Defender for 2600

[JacobZu7zu7]

When I first played Defender it was maybe 1999.

Which is pretty late. I didn't have my own Atari till

1991 so, back then, I was excited to play Pac-man but didn't like it.

It seemed so generic! Luckly I had Frogger n' Missile Command

to keep me busy. I do like Pac-man now but it is flawed compared to the rest of the pac-mans

that come later. Getting back to my topic. I played Defender

on 2600 and I didn't mind it, I found it rather fun. I didn't like the

dissapearing ship when shooting, but it does save me from enemy shots

a few times. I played Defender on NES, and didn't like it.

What I like about the 2600 version,

The ship flys smoothly and the laser looks cool.

Difficulty is just right and I think the sound is good.

The saving of people, is challenging AND its easy to control your ship,

so there's no problem.

I was wondering if anyone else likes Defender?

[Atariman]

I'm ashamed to say that I have not played Defender enough to really know how much I like it. Every time I play it, I don't do very well, so I sort of steer clear of it. Geez, what kind of an Atari fan am I?

[Christophero Sly]

Despite it's obvious technical flaws, I think it's a fun game.

[Lord Helmet]

I've always just taken it for what it was...Atari's Defender, not arcade style Defender. I loved this game as a kid. Came out the same week that I got my Atari

 

Problem is that once you figure it out, you can pretty much play forever.

[sandmountainslim]

It's ok, I suppose.

I haven't played it since I got Stargate which to me is THE Defender to play on the VCS.

WP

[Lauren Tyler]

I'd never played it in the arcades, so I was first introduced to Defender on the Atari 2600. I realize that it's a lot different than the arcade version, but the core gameplay element remains intact, and it's still a lot of fun crammed into a small cartridge.

[Vic George 2K3]

It's sure a lot easier to play using the Atari 2600 controller than the nightmarish control panel the original arcade version had.

[Foxsolo2000]

I remember playing it at the time of release thinking that it was a hell of a lot easier to play than the arcade version which even to this day I cannot play well. When I encountered Defender 2 back in 89 I was blown away and never really looked at Defender again. I do agree though that it was a hell of an achievement to cram all that game play into one cart

[hbomb]

I liked it much better as a kid than I do today. Probably didn't know any better at 12. The graphics and sound effects are good, but the game play blows. Everything is blinking all over the place and your spaceship disappears everytime you hit the fire button.

[phaxda]

Funny defender is getting talked about here. I discovered the other day, quite by accident, that my Williams Arcade disk for the PS2 actually has interviews and histories of the games on it. I thought one of the best interviews was the one about Defender. Really cool stuff! I was so psyched to discover this material on that disk. (I've been playing Robotron on it, even though the control scheme stinks.)

Edited August 24, 2006 by phaxda

[pocketmego]

I like both Defenders for the 2600. The original I grew up with and when it came out I had to have it, because I played the arcade machine every single time I went to get a haircut, which was the only place they had one. The problem is at a quarter borrowed from Dad everytime I played, the games didn't last too long, because Arcade Defender is one rough game, especially when you are like 6.

 

I found Defender on the Atari to be better and being so young I never had issues with its accuracy, although the disapeering ship thing bugged the hell out of me, even as a kid. My imagination kicked in and in my mind the ship cloaked (or I supposed had I known the terms at the time "phased")out of reality when the lasers fired.

 

Defender 2/Stargate I just now discovered was on the the 2600 and I freakin' LOVE it. It plays better than the C64 defender which I learned to REALLY play Defender on as I got older. I always though no home version could beat my C64 version, but Defender 2 is a work of art and easily beats the Commodore one.

 

-Ray

[supercat]

Defender 2/Stargate I just now discovered was on the the 2600 and I freakin' LOVE it. It plays better than the C64 defender which I learned to REALLY play Defender on as I got older. I always though no home version could beat my C64 version, but Defender 2 is a work of art and easily beats the Commodore one.

 

There's a thread that discusses hacking Defender 2 into Defender. I still need to integrate my awesome title screen (too many things to do in this world!) but I posted a patched version which includes an enhanced scanner (in color!), an improved planet, and an improved planet explosion.

[pocketmego]

Defender 2/Stargate I just now discovered was on the the 2600 and I freakin' LOVE it. It plays better than the C64 defender which I learned to REALLY play Defender on as I got older. I always though no home version could beat my C64 version, but Defender 2 is a work of art and easily beats the Commodore one.

 

There's a thread that discusses hacking Defender 2 into Defender. I still need to integrate my awesome title screen (too many things to do in this world!) but I posted a patched version which includes an enhanced scanner (in color!), an improved planet, and an improved planet explosion.

