5200 vs 8-bit

[+johnnywc]

Hello all,

 

I was just reading some 5200 reviews over at The Video Game Critic and this line from the review for Choplifter! caught my attention:

 

"This is the exact same version of Choplifter that was released by Broderbund for the Atari 8-bit computers in 1982. It may have been an easy port, but Atari really should have reworked this game to take advantage of the Atari 5200's capabilities."

 

Isn't the 5200 essentially the same hardware of the 8-bit line? What capabilities (if any) does the 5200 have over the 8-bit line, except the different controller (allowing for 2 buttons, keypad, analog support, etc)? I also noticed that Centipede for the 5200 looks much better than the 8-bit, suggesting this just wasn't a port of the 8-bit. Is their some sort of enhancement the 5200 has over the 8-bit line that would allow it to feature nicer graphics, or could the 5200 Centipede run on an 8-bit (with the obvious modifications for controllers, console buttons, etc)?

 

Thanks!!

[NE146]

I think the general answer is that for most intents and purposes.. they are the same.

[Goochman]

They are the same machine - The reviewer prob was thinking about using the real machines capabilities vs the Apple port the 8bit version got (graphics wise). For the XEGS they did update Choplifter with some enhanced graphcs so to speak.

[JB]

Centipede was remade because someone at Atari realized that hte computer version sucked.

 

 

The only REAL advantages the 5200 had were in it's much-loathed controllers. 2 fire buttons, analog sticks, and having 3 game control and 12 definable keys available at a moment's notice instead of stashed on a keyboard so you had to remove a hand from a joystick.

[Justin42]

I may be remembering wrong... but wasn't 5200 Choplifter *different* from the 8-bit version? I thought it was basically re-programmed....

 

I know the game got a second life on the Sega SMS and XEGS... I don't know if I've ever seen the XEGS version....