55 Atari 2600 games that are worse than ET

[Red 5]

I get tired of everyone picking on my little friend from outer space.

I also get tired of people picking on E.T.

Maybe it's the Random Terrain in me coming out (a scary thought) but here are 55 games that I think are less fun to play than a nice round of E.T.

 

Feel free to flame the hell out of me, but I think this is a pretty decent list. I think I could of picked more, but some were a bit too borderline (like the Swordquest series for instance).

 

3D Tic Tac Toe

Airlock

Air Raid

Air Sea Battle

Alpha Beam with Ernie

Basic Math

Basic Programming

Basketball

Big Bird’s Egg Catch

Bugs

Canyon Bomber

Cruise Missle

Custer’s Revenge

Demons to Diamonds

Dice Puzzle

Dishaster

Dodge ‘Em

Exocet

Final Approach

Fire Fly

Flag Capture

Football

Fun with Numbers

GI Joe Cobra Strike

Game of Concentration

Gamma Attack

Golf

Harbor Escape

Home Run

Hunt and Score

Karate

Math Grand Prix

Name This Game

Oscar’s Trash Race

Outer Space

Scuba Diver

Sea Hawk

Sea Hunt

Skeet Shoot

Sky Diver

Slot Machine

Sneak n’ Peek

Sorcerer

Space Canyon

Space War

Spiderdroid

Sssnake

Star Fox

Star Ship

Stellar Track

Strawberry Shortcake Musical Matchup

Stuntman

Tank Brigade

Video Pinball

Word Zapper

[Spector]

Absolutely no way is Dodge 'Em worse than ET. No way!

[homerwannabee]

I get tired of everyone picking on my little friend from outer space.

I also get tired of people picking on E.T.

Maybe it's the Random Terrain in me coming out (a scary thought) but here are 55 games that I think are less fun to play than a nice round of E.T.

 

Feel free to flame the hell out of me, but I think this is a pretty decent list. I think I could of picked more, but some were a bit too borderline (like the Swordquest series for instance).

 

3D Tic Tac Toe

Airlock

Air Raid

Air Sea Battle

Alpha Beam with Ernie

Basic Math

Basic Programming

Basketball

Big Bird’s Egg Catch

Bugs

Canyon Bomber

Cruise Missle

Custer’s Revenge

Demons to Diamonds

Dice Puzzle

Dishaster

Dodge ‘Em

Exocet

Final Approach

Fire Fly

Flag Capture

Football

Fun with Numbers

GI Joe Cobra Strike

Game of Concentration

Gamma Attack

Golf

Harbor Escape

Home Run

Hunt and Score

Karate

Math Grand Prix

Name This Game

Oscar’s Trash Race

Outer Space

Scuba Diver

Sea Hawk

Sea Hunt

Skeet Shoot

Sky Diver

Slot Machine

Sneak n’ Peek

Sorcerer

Space Canyon

Space War

Spiderdroid

Sssnake

Star Fox

Star Ship

Stellar Track

Strawberry Shortcake Musical Matchup

Stuntman

Tank Brigade

Video Pinball

Word Zapper

I have to say that I was in total agreement with you until Video Pinball. All the other games are pretty bad.

[Lord Helmet]

Pretty fair list, but I actually like Video Pinball, Dodge 'Em, Basketball (especially 2 player), and Demons to Diamonds. Back in the day I liked Air Sea Battle as well, though it hasn't held up very well over time.

[Red 5]

I agree Dodge 'Em may be a bit of a bold choice.

I tried to pick games that were obviously worse. Dodge Em does not fit that catagory.

So we are down to 54 games.

 

Pinball, in my opinion is just too easy. I think you can walk away from it for 15 minutes and still come back and have the ball bouncing around.

[Zwackery]

Math Grand Prix

Zut alors! The French weep perfume and snap baguettes in half over this crime against their language. What is this false idol of which you speak?!? MATH GRAN PRIX will crush you for your insolence!

 

ALL HAIL MATH GRAN PRIX!

 

Now, some of the other games you list are not that great single player but have some enjoyment in the 2-player mode.

[+save2600]

I'd say Crazy Climber is a much worse game than E.T. There, now you have 55. I could forgive

the crappy graphics and terrible window patterning that's nothing like the arcade, but the least

they could have done was implement dual joystick controls for use with the Atari joystick lap

holder (was bundled with some 8-bit games) :-)

 

Oh and Basic Programming shouldn't really count as it's not a game. Insert Threshold, Sub Scan

or Up N' Down if you please....

Edited July 22, 2009 by save2600

[+Ransom]

I disagree about Dodge 'Em, Basketball, and Video Pinball being worse than ET. I can see an argument for Canyon Bomber and Air Sea Battle either way, but those three are definitely better than ET.

 

Oh, and Basic Programming isn't a game, so I'm not sure it can be fairly compared to ET (unless you're saying ET isn't a game, either... ).

