Sabertooth

So, I don't think this guitar would feel or sound great but it looks damned cool! The placement of the bezel would probably get in the way of strumming. A 7800 might work better but then you don't have those sweet woodgrain aesthetics! Happy New Year @Atari Creep!

ASTEROIDS: RECHARGED (VCS) Published 2021 (Atari) Developer: Adamvision Studios, Sneakybox Retail: $9.99 ASTEROIDS: RECHARGED is a modern take on Ed Logg's seminal 1979 arcade space shooter. Like all games in Atari's recent "Recharged" series, it includes a neon vector-like graphic aesthetic and more modern gaming elements like power-ups, leader boards, challenges, achievements and more. ASTEROIDS: RECHARGED is available on multiple platforms, including: VCS, Switch, XBOX Series X/S, XBOX One, PS4, PS5, Steam and Epic. Let’s take a quick look at the VCS version! TAKE CONTROL Following the formula established by Centipede and Black Widow, ASTEROIDS: RECHARGED features two game-modes: ARCADE & CHALLENGES. Both modes can be played in either single-player or couch co-op. Arcade mode is the main game and is a pure high score chasing affair. Of the games so far released in the series, ASTEROIDS: RECHARGED perhaps feels the most true to its original arcade inspiration. While there are graphical updates, power-ups and enhancements like exploding asteroids, the objective remains the same: destroy the asteroids and any flying saucers that you encounter. The simplicity is a mixed blessing. Its sure to entice fans of the arcade classic but may be too simple for modern gamers to embrace. ASTEROIDS: RECHARGED features multiple asteroids from extra large to small. Some asteroids fragment while others explode, taking out adjacent asteroids. As in the original game, you'll get further if you choose your targets strategically to limit the opportunities for collision. There are three saucer types: a non-firing bubble-like saucer, a small and deadly accurate saucer, and a larger lumbering saucer that is slightly less accurate. Players be wary when the small saucer appears. They will almost always hit a stationary player ship on the first shot. This means that it pays to move about in ASTEROIDS: RECHARGED. No lurking exploit here! The game also includes a small saucer embedded in an asteroid. While embedded, the saucer is relatively harmless. But once freed, it functions as a normal small saucer. The bubble-like saucer is the source of power-ups in the game. Speaking of power-ups, ASTEROIDS: RECHARGED features some of the most inventive power-ups seen yet in the series. Those familiar with the Recharged series will recognize slow down, rotating bullets, spread shot and others. ASTEROIDS: RECHARGED adds a bullet bouncing deflector shield, screen clearing mega laser, and explosive shots that open mini black holes that sucks in all nearby asteroids and ships. The black hole effect is by far my favorite in the game. Due to wrap around nature of the play field, other power-ups like side shot can be employed to quickly clear out asteroids. In terms of control, the VCS offers multiple controller options. Where the original Asteroids arcade game employed an unusual 5-button control scheme to control ship rotation, thrust and hyperspace, the VCS version effectively maps these to both the Modern Controller of Classic Joystick. Using the Modern Controller, rotation is controlled with the thumbstick, thrust is the right trigger, fire is "A" and hyperspace is the "Y". The Classic Joystick provides some true retro flare by using built-in paddle function to rotate your craft. Here the main button is fire, the bumper is thrust and the return button is used for hyperspace. The rotary function is effective and accurate but the placement of hyperspace on the Classic Joystick makes it hard to hit in a pinch. I wish Atari had used up for thrust and left the bumper for hyperspace. Still, the Classic Controller is my preferred way to play the game. The sense of thrust and inertia feels true to the original. Unlike the original, hyperspace is much less likely to result in instant death and instead gives you a fighting chance. Never once have I used it only to immediately explode. I call this an improvement over the original. Challenges mode expands the game, providing a wide variety of task-based challenge levels. These serve to unlock achievements but also teach you how to use certain power-ups or improve your piloting skills. As with Centipede and Black Widow, its worth noting that 10 of the challenge levels are exclusive to the VCS. Other versions of the game have just 30 challenges. The VCS challenges tend to be the most difficult and