Im not a huge Atari fan, but am loving this system (it is the first retro system handheld I've purchased, and only the 2nd retro system I've purchased after the TG16 mini).
Having grown up with a 2600, I've always been frustrated by the lack of a paddle controller when playing modern breakout and other retro games. That got me interested in this system, the wide variety of control options was super attractive
Overall, I'm really happy with my purchase. The system is so much bigger than I expected after looking at images of it in reviews. You have to hold it to get a real sense of it. I love the big screen size!
That said the extra controllers are fiddly. Using a trackball or paddle with a finger had a step learning curve for me.
The screen isn't perfect in quality, and some games, like tempest, don't look good on it for what I believe are emulation issues.
I didn't have gray issues like the reviewer, and generally am happy with the quality. Adventure played like a champ, the D pad is very responsive in handheld mode.
As a baseball fan, it was the jaleco games that put me over the top. Super Bases loaded 2 (3d) on the SNES is wonderful game, probably the 2nd best baseball game of the 16-bit generation, it's inclusion here along with the other Jaleco games is a big win for me.
The recharged games play well, though I've got a bug with them on mine where they seem to time out and return to the menu after ~5 minutes of play, bummer! Hopefully something that can be fixed.
Overall, I'm really happy I bought the system. I love the variety in the games modern and classic, and the great baseball games on the system. The more authentic control options are fun to have, though they take getting used to. The interface is easy and intuitive and the light up controllers are fun and innovative. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.
I enjoyed playing it at the event they had here last October. It was different - and I like different. It wasn't amazing, but I was thinking about getting one anyway. I miss the Wii days - I enjoy variety, what can I say.
I was excited for Evercade last year and kept waiting for something exciting like TurboGrafx games or an Irem collection, but each new cart has seemed pretty niche. (Yes, more niche than tg-16)
I feel like the content peaked early for the system, and my interest has wained. Hopefully that is changed today.
Glad to have the article and I'm excited for Amico to release (even if I probably won't get one).
It's always interesting to me when someone does something different.
As a parent I dig that they are only doing E & E10 rated games.
As a gamer I was excited to go to one of their public test sessions, and though I wasn't impressed by the games (Evil Knievel was fun, but it's a port I think?) I was impressed with the D-pad that also has the circular motion.
As a game developer, I like novel inputs and couldn't stop thinking about how to use that circle input.
I expect they fail, and badly, but I'd love to see them succeed. So much of the game industry is repeating the same thing over and over. Amico is different. I like different, so I'm rooting for it.
I love the vision and the passion. I can't imagine this will be successful, but I think I'll get one as I support the dream, even if the reality falls short.
That game was GOTY the first year the TG-16 was released, and is a critical piece of history that had NEVER made it to any virtual console and appears to be skipping the TG-16 Mini. Why?
It deserves to be known! It was a GOTY! The ONLY GOTY the TG-16 ever had!
Loved my TG-16, especially the CD games. They were something! Hoping Dungeon Explorer 2 makes it to the mini.
I remember when the Genesis and TG-16 were coming out. A store at the mall had a Genesis set-up, so I went there, weekend after weekend. Played Altered Beast, that helicopter game, and Ghouls 'N Ghosts. After passing GnG I decided I didn't really like the visuals of the Genesis. Something about the TG-16 looked much more "next-gen" to me . Turns out it was the on-screen colors. The limitation was 64 for the Genesis (16 for the NES). The TG-16 had 481! For me it made everything much more vibrant. I bought one and never looked back (I'm quite sure my love of Japanese games comes from many hours of gaming on my TG-16!)
Eventually I bought all 3 consoles from the 16-bit era, but the TG-CD is what I loved the most. Many fond memories of Y's (first game with real voice - something hard to imagine back then + amazing CD quality sound) and Lords of Thunder (still beautiful tough as nails shooter) among others, and great 5-player Saturdays with friends playing Bomberman, Dungeon Explorer & Moto Roader (long before 4 controllers was standard on systems).
Good trip down memory lane, great article. Thanks!
Comments 10
Re: Review: Atari Gamestation Go - A Tour Of Atari's Legacy With One Too Many Bumps In The Road
Im not a huge Atari fan, but am loving this system (it is the first retro system handheld I've purchased, and only the 2nd retro system I've purchased after the TG16 mini).
Having grown up with a 2600, I've always been frustrated by the lack of a paddle controller when playing modern breakout and other retro games. That got me interested in this system, the wide variety of control options was super attractive
Overall, I'm really happy with my purchase.
The system is so much bigger than I expected after looking at images of it in reviews. You have to hold it to get a real sense of it. I love the big screen size!
That said the extra controllers are fiddly. Using a trackball or paddle with a finger had a step learning curve for me.
