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Atari 2600

Xevious on the Atari 2600

written by retrogamer71

Xevious was originally released as an arcade game by Namco in 1982 and became one of the most influential shoot-’em-up games of its time. When the Atari 2600 port arrived, it brought the excitement of the arcade into the home, albeit with significant graphical and gameplay compromises to fit the console’s limitations. Despite this, the Atari 2600 version retained the core mechanics that made Xevious stand out, including the dual-weapon system—allowing players to shoot airborne enemies while simultaneously bombing ground targets.

The Atari 2600’s hardware posed a challenge in replicating the graphical detail and smooth scrolling of the arcade version. Nevertheless, developers managed to capture the essence of the game through simplified sprites and straightforward level design. The gameplay remained engaging, with the signature vertical scrolling and constant enemy assaults, providing a faithful (if scaled-down) adaptation of the original experience. The floating Solvalou craft and its distinctive enemies were recreated in basic form, offering fans a nostalgic glimpse into the classic game.

Though Xevious on the Atari 2600 couldn’t match the arcade’s visual splendor, it served as a crucial entry point for many gamers to experience the shooter genre at home. The adaptation demonstrated the console’s flexibility and highlighted the growing demand for arcade ports in home entertainment. Xevious remains a beloved title, remembered for its innovative mechanics and contribution to the evolution of vertical-scrolling shooters.

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Atari 2600Shoot Em Up

River Raid on Atari 2600

written by retrogamer71

You view this from a top-down perspective, the player flies a fighter jet over the River of No Return in a raid behind enemy lines.

The player’s jet can only move left and right, it cannot move up and down the screen but it can accelerate and decelerate. The player’s jet will crash if it collides with the riverbank or an enemy craft, or if the jet runs out of fuel.

If you can keep your fuel replenished, and if the player evades damage, gameplay is essentially unlimited.

The player scores points as follows

enemy tankers (30 points)
helicopters (60 points)
fuel depots (80 points)
jets (100 points)
bridges (500 points).

The jet refuels when it flies over a fuel depot. A bridge marks the end of a game level.

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Some gameplay

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Atari 2600Racing

Enduro on Atari 2600

written by retrogamer71

Endurois a racing game where you compete in the National Enduro. The object of the game is to pass a certain number of cars each day. Doing so will allow the player to continue racing for the next day.

The driver must avoid other drivers and pass 200 cars on the first day, and 300 cars with each following day.

As the time in the game passes, visibility changes as well. When it is night in the game the player can only see the oncoming cars’ taillights. As the days progress, cars will become more difficult to avoid as well. Weather and time of day are factors in how to play. During the day the player may drive through an icy patch on the road which would limit control of the vehicle, or a patch of fog may reduce visibility.

If a player succeeds in racing five days or more, an on-screen trophy is displayed.

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Some gameplay

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Atari 2600Sports

Boxing on Atari 2600

written by retrogamer71

Boxing shows a top-down view of two boxers, one is colored white and the other is black.

When close enough, a boxer can hit his opponent with a punch which is executed by pressing the fire button on the joystick.

This causes his opponent to reel back slightly. Long punches score one point, while closer punches score two points. There are no knockdowns or rounds in this game.

A match is completed either when one player lands 100 punches or two minutes have elapsed. In the case of a decision, the player with the most landed punches is the winner. Ties are possible.

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Some gameplay

 

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Atari 2600Racing

Grand Prix on Atari 2600

written by retrogamer71

The player drives a Formula One car in a time trial on one of four race tracks, each of these tracks has a different difficulty level. Difficulty is gauged by the length of the course, the number of cars and oil slicks on the track, and the number of bridges to cross.

The player views the race from a top-down perspective, and the screen scrolls from right to left.

The joystick’s button is the throttle: Depressing it accelerates, and releasing it decelerates.
Pressing the joystick leftward applies the brake.

Grand Prix is a time trial, and the competing cars are obstacles rather than competition for the finish line. The player’s car can outpace the other cars, but if it collides with one, its speed drops lower than that of the impacted car.

Driving over an oil slick causes the player’s car to skid slightly sideways, but does not slow it down.

Once every mile, the player crosses a bridge over blue water. Colliding with a wall of the bridge will stop the car, and the player must gain speed again.

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Some gameplay

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Atari 2600Shoot Em Up

Planet Patrol on Atari 2600

written by retrogamer71

Your ship automatically flies left, while you control the up and down motion.

At first, you must shoot the larger, red ships but avoid the smaller, blue missiles. Do not shoot the black ship, you need to dock with it so you can land and refuel later.

When you reach the three enemy fuel depots, shoot each one to destroy it then make your way through a mine field to continue. If you come to the landing strip, align your ship with and a truck refuel you.

In the dark you cannot see the enemy ships. You can fire shots which create light.

An interesting shoot em up – especially when the screen would darken and the baddies would disappear

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Sample gameplay

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Atari 2600Shoot Em Up

Beamrider on Atari 2600

written by retrogamer71

An entertaining shoot em up on the Atari 2600 – still actually plays a good game

Beamrider takes place above Earth’s atmosphere, where a large alien shield called the Restrictor Shield surrounds the Earth. The player’s objective is to clear the Shield’s 99 sectors of alien craft while piloting the Beamrider ship. The Beamrider is equipped with a short-range laser lariat and a limited supply of torpedoes. The player is given three at the start of each sector.

To clear a sector, fifteen enemy ships must be destroyed. A “Sentinel ship” will then appear, which can be destroyed using a torpedo for bonus points. Some enemy ships can only be destroyed with torpedoes, and some must simply be dodged. Occasionally during a sector, “Yellow Rejuvenators” (extra lives) appear. They can be picked up for an extra ship, but if they are shot they will transform into ship-damaging debris.

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Gameplay

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