rewarding across the series. Most challenges revolve around destroying a certain number of asteroids or surviving for a certain length of time. Despite the similarities in tasks, developers Adamvision and Sneaky Box did a great job creating some very unique challenge levels using the limited enemy types available to them. My favorite is the final (VCS exclusive) challenge "LA Traffic." In this challenge, players must destroy a certain number of medium asteroids amidst multiple "lanes" of asteroids and cross traffic. As someone who regularly rides a motorcycle on the 405, I can say that this challenge is aptly named! While the Challenges mode adds some depth, on the whole they were much easier in ASTEROIDS: RECHARGED than in previous series entries. More difficult challenges would be welcome. Couch co-op returns to ASTEROIDS: RECHARGED and greatly enhances the game in either Arcade or Challenges mode. Where the main game is single life, co-op mode provides the opportunity to revive your fallen partner and extend game play. With two capable players, this can mean radically higher scores and lengthier games than would be possible in the single player mode. One criticism of the RECHARGED series has been the single life nature of the games. Atari appears to be listening to the feedback and there are reportedly patches on the way to add 3 lives. However, as it stands all current RECHARGED titles are single life. Keep this in mind if that's not your thing. I personally like the challenge. GRAPHICS Like all games in Atari's recent "Recharged" series, ASTEROIDS: RECHARGED includes a neon vector-like graphic aesthetic. The simple rectangular ship, asteroids and enemy saucers are rendered in simple, yet effective art style that recalls the original arcade game's vector graphics. However, this time screen has a star field background with nebula like gas that creates the feel of space. Simple asteroids trail specs of space dust as they float along the screen. There is a subtle grid pattern which overlays the background. This warps and bends throughout the game. The color palette is limited and cycles to designate "waves." Power-ups and explosive rocks and asteroids provide some modern pyrotechnics that look very cool. The future-retro aesthetic is carried through to the menus, which are all very clean and easy to navigate. Menus are fully animated. SOUND & MUSIC As with Centipede and Black Widow, music is one of the strongest points of ASTEROIDS: RECHARGED. For this game and all upcoming Recharged titles, Atari has wisely partnered with composer Megan McDuffee who is known for her work on the River City Girls series, among others. I cannot overstate how awesome the music is. Whether in-menu or in-game, it perfectly compliments the tone of ASTEROIDS. It may even be the best yet! In game, the shots, booms and explosions generally suit the theme of ASTEROIDS. My favorite is the slight hum and muffle when your ship is enveloped in the spherical deflector. Its a pretty cool effect! CREATURE COMFORTS ASTEROIDS: RECHARGED includes proper unlockable achievements which have become a staple of modern gaming. Some are progressive. Other achievements are awarded for completion of a single task. If you've played the other RECHARGED titles, these will be familiar to you. The inclusion of achievements is a welcome addition to the game, particularly on the VCS. However, as the VCS does not support trophies, the achievements are only viewable in-game. Compare this to the PS4 version, which utilizes Sony’s trophy system and is linked to a user's profile. It would be nice to have a way to share your achievements. The game also includes a leaderboard feature. The leaderboard on the VCS version is currently local only. High scores are displayed in game for both Arcade and Challenge modes. Other versions of the game feature global and friend leaderboards. Apparently Atari is working on a friend and leaderboard feature for the VCS. In ASTEROIDS, there are placeholders for this feature. Hopefully this is implemented soon as competing against others is one of the more fun aspects of classic arcade gaming. OVERALL ASTEROIDS: RECHARGED is an excellent update to Atari's venerable classic. With the 10 exclusive challenges and multiple control options, the VCS version is an easy recommendation for fans of the original game. The overall design of the game - both aesthetically and in terms of gameplay - honors its arcade inspiration. Simply put, if you like Asteroids, you should enjoy ASTEROIDS: RECHARGED. Have you played ASTEROIDS: RECHARGED on the VCS or on another platform? What do you think of the game?

