The Odyssey 2 and other overlooked classic consoles thread!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Telegames' Zero 5 on the Jag is ace (although an auto-fire modded Jag controller is recommended for some of the later stages where it's absolutely needed to advance to the higher stages). Trying to fire as fast your fingers allow with a standard Jag gaming controller is futile with Zero 5 indeed.

A rotary spinner controller is a must-have if playing a serious gaming session of Tempest 2K on the Jag...Jeff Minter included such a cool & novel way of playing compared to the regular digital D-pad setup with a Jag controller or with the optional Jaguar Pro controller setup (6-button layout).

In Atari Games' Hydra upright coin-op cab, the bonus stages features the 7800 version of Desert Falcon's opening BGM intro...how cool is that?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[dave4shmups]

Does anyone on here own an Atari 5200? I thought that the 5200 was the most reviled Atari console. Although, I'd like to "demo" one, and go hands-on with the controller and see whether or not I have major problems playing the games with that non-centering analog joystick. What's really attractive to me about the 5200 are the games-and not just those that were released during the system's lifespan. www.gooddealgames.com has some fantastic 5200 carts that are ports of Atari 8-bit computer games!

[BrianC]

Does anyone on here own an Atari 5200? I thought that the 5200 was the most reviled Atari console. Although, I'd like to "demo" one, and go hands-on with the controller and see whether or not I have major problems playing the games with that non-centering analog joystick. What's really attractive to me about the 5200 are the games-and not just those that were released during the system's lifespan. http://www.gooddealgames.com has some fantastic 5200 carts that are ports of Atari 8-bit computer games!

It has a handful of good exclusives like Berzerk (though I got a prototype repro for the 800), and a better version of Pac-Man, but a good chunk of the better games are also on Atari 800/XL/XE. I heard this place has reconditioned controllers, though they are a little on the pricey side. The thing with Atari 800 is that many of the better games on disc (and some like MULE really hard to find), though some like Lode Runner and Rescue on Fractalus also have cart versions.

I used to have a 5200. Some games like Pac-Man actually weren't too bad, put Pengo and Kangaroo were a pain with the stock controllers. I kept accidentally ducking in Kangaroo. Pengo is actually slightly better technically on 5200 (faster music and gameplay). Many others like Dig Dug (though there's an earlier 800 version that's different), Moon Patrol, Ms. Pac-Man, and Joust are pretty much the same on the 5200. Also, the Jr. Pac-Man Atari 800 prototype is further along than the 5200, but only available from certain stores (last I checked, it wasn't dumped, but I did a comparison with the dumped 5200 proto and it has the major bug fixed and sounds closer to the arcade).

[dave4shmups]

Does anyone on here own an Atari 5200? I thought that the 5200 was the most reviled Atari console. Although, I'd like to "demo" one, and go hands-on with the controller and see whether or not I have major problems playing the games with that non-centering analog joystick. What's really attractive to me about the 5200 are the games-and not just those that were released during the system's lifespan. http://www.gooddealgames.com has some fantastic 5200 carts that are ports of Atari 8-bit computer games!

It has a handful of good exclusives like Berzerk (though I got a prototype repro for the 800), and a better version of Pac-Man, but a good chunk of the better games are also on Atari 800/XL/XE. I heard this place has reconditioned controllers, though they are a little on the pricey side. The thing with Atari 800 is that many of the better games on disc (and some like MULE really hard to find), though some like Lode Runner and Rescue on Fractalus also have cart versions.

I used to have a 5200. Some games like Pac-Man actually weren't too bad, put Pengo and Kangaroo were a pain with the stock controllers. I kept accidentally ducking in Kangaroo. Pengo is actually slightly better technically on 5200 (faster music and gameplay). Many others like Dig Dug (though there's an earlier 800 version that's different), Moon Patrol, Ms. Pac-Man, and Joust are pretty much the same on the 5200. Also, the Jr. Pac-Man Atari 800 prototype is further along than the 5200, but only available from certain stores (last I checked, it wasn't dumped, but I did a comparison with the dumped 5200 proto and it has the major bug fixed and sounds closer to the arcade).

Did you ever jet the Atari 2600 joystick adapter? I don't know how many 5200 games it works with, but I'm assuming that, unless a game uses the keypad a lot-like Star Raiders-it would work pretty well.

I used to play games on an 800XL, but I found out that some Atari 8-bit games, like Astrochase, won't work on the 800XL, just the 400 and 800. Although it will work with a translator cartridge that you can buy. With the 5200, I wouldn't have to worry about compatibility issues like that. I could just plug in Astrochase-which I played on an Atari 8-bit emulator and LOVE!-and not have any problems.

[dave4shmups]

I forgot to add two other consoles that I'm interested in-the Bandai Apple Pippin, if I can ever find one for under $400.00, and the Bandai Playdia. The Playdia interests me because I love the laserdisc-style game play that I've seen, BUT I don't know Japanese, and all the games are in Japanese.

[broken harbour]

Its funny that you guys mentioned the Lynx, that was my first console my parents bought me as a kid. I probably have around 50 games for it still. It wasn't a great system but had some good games that I enjoyed as a kid, California Games, a good Gauntlet port, Chips Challenge, Todd's adventures in Slime World, there was a WWI flight/combat game that I forget the name of, STUN Runner, Klax, oh man... so many memories...

I have a 3DO but the only game I own is a disc-only copy of Road Rash. Its seems that most of the good games for 3DO are often uber expensive, like Lucienne's Quest, and I have other systems that are higher priority for collecting right now (Saturn, GC, SNES), but eventually I'd like to pick up some good titles for it.

