Pong: The Next Level

by Atari

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00001QHX0
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: October 26, 1999
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,729 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

GameSpot Review

In a world where no classic game is safe from being converted into a current-day remake, the game that started it all has finally had its number called. A whole new generation now has the opportunity to fall in love with the new Pong - the Pong of a new millennium - on the PlayStation console. But before you dust off your paddles and call all your friends over, you may want to ponder this - was Pong really all that fun, or was it just that there were no other video games? The basic concept of Pong hasn't changed - keep the ball from entering the goal by deflecting it with the paddle. But the latest edition of Pong at least keeps things slightly interesting by introducing several new game elements, many of which have their own levels. Sometimes you'll have sheep and penguins on the board with you; other times, huge fans will blow your ball to and fro, and you'll have to bounce a colored ball into its place. The new version of Pong also introduces a power-up system. You can introduce computer controlled blockers, perform super-shots, and even grab the ball itself (your paddle hugs around it). But still, the game is pretty much the same as it was 26 years ago. The graphics are simple and nice. There seems to be some weird theme running through the game that your paddle is alive, as it jumps around and acts generally pleased when you beat a level. Aside from that, the animation is fairly generic. The things that you run into while playing behave as they should - sheep hop about, penguins waddle, and frogs jump. There are some fairly creative level designs here, like the log-jammer level, which has logs that push the ball in certain directions, or the chicken-egg level, where a rack of chickens lay various colored eggs for you to sort. These are a nice touch and obviously more welcome than the simple black-and-white graphics of the original. While the music in the game is fairly good, the sound effects are really bothersome. While each level is loading, your paddle will giggle and make all other sorts of weird noises, which you'll likely find as disturbing as I did. Maybe it's just the pitch at which the paddle "speaks," but after one or two levels, I cringed every time I heard it. Unfortunately, the control really isn't up to par. The digital control is way too touchy, and the analog control seems to be too loose. There's nothing more frustrating than giving up a point simply because the control is so unresponsive. Also, the computer paddles are really good, especially in the games where there's a paddle directly in front of yours. This forces you to exploit weaknesses in the AI - such as bouncing a shot off the wall - and it makes you feel as if you're only winning because the computer is dumb. Another thing you'll notice is that the computer will line itself up directly in front of your paddle after a point is scored, but when it serves, it immediately shoots the ball out, without giving you a chance to maneuver in front of it. This will make you almost dread the four-paddle games, as they're fairly one-sided. Looking for a revolutionary, new, exciting game? Perhaps you should look elsewhere, because when it all boils down, this game is still Pong. Sure, there are new levels, and the game has been changed quite a bit, but you're still moving a stupid paddle up and down a playing field and hitting a ball. Few people are likely to get a thrill out of playing the original Pong anymore, and, unfortunately, the Pong of the new generation doesn't do much better.--Ben Stahl--Copyright © 1998 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting and Tense!, April 13, 2000

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Pong: The Next Level (Video Game)

Pong is a game that was made back, who knows when but this is the remade version. If you want a beginning game to play if you have just recently gotten Playstation, this is one of them. There are 20 exciting and wierd levels to play. If you ever get stuck, there are codes all over the web. I bought this game and immediately fell in love with it. I recommend it for anyone who knows the basic buttons of a Playstation controller. Thank you for reading this review.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Retro gaming Done Right, December 7, 1999

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Pong: The Next Level (Video Game)

This game could have been really cheesy and simplistic, but credit Hasbro with taking the totally familiar (and still fun!) gameplay, and creating a lavish world of bright graphics and sounds around it.

There are tons of different "environments," each with three levels of difficulty. Each pong environment has a unique feel (not to mention power-up and gameplay variations). I have invested hours into this game, and still am only around 2/3 through the challenges.

Addictive, intense, a heart-pounding two player game, and over 100 levels. The great Pong gameplay you remember, updated for 1999. I am a big retro gaming fanatic, and this is, without doubt, the most comprehensive and complete "classic arcade" update yet!

Other recommendations: Asteroids and Space Invaders are also worthy additions to any PSX gamer's library. The same core gameplay is there, but dressed up nicely, with tons of variety. But I digress... Pong is the king of retro-games!

See what all the fuss was about in the 70's and do yourself a favor: buy this game! Gamers of all ages will become addicted to this delightful classic. Plus, the price is right.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun is a simple thing!, December 6, 1999

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Pong: The Next Level (Video Game)

This is one of those games that you play at first, and seems a little boring, but then you find yourself playing it over and over and over! I got (and still get) frustrated with the difficulty of timing the paddle and the ball, but it's just a matter of getting used to the gameplay. PROS: A lot of fun alternations on Pong, not dumb ones like the original Atari (you know, where the only difference between Pong soccer and Pong football was a different screen layout...). You can play Pong carnival game, Pong soccer (where the ball can go into various holes on the field and reappear out any other hole), etc. You can also challenge up to 3 friends. Cons: I don't know why, but the game will only allow you to play Level 1 games in multiplayer mode, until you have passed through Level 1 in single player mode. So to enjoy multiplayer, you have to go through the level first. Other than that, this game is a really addictive, and SIMPLY, a lot of fun!