Game Info: Atari Flashback Classics

Developed by: Code Mystics

Published by: Atari

Release date: December 19, 2018

Available on: PS TV, Switch, Vita

Genre: Arcade

Number of Players: Up to four online

ESRB Rating: Everyone with mild violence and use of tobacco

Price: $19.99 Thank you Atari for sending us this collection to review! The Atari 2600 was released in 1977 and was the first console I've owned. The graphics were pretty basic, but the games on it were pretty fun. Sadly, my favorites like Frogger and Summer Games are not in this collection. The 5200 was released in 1982 and only had a two year lifespan. I never owned a 5200, but our family did get the 7800 in 1987. I hope there is a Flashbacks collection with 7800 games someday, but until then, this is a solid collection of 2600 and 5200 offerings. As of this review, there have been three Atari Flashback Classic volumes that retail for $19.99 apiece. Each of the volumes has fifty games from the 2600, 5200, and arcade eras. The recently released Atari Flashback Classics for the Switch and Vita systems includes 150 titles of which most of them are from the three volumes mentioned earlier. The best part is that this bundle is only $19.99. I recently reviewed volume 3 on the Xbox and the controller issues are solved on the touch screen enabled consoles. The only downside to the Vita version is that the multiplayer is a little trickier, but not impossible.

Highlights: Strong Points: 150 classic games in one bundle

Weak Points: Multiplayer is difficult on the Vita

Moral Warnings: Some games have violence, magic, tobacco use, gambling Many classics in this bundle include 2600 and 5200 versions of Asteroids, Centipede, Millipede, Missile Command, and Super Breakout. Granted the visuals are not stellar in either version but in some cases like Missile Command, I preferred the 2600 version for the controls. If you enjoy sports games there are plenty in this bundle including Atari Baseball (Arcade), Atari Basketball (Arcade), Atari Football (Arcade), Atari Soccer (Arcade), Miniature Golf (5200), Realsports Baseball (5200), Realsports Basketball (5200), Realsports Football (5200), Realsports Tennis (5200), Realsports Volleyball (5200), Super Challenge Baseball (2600), Super Challenge Football (2600), Super Baseball (2600), and Super Football (2600). The Pool Shark (Arcade) game is very simplistic, not realistic, but it is still fun regardless. Some games support two players and others require it. Games like Sword Fight (2600) and Xari Arena (2600) work well with two players on the Vita. Each player gets to control their avatar with the joystick on their side. Sea Battle will launch, but requires two players. Like many titles, this one’s objectives are a bit confusing and it’s worth reading the manual for it from the main menu. Thankfully, you can enlarge the manual since the Vita’s screen is rather small for reading it.