Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration
- November 11, 2022
- Digital Eclipse
Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration offers a completely new, very fun way to explore several decades of Atari arcade machines, consoles, handhelds, and PCs.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration" is a compilation of over 150 classic and modern Atari games. The game features a mix of arcade, console, and home computer titles, as well as new interpretations and collaborations. With history, music, and art sections, players can explore the evolution of Atari and its impact on the video game industry.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration is a meticulously crafted interactive journey through the history of Atari and the gaming industry, featuring a wealth of documentary content and interviews.
- The collection includes over 100 games from various Atari platforms, with excellent emulation and a unique timeline experience that provides context for each game.
- The attention to detail and the effort put into the presentation make it feel like a virtual museum, appealing to both nostalgic fans and newcomers interested in gaming history.
- Some notable games, particularly from third-party developers like Activision, are missing from the collection, which may disappoint fans hoping for a more comprehensive experience.
- While the emulation is generally good, there are occasional issues with input lag and control configurations that can detract from the gameplay experience.
- The price point may be considered high for those who are not deeply invested in Atari's history or who did not grow up with these games, making it less appealing to a younger audience.
- graphics26 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics in this collection of classic Atari games are praised for their faithful representation of vector graphics, showcasing the original visuals with a modern polish. Notable enhancements include the remastered "Yars Revenge," which allows players to toggle between classic and updated graphics, and the newly programmed "Swordquest: Air World." Overall, the presentation is described as visually impressive, with a wealth of historical content and high-resolution artwork that enriches the gaming experience.
“The two biggest treats are the graphically remastered Yars' Revenge built on top of Howard Scott Warshaw's original VCS code (you can toggle between classic and modern graphics on the fly), and the never-before-released Swordquest: Air World, newly programmed from the ground up based on Tod Frye's original notes.”
“The museum-like carousel of content, from interviews through to original artwork, is presented so handsomely that you can’t help but get swept up in Atari’s dramatic story.”
“Probably uses more graphics processing to make the games look low-res than the original games had at all.”
“Yars Revenge Enhanced basically just Yars Revenge but with an HD graphics filter option slapped on.”
“The polish, visuals, and care taken show passion in every pixel.”
- monetization26 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for poor community management, particularly in handling bug reports, which can lead to user frustration. However, the collection offers a wealth of historical content, including interviews, advertisements, and design documents, enhancing the overall value and experience for players interested in gaming history. Despite some games not holding up well, the extensive archival material and engaging presentation provide a compelling context for the titles included.
“If you try to report a bug, angry community managers will erase your comments and call you a liar, making insane claims that are disproven by their own advertising.”
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it seems like the game is designed to push players towards spending more money rather than enjoying the experience.”
“The in-game purchases are overwhelming and detract from the overall enjoyment of the game, making it feel more like a cash grab than a genuine gaming experience.”
- story25 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is praised for its compelling narrative that deeply connects players to the history of Atari, blending archival footage and interviews to create an engaging experience. While it effectively highlights the company's rise and fall, some critiques note a lack of coverage on the complexities of Atari's corporate history and the portrayal of its key figures. Overall, the storytelling is described as unmatched in detail and emotional resonance, providing context that enhances the appreciation of the games featured.
“The storytelling in these films is so compelling that it fosters a deep emotional connection with the subject matter.”
“Each film is expertly crafted, combining archival footage, interviews with key figures, and a rich narrative that captures the essence of the Atari story.”
“The only flaws in the presentation come down to corporate politics—the dawn of third-party developers is a huge part of the Atari story, and while that's covered here, you can't actually play Pitfall or Kaboom or whatever.”
“You don't just jump blindly into a game; it gives you a story of why that game mattered, so even if you don't like it, you can still appreciate it.”
“It's all set in a timeline that provides full context to the long story of a company that was at the top of the world and slowly fell apart.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game collection is highlighted by its entertaining interviews and quirky moments, particularly in titles like "Ninja Golf" and "Cloak and Dagger," which feature amusing cut scenes and anecdotes. Players appreciate the blend of funny insights from developers and nostalgic gameplay, making the overall experience both enjoyable and humorous. The collection is praised for its rich content that not only entertains but also provides a humorous glimpse into the history of Atari.
“There's a lot of funny moments in the interviews and it's a wonderful peek behind the scenes.”
