Goofing off with my not-quite favorite 5200 games

[Gabriel]

I was playing the 5200 last night. This time I was trying some games in my collection that I don't normally mess with because of general apathy toward them. (Plus, I needed something to do while my dwarf artisan in Lineage II recharged magic points while crafting.)

 

First up was Mario Bros. This is actually a game I liked in the arcade but which I find home ports of to be extremely elusive. I fortunately glommed onto the 5200 version and discovered that I really only enjoy the game when playing with a buddy. Anyway, while playing this port again, I was thinking, "It's OK, but what's up with the colors?" The whole thing looks really drab, and not colorful like the arcade game at all. Other 5200 games have bright blues and reds. What happened here?

 

Note for hackers: Hack Mario Bros to have colors closer to the arcade, if at all possible.

 

Next up was Kangaroo, a game I detested in the arcade. The only reason I have the cart is because it came in the batch with my 5200. A big part of the reason for the dislike is because I sucked at the game. Plus, you gotta admit, it's a pretty poor Donkey Kong sort of ripoff. Anyway, playing it last night things started clicking for me and I saw the third level for the first time. Plus, things got a bit faster paced and actually felt interesting for a change. So, maybe I need to try this one out a bit more?

 

To round out the night, I chose Galaxian. I've been playing this on the Colecovision lately, and that version of it just feels so much more like the arcade game. The 5200 version calls itself Galaxian, and kinda feels like Galaxian, but it's actually it's own peculiar little thing. Until last night, I didn't really appreciate that facet. But last night, I got on a roll and got a little further into the game, whereupon it becomes a Defender-like battle with a million killer bees in a closet. Not only that, but the insane, floaty patterns of the bugs make the game entertainingly frustrating. I'll definitely be playing this more. Unlike the arcade game, which honestly feels static and slow, this version just blazes along and feels much more action packed.

 

Oh, somewhere in there I played Vanguard. Vanguard is... well, it's just Vanguard. Death just frustratingly pops up out of nowhere because the enemies are so fast and your ship is so slow, which is something I don't really like. It's colorful, which was a good thing after the drabness of Mario Bros. Overall, I had the same reaction to it as the arcade game: "meh." Was this game really that popular back then? I remember Atari made a really big deal about the licence for this one.

 

Anyway, those are my thoughts for the moment.

[JagFan422]

I can't stand the 5200 version of mario bros, i think its a very poor port compared to other versions, even the 2600 version is better.

 

I can't play Galaxian either, the ol' adhd kicks in after a few repetitive levels.

 

Never played Kangaroo, but I enjoy Vanguard quite a bit, its way better than the 2600 version.

[Gregory DG]

I love Kangaroo. Mario never punched no monkeys!

[Christophero Sly]

I'm glad to see that someone else appreciates 5200 Galaxian.

Edited July 12, 2006 by Christophero Sly

[Scihorror]

I'm a big fan of the 5200 Mario Bros. While I agree that the colors were always "off", I thought the gameplay was just as great as the arcade. I remember when I first got it ages ago I would sit in front of the TV for hours after school on it...

[godzillajoe]

I loved Galaxian as a kid, aside from the horrible sounds. It gets pretty frantic. Now that I actually have some working sticks, I'll have to play it some more.

[jboypacman]

I enjoy Kangaroo for the 5200.I first played it on the 2600 and when i got my 5200 recently i found a copy for it for the 5200 at a local game shop and picked it up.Galaxian is one of my favorite games and i have it for both my 5200 and 2600 but call me crazy but i like it better on the 2600 than i do for 5200 and arcade.I have only played Mario Bros. on the NES and at the arcade years ago but i remember only caring for this game with 2 players.Vanguard i have for my 2600 and want to play it for the 5200 but i havnt got to pick a copy up of it yet.