Games That Were Superior on Atari 8-Bit

[bbking67]

I just thought it would be interesting to start a discussion about games that were technically superior on the Atari 8-Bit. Generally in the later years the few titles the Atari got were shoddy ports (Pitstop II comes to mind), and by then the C64 dominated the 8-bit gaming scene. Most of the games ported over from the Apple II were superior on the Atari, but then again it's not much of a fair fight.

 

Some notable titles that I think are best on the Atari:

 

M.U.L.E.

 

Easily the best version, and obviously originally crafted on the Atari 800. The Atari version looks and plays the best and is the only version that supports 4-player mode (using joysticks at least).

 

 

Lords of Conquest

 

The Atari version plays better than any of the ports, including the Atari ST version. The AI is better and the game balance is superior. I think the original version was on the Apple II, but the Atari version is better in every way. This game was probably coded in compiled BASIC or Action!, almost certainly not assembler.

 

 

Attack of the Mutant Camels

 

Graphically the difference between the Atari version and the others is astounding. This game looks and plays great on Atari, but on other systems is a steaming pile.

 

 

The Lucas Games: The Eidolon, Ballblazer, Rescue on Fractalus, Koronis Rift

 

The Atari versions of these games easily outshine the others that came later... obviously the games were crafted to take advantage of the Atari systems' strengths, much like how Activision and Imagic did with th 2600.

 

 

Any others?

[Heaven/TQA]

- Dimension X

- Alternate Realtiy Series

- Dropzone

- Electra Glide

- Mercenary

- HERO

- Pitfall 2 (inkl. the "2nd Maze")

- Star Raiders 2

- International Karate

[[email protected]]

I personally think most Activision games were better on Atari. And Pengo, Dig Dug, Pole Position, Bruce Lee, Henry's House (I think it was on C64), Jet Boot Jack

 

On the other side, crap Atari version, Pitfall II as you said, Taladega, House of Usher

[roland p]

River Raid

 

In never played the C64 version, but the atari version looks more colorful, with proper red for the cliffs, and that nice balloon .

The MSX version looks even more basic, but, considering the vdp's limitations (no hardware scroll) it is still pretty good.

[high voltage]

Wizard's Crown

[Rhomaios]

Any of you fine gents would like to add a few more thoughts?

 

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/213089-which-version-of-2nd3rd-gen-games-is-best/

[Goochman]

Seven Cities of Gold

[Magic Knight]

Boulderdash on the A8 was ahead of the rest during the 80's

[Scooter83]

Blue max and hardball come to mind

[+Psionic]

River Raid

 

In never played the C64 version, but the atari version looks more colorful, with proper red for the cliffs, and that nice balloon .

Like most of the other versions, C64 River Raid is a port of the 8-bit version (not the 2600 original), so it has the balloons. The Commodore version does use a different color palette and plays a tad slower (in contrast to the Coleco/MSX versions which are a bit faster). It also corrects a bug in the Atari version that allowed you to refuel on a fuel depot yet still shoot it for points at the same time. This combined with the slower speed makes the game play a bit differently, despite looking almost exactly like the Atari version graphically. Gameplay aside, the biggest problem with River Raid on the C64 is that it's hard to come by (especially on cartridge), which is why a lot of people have never played it.

[ballyalley]

I'm really surprised that no one has mentioned "Bounty Bob Strikes Back!" yet. Also, the Atari version of Miner 2049'er is VERY similar to the C64 version both gameplay and graphics wise, but the Atari version allows some falls that would kill you on the C64 as well as making the covering of tops of ladders a bit easier on the Atari. This is a benefit which I've always liked (when I discovered it).

 

I guess exclusives don't count, so I won't mention any of those.

 

I second the vote for some of the Atari Activision titles, especially Beamrider and, of course, Pitfall 2.

 

Fun topic. Any games that are listed I plan to give a run through.

 

[Bill Loguidice]

Blue max and hardball come to mind

 

I thought Hardball! was better on the C-64, but in any case, it's hard to argue about most games being best on the Atari 8-bit that also received 16-bit ports, like Hardball! did. With that in mind, some 16-bit ports were definitely mediocre in comparison to their 8-bit counterparts.

[Wrathchild]

How did the Microprose sims stack up against other platforms, I recall favouring playing Silent Service and Kennedy Approach on the A8

[Irgendwer]

I just thought it would be interesting to start a discussion about games that were technically superior on the Atari 8-Bit. Generally in the later years the few titles the Atari got were shoddy ports (Pitstop II comes to mind), and by then the C64 dominated the 8-bit gaming scene. Most of the games ported over from the Apple II were superior on the Atari, but then again it's not much of a fair fight.

...

Any others?

 

OH NOOOOO! NOT AGAIN!!!!

 

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/134852-atari-v-commodore/?do=findComment&comment=1624439

[ballyalley]

 

OH NOOOOO! NOT AGAIN!!!!

