The Atari Video Game System: My Ten Favorite Games

Like many others, I grew up with the Atari video game system. The graphics were bad and the game-play choppy, but Atari was the first real video game system. And, it was a lot of fun. I would play for hours on end. In fact, my parents had to kick me out of the house to make sure I would play outside. So, let's take a trip back to the early 80's when Atari meant video game.

Keeping in mind that I have a soft spot for the old school games, here are my top games for the Atari video game system:

Pacman (1981) - Atari turned this arcade hit into a video game for its console. I still remember the day we picked up the game and even though the graphics and game play were not nearly as good as the arcade version, the game was a step up from the other Atari video games I had at the time.

Space Invaders (1978) - Space Invaders was another arcade classic. You shoot as many aliens as you can... what's not to like? The game-play was very simple, and if aliens ever do invade Earth, I doubt they will come straight down and wait to be shot. But, the game was a lot of fun and helped to lead the video game revolution both for the arcades and for the Atari video game system.

Adventure (1979) - The first fantasy/adventure game, it featured castles, dragons, and keys. As a player, you could actually scroll to and discover different screens and worlds. That was actually a pretty big thing back when the game came out and helped to keep my interest.

Pitfall (1982) - Pitfall was a lot of fun because this game simply had more going on than most of the other Atari video games. You have a time limit to recover treasures, but along the way you have to navigate the jungle and caverns while avoiding alligators, scorpions and other hazards. The graphics were very good for this time period and the play was very fast-paced.

Football (1979)- OK, maybe it wasn't the most realistic football game ever made (there were four players on each side who looked more like blobs). But, it was the first football game and I loved playing it hours at a time on the Atari video game system.

Pole Position (1983) - The first racing game I ever played. Since this game was closer to the end of the Atari video game system reign, the graphics were actually decent. I'm convinced that Pole Position embedded in me the bad habit of speeding that I maintain to this day.

Combat (1977) - This combat game was included in the purchase of the Atari video game system, so I had the opportunity to play this game from the very beginning. Players could shoot 'em up using tanks, jets, or biplanes. Combat was basic, but brutal fun.

Asteroids (1981) - Like Space Invaders, this is a pretty simple Atari video game that features shooting, aliens, and outer space. The primary goal of the game was to shoot and destroy asteroids flying in every direction. But, those pesky UFO's would also pop on the screen and shoot at you.

Frogger (1982) - The premise behind this Atari video game is simple. You have to guide frogs across a busy highway and then across a dangerous river. Frogger doesn't sound too interesting or difficult. But, for some reason that I can't pinpoint, the game was loads of fun and was even featured in a Seinfeld episode.

Donkey Kong (1982) - This is one of the best known early video games. Donkey Kong also feature the first appearance of Mario from Super Mario Brothers fame. The Atari version of this game was not as good as the arcade version, but Donkey Kong was interesting because it also had a bit of a plot. Angry gorilla escapes, steals the woman and it's up to you to save her while controlling Mario.

I owned approximately 20-30 Atari video games during my childhood, but these were my ten favorites. We never knew that the graphics and game-play would improve as much as they have 30 years later. Yet, many of us who grew up with the Atari video game system will not forget the many hours of fun and enjoyment it provided.

Sources:

Gamespot.com
Wikipedia.com