I'm not saying this isn't true but from a personal view, I can honestly say, I was completely unaware of any "hype" for any Atari game.
I can't remember any adverts etc. I can vaguely remember we had the magazine 'TV Gamer' but apart from that, nothing.
I can't even remember anybody (and I mean anybody) getting an Atari game, plugging it in and saying "this looks nothing like the arcade game".
I just think we were happy to get something regardless of what it looked like.
My favourite arcade game was Crystal Castles. I couldn't wait for the 2600 version. Box looked great.
I was only 10 or 11 years old but even then I knew I wasn't getting an arcade perfect copy, nor did I expect it.
I was happy, I had Crystal Castles in my house!
Nobody ever said to me "Pacman is awful".
It seems it's link with the past has made it cool to "put it down".
Pac-Man. The worst game?
No, not even close by a long shot!