Thanks for sharing this @Justin ! Guaraldi's themes for the Peanuts specials are the soundtrack of so many holiday and childhood memories.

One of the things I've really liked about the Recharged series is the key art for each game. ATARI just revealed the art for Breakout. It's cool that it's a throw back to the original jailbreak theme. I can't help but think of Don Knotts in that ridiculous commercial. I'd love to see a poster set from this series!

It's a shame that James J Morgan never got a fair shake at turning the ship around before Atari sold to Tramiel. Tramiel's first mistake was not buying the Arcade division. That was a well spring of original IP for years after the split and could've served as a source for exclusive first-party content. Think about how things might have played out if Marble Madness, Gauntlet, Roadblasters, Paperboy and others would have been 7800 exclusives! They might have served the same role as SEGA AM2 did for Sega. You can have all of the amazing hardware you want, without great games it won't matter.

If I remember correctly, it was several complete sets of Garbage Pail Kids cards. It was early days ('98) and the seller only accepted money orders or personal check with a seven day wait to clear prior to shipping. How far we have come!

Rayman was a breath of fresh air on the Jaguar. I remember picking it up in Fall of '95 at Electronics Boutique, popping it in my Jaguar and being blown away by the production quality. My cousin and I spent a lot of time on this one that Fall and Winter. As a game, I personally think the difficulty level is a bit high. But I love the stunning 2D art-style, characters and the almost living world of Rayman. It's a title I come back to year after year.

I'm a huge fan of Atari's new "Recharged" series of games. Following onto last year's Missile Command: Recharged, which was released on mobile, Steam, Switch and VCS, the more recent entries expand the concept for consoles and include an Arcade Mode, Challenges Mode, achievements and co-op. Games so far are single life, high-score chasing affairs and pretty difficult. Each of the of the games feature power-ups, updated graphics and music by composer Megan McDuffee. Despite the upgrades, the core game play is largely intact. The first games are out now and available everywhere, appearing on VCS, Switch, XBOX One/S/X, PS4/5, Steam and Epic. This includes Centipede, Black Widow and Asteroids. Breakout Recharged is due out in Q1. For VCS owners, there are 10 exclusive bonus challenges and alternate controller options. Have you played any games in the Recharged series? If so, what are your thoughts on the games so far?

@Justin - I'm surprised to see a gem like Chip's Challenge on your list. That's a game to play loud and proud! 🙂

For me, its probably Supercross 3D on the Atari Jaguar. Its objectively a bad game but I regularly return to it, year after year. Like so many Jaguar titles, it's a game that fails to execute on its ambitions. The textured tracks, jumbotron and 3D modeled riders all look great - almost next gen - in still captures but in motion the game is a mess. The Jaguar can't do all that its being asked to do in Supercross 3D and the single digit framerate and unforgiving collision detection make it one of the system's most notorious failures. That said, there is something that I personally enjoy about it. Maybe its learning to fight against the game? I don't know exactly, but I do know that I like it. A lot.