[polyex]

I think your missing "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" from your list.

 

I remember waiting for this one, and it was delayed for a long time. When it finally did arrive via mail order I discovered that it was NOT worth the wait!

[VectorGamer]

Feel free to flame the hell out of me

 

No problem...

 

Air Sea Battle

Basketball

Video Pinball

 

What the h3LL are you smokin'?

[AJ_Maine_Man]

You are totally crazy to think ET is better than these games

 

Video pinball (one of my favorite games on the 2600)

Basketball (playing with friends back in the day was alot fun)

Air-Sea Battle(playing with friends back in the day was fun too)

Flag Capture (was alot fun playing with friends)

Stellar Track (do you even know how to play this game??? It was a very very good game back in the day)

[Red 5]

Stellar Track (do you even know how to play this game??? It was a very very good game back in the day)

 

 

I do know how to play. I hate myself for learning how to play.

A text game with a joystick = bad.

 

I can give in on basketball, but I hold my ground on Pinball.

[AtariLeaf]

I'd definitely remove air sea battle, basketball, dodge em and video pinball.

 

Its amazing how similar the replies have been. I picked those 4 before I read any other replies.

Edited July 22, 2009 by AtariLeaf

[GideonsDad]

I think Sea Hunt and Demons to Diamonds are better games than E.T. But will certainly enjoy going through the rest of the list to see what else I like / dislike.

 

GideonsDad

[+save2600]

I can give in on basketball, but I hold my ground on Pinball.

 

I agree. Video Pinball is terrible. Slow, boring, unrealistic and hardly interactive. Only

zombies that have never played real pinball would think that game is "fun". lol

 

E.T. is one of the best & most gratifying adventure games ever released for the 2600.

Don't buy into the negative hype people. Think for yourself, play the game, get over

the pits (which are by and large avoidable if you can control your joystick tugging) and

get your ass on the mothership!

 

The infamous "video game crash" occurred because the generation of people that grew

up with video games did just that: They GREW UP! Only today's mediocre and backwards

mentality is keeping this industry (and I'd argue there's a lot more garbage today than

there ever was) alive and well.

Edited July 22, 2009 by save2600

[Jason73]

Good list.

 

I do admit that I like GI Joe Cobra Strike better than E.T.

[Red 5]

I'd definitely remove air sea battle, basketball, dodge em and video pinball.

 

Its amazing how similar the replies have been. I picked those 4 before I read any other replies.

 

At least the concensus is that there are AT LEAST 50 games that are worse than E.T.

 

And that is a good thing. I don't know if it will end the constant attacks of E.T. being the 'WORST GAME E V E R !' but perhaps it is a start. And maybe the poor little alien that just wanted to go home, video game style, is smiling at us from his far off planet in thanks. And maybe Drew Barrymore will call me up and fall in love with me for helping. And Mr. Spielberg will allow me to star in

ET2 as a now middle aged Elliot. Or not.

Edited July 22, 2009 by therealred5

[mcjakeqcool]

Why the hell is 3D Tic Tac Toe on there, THAT GAME WAS AWSOME! I'm quite suprized with the number though, 55 games worse then E.T, were're talking the entire Jag libary here!

[jrok]

GI Joe Cobra Strike

 

Really? I don't know... I thought it was fun. It had some interesting game options, and the snake itself was pretty impressive.

Edited July 22, 2009 by jrok

[BydoEmpire]

I actually like a bunch of the games on your list, but yeah, Airlock is awful. It's my personal pick for "worst 2600 game."

[Facemeat]

Demons to Diamonds and Video Pinball should be nowhere near this list, in my opinion.

[Tempest]

And I'll defend Stellar Track. It's not all that exciting, but it's not a bad game. You sort of had to have played those old Star Trek games on the mainframes or early computer systems to understand what it's all about.

 

Tempest

[Red 5]

The games on the list don't necessarily suck. I like E.T. as a game. I think it is fun. And I actually am a fan of Airlock. I just think E.T. is a better game.

 

As for Stellar Track, I don't personally like the game, but I understand why some would like it. Even if you do like it though, is it really a better game than E.T. in your opinion?

 

I think we are programmed to think that E.T. is absolutely horrible and that's just not the case. Granted, many of the games on the list suck something awful, but there are a few that are decent. They just aren't as good as E.T. (IM very HO)

[Tempest]

As for Stellar Track, I don't personally like the game, but I understand why some would like it. Even if you do like it though, is it really a better game than E.T. in your opinion?

Depends if you're looking for a thinking/strategy game or an action game with some strategy elements to it. I could go either way depending on what I wanted to play that day.

 

Tempest

[classicgamingguy]

Overall, your list is spot on. I also am an E.T. fan, having enjoyed the game more so than most, it would seem. However, Demons to Diamonds IMO is a GREAT game. Perhaps it's just my own personal appeal, but I love it.

 

Good to go on the rest, as far as I'm concerned.

 

-Steve