Customer Reviews

Atari Classics Evolved

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The idea for this game is fantastic. Take a bunch of classic arcade games we've all played a million times before and update them with newly improved, "evolved," graphics. And they rock! The graphics are great, the sound effects are sufficiently retro without sounding silly, and the games retained their same heart. Overall, a really fun PSP game.

Having said that, however, there are two distinct problems. First, if you have XBox Live Arcade, you'll recognize all these games as the same ports that have been trickling onto XBLA for the past year or so. This UMD is a much better deal, though, getting them all in one package instead of $5-$10 each through XBLA. However, the PSP controls are just a little too wonky for the games that require more precision, such as Missile Command or Battlezone, especially when you compare them to the X360 controls (which, granted, weren't that precise to begin with, but they are better).

Second, the game makes a big deal about containing over 50 Atari 2600 games available to be unlocked. However, instead of unlocking them a few at a time as you make incremental progress through the new-and-improved games, the developers decided to make them ALL unlockable once you achieve EVERY goal in EACH evolved game. So basically, the unlockable Atari 2600 games are an all-or-nothing deal. Stuck on the last achievement? Tough! You'll NEVER play ANY of the 2600 games until you get that last achievement. And that makes getting any of the achievements that much less of an accomplishment than it should be.

If the unlockable games had NOT been included in this package, it would be a sweet deal all on its own. If you want to play these classic games, get this UMD. Just be prepared to be playing ONLY these 12 games until you unlock all 48 achievements.

I bought this game to play the 2600 classics. That's really the only reason I bought it. I think their reskins of the classics are bad. To make matters worse, they make you play them in ridiculous amounts to unlock the 2600 classic games, which is probably why everyone is buying this to begin with. I had to go through the dicey process of downloading the one and only save game where someone had gone through the nightmare of unlocking the 2600 games. So if you buy this, go to GameFaqs and download the save game where someone did all the tedious work for you.

I have the Atari collection for the Nintendo DS and boy, was that a disappointment. I wish I could have gotten my money back. This on the other hand is so much better (and cheaper) that I was not expecting it to be this good. The 11 games come in two versions, classic and Modern (evolved). The controls take getting used to since games like Millipede and Centipede had a control ball, this you have to use joystick or direction buttons. There is also unlockable versions of Atari 2600 games too, over 50 according to the box but I haven't gotten there yet. Highly recommended games. Remember back in the 80s when these were top? An arcade game cost a few thousand and you get all these for $20 with better graphics (but not better controls).

Its great seeing the classic games having cooler graphics. Would be nice to see more games done that way especially Gauntlet I and II. But for now, its a nice start to see it happening and done much better than "Retro Atari Classics" for the DS. This package for the PSP includes evolved graphics:
1. Centipede
2. Millipede
3. Pong
4. Missile Command
5. Super Breakout
6. Pong
7. Asteroids
8. Asteroids Deluxe
9. Warlords
10 Lunar Lander
11 Battle Zone
12 Atari 2600 Games [need to unlock]

Who wouldn't want these games in their back pocket to play at any given moment, right? And at that price, it's got to be a steal!

Hold on to those nine bucks, friends: this game has two distinct problems, one in every version and one specific to the PSP.

The general problem is that while the game touts Atari 2600 games at your beck and call, you have to unlock them by playing the marquee games. And not incrementally, but en toto. You have to clear ALL of the roadblocks for ALL of the games or you don't get any 2600 games at all. So even if you NEVER liked, say, "Warlords", you have to jump its hurdles to get any 2600 games to unlock.

The PSP specific problem is that some of these games are cocktail table style, which means you have to turn the PSP on its end to play some of the games. Ever tried playing something on its end that's not designed to play on its end? It's excrutiating!

A better buy on a console platform all the way. On PSP? Skip it. As much I want more PSP games, this one is too little of a good thing.

I think this game is most enjoyed by people who appreciate classic Atari games. You get 11 games to start and have to unlock 50 more. The evolved versions play exactly the same way but with beefed up graphics. There are 2 drawbacks to this game: 1. The play control for roller ball/paddle games is sub-par with the psp controls.(pong, centipede, etc) 2. Its entirely too difficult to unlock all 50 games. They should have made it where you gradually unlock the games. Other than that, its a fun game and I recommend it for the price.

Back in the early 80's, I was a proud owner of many Atari games. My parents would buy me and my brother the latest games, kids from school would come over to check it out and had a relative who worked at Atari and gave us these chip like device that would play on an adapter for our 2600.

I remember playing hours and hours to reach a million and them flip the game (the term used back then to reach a million points and the game's top score would start over at 0) for Asteroid and Defender.

I remember the days of trying to find the first Easter Egg for "Adventure", play "Warlords", "Tempest", "Galaga", "Frogger", "Breakout" and so many Atari games including stinkers such as "Superman" and "E.T.".

So, when I saw this collection on the aisle, I was really trying to decide if I wanted to shell out $20 for a collection of Atari 2600 games. But with all these new games coming out for the next gen consoles and the portable devices, I figured, I'd wait. And sure enough, there was a sale for this collection and the price was quite low for a new game that I couldn't resist.

Upon starting the game, you are greeted with the main 11 games: Asteroids, Asteroids Deluxe, Battlezone, Centipede, Lunar Lander, Millipede, Missle Command, Pong, Super Breakout, Tempest and Warlords.