The screen isn't perfect in quality, and some games, like tempest, don't look good on it for what I believe are emulation issues.
I didn't have gray issues like the reviewer, and generally am happy with the quality. Adventure played like a champ, the D pad is very responsive in handheld mode.
As a baseball fan, it was the jaleco games that put me over the top. Super Bases loaded 2 (3d) on the SNES is wonderful game, probably the 2nd best baseball game of the 16-bit generation, it's inclusion here along with the other Jaleco games is a big win for me.
The recharged games play well, though I've got a bug with them on mine where they seem to time out and return to the menu after ~5 minutes of play, bummer! Hopefully something that can be fixed.
Overall, I'm really happy I bought the system. I love the variety in the games modern and classic, and the great baseball games on the system. The more authentic control options are fun to have, though they take getting used to. The interface is easy and intuitive and the light up controllers are fun and innovative. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.
Re: Intellivision's Offices Are Now Empty And Available, If You Want Them
I enjoyed playing it at the event they had here last October. It was different - and I like different.
It wasn't amazing, but I was thinking about getting one anyway.
I miss the Wii days - I enjoy variety, what can I say.
Re: "Big News" Promised At Evercade's 2nd Anniversary Show
I was excited for Evercade last year and kept waiting for something exciting like TurboGrafx games or an Irem collection, but each new cart has seemed pretty niche. (Yes, more niche than tg-16)
I feel like the content peaked early for the system, and my interest has wained. Hopefully that is changed today.
Re: Tommy Tallarico Has Stepped Down As CEO Of Intellivision
I've played it at one of their events, and while it wasn't amazing, I love what they are trying to do in being family friendly.
I'm really tempted to pre-order, but terrified it will never actually ship. I think I'll pick one up if it does.
Re: The Intellivision Amico Has A Unique Approach To Physical Media And Digital Ownership
Glad to have the article and I'm excited for Amico to release (even if I probably won't get one).
It's always interesting to me when someone does something different.
As a parent I dig that they are only doing E & E10 rated games.
As a gamer I was excited to go to one of their public test sessions, and though I wasn't impressed by the games (Evil Knievel was fun, but it's a port I think?) I was impressed with the D-pad that also has the circular motion.
As a game developer, I like novel inputs and couldn't stop thinking about how to use that circle input.
I expect they fail, and badly, but I'd love to see them succeed. So much of the game industry is repeating the same thing over and over. Amico is different. I like different, so I'm rooting for it.
Re: Feature: Intellivision's Tommy Tallarico Wants To Follow In Nintendo's Footsteps, But Will He Get His Chance?
I love the vision and the passion.
I can't imagine this will be successful, but I think I'll get one as I support the dream, even if the reality falls short.
Re: Intellivision's Amico Is Shaping Up To Be The Most 'Nintendo' Non-Nintendo System Ever
WOW - those videos look pretty bad from a control and frame-rate stand-point. The visuals seem way under-developed as well.
...which is too bad, b/c there is a lot of fun ideas in what they're doing!
Re: Analogue's Next FPGA Console Tackles Kanye West's Favourite System: The PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16
I wish I hadn't sold my library of games.
Re: Feature: The Making Of The PC Engine, The 8-Bit Wonder That Took On Nintendo
The real question is...
WHERE IS THE LEGENDARY AXE?
That game was GOTY the first year the TG-16 was released, and is a critical piece of history that had NEVER made it to any virtual console and appears to be skipping the TG-16 Mini.
Why?
It deserves to be known!
It was a GOTY!
The ONLY GOTY the TG-16 ever had!
Loved my TG-16, especially the CD games. They were something! Hoping Dungeon Explorer 2 makes it to the mini.
Re: Feature: The Making Of The PC Engine
Loved my TurboGrafx-16! (+CD)
I remember when the Genesis and TG-16 were coming out. A store at the mall had a Genesis set-up, so I went there, weekend after weekend. Played Altered Beast, that helicopter game, and Ghouls 'N Ghosts. After passing GnG I decided I didn't really like the visuals of the Genesis. Something about the TG-16 looked much more "next-gen" to me .
Turns out it was the on-screen colors. The limitation was 64 for the Genesis (16 for the NES). The TG-16 had 481! For me it made everything much more vibrant. I bought one and never looked back (I'm quite sure my love of Japanese games comes from many hours of gaming on my TG-16!)
Eventually I bought all 3 consoles from the 16-bit era, but the TG-CD is what I loved the most. Many fond memories of Y's (first game with real voice - something hard to imagine back then + amazing CD quality sound) and Lords of Thunder (still beautiful tough as nails shooter) among others, and great 5-player Saturdays with friends playing Bomberman, Dungeon Explorer & Moto Roader (long before 4 controllers was standard on systems).
Good trip down memory lane, great article. Thanks!