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The Atari is a classic. It's the grand daddy of home consoles. It is a fantastic addition to any collection, and is also great just for re-living the stone age of video gaming. The 2600 is incredibly durable for its age and even outlasted my xbox. Though many are half-assed, it is easy to find loads of classic games that will keep you entertained for hours. I personally reccomend Ms. Pac Man, Asteroids, Combat, Demon Attack, Space Attack, Warlords, Super Breakout, Missle Command, Space Invaders, and of course Pitfall. The only downside of this console is that there is a multitude of horrible games, though the incredible amount of classics make up for this. Though crude by today's standards, the atari's graphics and sound effects are classic. And once you mess around with the console, the controlls become very simple. The switches become second nature soon enough, and the joystick and paddles are incredibly easy to use. They're comforable in your hand as well. I highly reccomend that you get a set of paddles as well as the joystick because there are fantastic games made for both controllers. Overall, if you're a collector you must have this console. Even if you're not a collector, you should still have this console! Whether it's bringing back nostolgia or just having a blast from the past, this console is fantastic.Read full review
First I want to clarify that this review is for the Heavy Sixer in particular, but that the info does apply largely to all Atari 2600 variants. I purchased a Sears Tele Games Video Arcade, which is simply a re branded Atari 2600. It, too, came in the heavy sixer variant, and that's what I got. I purchased it because I wanted to know what the original 2600 units from 1977 looked and played like. I wanted to experience the class offered by the original. I wanted to know how well the original CX-10 joysticks worked. I was not disappointed. Like many other 35 year old game systems, mine needed some repair. I completed the necessary repairs and loaded up some classic gaming goodness. The console is built like a tank. You could cause blunt force trauma with this thing and it would still work. It's a 2600, so what's not to like? The console has a classy look that invites gamers to play it. The controllers are just right for most games. The CX-10 joysticks are comfortable to use even for long sessions, the paddles (marked "Atari" or "Sears" instead of "Paddle") seem to be more durable than the newer varieties, and I've noticed little difference in the keyboard or driving controllers. The things I don't like about the Heavy sixer are lack of channel select switch in most models, difficulty in disassembling the console to replace a failed component, and the incompatibility caused by an additional IC in the unit. Honestly, though, most gamers aren't going to notice this at all. They might, however, notice that the power adapter can actually be shorted out when it's being plugged into the console. This could fry the adapter. Still, you just can't beat the 2600 for quick, easy to learn games. The fun stuff we all remember goes for a cople of bucks per game. One could find a lot with Pitfall, Asteroids, PAc-Man, and a few others for $10. The rare and expensive games aren't ones people are going to remember. I suppose there are some games that are expensive people will remember like Subterranea or The Official Frogger. The Heavy Sixer's difficulty switches are easier to reach than the ones on newer consoles, but the controller ports are harder to reach. The inside of the case definitely has more plastic, especially on the bottom and where the RF cord is secured. The Heavy Sixer probably isn't the console for a casual gamer due to the cost (hence my three star value rating), but it's something any serious Atari collector will want. IMO the brand doesn't matter unless you care about what color of woodgrain you want. The Atari unit has light woodgrain whereas the Sears unit has dark woodgrain, so take your pick. On the other hand, if you're just looking for a 2600 in general, make that value rating five stars because you do get a lot of bang for your buck.Read full review
If you are a COLECO fan, or enjoy retrogaming, a Gemini will go great with your collection. This system is an Atari 2600 "clone". The console switches aren't as conveniently placed as on an Atari or Sears/Telegames light or heavy "sixer", but it still works well. The combined joystick/paddle controls that come with a Gemini are "different". You will either love or hate them. They are a bit flimsy if you are accustomed to a Wico, Suncom, Epyx stick, or OEM Atari stick. The Gemini can use any Atari-compatible controller, of course. The video and power cables were long enough to make set-up convenient. Video and sound quality are typical of 80's-era RF hook-ups. I am quite pleased with the unit overall.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I still have my original unit I got as a birthday present in 1979. But it's not working. So I had to recapture the time in my life and I bought one on eBay. It is so awesome to play these games again. Brings back so many memories! Atari will always be the king of home arcade games machines!!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I will be honest: this is the first time in my 27 years I've EVER played on an Atari. As a kid, I started on the SNES with my cousin and went up from there. That being said, this particular console works amazingly well. It's a beast with the graphics, but still super easy to learn and get used to. And compared with some of the knock-off brands, including that weird, old handheld that I got for Christmas 15 years ago, the clunky graphics on this thing are insanely addicting. With no writeable memory in any of the cartridge games, it's also fun to have to keep high scores recorded on these devices we call "pieces of scratch paper." A huge plus: I was worried to death about the video conversion. Apparently this thing outputs standard VHF over an RCA connector, which I find a bit unconventional. Then again, this could be my personal lack of age. However, good news! An RF switch was included in the package and converted it right over to the threaded coax terminal on the back of my TV! Took a bit to figure out that it only worked on channel 2. Since the advent of digital broadcast television, I can't reprogram the old tube for any of the now-defunct analog channels, so it turns out every time this will be played with, I'll need to go into the TV settings and manually switch inputs from line to antenna. Now for parts reviews: The two driving controllers on this thing worked excellently. No issues whatsoever. A few flaws I found right off the bat with the unit: 1. The stock Atari wall wart to power this thing up is very noisy. It buzzes like crazy...way more than a new one would. However, this may be just age. 40+ year-old varnish on any transformer is probably going to be pretty well disintegrated. 2. The plastic D-Sub connectors on the back of the unit..well...they're plastic. I did not realise how stiff they were until wiggling one controller out cracked the side of the connector housing. Not to worry though: the controllers still plug in and work fine. Just a little sloppy on that side now. 3. I had to buy joysticks separately, which also work, though very stiff. However, after looking up this issue, it seems the Atari joysticks were ALWAYS really stiff, but indestructible as a result. 4. For some reason, the two paddle controllers are acting flaky. With Breakout, the paddle moves jerkily and 90% of the time won't move at all. There was another game included that required the paddle controls, which didn't want to work at all with the same symptoms. There's a small piece of something loose inside one of the controllers that rattles. Thankfully, they built these with standard Phillips-head screws, so getting in there to check it out and clean and refresh contacts should not be a problem.Read full review
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