JETBOARD JOUST (VCS) Published 2021 (Freedom Games) Developer: BitBull Retail: $9.99 Ever since Eugene Jarvis and Williams Electronics unleashed Defender on unsuspecting arcades in 1980, there have been countless sequels, send-ups, hacks and tributes to the game. With a rare exception, these tend to fall short of the high-water mark set by the original. Jetboard Joust by indie developer BitBull is one such exception. The game takes the foundational elements of Jarvis’ classic and adds branching pathways, an intriguing upgrade system and fun joust mechanic to create an excellent modern arcade game. I enjoy Jetboard Joust so thoroughly that I’m naming it my 2021 Game of the Year! Jetboard Joust is available on multiple platforms, including Atari VCS, Steam, Epic and the Nintendo Switch. Let’s take a look at the Atari VCS version of the game! TAKE CONTROL In Jetboard Joust, you use the VCS Modern Controller (or third-part gamepad) to guide Super Jetboy through 5 multi-level worlds, protecting helpless citizens - heretofore known as "little dudes" - from the ravages of evil mutant invaders! If one of the little dudes is picked up by a mutant, you will need to zip across the screen to free it before its kidnapped and becomes a super charged mutant baddie that you'll need to destroy. Essentially, destroy everything that moves. As you destroy enemies, you'll pick up drops consisting of health, ammo and coins. Its a tried and true premise to be sure. And while this game will be instantly familiar to many, it adds enough style, humor and variety to keep it fresh. These include a cool Joust attack, randomly generated level maps, a deep equipment upgrade system and more. The "Joust" in Jetboard Joust is a special attack that propels your jetboard through multiple enemies. This is great to use to get out of a jam or clear a group of baddies. Lower level enemies will be obliterated and higher level enemies will take significant damage. Plus, you're temporarily invincible when the joust is employed. Be warned, there are a limited number of jousts available. These can be replenished by picking up drops. You can also add to your joust capacity as you build your capabilities. Jetboard Joust features a wide variety of weapons. This includes your base weapon (a gun) and several special weapons that are picked up along the way. These come in a wide variety from lightning, to a gravity hammer to a giant circular saw (the Shredder), and everything in between. Some weapons are more effective than others on different enemies, so it makes sense to keep a variety in your arsenal. Weapons can be upgraded or repaired throughout the game. Keeping your weapons in good condition maintains their effectiveness and increases ammo drops. With a click of the trigger, you can switch between your primary gun and a special weapon. You'll only be able to carry one special weapon at a time. The other special weapons that you've collected will be scattered across the playfield. If you want to switch special weapons mid-level, you'll need to find and pick-up another one. Special weapons have limited ammo so you'll want to use them wisely. Ammo can be replenished by picking up ammo drops. Upgrading equipment is a crucial element to success in Jetboard Joust and there are multiple ways to accomplish this. Players may opt to use the store in-between levels to upgrade their jetsuit, jetboard or weapons. The cost of doing so can be high. Fortunately, you can sell off weapons to raise precious coinage. Alternatively, you can select a route that leads to weapons pick-ups, equipment upgrades, repair, and hidden treasure. However, to access these upgrades you'll need to summon a guardian - as sort of end level boss. Only upon defeating the guardian will you gain access to the special item on that level. Summoning a guardian is completely optional and some are much harder than others. You will not know exactly who is showing up until after the summoning. Its a nice bit of risk vs. reward that breaks up the standard level clearing action. Choose your path wisely to outfit Super Jetboy with the equipment needed to take out the end of world bosses! Another reason to save coinage is to continue a game. If you happen to die and have no emergency jetsuits, you'll be given the opportunity to purchase a continue using available treasure. If you have enough, you can continue the game. If not, it's game over! The costs of continues raises as you progress. If you don't have enough money in the bank, you can restart the game with the teleports unlocked to choose where you start. Picking up lost jetsuits from an earlier play through will allow you to recover some coin. This helps make your loss in a previous run slightly less stinging. SOUND & VISION The graphics in Jetboard Joust are highly stylized. The playfield is populated by colorful cities, exploding pixels, glitch-like background animations and a large variety of aliens. The color palette changes from level to level. Sometimes they look a bit muted, and other times they pop. Everything is alien. Some of the aliens recall sea creatures, others look robotic or insectoid. I really enjoy seeing the different enemy types as the game progresses. Animations are constant, chaotic and wonderful. Screenshake and pixel explosions abound and really add to the frenzied vibe of the game. Sound is equally fitting. The in-game music is catchy, if a bit repetitive. The background noises and explosions are satisfying and include an audible alert for abducted little dudes, and an affected electro synth sound that recalls the noise Defender makes at the start of each level. Overall the art style and audio are effective in defining Jetboard Joust and give the game a character all its own. CREATURE COMFORTS Jetboard Joust adds in-game achievements. There are 12 pages in all, with a wide variety of achievements to attain. Achievements are somewhat rare on the VCS, so this is a welcome inclusion. There is also an in-game high score entry system. Both the achievements and the high score entry add to the replay value of the game. OVERALL Jetboard Joust takes a familiar formula and successfully layers on modern gaming elements, combined with a distinctive art style and frenetic action to create a superb arcade experience. Importantly, it's SUPER FUN! If I had a place to insert quarters in my VCS, I would have spent well over the $9.99 cost of entry. Retro arcade fans and modern indie gamers alike will find a lot to enjoy. Recommended on any platform! Have you tried Jetboard Joust on the VCS or another platform? What do you think of the game? What's your 2021 Game of The Year? Let us know in the comments below! P.S. One of the things that I’ve enjoyed most about the Atari VCS experience is that the relatively small library with its focus on curated indie games has led me to play titles I might have otherwise ignored. These games are often lost in the noise on large platforms and ecosystems. Were it not for the VCS, I would have missed out entirely on this excellent title.

