Optionally available extras
The 2600+ accepts cartridges from each the 2600 and the extra highly effective 7800, and the controller ports are the previous DB-9 model, so you possibly can plug in unique pads. I attempted it, and it really works, however there are just a few wrinkles.
First, the 2600+ doesn’t assist each single sport. Atari has printed a compatibility checklist exhibiting which work, and it’s the majority of them, however with some notable names lacking. Uncommon, regional or unofficial carts (of which there are various) might be a crap shoot.
The system works with newly made cartridges (high) and ageing originals.Credit score: Tim Biggs
Second, these carts are 40 years previous. They’re easy and hardy, however a few of mine are inexplicably useless. The glue on most labels has turned. Some have corroded pins. You see some actually cursed wanting items on eBay which would wish a very good clear earlier than you may put them close to a brand new system you’d simply purchased.
Each single previous cartridge I attempted additionally didn’t load the primary time, which is a frequent drawback with these carts even on an actual Atari. The 2600+ a minimum of will preserve attempting to load each few seconds whereas it’s on, so you possibly can transfer the cart round to get a very good connection. As soon as it’s booted, the video games run nice.
When you’d fairly not go digging in storage sale bins for brand new video games, there are additionally just a few choices at retail for increasing the expertise.
Blast robots in Berzerk.
First are two standalone cartridges which every include a single sport. Berzerk is an “enhanced” model of the 2600 unique with bug fixes and the synthesised speech from the 5200 model, whereas Mr Run & Bounce is a troublesome new velocity run platformer of the kind that didn’t exist within the time of Atari. Getting new bodily 2600 video games in 2023 is superior, and these are available in prime quality retro packaging and good matte plastic casing, however at $40 every they might be a bit steep.
Or for $60 you will get a set which features a duplicate of the unique Atari Paddle (two Pong-style controllers that plug into one of many controller ports), along with a 4-in-1 cartridge stuffed with previous paddle video games. The graceful analogue motion of the paddles is recreated completely right here, and the set supplies some good alternatives for two-player enjoyable. Video Olympics is kind of an expanded Pong, and was a launch title for the 2600. Then there’s the traditional Breakout and Canyon Bomber, which have been additionally in style with the children. The fourth sport is Evening Driver, which is nice if you wish to discover out what it’s prefer to take a midnight joyride on mescaline.
A full line-up of recent video games and equipment may go a protracted approach to assuaging a number of the points with monitoring down historical gear, however at this level it’s unclear if Atari plans to proceed providing new suitable merchandise sooner or later, or if that is all there may be.
Loading
Who is that this for?
The 2600+ is a slick unit that appears nice and works effectively, but it surely’s additionally a little bit of a head-scratcher. When you’re a lapsed Atari fan with some previous cartridges mendacity round and no approach to play them, $180 may very well be completely affordable. It’s round what you’d pay for an precise working 2600, and this one works with new TVs and has 10 video games. However lapsed Atari followers is a small market.
Hardcore retro fans, in the meantime, won’t be a fan of the software program emulation right here and the less-than-total compatibility. On the different finish of the spectrum, informal retro followers could discover the video games (that are largely ports of 70s score-chase arcade cupboards) are a bit slight for the asking value, which works out to $18 a pop should you solely get the console.
Then once more, the marketplace for previous video games is booming, so the timing may very well be proper. Atari 2600 is likely one of the few programs that hasn’t seen enormous value inflation, partly as a result of the {hardware} is inaccessible. So if there are folks on the market who want to begin a group of kitschy cool video games like Mario Bros, Donkey Kong and Pac-Man, every of which go for lower than $50, the 2600+ may very well be a great way to play them.
For everybody else, there’s at all times the wonderful Atari 50 which was launched final yr on all present consoles, containing greater than 100 video games and engaging documentary supplies.
Get information and critiques on expertise, devices and gaming in our Know-how e-newsletter each Friday. Enroll right here.