“You get a treasure trove of fun facts, ads, and interviews with the people that made Atari, well Atari (shoutout to the drugs interview, my favorite one, it's really hilarious).”
“Cloak and Dagger is a manic Berzerk variant with some very funny cut scenes (depending on how bad you mess up the level).”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The latest update significantly enhances replayability, offering improved game functionality and better navigation, making it a standout compared to the recharged title. Players can enjoy a nostalgic experience with a collection of games that boast substantial replay value.
“For those that love a trip down memory lane with their collection of games, many with tons of replay value.”
“This update beats the recharged title for replayability by a large margin.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its compelling storytelling, which fosters a deep connection with the subject matter. Additionally, Atari 50's role in game preservation is significant, as it brings many classic titles and unreleased prototypes to a modern audience for the first time, enhancing the emotional resonance for long-time fans.
“The storytelling in these films is so compelling that it fosters a deep emotional connection with the subject matter.”
“However, the role Atari 50 is playing in game preservation can't be ignored here, considering how for a lot of these titles, especially for the 400/800, Lynx, and Jaguar, this is essentially the first time these games have ever seen a proper re-release on a modern platform in any capacity. This isn't even touching on the number of never-before-released prototypes that are included in the collection.”
- music5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the music in games, particularly on older platforms like the Sony PS1, often struggled to capture the right feel, with some titles featuring off-putting soundtracks. While there is appreciation for the evolution of music in gaming, criticisms include a lack of diversity in menu and timeline music, as well as occasional technical issues like stuttering. Overall, the music aspect is seen as a crucial yet sometimes underwhelming element in the gaming experience.
“Seeing this evolution is rewarding because the absolute bare essentials of gaming are drip-fed and you get that context when something we take for granted was once absolutely groundbreaking, like music or color sprites.”
“Even on the Sony PS1 with Tempest X3 (which is a decent game), they didn't quite get the feel right and the music was off.”
“[Menu and timeline music lack diversity. A few titles don’t control well due to design. Occasional stuttering on timeline.]”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the game offers a mix of enjoyable elements and significant shortcomings, with some innovative mechanics and new locations in its 3D reimagining of haunted houses. However, the overall experience is marred by inconsistencies, leading to a lack of cohesion in gameplay quality.
“Haunted Houses is a 3D reimagining of the classic haunted house experience, featuring new locations and mechanics.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users express significant frustration with the game's stability, reporting extensive troubleshooting efforts without resolution, leading to feelings of wasted money and regret over missed refund opportunities.
“I feel like I've wasted my money; sadly, I spent so much time troubleshooting it that my refund window is gone.”
“I feel like I've wasted my money; sadly, I spent so much time troubleshooting it that my refund window is gone.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with users noting a lack of diversity in menu and timeline music, some control issues with certain titles due to design choices, and occasional stuttering during gameplay.
“The menu and timeline music lack diversity.”
“A few titles don’t control well due to design.”
“There is occasional stuttering on the timeline.”
Critic Reviews
Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Switch Review @atari
The homage Atari truly deserves, to finally include playable Lynx and Jaguar titles.
88%Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration review
Fifty years is a long old time to remain even slightly relevant in the games industry, and whilst this package probably wont win too many new fans, it gives retro fans a great walk down memory lane.
80%Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Review
That it’s called 'The Anniversary Celebration' rather than 'collection' is a substitution of phrases that couldn’t be more apt. With its smooth, fast, and perfectly-pitched interface, and rich, thoughtfully created content, Atari 50 really is an honouring of the company that founded the industry. It’s true that its content is going to have a greater appeal to an older generation of gamers, to today’s parents (and grandparents) who grew up in the whirlwind of the '70s and '80s arcade scene. For them, reliving moments and experiences that used to cost a pocketful of coins will be joyful. For others, understanding the appeal of a lot of these games will take work, and few of the titles outside of the Lynx and Jaguar catalogues are easy to pick up and play for the uninitiated. At the same time, Atari 50 is so thorough and engrossing a retro gaming tunnel, akin to exploring a virtual museum, that it transcends its target audience somewhat. For those interested in video gaming’s history, the unearthing of the past, and for gamers not afraid of what today is considered rudimentary, there’s a great deal of enjoyment to be had in this trip down memory lane.
80%
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