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Home / Features / The games we want to see on Atari’s new Ataribox console

The games we want to see on Atari’s new Ataribox console

Another retro name attempts a hardware comeback. But for Stuff, it’s all about the games

You may have heard about Ataribox. The first Atari-branded console in 25 years will— Well, we’re not actually sure, because details are slim.

What we do know: the design is inspired by classic Atari consoles. It’ll combine classic and current gaming content. And it’ll be crowdfunded.

Also, long-time gamers might doff their sceptic’s hat, given that ‘Atari’ has been hacked to bits and sold off more times than a car that’s been through a dozen chop shops.

So for Stuff, it’s all about the games. We don’t care about what ports and specs the Ataribox has, just that it’ll be able to play these beauties…

Pong

Pong is no more a realistic take on tennis than Angry Birds is a wildlife documentary. But it needs to be on Ataribox to showcase where it all began. Sure, it’s archaic when played today, and you’ll tire of its bats, balls and blips within minutes, but Pong is a vital slice of history that ushered in the dawn of arcade and home gaming.

Missile Command

Bleak doesn’t really cut it when describing Dave Theurer’s classic defence game. Made at the height of the Cold War, Missile Command has you defend six cities from a barrage of nukes. Fail and it doesn’t even bother with ‘Game Over’, instead grimly stating ‘The End’. It’s a tense, brilliant slice of classic gaming – although one that really needs fluid controls (the original used a trackball) to do it justice.

Paperboy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v31CZOGZCwY

Not an entirely accurate simulation, Paperboy tasks you with peddling like crazy along a street packed with hazards and a general public seemingly trying to kill you. You lob papers at subscribers’ houses, and also use them to smash the windows of evil non-payers. Presumably, the things come with a covermounted brick, so you can ‘build your own house’ over several thousand issues. Barg.

Gauntlet

“Wizard is about to die!” Gauntlet tells it like it is as you – and up to three chums – roam mazes packed with psychotic demons and ghosts spewed from monster generators. The aim: grab loot, keep energy reserves up by munching food, find keys, and make for the exit. Simple stuff, but fun in multiplayer, assuming you don’t shoot food when one of your party’s seconds away from dying. (And if you do, be warned: the game will rat you out.)

Tempest 2000

The original Tempest was a superb lane-based vector shooter, but Jeff Minter’s Atari Jaguar take betters it in every way. Infused with a thumping soundtrack, visual pyrotechnics, power-ups, and some tricky combinations of deranged enemies and complex ‘web’ layouts, it’s the finest game to grace Atari’s last console, and should grace its next. Although Stuff might also gently suggest Atari bury the hatchet with Minter and get TxK on to the thing as well.

Profile image of Craig Grannell Craig Grannell Contributor

About

I’m a regular contributor to Stuff magazine and Stuff.tv, covering apps, games, Apple kit, Android, Lego, retro gaming and other interesting oddities. I also pen opinion pieces when the editor lets me, getting all serious about accessibility and predicting when sentient AI smart cookware will take over the world, in a terrifying mix of Bake Off and Terminator.

Areas of expertise

Mobile apps and games, Macs, iOS and tvOS devices, Android, retro games, crowdfunding, design, how to fight off an enraged smart saucepan with a massive stick.