RickHarrisMaine Posted April 26, 2005 Share Posted April 26, 2005 Just curious, I've only had a 2600 and a SNES in my lifetime, but was just wondering about getting a second, technically superior system to the 2600. Of the 3, which is the best? Atari 5200 Atari 7800 Colecovision I think the Coleco may have more games, but I could be wrong here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FujiSkunk Posted April 26, 2005 Share Posted April 26, 2005 (edited) People have argued constantly back and forth about 5200 vs. ColecoVision technicalities, and they probably will again in this thread. The bottom line is that these systems are just about evenly matched, and which one you prefer is usually based on two things: which game library you like more, and which controllers you hate less. The 7800's graphical ability trumps both the 5200 and the ColecoVision, but its sound is left in the dust. The 7800's original controllers don't help its cause any, but better replacements are available. Whether the 7800's offbeat game library helps or hinders, that depends on who you talk to. Ironically, all three offer Atari 2600 compatibility, so that isn't a deciding issue. Of course, this compatibility is easiest to get on the 7800. If I were forced to pick one, I'd probably settle for a 7800, thanks to a slightly broader selection of arcade titles when paired with the 2600 library. I'd much rather keep all three systems, though. Edited April 26, 2005 by skunkworx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NE146 Posted April 26, 2005 Share Posted April 26, 2005 WHY ARE YOU BRINGING UP THE 5200 VS. COLECOVISION DEBATES. CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG!?!?!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christianscott27 Posted April 26, 2005 Share Posted April 26, 2005 get the colecovision, just be patient with it working right all the time, folks here can help with that. the 5200 is really a niche system, almost every title for it is an "improvement" port of a 2600 title. the graphics look a little better and there are sometimes more options but it really feels like a rehash. still though the trac ball is really sweet and the paddle mod is fun. the 7800 is a great platform for a limited number of arcade ports, good joust and great galaga, food fights cool. dont worry about the controllers since you can run with a lot of them besides the stock pro-lines. still it doesnt offer a lot of exclusives and those that it does offer arent exactly killer apps. the CV wins, its got lots of titles you wont find on any other system, and some are really good. besides if you grew up with a 2600 deep down inside you know you had colecovision envy. oddly enough all three systems feature annoying controllers and troublesome power supplies... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubledown Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 (edited) I of course happen to be a little bit biased towards the ColecoVision. The Atari 5200 and 7800 libraries are fairly small in comparison if I'm not mistaken. Not counting recent homebrews and what not the ColecoVision had around 150 games officially released, and don't fly off the handle if this number is slightly off, but somwhere in the neighborhood of 43 arcade ports. Everybody bitches about the 5200, 7800, and ColecoVision controllers. The Coleco's is in my opinion the best of the three at least if you're talking about any extended playing time. Not to mention that there were a bunch of 3rd party controllers made for the ColecoVision even some that had a built in number pad. And if you decide that you want to get a ColecoVison that is guaranteed to work every time you turn it on with controllers that will move your on screen object in the direction that you move them check out my website for the ultimate in modded and refurbished ColecoVision game consoles. (cheap plug) Viking Video Games Edited April 27, 2005 by doubledown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.Max Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 Of those three, I like the ColecoVision the best...Although I have multi-carts for the Atari 5200 and the 7800, and it's easier to get games for those two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntavio Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 Robotron, Food Fight, and Galaga are awesome on the 7800. But, I have to go with the consensus.............Colecovision is alot more fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Thag Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 I like BOTH the 5200 and Colecovision. The 5200 has a lot more 'mainstream' arcade ports (and good ones at that), but has balky controllers that need to be fixed occasionally. The CV has a bunch of lesser known arcade ports, which is neat, as you can get some great games like Ladybug and Frenzy, and a lot of original titles, but the system is glitchy and the power switch often needs fixing. It also has Gateway to Apshai which is a HUGE action rpg. Very fun. They're both great systems. Pick the one that has the library that appeals to you most. The 7800 is fun, and has a few great arcade ports, and a few original titles, but I don't play it as much as the others, and there's not as much to collect. In my opinion, very few 5200 games actually suck, whereas there are quite a few CV titles that are not so great. The CV has more titles though, so I guess it all evens out in the end. Collect 'em all I say! