Is the Atari 2600 Version the Better Version?

[phitter]

As much as you enjoy and defend the 2600, you have to admit that other [later] systems had better graphics, gameplay and more levels than the versions found on the 2600.

 

I'll admit that I prefer to play the ColecoVision versions of most of the games that Coleco published for the 2600. Mr. Do, Smurf, Zaxxon and most others are just so much more playable on the ColecoVision.

 

This said, however, I find that I actually prefer to play the Atari 2600 versions of Pitfall!, River Raid, Frogger and Q*Bert over their ColecoVision counterparts. (It kind of reminds me of how the NES R.B.I. Baseball is so much better than the SNES Super R.B.I. Baseball version.)

 

Are there any other games that you prefer to play on the Atari 2600 over the version made for a purportedly more advanced game system?

 

-phitter

[BassGuitari]

Sometimes yes, sometimes no (wow, that was helpful, huh? ). I like Pac-Man on the Atari 5200 and Intellivision better (though I still enjoy the 2600 game), but I prefer the 2600's Ms. Pac-Man...although if I had the C64 version, I'd prefer that . Star Raiders is better on the 5200 than on the 2600, but I find Super Breakout more enjoyable on the 2600. It just depends on the game.

 

That said, I generally consider most of Activision's 2600 games (the ones that had ports on other systems) to be the definative versions, and I prefer to play the 2600 versions.

[jboypacman]

Some 2600 versions are better than others.I find that games like Pitfall! and Q*Bert really shine on the 2600 while other games like Gorf and Congo Bongo are just better on the ColecoVision.Also the 5200 River Raid kicks butt in my personal opinion.

[jbanes]

If ArcadeConversion then
Play on Super System
Else If 2600Original then 
Play on Atari 2600
Else If Astroblast and 2600Paddles then
Play on Atari 2600
Else
Play on Original System

 

Following that formula, Pacman, Zaxxon, Burgertime, Donkey Kong, etc. are all better on the Super Systems. Games like H.E.R.O., Pitfall, River Raid, etc. are all best on the 2600. And nearly all the M Network games (save for Astroblast) were best on the Intellivision*.

 

 

* Side Note: I love Bump 'N Jump on the 2600. But I've never played it on the Inty, so I don't know if it's another exception.

[Lord Helmet]

I would say that most of the activision games...if not all of them, are better on the 2600.

[jpfalcon2003]

I rather 2600 Asteroids than 7800 version and I prefer 2600 Frogger to the 5200 version. I hate the fact that you gotta press the button to jump on the 5200 version. But can't wait for the 7800 version.

[jbanes]

I rather 2600 Asteroids than 7800 version

And here I thought everyone loved the "Meatballs in Space!"

 

Seriously, 7800 Asteroids was one of the system's strongest titles. I'm surprised that anyone would prefer the seizure inducing, cotton-candy 2600 version. (Not that the 2600 version isn't good, mind you. It's an excellent translation given the limitations of the system.)

[PressureCooker2600]

I prefer the NES Burgertime over the other versions, although the difficulty seems to be a bit higher on this version...makin it hard as hell

also the ataris version of night stalker, dark cavern, is better IMO

[+HatNJ]

I prefer the NES Burgertime over the other versions, although the difficulty seems to be a bit higher on this version...makin it hard as hell

also the ataris version of night stalker, dark cavern, is better IMO

 

 

Gotta agree I tried out almost every version of Burgertime and the NES vers. is hard but BeefDrop for the 7800 is well pretty darn good.

 

Activision titles on the VCS are the ultimate even tho games like River Raid did add more to gameplay along with Graphics enhancements on other platforms but gimmie Pitfall 2 for the 2600 any day (PressureCooker is the tops in my book as #1)

 

Seems the Activision titles gave Good graphics and Longer Duration of gameply in 1 sitting as opposed to some other games of a 15min quick fix

[jetset]

I rather 2600 Asteroids than 7800 version

And here I thought everyone loved the "Meatballs in Space!"

 

Seriously, 7800 Asteroids was one of the system's strongest titles. I'm surprised that anyone would prefer the seizure inducing, cotton-candy 2600 version. (Not that the 2600 version isn't good, mind you. It's an excellent translation given the limitations of the system.)

 

I like each better in their own way. 2600 Asteroids provides a nice challenge, but after a while you can master it totally and there's no point in playing anymore. the 7800 version however, gets ridiculously hard after only a few waves, plus the game doesn't "wait" for a clearing to restore your ship to the middle. I was having the game of my life once and lost my last three ships right in a row when each life rematerialized right on top of an asteroid.

[Feralstorm]

In many cases, I prefer M-network games over the Intellivision versions - simpler, smoother play.

 

I tend to prefer 2600 Battlezone over most versions that are based closer to the arcade. 2600 BZ get really fast and challenging and frenetic once you start getting up to 50000 and above.

[jpfalcon2003]

After playing both versions of Tomcat F-14 for the 2600 and 7800, I like the 2600 version better. I find it much easier. The 7800 one is far more confusing and difficult to me.

[BrianC]

(It kind of reminds me of how the NES R.B.I. Baseball is so much better than the SNES Super R.B.I. Baseball version.)

 

The NES R.B.I. Baseball is actually Family Stadium/Famista. The SNES Super R.B.I. Baseball and some of the other R.B.I. Baseball games are actually Tengen made sequels that weren't from the same developers as the original. Namco's true sequels to Famista are generally of much higher quality than Tengen's sequels. One of them was released under the name Super Batter Up in the US, though, unfortunetly, the SD graphics were replaced with ugly non-SD spirtes, unlike its Super Famista counterpart.

 

I prefer the 2600 version of Armor Battle, Armor Ambush, over the Intellivision version. Then again, I have the early sloooooow turning Intellivision version, so the comparison may not be a fair one.

Edited November 9, 2006 by BrianC