Which 2600 Homebrew Should I Buy?

[phaxda]

So, I am loving this AtariAge sale that's going on! I collect for the 5200, so I am in for Adventure II--that's an easy one. BUT...I want the Holiday cart and Ad II is $42 dollars, meaning that I need to spend 8 bucks more to qualify for the giveaway. So, obviously, I need to buy something else. I don't own any 2600 homebrews, but I guess now is the time to start. Which one should I get? The minigame one looks interesting. Flap-Ping has always intrigued me, and I think that's the frontrunner right now.

 

Any suggestions? And don't say "buy all of them," as I actually have to do some shopping for others!

[Jess Ragan]

Solar Plexus, of course!

 

(Jess gets beaned with a frying pan)

 

Ouch. Er, you ought to take a look at Strat-O-Gems... it's pretty amazing. I'm still stunned that Supercat was able to get the 2600 to display so many colors at once.

 

JR

[joeybastard]

Thrust+ Platinum. No offense to the other fine programmers but this is best VCS homebrew in my humble opinion. Followed very closely by This Planet Sucks

 

I actually really love ALL of the homebrews I've bought over the years. The quality on every single one of them is top notch. I have never been disappointed with any of my purchases from the AA store.

[+Atari_Warlord]

If you want a 1 or 2 player simultaneus game, I would suggest Fall Down. My wife, who hates playing video games, loves this game. She even plays it when I'm not around!

[+Omegamatrix]

I suggest you download some and try before you buy. I own four homebrews with more on the way, and all I can say is that the quality is topnotch. Lately I've been addicted to Thrust+ Platinum Edition. I highly recommend it.

[Jacob Rose]

Thrust+ Platinum.  No offense to the other fine programmers but this is best VCS homebrew in my humble opinion.  Followed very closely by This Planet Sucks

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I second this...Thrust wants to be an arcade machine (play it with the driving controller [and too bad there are no more foot pedal controllers to be had!]). Amazing homebrew. Single-player only, though, so if you prefer head-to-head games, get Fall Down (don't own it yet, but I've played it in the emulator) or Go Fish (very fun, though I think it could have used some tweaking in competitive simultaneous play).

[keilbaca]

My personal favorite is Vault Assault.

 

I can't wait till payday, finally getting the real deal instead of playing it on a modded supercharger.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

Thanks for the nice compliments for Thrust+. But you forgot to mention, that it is also a really tough game. Especially at the beginning when you have to learn how to fly without crashing. At least that's what people have told me.

 

If you want something easier from me, get SWOOPS! instead.

[video game addict]

Thanks for the nice compliments for Thrust+. But you forgot to mention, that it is also a really tough game. Especially at the beginning when you have to learn how to fly without crashing. At least that's what people have told me.

 

 

I will attest to it's toughness! I think ultimately these games are more rewarding, but the learning curve can put people off. I think it looks great, but even with the footpedals & driving controllers I was unable to get anywhere. I get frustrated if I can't get in the swing of things within 5 seconds.. I have many games just waiting for that rainy day, when I can allot the time necessary to learn them.

 

My personal favorite of the homebrews so far has been Seawolf. I'm not even that good at this one, but I can turn it on any time, and just waste an hour playing over & over again. And it's not terribly easy either as my scores are never that high. I love this one though!

[holygrailvideogames.com]

I also like Seawolf. I don't buy that many homebrews for the 2600 but I did buy this one. It is a great game.

[liveinabin]

I gotta second Fall Down. Its a really slick, totally fun game that is just a riot for two players. Easy to play as well, so you can get the family involved on it at Christmas.

[+Nathan Strum]

I'd suggest buying enough so that you get a free Reindeer Rescue cart. Which ones you get don't matter - it's getting something free that counts.

 

Seriously though, you can't go wrong with Star Fire or Fall Down. Same with Seawolf and Strat-O-Gems Deluxe. These games are the equal or better of even the best commercial games from the early 80's.

 

Bang-for-your-buck-wise, the 2005 MiniGame MultiCart and SWOOPS! each give you a bunch of fun mini-games in one cart. (I think M-4 by itself would warrant its own cart.)

 

I also have to put in a plug for Warring Worms: The Worm (Re)Turns. Besides being a great game (with more variations than you can easily count) the label artwork is fantastic.

[AtariAger]

I recommend buying'em all.

 

 

[Zach]

Since no one else has mentioned it yet, I'll recommend Space Treat Deluxe.

Edited December 9, 2005 by Zach

[phaxda]

I gotta tell ya, this was a bad thread to start. Now I do want them all. Thank goodness for emulation. I am having fun trying out the ones that have BIN files available...

 

Fall Down is pretty darn fun, I have to say...

 

Anyway, keep the suggestions coming. I love'm!

 

 

 

I recommend buying'em all.

 

 

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[+remowilliams]

Thrust and Seawolf are the top two homebrews for me so far. Both are truly excellent

 

Strat-O-Gems looks to be nice as well. We shall see

[AtariAger]

I gotta tell ya, this was a bad thread to start. Now I do want them all.

 

 

 

[video game addict]

Yeah "get them all" is probably the only safe course of action!

 

I plan on buying Adventure II, Strat-O-Gems, and Fall Down, but I'm waiting til Adventure II is closer to completion.

[bjk7382]

I suggest any of the following (in no particular order): Thrust, Star Fire, Marble Craze, SCSIcide, Strat-O-Gems, Swoops, Crazy Balloon, Seawolf.

[kencrisis]

Star Fire is my vote. Great game.

[Andrew Davie]

Qb....

surely the best '2600 action puzzler ever written

good luck finding one, though!

[Thomas Jentzsch]

Since nobody mentioned it yet: Oystron

 

Pretty unique gameplay, very addicting, great presentation and IMO already a major part of homebrewing history (at least it made me starting homebrewing ).

[Lord Helmet]

Vault Assault, Star Fire, Thrust, Marble Craze...

 

Actually they are all good. Playing todays homebrews is almost like playing another system rather than the 2600. They are all just so good. there are very few games that were relesed back in the 70's and 80's for the 2600 that come close to these new games. I be most all of them would have been mega sellers back in the day...

 

Hell, Thomas could have been the 1st videogame millionare, rather than Tod Frye!!!

Edited December 10, 2005 by Lord Helmet

[keilbaca]

Qb....

surely the best '2600 action puzzler ever written

good luck finding one, though!

979263[/snapback]

 

I got one, the holiday one from last year

[birdie3]

Qb....

surely the best '2600 action puzzler ever written

good luck finding one, though!

979263[/snapback]

 

 

I know a few people that could burn you one...

Edited December 9, 2005 by birdie3