Atari 5200 Guy

Why did I get a Jaguar? It is a very stylish system, games are unique and most exclusive to the Jaguar, and I actually like the controllers. I don't like how they fit to the console because I feel that could be a bit more snug. More gaming power for the money. $225 got me a system with two games, an extra controller (since I was the only one that played it served as a spare should something go wrong with the first one), and the A/V cable. No other console at that time offered that much for that kind of price. I spent $200 on the Genesis and barely got a game although Altered Beast would not have been my first choice. Most of all, I grabbed a Jaguar because it was Atari. Atari had been a huge part of my childhood so I was surprised to see the Jaguar flyer I got in the mail and I already knew I wanted one. I just couldn't afford it at the time. And if it hadn't been for my dear Grandmother I might not have every had one. Great gaming memories that can only be played on the Jaguar and Jaguar CD. I mean, a perfect port of Myst and Baldies (never found the PC version of Baldies), Tempest 2000 absolutely blows away the competition...and your mind, Iron Soldier is an awesome blast-the-he**-out-of-everything mech game, Syndicate will entertain for hours if not make you laugh by setting your enemies on fire, Wolfenstein 3D, DOOM, and Alien VS Predator fill the need for much needed first-person shooters. If that's not enough try Power Drive Rally, a top-down racer in a similar fashion to R.C. Pro-Am...on steroids! Think your an expert at Defender??? Defender 2000 will retrain you or hand your butt back to you. I*War and Cybermorph are easily the starts into the 3D gaming perspective we take for granted on modern consoles as is Hover Strike. The Jaguar played an important part in gaming history. 16-bit consoles were delivering good 2D and 2.5D games. No doubt about it. And just before the popular 32-bit consoles hit the market the Jaguar was setting standards. Games that were true 3D and hardware that could handle it. The Jaguar's specs were unheard of when it was released and are still impressive. It will always remain a remarkable console in my book. Now I just need to find Tempest!

I have to say that I was not immediately impressed with 2600's Pac-Man because I had the 5200 and 5200 Pac-Man. So when I seen the 2600's Pac-Man it was disappointing visually. Then I played it and immediately starting thinking about my Pac-Man at home. Today I have the 2600 Pac-Man in my collection and I like it. After that reading about the game I can appreciate the game more now. Being a newbie 2600 developer at the time pretty much said it all. Atari was also good at rushing projects so it is not surprising how many developers demonstrated their stuff only to have Atari release an unfinished product as finished. 2600 Pac-Man could have used a bit more polish but it is a good game...I just don't think I would have called it Pac-Man.

I know it's not the Lynx but I use to play the heck out of California Games on the 2600 just to see how fast and how far I could make the bike fly in the BMX portion of the game. I laughed so hard I made my stomach hurt doing that.

I found E.T. to be one of the first adventure games where you had to pay attention to what you were doing. It could have used a little bit more work in the collision detection area but what was done in 5-6 weeks was astounding! It is also the only movie-based game that I have played that is true to the movie. This is more than I can say for NES movie-to-game ports. Warshaw did an awesome job and deserves and award for his programming talents. Long live E.T. the video game!

You know, Jaguar was the only way I found to play Myst. I spent hours upon hours with that game trying to solve it. It took me months to figure that game out. I drew maps, highlighted and noted objects like keys and stuff, and jotted down how to solve the puzzles within the game. I was hooked. I didn't have a PC that could touch that game so the Jaguar was the only way I found to play that game...and it was a lot of fun! Raiden is just an awesome shoot 'em up for the system. It's a shame that there wasn't more like it on the system. No, they weren't 3D, but the system could have been one heck of a 2D power house. There are lots of Jag games I didn't get to try simply because I couldn't find them nor afford them when I did. Highlander CD wasn't too bad but I kept getting stuck.

Hehe...The first time I played Cybermorph I spent hours on that game trying to figure it out. I beat it but I couldn't tell you now how I did nor do I remember. Too many games have happened since then. I also feel that Jaguar was very much under the radar. A serious game at that time would have discovered some how. If it wouldn't have been for that ad I got in the mail I wouldn't have known about it. I agree about Skylar...the voice was like "Wow!" when I first heard her speak. It was especially funny when I would bump into things. OK...this is driving me nuts...I MUST play Cybermorph now! Be back after I learn to fly. Long live the Jaguar!

Opps...Hoverstrike was suppose to be Jag's sleeper title. Well...I guess it can be there with Cybermorph and I*War as well

You also have to remember that the Jaguar was doing something not done on console before. Everyone had to start somewhere with learning how to develop for the Jaguar and not everything went as planned. I mean, Nintendo and Sega's machines were battling it out trying to deliver 16-bit arcade experiences and exclusive titles in a 2D fashion. The Jaguar, on the other hand, was native capable of delivering, for its time, stunning 3D capabilities. That was unheard of then. Even PCs were struggling in that department. So if you don't understand something what do you do? Which is why I feel that, as Bakerman has mentioned, the media and public dogged the Jaguar as much as they did. I*War is a fun 3D experience and Cybermorph is a good shoot 'em up game. I spent hours on Cybermorph when I got my Jaguar. You don't have a timer so you can explore. I do wish the environment were a little bit brighter but all the game elements come together nicely. Not bad for a game that was to be demonstration of some of the thing that Jaguar could do. So, I agree with Bakerman, I*War and Cybermorph could very well be Jag's sleeper titles. I'm sure there are others as well.

Wow...it's hard to pick just 5. Let's see... Tempest 2000 Cybermorph Iron Soldier Baldies (CD) Raiden There...I think that does it. Honorable mentions: I*War Myst (CD) Hover Strike (I have had cart and CD at one time and CD is better) Flashback Wolfenstein 3-D Doom

Dodge 'Em, Enduro, Star Raiders (with keypad controller and overlay if you can), Tascan, Buck Rogers, Atlantis, and for some sit back and relax game play...Othello and Trick Shot. Oh Video Pinball and Midnight Magic along with Mouse Trap and Jr. Pac-Man should fill the bill.

Well, you might have to sign up but DLH is giving away a few games. http://www.dlh.net/ They do have pop-ups but once you sign in, look in the top-right corner next to your sign-in name and you should see a link that says "Profile/Keys". Click on that, scroll down, and you should see games with buttons that say something like "Get Your Key". If it says it is out don't give up...keep refreshing and try again. Something about their site does that and you have to literally keep hammering away until it gives in. The keys will require Steam for activation. Enjoy!!