 

Damn I just read through all 5 pages and wen through the various evolutions. Great job from all you guys Supercat. Its simply amazing the talent we have here. I want one of those carts when y'all start selling them.

 

-Ray

[2600lover]

I guess its not that bad, but like some of the others, I dont like the ship dissapearing when you shoot. Other then that, its not a bad game!

[JacobZu7zu7]

 

Defender 2/Stargate I just now discovered was on the the 2600 and I freakin' LOVE it. It plays better than the C64 defender which I learned to REALLY play Defender on as I got older. I always though no home version could beat my C64 version, but Defender 2 is a work of art and easily beats the Commodore one.

 

-Ray

 

 

Hehe, yeah Stargate is a good one. I got this game around the same time I got

Defender. I liked both but I did see how nicely made Stargate was,

I was playing it one afteroon, and my joystick broke. I suddenly

couldn't go left.

I did read online that Stargate was also known as Defender II.

I never seen the Defender II cover, this game is known

as Stargate to me.

Now I am interested in playing the C-64 Defender.

I might have it on disk... if not I could play it on emulator.

[Lord Thag]

I loved Defender back in the day. It's still pretty fun, but I tend to play Stargate/Defender II more. Flicker has never really bothered me, and the 2600 Defender pretty much nailed all of the arcade elements while being easier to control. Good game.

[Lord Helmet]

One of the things I hated was having to go below the surface of the city to use a smart bomb or above the screen to hyperspace. Pretty much takes away the idea of using the two functions to get out of a jam.

[Jack Spencer Jr]

I'm kind of surprised that Chopper Command wasn't mentioned yet.

[sandmountainslim]

I'm kind of surprised that Chopper Command wasn't mentioned yet.

 

 

How about that Chopper Command!

[supercat]

One of the things I hated was having to go below the surface of the city to use a smart bomb or above the screen to hyperspace. Pretty much takes away the idea of using the two functions to get out of a jam.

 

What sort of jam can you be in if you're below the surface or above the screen?

 

BTW, I wonder if it would be possible to hack the game so that it would fire smart bomb if, within 1/4 second, the game saw at least six of the following joystick directions, in order: Up, UR, Right, DR, Down, DL, Left, UL? That might be easier to trigger while playing than a second joystick's button, and wouldn't require the advance setup of going below the city (which is really quite feeble).

[godzillajoe]

Hyperspace is useful if a lander is grabbing a human off-screen. It takes you right there instantly. It's pointless for trying to escape any danger though.

[pocketmego]

I'm kind of surprised that Chopper Command wasn't mentioned yet.

 

 

How about that Chopper Command!

 

LOL.

 

I have to admit that before discovering Stargate I was a BIg Chopper Command fan. But, it has lost its luster since discovering a pretty solid re-working of Defender on the 2600.

 

Now, I still love Chopper Command, I think its an awesome game in its own right and it gets some pretty regular play. But, Demon Attack has replaced it as my once favorite 2600 game.

 

 

-Ray

[JacobZu7zu7]

I'm kind of surprised that Chopper Command wasn't mentioned yet.

 

 

How about that Chopper Command!

 

LOL.

 

I have to admit that before discovering Stargate I was a BIg Chopper Command fan. But, it has lost its luster since discovering a pretty solid re-working of Defender on the 2600.

 

Now, I still love Chopper Command, I think its an awesome game in its own right and it gets some pretty regular play. But, Demon Attack has replaced it as my once favorite 2600 game.

 

 

-Ray

 

I found Chopper Command kinda ugly and too difficult, I wonder how

many plays I must do, to be able to get a high score. Or to enjoy it,

C.C. controls aren't fluid, jerky flying and I often think I am doing well, then

suddenly some collision happends

It's still a good game, but not my kinda game.

[jboypacman]

I had Defender as a kid and i have it now for both my 2600 and 5200.Am not a big fan of defender but i dont mind playing it every now or then.

[Zonie]

It's sure a lot easier to play using the Atari 2600 controller than the nightmarish control panel the original arcade version had.

I always liked the game, even after I played 2600 Stargate which also rocks. I even built a proper defender controller out of radio shack parts back in '82. Still have it today.

 

I also have it for NES, N64, 5200, Genesis, 400/800 and Jaguar. Tthe 2600 version still gets a lot of play time in my house.

 

I only really like the Apple ][ version of Chopper Command. All the others seem to be missing the "magic."

Edited August 27, 2006 by Zonie