[Superman (Atari VCS, 1979)]

I think I'd like the game better if there were some clear logic to the arrangement of the screens.

I understand what you're saying about the confusing layout of the game world. Likewise, most of the reviews I've read stress this aspect of the game as the primary reason for their negativity. However, I think the non-linearity of the game is one of its greatest strengths. Requiring the player to construct a mental map that accounts for the all the geographic peculiarities of the game makes the game world feel much larger than it would if the player could simply rely on their instinctual sense of 2-d navigation. Remember, it's a timed game and learning to navigate the complex geography of the game with temporal efficiency adds an additional level of depth to the gameplay. If the game world was linear and one could simply rely on an instinctual sense navigation, a significant and challenging element of the gameplay would be completely lost.

 

One other aspect of the game that I want to mention is that the player actually has two separate tasks in the game:

 

1. Capture Lex and his gang of hoodlums and place them in jail.

2. Gather and reassemble the three pieces of the bridge.

 

However, these two tasks actually work at cross purposes to one another because if you spend your time rounding up Lex and his gang, the helicopter has an opportunity to rearrange the location of the bridge pieces. If you concentrate on rebuilding the bridge, Lex and his gang have time to disperse to the far corners of the city. A gameplay element of this type being present in a 4K game from 1979 is nothing short of astonishing.

[Superman (Atari VCS, 1979)]

Great entry!

 

Superman is a brilliant game and among my Top-3 VCS games. Sadly, most reviews I've read woefully underrate it.

 

One other aspect of the game that I think is worth noting is that Superman features a dynamic game world where events continue to occur off-screen. Were there any such games before Superman?

 

The timer was also an inspired addition. It gives the game nearly infinite replay value.

 

I also love the little touches in the game, like the cinematic prelude where you witness the bridge blow up as Clark and then you have to run to the phone booth to change into Superman.

[Casino (Atari VCS, 1979)]

I find Poker Solitare to be addicting too. I've been tempted to pick it for the HSC.

 

Here is a thread that talks about what the 3,340 layout should look like.

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=71392

 

I don't care for regular poker or blackjack, but Poker Solitare is an overlooked gem and reason enough to own this cart.

 

I'm eager to read your upcoming Superman review. I hope you end up enjoying the game as much as I do.

[Shocking tech confessions.]

No iPod

No MySpace

[Baseball, APF, 1978]

I'd never heard of the APF until I found a copy of this game in a thrift store years ago. It took me a while to figure out what system the cartridge belonged to. I ended up selling the cart on ebay, but I remained curious about the system, so I'm enjoying your reviews of the system and it's games. They are the only APF game reviews I'm aware of.

[Space War, Atari VCS 1978]

Space War was always one of my favorite 2-player VCS games.

[Indy 500]

Great photo! I like seeing Atari pictures from back in the day. I've got one of myself from Christmas '80 holding my new VCS and Combat cartridge. Sadly, it's the only photo I have with my Atari when I was a kid.

[Odyssey 300, the Yellow one]

Where did you go?  Come back and write more cool stuff.

 

I'll slog through the PONG machines which I do have, take a 10 day vacation in Sunny Southeastern Pennsylvania, and talk about the Channel F stuff when I get back

[Odyssey 300, the Yellow one]

Great picture!

[First Home Shooter]

Just wanted to say that I'm enjoying these reviews.

[Mactels On The Horizon]

I pretty much echo your assessment of this move. Although, as a 15-year Mac user, I'm still in shock over the announcement, but I am looking forward to being able to pick up some cheap G5 hardware this fall.

[My E3 experience.. finally]

Lord British!