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I bought the Atari 5200 sometime before Christmas vacation 1983 after owning the Atari 2600 for two or three years. I was starting to get bored of the Atari 2600 games and then I saw the Atari 5200 in a computer store with Star Raiders on display. That's when I knew it was time to upgrade. Even to this day it's a great game to play. I've owned several Atari 5200 games since then and had to buy a new console once because the other died. I recently repaired both of them thanks to the help of Best Electronics. I owned the 2-port versions and recently bought a 4-port version for no other reason than to just have one even though there are less 4-player games than you can count on one hand. People complain about these controllers, but I would argue that the Intellivision and Colecovision controllers were pretty bad too so at the time you really didn't have much choice. I would recommned a buying an atari 5200 because they are fairly easy to repair, they are fun to play and there are some really good games available. To name some of my favorites (in no particular order) Defender, Star Raiders, Pac-Man, Space Dungeon, Jungle Hunt, Astro Chase, Mountain King, Ballblazer, Rescue on Fractalus, Realsports Baseball and Football.Read full review
The Atari 5200 is a fun system to own and play. It has decent graphics, fantastic sound, and fun games (of course, for its time). The library of games is somewhat limited due to its short lifespan. However, there is an active homebrew community that is creating new software for it all the time. The build quality of the actual unit and game cartridge is quite decent, though takes up plenty of space. However, there are a few drawbacks to the hardware and can become a pain to use. The controllers are prone to breakage and do not self-center. There are plenty of remedies for both issues and can vary from a quick fix to fully rebuilding the controllers with an array of readily available new (old stock) parts. One can also purchase 3rd party controllers and adaptors. There are two models available for one to purchase. The four port Atari 5200 has a distinct way of hooking up the system. This includes the use of a unique TV switchbox that carries both the power and television signal. Without it, one will have to hunt down the switchbox or modify the system. The two port Atari 5200 hooks up to a television like any other vintage videogame system. However, several games are not compatible with it (Pitfall for an example). Owning and collecting for a 5200 can be quite fun if one has some patents and can deal with an issue here or there.Read full review
Because my family had this before it was all about Nintendo...But the original experience was short lived. Thanks to some quality modders out there, this system is now easily connectable via S-Video. Then upscaled via a XRGB Framemeister. I should note you should seek out some 'life time' gold connector refurbished controllers. Some great retro games to be experienced.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I bought a 5200 when it first came out. Atari made a serious mistake in shipping it with a dull brick knock-out game, whereas Colecovision (which arrived at the same time) shipped with a crude version of "Donkey Kong". This badly hurt the 5200's sales, but it didn't take long to see how poor Colecovision was. Coleco had previously been known for plastic wading pools. The quality of their game console was at a comparable level. It simply didn't look or feel like a quality product, and the graphics used a cheap TI chip that could generate only two sprites at a time. The accessories (when they appeared) were equally junky (eg, a noisy high-friction trackball). Of all the home video game systems I had played with, Colecovision was, by far, the worst. Indeed, of all the systems produced by major manufacturers, it is likely the worst of all. The 5200 was (other than its ill-conceived joystick controllers, which Atari should have quickly replaced with sturdier units, but didn't) was a class act. It was basically a video game version of the Atari 400 home computer, and had a first-rate graphics chip. Games like "Centipede" and "Tempest" closely resembled their arcade versions. Even by today's standards, the graphics need no apologies. I had a complete 5200 system, and have long regretted selling it. If you can afford a working console, good controllers, and a bunch of games, you'll probably get a big kick out of it. By the way, there's no such thing as an NTSC (or PAL) game. The TV standard is determined by the console hardware.Read full review
Verified purchase: No
This is a hands-down A+ product, and the custom embroidery truly drives the whole presentation and image home. Show this off to your friends and they will know you are a serious collector and a true fan of retro-gaming and the gaming consoles or yore. It simply reeks of quality. Both pleather texture and stitching of the Atari logo are precise, professional, and make one heck of a truly necessary peripheral. I cannot take my eyes off of these awesome dust covers until I've uncovered my Atari 5200 and begin to play Centipede with my totally smokin' Atari 5200 Trak-ball. This is a no-brainer purchase for any console gaming fan. Five stars, easily. Special thanks to Barbara! - Dizzy
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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