 

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/134852-atari-v-commodore/?do=findComment&comment=1624439

 

Thanks for the link. The last posting in that thread was four years ago in 2009. I know that my tastes have definately changed in the last four years of actively playing games for the C64 and Atari. Plus, I've been able to see and compare more games in that time. Still, in a time when even reviewing 25-year old magazine scans would be pertainent to this topic, it's nice to see people talking about it as a current event. I'd love to see more theads, if they exist, just to be able to pull the information into this current topic.

[tschak909]

Can we PLEASE not have this fucking sub thread again? It pops up once a year, and devolves into utter meaninglessness, like watching a filibuster on C-SPAN.

[high voltage]

ZORK 2

[ballyalley]

ZORK 2

 

Not sure if this is jest... Is there actually a difference? Hmm... maybe except for the font...

[Bill Loguidice]

 

Not sure if this is jest... Is there actually a difference? Hmm... maybe except for the font...

 

The only major differences were 40 or 80 columns and, as you say, font types. In that regard, the Atari did not particularly distinguish itself in any meaningful way with text adventures. Personally, I find it hard to dislike text adventures on any platform, but I do like playing them on CP/M machines because they're usually optimized for text displays and are not particularly great at any other genre of gaming.

[bbking67]

Zork??? Really?

 

The other thread is C64 vs Atari... this is Atari 8 vs all others. I guess it's not an original thread, but what the heck? I think it's a fun topic.

[Britishcar]

Most of these based on lots of color and/or smooth animation or speed:

 

Alley Cat

Rainbow Walker

Donkey Kong (4 levels, fast and smooth)

Defender (smooth and responsive)

Fort Apocalypse

Archon

[Bill Loguidice]

Most of these based on lots of color and/or smooth animation or speed:

 

Alley Cat

Rainbow Walker

Donkey Kong (4 levels, fast and smooth)

Defender (smooth and responsive)

Fort Apocalypse

Archon

 

All the other ones I agree with I think, but not Archon. I liked the slightly improved graphics of the C64 version, which, unlike the other ports (16-bit, NES), also didn't compromise the tight gameplay.

[dragos]

I liked Jumpman better on the C64. Anyone else?

[ballyalley]

 

I liked the slightly improved graphics of the C64 version [of Archon], which, unlike the other ports (16-bit, NES), also didn't compromise the tight gameplay.

 

I prefer the Atari version of this game. The graphics and sound are not as good on the Atari as they are on the C64, but somehow the joystick just seems a tiny bit more responsive. I grew up on the C64 version of the this game and it's pretty strange to hear myself say this, as I still do love the C64 version of the game to this very day. I'd happily play a game of Archon against someone on either console. I don't play against the computer much. Does any version of Archon have an advantage in the AI area?

 

My vote for the WORST version of Archon goes to the Amiga. This version probably has the best graphics, and it certainly has the best sound (I love the rolling boulder sound effect!), but the sin of this port is that there is collision detection issues. Your "bullets" will sometimes pass right through an enemy. Well, to be fair, the same happens sometimes with enemy "bullets" when they hit you. I thought it might have been a problem with my computer running a later version of the intended OS (Amiga games are quite finicky about this-- especially the very first Electronic Arts 1985/86 releases). Well, I eventually tried it on the Amiga 1000 with Kickstart 1.1. It still had the collision detect problem. This would be one game that I'd love to see patched and fixed. There is great potential in that version of the game. If the collection detection worked as well as it should, then it would be the equal of any other version.

 

Oh, I also never liked the NES version, but that's mostly because the NES controller never quite suited my needs for THIS game (I usually love the NES controller). Also quite a lot of changes had been made to the NES Archon. So it's more like Archon 1.5.

 

Let me throw this out there. If you live in the Albuquerque area and you wanna lose... I mean... play Archon then let me know. You pick the system and I'll adapt. Even if I lose (which, honestly, isn't unlikely), a human oppenent is what gameplay is all about.

[ballyalley]

I liked Jumpman better on the C64. Anyone else?

 

Much like Archon (which I just posted about above), I also grew up on the C64 version of Jumpman (it's actually the very first game that I ever bought myself; it was thirty dollars in about 1984). To me the two games are about the same. Every version of Jumpman is a bit different, with levels that do similar things, but are not equal. Jumpman has thirty levels. However, some games have uniqiue takes on a level. So, really, there are probably more like 35-40 levels for the game if you were to create a list of unique levels. If such a list exists, then I'd love to see it (anyone have a link?)

 

The Atari's graphics are interesting in how you proceed from level to level (you keep rising up, almost like you're climbing a thirty-level high building). Also, on the Atari, the level falls apart when you lose your last life, which is a great effect! However, gameplay-wise the two versions are the same. Like most Atari/C64 games the graphics are similar, but not identical. I'd say niether game quite has an edge here. I do recall Jumpman's rocket boots have a little fire effect under them when you jump, which isn't there on the C64. It's not anything that adds to the gameplay. So, for me, I'd play either version. I have better memories of the C64 version, but that's pure nostalgia. If I had to lay my money on the table and say which version I like best then I'd say... I love 'em both!