Atari Flashback Game System

by Atari

Product Features

• Retro-style video game console
• 20 classic Atari games in 1 package
• Easy plug-and-play
• Comes with 2 joysticks and A/V cable

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00063QDNY
• Product Dimensions: 2.3 x 10 x 12.1 inches ; 2.1 pounds
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: June 15, 2006
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,754 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Retro-style game console with two Atari 7800-inspired joysticks and 20 classic Atari games built right in.

Relive the Atari Revolution. With the plug-and-play Atari Flashback Classic Game Console, you can play 20 of the most popular video games of the '80s - groundbreaking back then, addictive as ever right now.

Bounce off the walls in Breakout. Shoot through the chaos of Centipede. Hit hyperspace at just the right time in Asteroids.

Includes: One Atari Flashback Classic Game Console with 20 games, two joystick controllers, one power supply, one A/V cable (mono audio/composite video).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

97 of 101 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Gives old games a bad name., November 23, 2004

By 

Jon Folkers (Silver Spring, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:2.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Atari Flashback Game System (Video Game)

The hardware is nice, but the software screams "rush job." Like the JAKKS all-in-one units, the Flashback uses a different hardware platform than the original chipset these Atari games were designed to run on. As a result, we get copies of copies of old arcade games, with a lot lost in the translation. Collision detection is off, sounds are missing, and the game set isn't as good as the games from over twenty years ago that it pretends to collect. For the price, you'd be better served by finding a flea-market Atari or settling for the Jakks Atari joystick or paddles.

UPDATE: Atari is making a completely new version of the Flashback console, using updated Atari 2600 VCS hardware, joysticks with the original "classic" feel, and 40 games built in. The console will include 3D Tic-Tac-Toe, Adventure, Adventure II, Aquaventure, Arcade Asteroids, Arcade Pong, Asteroids Deluxe, Atari Climber, Battlezone, Caverns Of Mars, Centipede, Combat, Combat 2, Dodge'm, Fatal Run, Frog Pond, Hangman, Haunted House, Human Cannonball, Lunar Lander, Maze Craze, Millipede, Missile Command, Off the Wall, Outlaw, Pitfall, Quadrun, Radar Lock, Return To Haunted House, River Raid, Saboteur, Save Mary, Secret Quest, Space Duel, Space War, Video Checkers, Video Chess, Wizard, Yars' Return, Yars' Revenge ... and some secret hidden "easter eggs." All indications point to this being THE plug-and-play system to own. It's supposed to be available by late July 2005. Search for Amazon #B00093DHIK to order one.

Skip the original Flashback in this listing unless you simply have to have them all!

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Where is the Programmer's Room?, August 25, 2005

By 

Bob Barnacle (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

= Fun:2.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Atari Flashback Game System (Video Game)

Stay away and wait for the Flashback 2.0, which looks much better. They really messed this one up. The sounds and graphics look like someone did them from memory rather than first playing them on a real atari. Worst is ADVENTURE. This has always been a favorite of mine, and was sad to see that the programmer's room was screwed up in the Jakks emulation, but here, it seems to not exist at all! There is something peculiar and thin looking about the graphics throughout and the gameplay is not the same at all (just try moving diagonally). The dragons don't so much chase you as simply impale themselves on the sword, and the bat's AI is very strange. I'd be curious to hear if anyone was able to find the dot or access the programmer's room easter egg in this version. Some of the other games were decent, but the klunky joysticks ruin the enjoyment.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Extremely disappointed, January 7, 2005

By 

Jared West "Classic gamer" (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:2.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Atari Flashback Game System (Video Game)

Being an avid classic gamer, I had been excited to pick up one of these Atari Flashback units since I first heard about its development. Once I finally plugged it in and played the games... well, let's just say I'll be returning it to the store.

Apparently, this console was a rush-job, developed in only ten weeks, and it shows. Instead of running on the original hardware, these games are being emulated. This leads to all sorts of graphical glitches and gameplay problems. Desert Falcon has so much flicker that it's all but unplayable. I was unable to select different tracks/surfaces in Sprintmaster. The ship in Asteroids doesn't drift when you fire the thruster. There is no gravity in Gravitar. The list goes on...

In fairness, some of the games played flawlessly - Adventure comes to mind, and the previously unreleased Saboteur. The paddle games (Breakout, etc.) were faithfully represented, but I found them too hard to control with the joystick controller.

I am extremely disappointed because this console had so much promise. I sincerely hope that Atari can perfect the system and release a new version.