Phoenix (Atari 2600)

by Atari

Product Features

• Catalog no. CX2673
• For use with the Atari 2600 Video Game Console
• One Player
• Joystick Controllers
• Silver Box Version

Product Details

• ASIN: B000BTA85M
• Item Weight: 8 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,062 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

You have five lives in which to survive the bombing attacks of four separate flocks of Phoenix war birds who protect the alien spaceship. Your challenge is to eliminate the birds, get to the spaceship that follows the fourth wave of birds, and shoot the alien pilot. To eliminate the large, menacing Phoenixes of the third and fourth waves, you have to hit them in the center. If you only wing a Phoenix, like its ancient ancestor, it will soon regenerate the missing part and become a whole bird to attack you some more. To destroy the alien pilot, you have to erode the multi-colored hull of the spaceship directly beneath the cockpit to create a clear shot at him. But one of the hull layers - the blue layer - rotates the length of the spaceship. So, you not only have to chip away at the blue layer, but you also have to time your shot at the alien to coincide with the hole passing directly under him.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A happy surprise from a little known title, May 13, 2010

By 

JamMasterN (Revere, MA United States) - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Phoenix (Atari 2600) (Video Game)

Given the glut of Space Invaders-style shooters made during the early 80s, I was happy to find that Phoenix differs from the pack, and is quite fun to play, too. There are lots of interesting details that make it stand out, like the personal force field you can activate to protect your ship from enemy laser attacks, which is very useful, though it requires time to recharge after use. The large bird-like enemies you encounter after the second wave are interesting, too, both for their quick, erratic movement pattern, and for their ability to regenerate their wings if you clip both of them. Only a dead center hit will destroy them completely. Finally, Phoenix has a giant UFO, whose hull must be chipped away before you can attack the pilot inside it. From what I have read online, this is likely the first boss enemy in a space shooter game, and it is well rendered on the 2600. Overall, the game has solid graphics, though the black background is somewhat bland, and the sound effects are sharp and enjoyable. This is a great Atari game, and I recommend it throughly.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GAME TO BE USED LIKE ARCADE, September 28, 2010

By 

Olosnah Crafts (Lorain, OH) - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Phoenix (Atari 2600) (Video Game)

I really enjoy this on the Atari VCS 2600. I generally play this game first then move onto a different one. This is an arcade port, which means it gets much too hard to keep going to a finale, and its how high your points go. Sadly it does not save your game. This game is comparable to Space invaders (without the sheilds) and Imagics Demon Attack. Phoenix does have better graphics and sounds and I just really enjoy playing it. One downfall is that when you activate your shield, you are unable to move...which can lead to your death when it wears off.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great old school shooter from atari, December 11, 2011

By 

N. Richko "tarkin" (the death star) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Phoenix (Atari 2600) (Video Game)

Phoenix for the atari 2600..is one of those games from back in the day that is highly addicting . even in 2011, i still play it from time to time...the premise is simple you have to shoot the waves of enemy aliens.

there was another game much like this..Demon attack by imagic i remember reading that there were some legal issues because they are so alike .. I prefer demon attack myself just because the graphics are a little better(for atari 2600 standards anyway)

still, Phoenix by atari is a great entry to any classic gamers collection..