The first game I wanted to play was "Battlezone" and fortunately, it's based on the arcade version, not the sucky Atari 2600 version. It's the first time in so many years since I played that game and even wasted so many quarters on the game. It was the first "Virtual Reality" game with it's green lined graphics but at the time, it was so cool at that time. So, I switched it to the evolved version and the biggest difference is that things are shaded, more colors, some 3D but nothing super drastic in terms of an update of graphics. But the concept is still the same and fun. These are fun games you can get into such as on a long commute and it's not hard to learn how to play the game(s).

But then I started playing the other ten games and I was thinking, do I really want to play all these games for scores? Knowing there is no CG video, no major storylines. They are straight up games to play for points.

Of course, the incentive of doing well in the game is the better you do, you get awards and when you accomplish those awards, you open up the original Atari 2600 games. Obtain all awards and you open up a total of 58 Atari 2600 games.

Personally, I have no time to sit around and play a game for points like I did when I was a child. So, I ended up downloading the save from GameFaqs.com to open up all unlockable games.

And some games controls worked but I swear some were janky and some really didn't respond well to the PSP's nub stick.

Games like "Adventure" or "Haunted House" worked well with the nub-stick but games like "Home Run", using the buttons not the directional pad or nub-stick (even though you're supposed to be allowed to do) to control my characters really sucked. So, I had some control issues with some of the unlockable Atari games but even the main games such as pong, I just found it difficult to use the PSP's controls and I was easily getting frustrated.

Because of that, I can't see too many people beating the main games to complete the awards to unlock all the Atari 2600 games. Some of the games are not as easy to play on the PSP as I would of hoped.

A lot of games that I enjoyed back then are not on this collection. Some are understandable like Pac Man is a Namco game, Pitfall is an Activision Game and Defender is a Williams game. But I recall doing some Olympic sporting style events on the Atari 2600. But I suppose they may have been 3rd party games.

This collection is pretty much self-explanatory. Do you crave for old school Atari 2600 games? Do you crave of the days of sitting for hours trying to get the highest score on a game? Are you that patient? And do you care to even play some Atari 2600 oldies at this time?

I think those who are nostalgic for those old school years of playing the Atari 2600 will get into it, for me, I was into it but at the same time, either I was lazy or just too busy to want to play these games for scores and for long consecutive hours. It worked in my younger years but not now. I seem to have lost the patience.

But still, for the price you can find this game online these days, and the fact that you get the big hits in their original and evolved designs are very cool. And the fact that you can unlock over 50 games after you accomplish the awards for the main games is a nice touch.

So, a low price for over 70 Atari 2600 games is pretty cool! But it all depends if you care for Atari 2600 old school games or not.

I was excited to get this game. I loved playing these games at the pizza parlor or bus station many years ago. But, what I found out is while the games are the same the feel isn't. For example, Centipede, Millipede, Breakout and Tempest are all great games but to play them on my PSP you have to turn the PSP 90 degrees and play from one end. From a screen standpoint it makes sense to use the longest part of the PSP screen to mimic the original games. But, what I found is that it's very difficult to play fast games like this from one end of the PSP; the controls are too cumbersome and it's difficult to balance the weight of the PSP. Lunar Lander, Battlezone and Asteroids are still fun.

I picked this title up for one reason only Atari 2600 games! It says they are in there on the box and in the instruction manual yet I have yet to see them. Why? because they are locked and nigh impossible to unlock due to the need to complete specific tasks in the "evolved" versions of the arcade games to earn 44 awards then and only then will you get to the good stuff.
This is completely unacceptable it is not enjoyable, challenging or fun, the need to unlock vast portions of your game needs to end now. I paid for the game therefore I should have access to all features of said game.
For example how would you like to purchase a new car and not be able to use the power windows,power seats,and air conditioning because those features are "locked" until you drive the car a certain way to unlock them that sounds rather stupid and unreasonable doesn't it? so why do it with games? Bottom line lose the locked garbage and you'll have great game in your hands.

For twenty bucks, this PSP title is actually pretty good, especially for the nostaglia value. Most of these games were "state of the art" back a quarter century ago. I remember them well. My favs from the early 80s were BattleZone, Missile Command, and Lunar Lander.

These games are still FUN to play today, in a casual gameplay setting, and you don't even need to read an instruction manual to learn them if never played before.

The "evolved" games are much improved graphically over the originals, and find myself playing them at the exclusion of older editions. However, the PSP and its little joystick "nub" are no match for the likes of a $10,000 arcade game machine of the past, with their optional trackballs, and industrial strength joysticks, but game play is still faithful to the originals. Not to mention, this PSP title has 11 fully playable games in one.

Another purchasing consideration, other than merely the low price, is that this UMD would be great for young children to introduce them to gaming, or to play on a long trip, or waiting to eat in a restaurant, with plenty of entertainment value. Plus, these classic games are harmless, with no mindless violence and X-rated themes.

The only downside other than the less than sterling controller aspects of the PSP while actually playing these games, is the overly challenging aspect to "unlocking" the so-call bonus Atari 2600 games included. That will take many, many hours to accomplish, and most casual (adult) gamers don't have the time or patience to play such games over and over for hours on end. Atari, should have made the bonus games available without any need for "unlocking" them, or at least made it easier to do so.

All things considered, Atari Classics Evolved is deserving of FOUR stars and certainly a worthwhile addition to my PSP collection of games.