welshleo Posted May 11, 2002 Share Posted May 11, 2002 The 2600 was not blessed with the best arcade conversions on the planet but a few to my mind stand out. My all time gave port of Galaxians is the 2600 version. That game really shows what can be achieved on this simple machine. Ms. Pac-Man was also pretty damned good. Berzerk, while not being 100% accurate (the robots don't shoot diagonally, which makes the game too easy) is also pretty good - that was the first game I got for the old VCS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountain King Posted May 11, 2002 Share Posted May 11, 2002 Take a look at Stargate/Defender 2. I think Atari did a darn good job at porting that game. Star Treks to too bad either. Kudos to Sega for that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuckandCover Posted May 11, 2002 Share Posted May 11, 2002 I'm glad someone mentioned Star Tek:SOS. I've always really enjoyed that cart, and thought that it was a nice port of the arcade game, given the 2600's limitations. Defender II is an exceptional 2600 port. When I got that cart, I was very pleasantly surprised by the graphics and game play. Ms. Pac-Man was very good as well. My personal vote for best arcade port would go to Parker Brothers' Star Wars:The Arcade Game. What the programmers achieved with that cart was nothing short of amazing. For the 2600, the vector-like graphics and similarity in play to the arcade version are outstanding. Definitely one of the best arcade ports available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshleo Posted May 11, 2002 Author Share Posted May 11, 2002 It's funny you should mention Star Wars. I remember rushing off an order to Silica Shop here in the UK when I received their catalogue and flyers about the game (Parker had also just released Frogger: Threedeep). Unfortunately the limited stock they had had run out before I got my order in. As a result I've never played it ... although it might be an idea for me to take a look at it on an emulator. Star Wars on the Atari 8-bit, however, was pants!! It easily rated as one of the WORST arcade conversions on that system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Atari Posted May 11, 2002 Share Posted May 11, 2002 Best port, huh? WELL, Xenophobe ( ), Double Dragon ( ), and Defender II were all excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inky Posted May 11, 2002 Share Posted May 11, 2002 quote: Originally posted by Mountain King: Take a look at Stargate/Defender 2. I think Atari did a darn good job at porting that game. Star Treks to too bad either. Kudos to Sega for that one. In order: 1 Stargate/Defender 2 2 Frogger 3 Mouse Trap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nateo Posted May 12, 2002 Share Posted May 12, 2002 Defender II for the 2600 is more like the arcade version than the NES version is (the NES version didn't have hyperspace or inviso) Berzerk was also very well done for the 2600. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moycon Posted May 12, 2002 Share Posted May 12, 2002 Oh jeeze.... Everybody knows Moon Patrol is the best arcade port ever on the 2600. I'd say Stargate runs a close second. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inky Posted May 12, 2002 Share Posted May 12, 2002 quote: Originally posted by Nateo: Defender II for the 2600 is more like the arcade version than the NES version is (the NES version didn't have hyperspace or inviso) Berzerk was also very well done for the 2600. Didn't defender 2 on the NES have the Punch-Out! music as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bergbros Posted May 12, 2002 Share Posted May 12, 2002 No... Double Dragon is not the best port of an arcade game for the 2600. Maybe the most unplayable port, but not even close to the best. The previous ones mentioned, Stargate, Ms. Pac Man, Frogger and Star Trek: SOS. They all closely adhere to their originals. I will put in as the most amazing translation Crossbow. Frankly, I never thought this gun game would ever translate well, however, the 2600 got the gameplay down. A real hard game, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BatmiteReturns Posted May 12, 2002 Share Posted May 12, 2002 EeeeGADZ man! How can you say that Double Dragon was one of the best arcade ports? Maybe if you squinted your eyes and drank a pint of beer........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Destructo Posted May 13, 2002 Share Posted May 13, 2002 Kung Fu Master. The similarity of the graphics to the arcade is surpassed only by it being just as impossible to beat (at least by me) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCroniger Posted May 13, 2002 Share Posted May 13, 2002 I always like Missile Command. It's pretty close. Cool Easter Egg too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris++ Posted May 13, 2002 Share Posted May 13, 2002 This might sound strange, but I vastly prefer 2600 Space Invaders over the arcade original. It's more interesting, especially with all the variations. Anyway, by the "best" translation, I assume you want the "closest," so I'd vote for Stargate and Frogger as well...although Missile Command and Joust are also pretty damn good. CF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smf_4ever Posted May 13, 2002 Share Posted May 13, 2002 I will have to go with Kung Fu... that was one of the best looking to an arcade.. (i think the gameplay kinda sucks).. but it looks good...and for the limitations of the VCS.. Gorf is not horrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATARIPITBULL Posted May 13, 2002 Share Posted May 13, 2002 I think Moon patrol & Missile Commmand are very good ports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nateo Posted May 14, 2002 Share Posted May 14, 2002 quote: Originally posted by Inky: Didn't defender 2 on the NES have the Punch-Out! music as well? Yes, indeed it did. Weird, huh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eduardo Posted May 14, 2002 Share Posted May 14, 2002 It's hard to pick just one, here's a handful of great Arcade ports: Space Invaders Asteroids Stargate Star Wars: The Arcade Game Phoenix Galaxian Ms. Pacman Frogger Missile Command Berzerk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NE146 Posted May 14, 2002 Share Posted May 14, 2002 Like I always say, Space Invaders on the 2600 is a good game, but it's not a good port of the arcade. They're far too different and the 2600 version (although it has a huge # of variations of it's own) lost a lot of the tricks you could do in the arcade as well. And sure you can say you prefer the 2600 version over the arcade, but if you call it a good port, you might as well call Intellivision's "Space Armada" a good port also.. along with every other space invader variant of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krytol Posted May 14, 2002 Share Posted May 14, 2002 2600 Space Invaders may actually be BETTER than the arcade IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukey Shay Posted May 14, 2002 Share Posted May 14, 2002 True that, but with just a tiny amount of hacking...SI is very close to the arcade game (less tricks, of course...always missed the rainbow bonus in the home game). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NE146 Posted May 14, 2002 Share Posted May 14, 2002 quote: Originally posted by Nukey Shay: True that, but with just a tiny amount of hacking...SI is very close to the arcade game (less tricks, of course...always missed the rainbow bonus in the home game). Yeah I'm the one who did that hack a couple years ago. However, More so than the rainbow trick, 2600 space invaders didn't have counting shots, and the ufo was only a single point value! What's up with that? Also I missed not doing the "wall of death" where on the lowest levels, the invaders couldn't shoot. Anyway, again they're pretty different games gameplay wise, but obviously similar games conceptually. Krytol: Some people think so, but I obviously think otherwise. Don't get me wrong though, I LOVED 2600 Space Invaders but naturally nothing beats the original. Adrian: oh yeah! Good choices. Gravitar, Jr. Pac-Man, and Vanguard were awesome ports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adriana Posted May 15, 2002 Share Posted May 15, 2002 How come no one remembers Pengo? Not a big hit in the arcades, but an extremely faithful and highly enjoyable port to the 2600. Gravitar, Jr. Pac-Man, and Vanguard were three other minor "B-list" arcade games that were pretty damn well done on the 2600. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisr Posted May 16, 2002 Share Posted May 16, 2002 I can't believe so many people mentioned frogger. Frogger really sucked! Now supercharger Frogger, is hands down the most faithfull arcade conversion. Even the music is there. Its amazing what they were able to accomplish with the sc. 1)SC Frogger 2)Stargate and in no particular order, missile command, dodgem, breakout, kaboom (though not an offical port but a blatent knockoff of an exidy game?)joust and Space Invaders. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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