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 I like BOTH the 5200 and Colecovision. The 5200 has a lot more 'mainstream' arcade ports (and good ones at that)... The CV has a bunch of lesser known arcade ports... Qix. Space Dungeon. Reason enough to buy a 5200 right there. Collect 'em all I say! 844827[/snapback] YES! GOTTA CATCH 'EM ALL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetset Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 Definetly the 5200. Both the CV and 7800 are good systems, but the 7800 to me doesn't have very many good games, and the CV only has a few decent arcade ports. Whats funny is people always knock the 5200 for 2 things, the first being the controllers - granted, they suck, but are no worse than the CV or the 7800's both are extremely stiff and difficuly to use, plus the fire buttons are impossibly to push while playing, PARTICULARLY on games which require both fire buttons. Both the CV and 7800 put the 2nd fire button on the opposite side of the controller. WTF were Atari and Coleco thinking there??? The 2nd gripe about the 5200 is that most of its titles are redone gmes from the 2600. DUH! Thats pretty much the entire CV library, and half the 7800's. I thik the best barometer is the amount of development and homebrewing going on for the three systems. The CV is coming on strong lately, but the 5200 has much more support. The 7800 homebrew scene is pretty nonexistient. Graphics-wise opinions vary. I agree the 7800 has the best, then the 5200, then the CV. Myself, I have all three systems. The 5200 gets regular use, the 7800 ocasionally, the CV is about to go in a box I play it so rarely anymore. THAT SAID though...dont get either of the three. Get an Atari 800 or 800XL computer and an sio2pc setup. You'll have literally THOUSANDS of games available, and pretty much the entire 5200 library can be played via the 800. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickHarrisMaine Posted April 27, 2005 Author Share Posted April 27, 2005 I think I would want to go with the Colecovision. I did indeed grow up with the 2600 and definitely have Colecovision envy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christianscott27 Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 i had real bad CV envy, two of my best friends in the early 80s had CVs and i was stuck with my 2600. kids are like that, i can remember them mocking me with CV's 2600 adapter "now i can play chopper command and zaxxon HA!". i remember playing smurfs and my friend boasting it was "just like controlling the cartoon", i had to agree. super action baseball blew me away, i could never pry the controller away from my friend long enough to master all the buttons but still that hitter prespective was major league. so the years went on and by the time we hit 86 or so my friends had moved onto appleIIc and C64 and i was still playing with the trusty 2600. i guess i looked pathetic because both of those guys took pity on me and gave me their coleco collections, complete with dust and cobwebs from being in the garage. so i went onto playing wargames and buck rogers, i learned to rebuild controllers and never looked back. even to this day their CV collections which i so envied form the core of my 100+ colecovision game collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Helmet Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 I love the 5200, but I play my CV more often. It just has more classic arcade games you can't play anywhere else. I just wish that the CV versions of DK and DK Jr. were better. Maybe I need to hook up with a copy of Super DK and Super DK Jr from Doubledown. They have been on my want list for quite some time, but the carts are expensive. Anyone have them? Are they worth it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atarifever Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 I don't find the 7800 controllers bad at all. Once you get used to them they're almost enjoyable. As a side note, having finally gotten to the point where I find Sonic 2 on the Genesis easy, I am trying to see if I can run through it using my 7800 controllers. Sonic plays very differently with a joystick. A hint for anyone who wants to try: start is available by pressing both buttons at once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stingray Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 My personal preference is for the CV, but that's all it is, a personal preference. And I still grin almost every time I see NE1's avatar. -S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masschamber Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 5200 as I've got a pair of wico command controllers, so the controller is a non-issue, the coleco is nice, but I hate that controller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NE146 Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 Yeah, what's up with that, NE146. I'm no prude, but that avatar is, In my opinion, offensive. My kid saw that. I don't need his mother bitching about it to me. It's a free country, but I'd rethink the wanking sprite. 844819[/snapback] #1. It's a game from the classic era circa the early 80's #2. It's an Atari 2600 game and #3) a relatively rare one at that. IMHO pretty valid & appropriate avatar for this board. Anyway for the Mystique games it's either here nor there. One one hand you have various people mocking them for trying to be pornographic on the stone-age VCS graphics where you can't tell a naked guy from a blob or stick figure i.e. "that doesn't even look like anything!" (see quote below for a prime example). On the other hand you got people who read too much into it and let their imaginations run wild. So which is it. I don't know.. Like lots of people say, it can look like a guy holding a jackhammer. All I know is it's been my avatar here since day one Typical Mystique games review phrase: "This so-called "adult" game is only good for a few laughs... Only after you read the instruction manual do you realize that odd looking thing is supposed to be a guy, and those jagged shapes are ladies. