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Homebreviews - part 30


Nathan Strum

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Well, if I don't start writing some more reviews, I'll never catch up. So we'll start off with two games with musical names!

(Okay, so one of them isn't a game. But "two carts" wouldn't have rhymed. icon_rolleyes.gif )

Harmony Cart
5/5

The Harmony Cart is a programmable multi-game cartridge that allows you to load almost every game ever written for the Atari 2600 onto an SD memory card, and play them on a real console. While there have been other programmable cartridges for the 2600 before, the Harmony has several advantages that make it stand out:

First, loading games couldn't be simpler. All you need is an SD card reader (under $10) that plugs into your computer. Organize your games however you like on your computer, then copy them over to an SD card. Then just plug the SD card into the Harmony Cart, and you're off and running. All of your games appear on an easy-to-navigate onscreen menu.

Second, the Harmony Cart supports nearly every 2600 game ever made including Pitfall II, SuperCharger games, and more. (As of this writing, there are only two that I'm aware of that aren't supported: MegaBoy and Stella's Stocking.)

Third, the Harmony Cart itself can be upgraded with easy-to-use software and a USB cable. The advantage of this is that as developers create new bankswitching schemes for homebrew games, support for them can be added to the Harmony Cart, so it never becomes obsolete.

Fourth, the Harmony Cart is an ideal development tool. Besides the compatibility and upgradeability mentioned above, is the fact that the Harmony Cart uses the exact same components as the Melody board, which is now being used to produce homebrew carts. So whatever you program and test on a Harmony Cart, it's a safe bet that the final production carts will work exactly the same.

Finally is the price. The Harmony Cart is the most affordable programmable cartridge that I've seen - only slightly more than the cost of a couple of homebrew cartridges. There's also a deluxe edition available that includes an SD card, USB cable, and full-color manual.

If you've been looking for a programmable multi-cart for the 2600 since the discontinuation of the Krokodile and Cuttle carts, then this is the one to get. Whether you're a developer or gamer, the Harmony Cart is most highly recommended. Besides opening up a much larger library of games for your 2600, it's also extremely handy to have everything you regularly play on one convenient cartridge, and for developers it's indispensable for testing games on real hardware. Although not available through the AtariAge Store, you can order from one of these links.

Lead
5/5

Lead, follow, or get out of the way!

Lead packs more firepower into a vertical shooter than any other 2600 game I've ever seen. Blasting out a steady stream of weapons fire, you must wipe out every single enemy that flies towards you, while navigating a twisting tunnel. But that's not all that Lead is, since other stages require you to dodge asteroids, capture satellites, and maneuver around sentinels.

As the game progresses, it picks up speed and throws more twists at you, such as walls that you shouldn't touch and power-ups that improve your odds of surviving. You'll need all the help you can get too, since you only get one life. That's right - just one! You can continue your game after you die, however you'll lose your score, smart-bombs and power-ups, and will have to restart the last level you played (or be sent back two levels, if playing on the harder difficulty setting).

Lead has varied and frenetic gameplay. The action never stops, but because of the different types of stages, the game never feels repetitive. It's a lot of fun, and one of the best vertical shooters you'll find on any system. As far as the 2600 goes, it's quite unlike anything else. Lead pulses with great music throughout the game, and even allows you to customize it to your liking. Your music settings and high scores are automatically saved if you have an AtariVox or SaveKey plugged in to your console, too.

Lead also includes earlier 1K and 4K versions of the game, which not only give some insight into the development of Lead, but also play a bit differently. Both of these variations are much harder than the main game, which make them a great way to get in some practice.

Lead offers tremendous bang-for-your-buck. If you're a fan of shoot-'em-ups, or just rock-solid arcade action, Lead is a must-have!


Next up: What a Jedi craves not!

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