I was hoping to get one more game in but Cybermorph takes some time. Hopefully more members can get a Jaguar in the coming year.

Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode (NES)

Pengo (Atari 5200)

The Amico forum on AA has been removed. This is an interesting development as AA has been one of the primary platforms on which IE has been engaging with the community since the Amico was first announced.

157,250 First attempt. Not nearly as high as last year.

Thanks, @RickR! I agree that the pricing on this series is just where it needs to be. I'd add that even if though I'm reviewing the VCS versions, I know the Switch and PS4 versions are good too. I imagine the same is true for XBOX. I think @Atari Creephas reviews up for the Switch version of both this and Centipede. The main difference between this and the other versions is the 10 additional VCS exclusive challenges and multiple controller options. I appreciate that Atari made the extra effort for their home platform. AT $250, that Microcenter deal was a steal, even if you're just using the VCS as a Mini PC. Too bad they are such a small chain! GameStop is offering the Onyx All-In for $279 which is also a great deal. I'm a woodgrain person myself! 😂

Cannon Fodder is a favorite of mine on the Jaguar. Its a pretty good port and works surprisingly well with the Jaguar gamepad. Let us know what you think!

Thanks @Justin and @MaximumRD! These Recharged titles have been pretty fun to play. Black Widow is especially addictive and is - in my opinion - an improvement on the original in many ways. We'll see if the current iteration of Atari can keep up the pace with Asteroids (December 14) and Breakout (Q1 2022).

