Chris-in-NJ Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 Could you guys give me some suggestions for the best games that were made only for the 5200, and/or games that are better on the 5200 than the 7800? I really want to build up my collection, which right now consists of, in no particular order: Galaxian Countermeasure (can't figure this one out...) Super Breakout Missile Command Defender Kangaroo Millipede Centipede Star Raiders Pac-Man Jr. Pac-Man Joust Q*Bert Popeye Frogger (non functional) River Raid (non functional) I've got a 7800 but no power source (it was modified to use a non-standard adapter) but I hope to get it running again one day... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 Space Dungeon. Only home port ever of one of the most overlooked arcade games of all time. Qix isn't REALLY exclusive, having appeared on the Atari comps as well as the NES and GameBoy, but the 5200 implementation is one of the better ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sku_u Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 There are only a small handful of true 5200 exclusives, but here's a list of 5200 essentials that you haven't mentioned: Frogger II: Threeedeep Bounty Bob Strikes Back Miner 2049er Robotron 2084 Pengo Xari Arena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy California Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 Space Dungeon. Only home port ever of one of the most overlooked arcade games of all time. Qix isn't REALLY exclusive, having appeared on the Atari comps as well as the NES and GameBoy, but the 5200 implementation is one of the better ones. Space Dungeon and the 5200 version of Qix have been converted to the A8, though not officially. ++ RC ++ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobra Kai Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 Definitely get Super Pac-Man and Space Dungeon. I'm highly biased in favor of the 5200, so I'm going to say to not worry about what titles to get, just get anything you can, chances are the game will be good no matter what it is. There are very few stinkers on the 5200. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris-in-NJ Posted December 30, 2003 Author Share Posted December 30, 2003 Thanks for the replies. I was looking into Pengo, Berzerk and Gyruss. Since the only controllers I've got are a Trak-ball and various 2600 and 7800 joysticks with only one Redemption adapter, Space Dungeon and Robotron (which anyway is also available for the 7800) are out unfortunately. I've also got Qix and Dig Dug which I forgot to list above. You know, I've never heard of Xari Arena, about to check it out in the rarity guide... Isn't Bounty Bob the one someone on eBay is asking $400 for right now? The $64,000 question again: has anyone tried playing Gyruss with the Redemption yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 Space Dungeon. Only home port ever of one of the most overlooked arcade games of all time. Qix isn't REALLY exclusive, having appeared on the Atari comps as well as the NES and GameBoy, but the 5200 implementation is one of the better ones. Space Dungeon and the 5200 version of Qix have been converted to the A8, though not officially. ++ RC ++ And the computer conversion of the 5200 version of Qix suffers the EXACT same problem as the native computer version. There's only one fire button on the joystick, and there is no adequate solution to that. ... Though using the keyboard for the second button would be a MUCH better solution than always having one draw button down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goochman Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 Space Dungeon requires 2 working 5200 sticks to play and without the 'controller holder' is not that fun - The Atari 8bit conversion with 1 joystick is more fun IMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 Space Dungeon requires 2 working 5200 sticks to play Half-true.Problems with the actual STICK are far less common than the buttons. And the stick is all you need. ... Well, that and one start button. and without the 'controller holder' is not that fun True. It's still fun, but not AS fun. - The Atari 8bit conversion with 1 joystick is more fun IMHO Eww. Just... eww. Qix with one button, Space Dungeon with one stick... what is WRONG with you people?!?!?!?! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NovaXpress Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 I wish I could play Pac-Man with TWO joysticks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetset Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 Thanks for the replies. I was looking into Pengo, Berzerk and Gyruss. Since the only controllers I've got are a Trak-ball and various 2600 and 7800 joysticks with only one Redemption adapter, Space Dungeon and Robotron (which anyway is also available for the 7800) are out unfortunately. I've also got Qix and Dig Dug which I forgot to list above. You know, I've never heard of Xari Arena, about to check it out in the rarity guide... Isn't Bounty Bob the one someone on eBay is asking $400 for right now? The $64,000 question again: has anyone tried playing Gyruss with the Redemption yet? Pengo, Berzerk and Gyruss are great on the 5200 (although none of them are "exclusive" to the 5200...all three are avail. on the 2600 though not as good.) Actually, I have a masterplay that lets me use 2600 sticks but those three games are actually very playable with the 5200's controllers. Xari Arena is a pretty neat game, but nothing special imho. And sorry...but I have to say $400 is WAY too much for Bounty Bob. I paid $130 for mine, and that was probably too much. It is a good game though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 Pengo, Berzerk and Gyruss are great on the 5200 (although none of them are "exclusive" to the 5200...all three are avail. on the 2600 though not as good.) Actually, I have a masterplay that lets me use 2600 sticks but those three games are actually very playable with the 5200's controllers. Berzerk is also available on the Vectrex. It suffers from slowdown and flicker if many robots or bullets are onscreen, but it's still fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechanized Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 If you haven't yet, be sure to check the store at AtariAge and look at some of their reproduction carts. Also, though they're not terribly exclusive and are just missing from your list, I'd recommend Vanguard, Pole Position (fairly playable with Trak-Ball), and Moon Patrol. The Moon Patrol game in particular seems exactly like the arcade version I used to play as a kid at a skating rink. (It is a "rink" isn't it?