15 replies to this topic

[tz101]

Ok, what were your favorite arcade machines released by Atari?

My top 5:

1. I, Robot
2. Crystal Castles
3. Battlezone
4. Centipede
5. Gauntlet

[Cebus Capucinis]

Roadblasters!

[Inky]

1) Tempest / I, Robot
2) Crystal Castles
3) Blasteroids
4) Asteroids Deluxe
5) Black Widow
6) Missile Command
7) Liberator
8 ) Star Wars
9) Firefox
10) Food Fight

[Bountybob]

Asteroids
Asteroids Deluxe
Battlezone
Missile Command
Black Widow
Pole Position 2
Marble Madness
Tempest
Centipede
Paper Boy
Firefox

Edited by Bountybob, Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:03 AM.

[retrorussell]

Marble Madness
Star Wars
Tempest
Crystal Castles
Asteroids
Centipede
Klax
Missile Command
Gauntlet
Food Fight
Major Havoc
Battlezone
Video Pinball

[Bountybob]

Dammit I forgot about Stun Runner That was incredible

Edited by Bountybob, Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:07 AM.

[rmaerz]

Atari was never really my favorite arcade manufacturer. I'm not saying I didn't like them, but I really enjoyed what the folks at Exidy were putting out.

But, here it is in this order:

1. Asteroids
In my opinion, this is the perfect space game. As I said in the "Favorite Vector" thread, the vector graphics really capture the feel of a cold and distant outer space. The sound effects are impeccable. It's popularity maintained the momentum set by Space Invaders the year prior (of its release) whereas Pac-Man carried that torch the year after.

2. Pong
Yes, two rectangles and a square made #2 on my list. It is historically significant and it was the very first arcade game I ever played. Along with Computer Space and Sea Wolf, I would love to have this in my arcade cabinet collection.

3. Millipede
Centipede was a great game - no question. But, Millipede takes this to the next level. There is so much going on in this game that keeps the pace at a fever pitch. I play this a lot when I'm stressed out.

4. Missile Command
Trackballs weren't new but just about any game that had one was a success. This was just good and original game play here.

5. Tempest
I play this more now than when it was in the arcade back in the day. But, fantastic vector graphics, controls and an original concept give this a high ranking.

6. Breakout
Like Pong, Breakout is nostalgic. I played this in the bowling alley a lot and it was up there with some of the first arcade games I've played. I always liked the marquee on this cabinet, strangely enough and I played the crap out of the Atari 2600 version.

7. Tank
Yet another one of the first games I have played. A fun game in its day even with the simple game play.

Edited by rmaerz, Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:50 PM.

[DaveD]

So many good ones, I don't know if I could ever come up with a comprehensive list. I'd wager most of the top ones would be vector games.

Kind of surprising to see so much love for Firefox. It was a cool game even if it was mostly eye candy.

One I will add to the list that I don't see mentioned yet: Peter Pack Rat. From the opening bars of the music to the good graphics to the overall cool vibe the game has.

Edited by DaveD, Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:27 PM.

[Dr Galaga]

I used to think that Midway was my favorite game producer, until I really thought about the great games that Atari produced.
My favorites (in alphabetical order)
Asteroids
Battlezone
Blasteroids
Centipede
Fire Truck
Gauntlet
Kangaroo
Millipede
Missile Command
Night Driver
Sprint 4
Tempest

[roadrunner]

Asteroids
Asteroids Deluxe
Battlezone
Black Widow
Centipede
Cloak & Dagger
Crystal Castles
Dominos
Food Fight
Gauntlet
Klax
Millipede
Missile Command
Primal Rage
Rampart
Road Blasters
Road Runner
Space Duel
S.T.U.N. Runner
Tempest
Warlords

[sdamon]

Star Wars
Missile Command
Asteroids
Battlezone
RoadBlasters

[tz101]

OK. I see a lot of mention of Battlezone and Tempest, but not much for I, Robot. Where's the love? Have many of you ever even tried this game, maybe even seen an arcade machine? This game was fun, challenging and had polygonal sprites down years before classics like Virtua Fighter and Virtua Racing even made it to the home consoles. I, Robot was truly one of a kind.

[roadrunner]

I played I, Robot for the first time yesterday. I'm still getting used to it.
I haven't cracked 10,000 points yet.

[Bountybob]

tz101, on Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:08 PM, said:

OK. I see a lot of mention of Battlezone and Tempest, but not much for I, Robot. Where's the love? Have many of you ever even tried this game, maybe even seen an arcade machine? This game was fun, challenging and had polygonal sprites down years before classics like Virtua Fighter and Virtua Racing even made it to the home consoles. I, Robot was truly one of a kind.

I came aross it once in Ireland.It was an unsual game and apparently rare.The gameplay was kind of like Crystal Castles.
The Cabinet was like Atari Return Of The Jedi.I wouldn't say it was one of my Atari favourite games.It had another game built
in Doodle City.

[tz101]

For those who cannot find an arcade machine of I,Robot close to home, the MAME version for PC is quite good. There has never been another game released quite like this classic. In fact, it doesn't even fit into a standard gaming genre like space shooter, fighter, maze cruncher, etc. It is its own genre.

[Bountybob]

tz101, on Fri Nov 20, 2009 9:36 AM, said:

For those who cannot find an arcade machine of I,Robot close to home, the MAME version for PC is quite good. There has never been another game released quite like this classic. In fact, it doesn't even fit into a standard gaming genre like space shooter, fighter, maze cruncher, etc. It is its own genre.

Just had a few games on MAME It's better than I remember sort of a cross between Tempest and Crystal Castles.Quite an advanced game
for it's time.Maybe it's sophistication put a lot of people off.To get good at this game required lateral thinking but then so did
Tempest also.Changing the camera viewpoint with the start buttons would have been an added overhead also that arcade gamers maybe
wouldn't have catched on to.Maybe I Robot would have been better suited for the Home Computer.It wasn't a very successfull arcade
game but then Atari only ran a low production run of I Robot It was after all the era of the Great Video Game Crash.Maybe it's release
was badly timed.The technology wasn't wasted though Atari would take the Polygon system to a higher level still with Hard Drivin and S.T.U.N
Runner.