1:53 PM, thegoldenband said:

Hey, that's a cool bit of info about the color graphics in B&W. I'll have to try that.

 

On 9/2/2014 at 2:52 PM, wongojack said:

I noticed it that way first in Stella. Not sure there would be a difference in playing it on actual hardware, but I don't think I ever did a comparison to find out.

It is nice to read an old thread like this that goes back all the way to 2003 and my own posts from 2014.

 

I can confirm that if you play Empire Strikes Back in B&W that the end explosion is still in color.  I think that is neato, but it probably won't change anyone's overall opinion of the game. 

[zzip]

I'm basing this on "How fun is it to play vs the hype/derision", not whether it was a technical achievement. 

 

Overrated-   River Raid, HERO, Empire Strikes Back, Pitfall.   I believe a lot of the Activision catalog is overrated, especially the earlier stuff.  many are very simplistic games with nice graphics.   Granted HERO, Pitfall and even River Raid aren't so simplistic,  but I just find them too repetitive and they don't hold my interest very long.

 

Underrated:

Raiders of the Lost Ark - had so much fun trying to solve this with friends one summer.

E.T.  - nowhere near as bad as it's reputation says.    When you boil it down,  It's a more sophisticated "Haunted House"  (find 3 pieces of an object, avoid the "spooks" and escape).  It's also not as hard to beat as people say,  I could show anyone how to beat the game in 5-10 minutes.

Tunnel Runner