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubledown Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 I love the 5200, but I play my CV more often. It just has more classic arcade games you can't play anywhere else. I just wish that the CV versions of DK and DK Jr. were better. Maybe I need to hook up with a copy of Super DK and Super DK Jr from Doubledown. They have been on my want list for quite some time, but the carts are expensive. Anyone have them? Are they worth it? 844939[/snapback] I have them both and I think they're awesome!! But seriously if anybody here wants both Super DK and Super DKJ, I'll make this deal. $65.00 for both including shipping to the U.S. This deal applies to all AtariAge members who are/were members before this reply was posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classic Pac Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 Why not judge for yourself, there are emulators out there for all 3 systems. Why don't you just download a few roms and give each one a try and see which one you like best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mental Vortex Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 I love the 5200, but I play my CV more often. It just has more classic arcade games you can't play anywhere else. 844939[/snapback] Can you give some examples of these? I'm trying to think of all the classics that I normally play, and I can't think of too many that are exclusively on the CV as opposed to any other console. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vdub_bobby Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 (edited) Here's the list I come up with for all Arcade Ports on the ColecoVision Buck Rogers Bump N Jump Burgertime etc. 845121[/snapback] So...the $1000000 question(s): Which of those are exclusive, which are available on the 5200/7800, and what other arcade ports are exclusive to the other platforms? Edit: And, of course, where the same game is on multiple platforms, which version is best? Edited April 27, 2005 by vdub_bobby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubledown Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 Here's the list I come up with for all Arcade Ports on the ColecoVision Buck Rogers Bump N Jump Burgertime etc. 845121[/snapback] So...the $1000000 question(s): Which of those are exclusive, which are available on the 5200/7800, and what other arcade ports are exclusive to the other platforms? Edit: And, of course, where the same game is on multiple platforms, which version is best? 845156[/snapback] Well I posted the ColecoVision list, we need two more people to populate the "Arcade Port" lists for the 5200 and the 7800, any volunteers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FujiSkunk Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 So...the $1000000 question(s): Which of those are exclusive, which are available on the 5200/7800, and what other arcade ports are exclusive to the other platforms? Edit: And, of course, where the same game is on multiple platforms, which version is best? 845156[/snapback] Well I posted the ColecoVision list, we need two more people to populate the "Arcade Port" lists for the 5200 and the 7800, any volunteers. 845165[/snapback] I have all this in a database. Maybe when I get home tonight I can print out the entries I have for the 5200 and 7800. In the meantime, you can look at my list of all arcade ports for all known systems by following the link in my signature. Yes, I know, it's a little out of date. It's going to be updated Real Soon Now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vdub_bobby Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 Well I posted the ColecoVision list, we need two more people to populate the "Arcade Port" lists for the 5200 and the 7800, any volunteers. 845165[/snapback] I'll post a start of a list. I went through AA's database just now and this is what I came up with: 5200 Burgertime Warlords Berzerk Buck Rogers Centipede Choplifter Congo Bongo Defender Dig Dug Frogger Galaxian Gorf Gyruss Joust Jr. Pac-Man Jungle Hunt Kangaroo KLAX Mario Bros. Missile Command Moon Patrol Mr. Do!'s Castle Ms. Pac-Man Pac-Man Pengo Pitfall II Pole Position Popeye Q*bert Qix Robotron: 2084 Space Invaders Star Trek Star Wars Super Breakout Super Cobra Vanguard Wizard of Wor Zaxxon 7800 Burgertime Centipede Choplifter Dig Dug Joust Mario Bros. Ms. Pac-Man Robotron: 2084 Asteroids Commando Crossbow Donkey Kong Donkey Kong Junior Double Dragon Food Fight Galaga Ikari Warriors Kung-Fu Master Pole Position II Rampage Xenophobe Xevious I counted Beef Drop as Burgertime for both the 5200 and the 7800 and Castle Crisis as Warlords for the 5200. Exclusives, based on the CV list posted above and the 5200/7800 lists I came up with: Colecovision Bump N Jump Carnival Cosmic Avenger Frenzy Front Line Lady Bug Looping Mouse Trap Mr. Do! Omega Race Pepper II Roc N Rope Slither Space Panic Spy Hunter Tapper Time Pilot Turbo Tutankham Up N Down Venture Victory Video Hustler 5200 Berzerk Gyruss Jr. Pac-Man Kangaroo Missile Command Moon Patrol Pengo Pitfall II Pole Position Qix Super Breakout Vanguard Wizard of Wor KLAX Warlords 7800 Asteroids Commando Crossbow Double Dragon Food Fight Galaga Ikari Warriors Kung-Fu Master Pole Position II Rampage Xenophobe Xevious And, to round it out, the titles available on all three platforms: Burgertime Centipede Choplifter Dig Dug Joust Please correct any errors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Helmet Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 (edited) Donkey Kong and DK Junior are available for the 5200...they are ports of the 8bit versions and are superior to the CV and 7800 versions IMHO. You can add them to the list of games available on all 3 systems. On another note, the CV has development from opcode that looks promising. http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=67086 Edited April 27, 2005 by Lord Helmet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.