BLACK WIDOW: RECHARGED (VCS) Published 2021 (Atari) Developer: Adamvision Studios, Sneakybox Retail: $9.99 BLACK WIDOW: RECHARGED is a modern take on Atari's vector twin stick-shooter Black Widow (1982). Like all games in Atari's recent "Recharged" series, it includes a neon vector-like graphic aesthetic and more modern gaming elements like power-ups, leader boards, challenges, achievements and more. What sets BLACK WIDOW: RECHARGED apart from the other Recharged titles is that this marks the first time that Atari has ever revisited this IP. There has never been a sequel to the 1982 arcade original and it's a bit of a "deep cut" choice for a reboot. This makes it possibly the most intriguing game coming from Atari and developers Adamvision and SneakyBox! BLACK WIDOW: RECHARGED is available on multiple platforms, including: VCS, Switch, XBOX Series X/S, XBOX One, PS4, PS5, Steam and Epic. Let’s take a quick look at the VCS version! TAKE CONTROL The most important element in any twin-stick shooter is the sticks. Fortunately, the VCS Modern Controller is more than up to the task. Using the dual thumbsticks, your spider dances effortlessly across the screen. Control with the Modern Controller is both accurate and responsive. The VCS version also adds support for the Classic Controller in two variations. Using a single Classic Controller, players use the joystick to move and the built-in rotary to pivot and shoot. Alternatively, you can use two - YES TWO - Classic Controllers simultaneously for true twin-stick action! Personally, I prefer the Modern Controller, but the added options for the Classic Controller are pretty cool. If only Atari produced a coupler to secure both sticks... There are two game-modes: ARCADE & CHALLENGES. Both modes can be played in either single-player or couch co-op. Arcade mode is the main game and is a pure high score chasing affair. Challenges mode expands the game, providing 40 task-based challenge levels. These serve to unlock achievements but also teach you how to deal with various insects. In Centipede: Recharged, the developers used various elements - rocks, bombs, mushrooms - to create visual and mechanical variety in its challenge levels. By way of comparison, the design of BLACK WIDOW is considerably more limited. Challenges feel similar from one to the other despite differences in web barrier layouts and insects. Further, the difficulty of some of the challenges is really amped up! This might put off some players. It's worth noting that 10 of the challenge levels are exclusive to the VCS. Other versions of the game have just 30 challenges. The gameplay has strong echoes of the original in that you still control the spider and fight off an endless onslaught of various insects moving across the web. However, there are key differences. Where the original used red and green sections of web to indicate barriers, BLACK WIDOW: RECHARGED randomly generates bright white sections which your spider cannot pass. There are no longer waves to indicate progress. Instead, the colors cycle on a timed basis to designate "waves." Different insects have different attributes. One swarms in a circular pattern, one drops power-ups, one takes multiple shots and attacks when hit, one shoots projectiles, and another lays eggs that hatch into exploding bugs. Most of the insects drop dollar-signed shaped "Grubsteaks" when eliminated. In the original, these were a source of extra points. Here, they also charge up a web shot that can be used to eliminate a large number of enemies all at once. It's one of the cooler power-ups in the game. Other power-ups include 3-spread shot, side shot, 7-spread shot, fear, slow down, rapid fire, shield, and explosive shot. These must be used strategically to maximize points and help to survive as long as possible. Action is frenetic and there is a lot going on all at once. However, the power-ups are generous and the game feels pretty balanced despite its fast pace. Critically, you only have a single life. This game is tough. You will see the "GAME OVER" screen a lot. And seeing that screen means that you're starting over from zero. Gamers that enjoy single life, high score challenges will enjoy this. Gamers who want multiple lives and the ability to earn extras may not. For me, I appreciate the design decision and have thoroughly enjoyed chasing my high score. The game ramps up quickly, so it is never boring to start over again. Deaths don't feel cheap. I know immediately where I made a mistake when I die. This doesn't mean there aren't some controller throwing moments though! GRAPHICS Like all games in Atari's recent "Recharged" series, BLACK WIDOW: RECHARGED includes a neon vector-like graphic aesthetic. The web, player sprite and enemies are rendered in a simple, yet effective art style that recalls the original arcade game. The web itself has a subtle motion that emulates the movement of a real web. The color pallette is limited and cycles every 60 seconds or so to designate "waves." The overall aesthetic is carried through to the menus, which are all very clean and easy to navigate. Where Centipede:Recharged had static menus in the VCS version, this time they are fully animated, putting VCS BLACK WIDOW on par with the Switch, Playstation and XBOX ports. It's a welcome improvement and one that I hope is implemented in the rest of the series. I really like the graphic style that Atari has chosen for the series and its particularly effective in BLACK WIDOW. SOUND & MUSIC As with Centipede: Recharged, music is one of the strongest points of BLACK WIDOW. For this game and all upcoming Recharged titles, Atari has wisely partnered with composer Megan McDuffee who is known for her work on the River City Girls series, among others. I cannot overstate how awesome the music is. Whether in-menu or in-game, it perfectly compliments the tone of BLACK WIDOW. It may even be better here than in Centipede. The in-game noises are a mixed bag. Some of the bugs - particularly the hornet - make an odd yelping sound when hit. There is a persistent buzzing from the various insects. These may be distracting to some players. Otherwise, the pops, shots and explosions generally suit the game. CREATURE COMFORTS Like Centipede: Recharged, BLACK WIDOW: RECHARGED includes proper unlockable achievements which have become a staple of modern gaming. Some are progressive. Other achievements are awarded for completion of a single task. If you've played Centipede, these will be familiar. The inclusion of achievements is a welcome addition to the game, particularly on the VCS. However, as the VCS does not support trophies, the achievements are only viewable in-game. Compare this to the PS4 version, which utilizes Sony’s trophy system and is linked to a user's profile. It would be nice to have a way to share your achievements. The game also includes a leaderboard feature. The leaderboard on the VCS version is currently local only. High scores are displayed in game for both Arcade and Challenge modes. Other versions of the game feature global and friend leaderboards. Apparently Atari is working on a friend and leaderboard feature for the VCS. Hopefully this is implemented soon as competing against others is one of the more fun aspects of classic arcade gaming. OVERALL BLACK WIDOW: RECHARGED is a solid update to a forgotten game from Atari's classic era. With the 10 exclusive challenges and multiple control options, the VCS version is an easy recommendation for fans of the original game or of twin-stick shooters in general. It may be the strongest title yet in what's shaping up to be a stellar series! Have you played BLACK WIDOW: RECHARGED on the VCS or other platform? What do you think of the game?