I’ll be trustworthy: A part of the explanation I wished the Pac-Man Version Atari 2600 Plus console was as a result of I assumed it could look cute in my front room, the place I’m making an attempt for a form of late ’70s look. However having spent a number of days with Atari’s retro console, it’s much more than only a dialog piece. In case you’re fascinated with retro video games and ephemera, these new-old consoles are the purest dopamine rush.
The yellow Pac-Man 2600 Plus console is pretty petite, particularly in comparison with beefy fashionable consoles just like the PS5 and Xbox Sequence S. Although it’s light-weight, the development is strong and strong. There are 4 large toggle switches flanking the cartridge slot, that are satisfying to fiddle with. Whereas Atari’s standard-model 2600 Plus console options wonderful late ’70s woodgrain, the Pac-Man Version, which is obtainable to pre-order now for a late November arrival, has a distinctly ’80s really feel to it, with vibrant yellow panels making a stark distinction to black trim. Better of all, the entrance illustration of Pac-Man and the 4 ghosts on the lights up when the console powers on. It’s a pleasant contact that lends the console a bit of contemporary flourish with out sacrificing retro aptitude.
The Pac-Man Version Atari 2600 Plus additionally performs 7800 video games, and Atari has dozens of titles out there in its on-line retailer, with cart costs topping out at $35. When you’ve got an current assortment of retro carts that you simply’ve been holding onto, the 2600 Plus can play these too. The particular version will set you again $169, and comes with one CX40 Plus joystick in an identical vivid yellow hue, adorned with pellets surrounding the joystick and a Pac-Man cap on the high. Not like the unique 2600, the controllers are wi-fi, and simple to arrange due to the included USB dongle. Extra controllers will set you again $34.99 for conventional black and $39.99 for Pac-Man-themed colours.
Coming from the dual-thumbstick period of contemporary consoles, the CX40 Plus takes a little bit of getting used to. It’s fairly actually only a joystick and a single pink button. (It took me a minute even to determine that the button is supposed to be going through away from you — I used to be spinning the controller round in my fingers, pushing up on the stick just for my cursor to maneuver down on the display.) As soon as I truly obtained it going through the suitable approach, I discovered myself “lacking turns” in Pac-Man, largely as a result of I used to be being somewhat too mild with the joystick. You’re gonna need to crank the CX40 Plus a bit greater than you’re accustomed to with newfangled controllers, nevertheless it’s strong sufficient to deal with it.
The special-edition 2600 Plus console is bundled with a Pac-Man Double Function cartridge, which incorporates each the acquainted arcade model of the long-lasting pellet-gobbler and the 2600 model, which may be very flickery, elongated, and trippy. (To be trustworthy, I loved the 2600 model extra in a lava lamp / historic oddity approach than as an precise online game.) All people loves Pac-Man, and one thing about taking part in with an old-school joystick makes it a bit extra pleasing.
I additionally had numerous enjoyable with 1980’s Berzerk and its sequel. Frenzy, each of that are top-down shooters the place you dodge skeletons and aliens whereas weaving by way of a maze. These had been each completely new to me, but in addition felt surprisingly acquainted. It took me a number of runs to appreciate it in all probability (a minimum of partly) impressed the Jackenstein boss combat in Deltarune Chapter 4 from earlier this yr. The visuals had been tremendous easy, however the vibes had been there all the identical.
One other new one for me was 1984’s Meals Battle, the place you’re a child dodging a bunch of lethal cooks with the intention to safe an ice cream cone. As you cross the display, you may choose up bananas and cupcakes to toss at your foes. When you attain your goal, the child’s head opens freakishly extensive and his tongue unfurls like a magic carpet to gobble up the cone. It seems to be like one thing out of a nightmare, and I like that.
As somebody who pored over printed recreation guides as a child, I recognize that every one of Atari’s new-wave 2600 and 7800 video games embody detailed instruction manuals. Every one consists of fundamental “the way to play the sport” data, which could be genuinely useful with stuff from an period the place in-game textual content is tremendous minimal. A number of additionally embody historic particulars in regards to the recreation’s improvement and restoration, together with cool archival artwork and illustrations. I’m positive there are authorized and not-so-legal methods to play 2600 video games for much lower than $35 a pop, however the packaging and presentation are a giant a part of the appeal right here. In an period when video games libraries are more and more digital, it’s refreshing to see this stage of care and a focus dedicated to paper packing containers, cartridge sleeves, and pamphlets.
A few of Atari’s recreation cartridges, together with Pac-Man Double Function, additionally embody an array of 4 small “dip switches” on the underside. These could be toggled up and down with a fingernail. For Double Function, it’s the way you select between the arcade and 2600 variations of the sport. As a ’90s child, this complete idea was completely new to me, and I like that Atari retained this tactile component of the cart design, relatively than simply making the alternate model an choice to pick out in the principle menu.
So who is that this for? There’s no approach round it: older video games could be fairly darn unforgiving. Giving a contemporary youngster an Atari 2600 is like giving them a duplicate of The Canterbury Tales: in all probability extra of a intelligent punishment than anything. A candy summer season youngster raised on Pikachu and Peely would get their shit wrecked by Galaga or Bounty Bob Strikes Again. In case you give this to a child, they’ll hate you.
Even so, the Pac-Man Version Atari 2600 Plus is a incredible vacation reward, particularly at a time when it’s all however unattainable to get any recreation console beneath $200. (Hell, even Soulja Boy’s new bootleg handheld is $400+.) In case you’re in any respect fascinated with gaming historical past, it’s tremendous rewarding to take these older video games for a spin and see all of the connective threads which are nonetheless there, even 40+ years later. That is one for the old-heads and the retro followers, the collector varieties with too many Ikea Billy bookcases to depend. You recognize who you might be.
The Atari 2600 Plus Pac-Man Version was reviewed utilizing a unit supplied by Atari. You could find extra details about Polygon’s ethics coverage right here.
