Fatal Run		Grade: D
	Publisher: Atari (1990) Reviewed: 1999/8/7

Fatal Run is similar to Pole Position, except instead of racing other cars, you're blowing them up. Your mission in each stage is to make it to the next city in time to save the people there. You have an arsenal of weapons and supplies. The graphics are similar to Pole Position, except there are also hills and valleys which are very effectively rendered. Control is only fair. At times it's tough to keep your car on the road, and it's also hard to see oncoming cars. Blowing up other cars is fun at first, but since they are basically sitting ducks, the initial thrill wears thin. I didn't find Fatal Run to be very exciting. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Fight Night		Grade: F
	Publisher: Accolade (1988) Reviewed: 2003/5/7

This boxing game got me pretty excited initially with its sharp, detailed graphics, but the gameplay proved to be an utter disaster. There are twelve large characters to choose from, and no two look alike. Rendered in numerous colors with black outlines, their exaggerated features give the game a whimsical Punch Out (NES) flavor. Similarities to that classic end there. In Fight Night, the action is viewed from the side, and there's absolutely NOTHING in the background. You'd think they could put a few obligatory spectators out there at least. The fighters look great - until they start moving! The animation is so jerky and disjointed that you can't even tell what the heck's going on! When a boxer leans forward I can't tell if he's keeling over or lunging for me! The collision detection is atrocious - punches that aren't even close register as hits. There are only two punches (high and low), and the "fake" and "guard" moves aren't even worth the effort. The life meters replenish so quickly that you can never seem to get ahead. The "running water" crowd sound effects are embarrassing, and the "training" modes are pointless. In the end, Fight Night is a frustrating button masher that pales in comparison to Punch Out. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Food Fight		Grade: A
	Publisher: Atari (1987) Reviewed: 2006/12/19

Not only is Food Fight an outstanding arcade-style game, but it's pretty much exclusive to the Atari 7800 console. The action is fast and fun as you move a kid from the right side of the screen to a melting ice cream cone on left. Potholes and piles of food are randomly placed around an otherwise wide-open screen. Chefs emerge from the potholes and try to stop the kid, but they can be defeated by throwing food at them. I really love the simple premise, and the ability to hurl food in a rapid-fire manner is immensely satisfying. I especially love how the bananas rotate as they fly through the air. Food Fight isn't too difficult until the chefs also begin tossing food, creating some nasty crossfire situations. Once the kid reaches the ice cream, he freakishly unhinges his jaw like a python to swallow the entire thing. You're then rewarded bonus points as the unused food is literally sucked into your score. Likewise, when caught by a chef, all the food converges on you, creating a big mess. Occasionally a round is played back in a "slow motion" replay, but I could have done without that. If you own an Atari 7800, Food Fight needs to be in your library. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Galaga		Grade: B
	Publisher: Atari (1987) Reviewed: 2004/5/2

Galaga is arguably the most popular shooter of all time. Its gameplay is similar to Galaxian, except the insect-like aliens fly around in patterns before settling into their formation. Sacrificing a ship gives you the opportunity to double your firepower later, which is quite helpful during the "challenge" stages. To be honest, this Galaga does NOT compare favorably to the Nintendo version (1988), which was virtually arcade-perfect. In this 7800 version, your cannon is quite a bit smaller, making it easier to dodge bombs. The aliens look a bit washed out, and the boss aliens aren't any larger than the others. At least the distinctive Galaga melodies and sound effects are included. To be fair, this game was actually written in 1984, although it sat on the shelf until 1987 (nice going Atari)! The gameplay is still fast and furious, but ONLY on the expert mode (forget about the others). In a way, I like the fact that this version is unique, because I've already played the original one to death. Be sure to use a good arcade-style 2600 joystick instead of the standard 7800 controller for this one. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Hat Trick		Grade: F
	Publisher: Atari (1987) Reviewed: 1999/8/23

It has become apparent to me that sports games are NOT the strength of the 7800. This one-on-one hockey game contains some very choppy animation and is about as fun as getting smacked in the head with a puck. The rink looks nice, but the players are difficult to discern from the overhead view. Control is unresponsive and the animation is rough, making this game almost as difficult to watch as to play (but not quite!). On a positive note, you can control the goalie by holding down the fire button. Overall this is pretty bad. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Ikari Warriors		Grade: B+
	Publisher: Atari (1990) Reviewed: 2001/12/18

This vertically-scrolling shooter lets one or two players play Rambo through several jungle stages. While the action is fast and fun, comparisons to the NES version are unavoidable. The graphics are much sharper and cleaner on the NES, and the animation is smoother as well. Fortunately, the 7800 gameplay is about the same, if not better. Still, the graphics do detract somewhat from the experience. For example, it's difficult to tell when an enemy soldier has been shot - it looks like he takes a few steps backwards and disappears. Still I found the control to be excellent, better than the NES. You use the left button for shooting, and your right button to throw grenades. The difficulty level is fair and the exciting gameplay will keep you coming back for more. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Jinks		Grade: D
	Publisher: Atari (1989) Reviewed: 1999/9/9

Jinks gets credit for innovative design. It's a combination of breakout and pinball played over a wide, side-scrolling screen. You control a free-moving paddle used to direct the ball into bricks, bonuses, and finally the exit (on the far right side of the screen). Your goal is to clear out the screen before exiting. The graphics are detailed but limited in color. Later levels contain enemies that try to shrink your paddle or destroy your ball. The are four stages, and after completing the first, you can select your next challenge. The main problem with Jinks has to do with control and ball movement. I found it to be frustratingly difficult to move the ball where I wanted it to go. Also, the ball only moves at one angle, making its movement predictable and boring (unlike real pinball). At least the music is interesting. Jinks seemed cool at first, but frustration with the control left a bad taste in my mouth. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Joust		Grade: A
	Publisher: Atari (1988) Reviewed: 2001/3/13

Any video game historian will tell you that Joust is one of the greatest all-time video games. It's also one of the most imaginative, featuring ostrich-riding knights attempting to knock each other off of their mounts. And I'm happy to say that this version is nearly identical to the arcade, and there are four difficulty levels. My only complaint is that the Atari 7800 standard joysticks are not well suited to this type of game. The buttons on the side of the controllers aren't conducive to constant tapping required to flap the wings. Still, you can always just hook up an Atari 2600 joystick instead. Go for it. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Karateka		Grade: F
	Publisher: Atari (1987) Reviewed: 1999/7/28

Whoa, this game is simply horrendous!! Atari has taken a classic martial arts game and completely ruined it. Karateka was once a very popular, one-player karate game back in the early 80's. Kids in my high school used to play it on the Apple II, and the graphics used to astound me. Your warrior has to defeat a series of ninjas before facing the boss and saving the girl. In addition to the kung-fu action, sharp, realistic graphics were a big part of the game's appeal. In this version, the graphics aren't bad, but the animation is jerky as hell and the control is utterly poor. The controller is not responsive at all. Your fighter may or may not react to a button or joystick push you made three seconds before. Karateka was originally designed for keyboard control, and it shows. This implementation of joystick control is ill-conceived and completely counter-intuitive. For example, in order to punch right you need to press the joystick left. Just be glad that I've gone through this torture so you don't have to. © Copyright 1999 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player