The Return of Atari
August 8th, 2003
Well, sort of. Jakks Pacific has released some of the old-school Atari games (Centipede, Pong, Yar’s Revenge…and my favorite, Missile Command) in a rather unique way: all bundled into one joystick.
That’s right, kids. Technology is so amazing now you can fit 10 classic Atari games into a space smaller than a breadbox…the joystick is the console, it just plugs right into your tv. Possibly the coolest part is that the joystick has that same old lack of response, the creaky rubbery feel to it, the hard to mash button that will give you “Atari thumb” in no time.
The second coolest part is that you can be just as engrossed despite the lack of visual sophistication. It’s funny that what used to pass as entertainment is just as entertaining twenty years later. (Yes, twenty!)
(And for you fans of Pitfall, Dig Dug, and other classics from Activision and Namco, check out the manufacturer’s website for more in-your-face old-school action.)