The first Atari Flashback attempted to re-introduce a collection of first-generation video games in a "throw-back" miniature console. Unfortunately, the thing turned out to be a piece of garbage. After that mess, I'm relieved to see Atari recognized the error of its ways, completely redesigning the second edition from the ground up. Not only does the Flashback 2 console and controllers mimic the design of the much-loved Atari 2600 system, but twice as many games are built into it, for a respectable total of 40. Best of all, these aren't poorly emulated or rewritten versions like we saw in the first Flashback. No, this console packs real Atari 2600 hardware, allowing it to run the games exactly as they were intended. Apparently Atari consulted with some classic game experts when designing this system, and it shows. Heck, even the box resembles the Atari of old, depicting people of all ages huddled around the television screen and appearing to have the time of their lives.

The Flashback 2 console itself measures about 5 by 8 inches, which is tiny compared to the original 2600, but still almost twice as big as the first Flashback. Its appearance more or less assumes the shape of the original Atari 2600 console, right down to the distinctive fake wood-grain trim on the front. Unfortunately, instead of using switches on the control panel, cheesy-looking orange buttons have been substituted. From left to right, these buttons are power, reset, left difficulty, right difficulty, and select. The layout of these buttons is seriously unappealing, with two on the left and three on the right, separated by the Atari logo. A small black and white/color switch resides on the back side, but that should have been placed on the front to balance out the other controls. What were the designers thinking?

My main criticism concerns the difficulty switches themselves. Apparently these have "in" and "out" settings, but you can't distinguish the two by looking at them, and it's even hard to tell by feeling them. I sure wish Atari would have used old-fashioned silver switches instead. If you're trying to recreate the look of a classic console, why just go half-way?

The back of the unit has two controller ports, but while they look like the original ports, they don't accommodate old controllers very well (although in theory they are compatible). The television cable has a yellow and white RCA plugs which provide a level of clarity that the original system could never produce.

Perhaps the most pleasant surprise is the inclusion of genuine Atari 2600 joysticks. These are shaped almost exactly like the original models, but are actually better constructed and more responsive. But despite having the same style of plugs as the old controllers, you will have a difficult time attaching these to a vintage 2600 system.

Naturally, the most important aspect of any system is its games. There's a nice selection of old favorites represented, and they look and play just as well (if not better) than you remember. Flashback 2's menu screen categorizes the games by Adventure Territory, Arcade Favorites, Space Station, and Action Zone. Many excellent old titles are included, but what's truly surprising is the inclusion of many unreleased titles I've never even heard of. Many are welcome sequels to old favorites including Adventure and Haunted House. Unfortunately, some of the games don't run very well, making me suspect there may have been a defect in the manufacturing process.

The first game is Adventure, an old standby featuring dragons, castles, mazes, and randomly-placed objects. If you enjoy that (and why the hell wouldn't you?), you'll like Adventure 2, which incorporates a whole new set of screens. Haunted House is less interesting but still enjoyable, and I was shocked to see it has a sequel, Return to Haunted House. Surprisingly, the sequel uses the Adventure engine - to very good effect. Secret Quest is a sophisticated space adventure released in the late 80's that hasn't aged as well. Wizard is a confusing maze shooter which I had never even heard about before, and I didn't find it particularly playable.

The Arcade Favorites category kicks off with "Arcade Asteroids", which is the original 2600 Asteroids with "enhanced graphics". Specifically, the objects are hollow instead of solid, making it look more like the original arcade version. Arcade Pong is another unexpected title, and it's good-looking but unspectacular. Asteroids Deluxe replaces some of the rocks with odd-looking shapes, but excessive flicker and graphical glitches render it unplayable. The 2600 version of Centipede won't win any awards for graphics (almost everything is an orange block) but the frantic gameplay is surprisingly faithful to the arcade. Lunar Lander resembles an old Apple II game, and while it may have a place in video game history, it's too complicated and slow to hold my attention. Much like Centipede, Millipede manages to be madly addicting despite its graphically-challenged visuals. Missile Command's colorful stages and distinctive sound effects will conjure fond memories for many older gamers, although a few extraneous artifacts are present on the screen. Space Duel is another Asteroids clone, but like Asteroids Deluxe, this version has graphical glitches that render it unplayable. Battlezone rounds out the category with some surprisingly solid first-person combat action.

The Space Station section begins with Caverns of Mars, a mediocre shooter I had only played previously on my old Atari 8-bit computer. The ultra-rare Quadrun is famous for being the first 2600 game with voice synthesis. As you begin a new game, you'll hear "Quadrun Quadrun Quadrun!" Unfortunately, its "shoot and catch" gameplay is downright awful. Sabateur was the "never before released" title from the first Flashback, but this version is infinitely more playable. It's an interesting and surprisingly complex title with three distinct stages. Space War is a simple two-player shooter that hasn't aged well at all. Yars' Revenge is an old favorite featuring huge explosions and impressive sound effects. I was also psyched to see a game called Yars' Return on the list, but like several others, this game did not function properly.

The Action section is loaded with old stand-bys like Combat, Dodge-Em, Maze Craze, Human Cannonball, and Outlaw. Pitfall and River Raid are the two lone Activision representatives, and frankly, probably the two best games of the package. Aquaventure is an interesting underwater shooter, and Combat 2 is an innovative sequel to the original 2600 pack-in game. Atari Climber is not Crazy Climber, but instead a generic ladder game that's not too exciting. Fatal Run is a confusing racer that incorporates a combat element, and it was previously only released in Europe. Frog Pond (not Frogs and Flies) features attractive graphics but shallow gameplay, and the game doesn't seem to end. Off The Wall attempts to update Breakout, but despite its flashy graphics, the gameplay is actually a step down. Radar Lock is a nice first-person airplane shooter, and Save Mary is a very rare game that I couldn't seem to get working. Rounding out the category are a few old relics: 3D Tic-Tac-Toe, Hangman, Video Chess, and Video Checkers.

As you can see, there's a fair selection of games but it's still modest considering the Atari 2600's extensive library. Conspicuous in their absence are old favorites like Enduro, Berzerk, Keystone Kapers, Space Invaders, Defender, and Ms. Pac Man. The never-before-released titles will interest collectors, but too many seem broken or unfinished. I was really curious as to where most of these originated, but sadly, no background information is provided for any of these games. In fact, the instruction manual is completely worthless, including only a short blurb for each game. It doesn't even adequately explain the control schemes or game variations! Considering the significant historical value contained here, this oversight is unforgivable.

Dispite its clear shortcomings, I'd give Flashback 2 a B-. The glitches and lack of background information are glaring, but compared to the first iteration, it's like night and day. At the very least, this package delivers a nice collection of classic games that can be played as they were meant to be, and most provide pure, simple fun.

If there's an Atari Flashback 3, I'd advise Atari to fully reproduce the original 2600 console, and include as many games as possible. Even if it costs more money, I think nostalgic gamers will appreciate the effort and show it with their wallets. I'd also advise Atari to contact me for advice!

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