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxpressed Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 (edited) Thought I'd revive this thread. I'm interested in games that were released for the 5200 only and did not appear on the 2600, 7800, or 8-bits. Unless, I'm misreading this thread, all of the games mentioned appear on at least two platforms. Edited August 8, 2011 by boxpressed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonic R Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Thought I'd revive this thread. I'm interested in games that were released for the 5200 only and did not appear on the 2600, 7800, or 8-bits. Unless, I'm misreading this thread, all of the games mentioned appear on at least two platforms. I'm not familiar with the Atari computer release of games, but a few titles that I can think of that are exclusive to the 5200: Space Dungeon Countermeasure Zone Ranger? Is it possible to count Meteorites? even though its a clone of Asteroids… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariBrian Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 yeah i see what you mean, i cant think of any unless it is a homebrew. miner 2049er was great on this system but has been on coleco and a few others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LynxVGL Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 Two more superior 5200 Only (ish). Ballblazer (though it did appear on the 7800 and (shudder) the NES). Rescue on Fractalus. (8 Bit Atari Computers as well). You won't be sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydro Thunder Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 A few superiors that haven't been mentioned (which isn't really the topic, but hey whatever): Galaxian (arguable, though I particularly like it with Track-Ball) Defender Buck Rogers Zaxxon Popeye Mario Bros. Wizard of Wor Exclusive, at least amongst Atari consoles: The Dreadnaught Factor Qix Gremlins (there's a 2600 game but it's different) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DamonicFury Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 (edited) There's really no such thing as a true 5200 exclusive, as the games can all be ported to the Atari 8-bit computers, and most of them have been. The homebrew Adventure 2 hasn't been ported yet, but I believe Cafeman is still working on it. However, I believe the following three games are at least exclusive to the 5200 as far being available on vintage cartridges: Countermeasure Space Dungeon (originally a Taito arcade game, but I'm pretty sure the 5200 port was the only one available during the vintage era.) Gremlins (as mentioned before, totally different from the 2600 version) And I think the below ports were not released as 8-bit carts (although versions of the games are available for other systems): Kangaroo Berzerk Vanguard Meteorites (Possibly the sports titles as well? Realsports Baseball Realsports Football Realsports Soccer Realsports Tennis) Some ports that were released for the 8-bit computers were revamped or reprogrammed for the 5200: Qix (totally different port) Dig Dug (some 8-bit carts have the 5200 version, others have a very different version) Pac-Man (similar port, but intermissions were added and the difficulty was increased) Centipede (totally different port) And finally, a few 5200 games are the same as their 8-bit counterparts, other than added analog controls: Star Raiders Gorf Star Wars: The Arcade Game Gyruss Missile Command Centipede (possibly a few others) Edited August 18, 2011 by sdamon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ledzep Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 ... And finally, a few 5200 games are the same as their 8-bit counterparts, other than added analog controls: Star Raiders Gorf Star Wars: The Arcade Game Gyruss Missile Command Centipede (possibly a few others) I would add to that, at least in terms of the controls, Activision's Space Shuttle game. While there is a 2600 version the keypad for the 5200 separates it from the 2600 version about as much as the 5200 and Atari 400/800 version of Star Raiders differ. And you can amuse yourself trying to find the original boxed version vs. the relabelled 2600 box version but make sure you get a complete one, without the manual and overlay it's probably unplayable, at least until you get good at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianC Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 (edited) And I think the below ports were not released as 8-bit carts (although versions of the games are available for other systems): Kangaroo Berzerk Vanguard Meteorites Kangaroo was released on disk for A800 (a proto exists of a non XL/XE cart, as well). Berzerk wasn't officially released on A800, but the proto is available and complete. (Possibly the sports titles as well? Realsports Baseball Realsports Football Realsports Soccer Realsports Tennis) The 5200 Baseball isn't on A800, but Tennis and Football are. RS Baseball is definitely worth it on the 5200. Superior to both the 7800 and 2600 versions and even has voice samples. A few superiors that haven't been mentioned (which isn't really the topic, but hey whatever): Galaxian (arguable, though I particularly like it with Track-Ball) Defender Buck Rogers Zaxxon Popeye Mario Bros. Wizard of Wor All of these are on A800. These are mostly the same on A800, but its versions of Zaxxon (disk, cart and tape are the same as 5200) and Mario Bros. are superior. Exclusive, at least amongst Atari consoles: The Dreadnaught Factor Dreadnaught Factor is on A800, as well. Two more superior 5200 Only (ish). Ballblazer (though it did appear on the 7800 and (shudder) the NES). Ballblazer is also on A800. Not sure about it being superior than 7800, though. 7800 has the A800 quality sound with the pokey chip and seems to have the gameplay intact, as well as running smooth. A800/5200 looks like a very nice version and has a longer intro than 7800, though. Edited August 20, 2011 by BrianC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie_ Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 The A8 is not a console. Even though some of these games were out or even made on the A8 1st and then ported to the 5200, they may not be available on any other console. The A8 is great and easy to use, and yes it has carts and can be used like a console, but it is not. A nice A8 setup has a desk, monitor, disk drive(s), SIO2PC, and whatever else... if it doesn't at 1st it will grow into that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mitch Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 The A8 is not a console. Even though some of these games were out or even made on the A8 1st and then ported to the 5200, they may not be available on any other console. The A8 is great and easy to use, and yes it has carts and can be used like a console, but it is not. A nice A8 setup has a desk, monitor, disk drive(s), SIO2PC, and whatever else... if it doesn't at 1st it will grow into that! XEGS is a console... Mitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydro Thunder Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 The A8 is not a console. Even though some of these games were out or even made on the A8 1st and then ported to the 5200, they may not be available on any other console. The A8 is great and easy to use, and yes it has carts and can be used like a console, but it is not. A nice A8 setup has a desk, monitor, disk drive(s), SIO2PC, and whatever else... if it doesn't at 1st it will grow into that! I was excluding the A8 when I had previously said "amongst consoles". I'm with Official Ninja on this one, though I'm sure people could get into an argument about what constitutes a console vs a computer that has console elements. Not much point to that IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Dangerous Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Great thread. Very helpful for a 5200 newb. My question would be what's also on the 7800 that's better on the 5200? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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