Jaguar and Jag CD is on my bucket list. I recall the Jaguar had a few good early releases, Rayman, Zoop, Raiden, etc....

Every system has it's gold nuggets, except maybe the CD-I... I can't think of a single title I'd want to play on that.

[Pretas]

The Apprentice is probably the best game on the CD-I, and looks more like something you'd find on the Playstation or Saturn. It's still just a typical mediocre Amiga-style platformer, though.

[dave4shmups]

Its funny that you guys mentioned the Lynx, that was my first console my parents bought me as a kid. I probably have around 50 games for it still. It wasn't a great system but had some good games that I enjoyed as a kid, California Games, a good Gauntlet port, Chips Challenge, Todd's adventures in Slime World, there was a WWI flight/combat game that I forget the name of, STUN Runner, Klax, oh man... so many memories...

I have a 3DO but the only game I own is a disc-only copy of Road Rash. Its seems that most of the good games for 3DO are often uber expensive, like Lucienne's Quest, and I have other systems that are higher priority for collecting right now (Saturn, GC, SNES), but eventually I'd like to pick up some good titles for it.

Jaguar and Jag CD is on my bucket list. I recall the Jaguar had a few good early releases, Rayman, Zoop, Raiden, etc....

Every system has it's gold nuggets, except maybe the CD-I... I can't think of a single title I'd want to play on that.

I have a 3DO, and while I like it, the games are insanely priced on Ebay. As far as the CD-i goes, Burn: Cycle looks like a really cool game, and Steel Machine looks like an excellent Uridium clone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCwZKnr3LWE For other good CD-i games, check out this guy's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/HalfBlindGamer

The only thing that really bugs me about the CD-i is how expensive they are on Ebay. Yeah, I know, Philips is a Dutch company and there were probably more sold in Europe, but still, I remember seeing ads for the CD-i here on TV. If I can ever get one for a decent price, and that has that 6-button Genesis-style controller, then I'll jump on it.

[broken harbour]

^ Yeah to get a decent 3DO collection you definitely have to skip ebay, use pawn shops or game gavel or other means. The 3DO also plays CDR's so what's nice is that you can try any ISO of a game you want to test it out first. I don't mind chancing that I get a stinker on $5 PS1 game I've never tried, but can you imagine paying $500 for a game like Lucienne's Quest and then realizing you don't like it?

Ouch!

I actually know a guy who worked for Phillips back in the 80's & 90's and he did some UI and audio work on the CD-I, he says he has a few systems in his garage that have been gathering dust for over a decade... I'm trying to convince him to part with at least one of them.

[dave4shmups]

^ Yeah to get a decent 3DO collection you definitely have to skip ebay, use pawn shops or game gavel or other means. The 3DO also plays CDR's so what's nice is that you can try any ISO of a game you want to test it out first. I don't mind chancing that I get a stinker on $5 PS1 game I've never tried, but can you imagine paying $500 for a game like Lucienne's Quest and then realizing you don't like it?

Ouch!

I actually know a guy who worked for Phillips back in the 80's & 90's and he did some UI and audio work on the CD-I, he says he has a few systems in his garage that have been gathering dust for over a decade... I'm trying to convince him to part with at least one of them.

It all depends on how much you're willing to spend. Yesterday, I bought Flying Nightmares for the 3DO from a top-rated seller on Ebay for $7.99-but it's just the manual and the disc; no case. The complete long box games are the most expensive, and I have a few. But since I'm not a collector; it really doesn't matter to me, as long as I get a manual and disc that are both in good condition.

[dave4shmups]

I was just thinking about how interested I am in the FM Towns Marty-I'd be willing to shell out the $400.00 or so that a Marty goes for on Ebay. But the price of the games! Flying Shark looks awesome on the Marty, but I just saw an Ebay auction for it that is finished-the game sold for $601 I just don't understand why Marty games are so expensive. Judging from Ebay, it would be like collecting for the Neo Geo AES. I know that the PS1 killed off consoles like the Marty, but I didn't think that Marty games were THAT rare!

[ApolloBoy]

I wouldn't bother with the Marty, if you really want to get into FM Towns games I'd suggest getting an FM Towns setup.

[dan76]

I've just been scanning through this thread. Just thought I'd mention that the Atari 7800 lightgun games are playable using Homebrew on the Wii with the remote. I went through a phase of trying to 1cc Crossbow. Didn't get it. The awesome sounds aren't in the port - real shame as I found that game scary when I was a kid.

I owned a 7800 at one time and yes the controllers were ass. Food Fight was great though.

[dave4shmups]

I wouldn't bother with the Marty, if you really want to get into FM Towns games I'd suggest getting an FM Towns setup.

Which model of the FM Towns computer would be the best? Is it really cheaper then the Marty? (Not the games, but the hardware.)

The stock Atari 7800 controllers do suck, but you can get the Atari 7800 joypad: http://atariage.com/controller_page.htm ... ollerID=24

It wasn't released here, but I'm sure you could find one on Ebay. That, or register on the Atariage.com forums, and someone will make you a controller for the 7800 out of an NES controller.

I didn't known there was a Homebrew channel on the Wii. Shame I haven't had a Wii for a few years now.

[ApolloBoy]

I wouldn't bother with the Marty, if you really want to get into FM Towns games I'd suggest getting an FM Towns setup.

Which model of the FM Towns computer would be the best? Is it really cheaper then the Marty? (Not the games, but the hardware.)

Well, either way you're gonna be shelling out big bucks, I didn't say it was cheaper. But an FM Towns computer is more flexible than a Marty and most of them can be upgraded. You'll probably want to look for a Fresh model since they all have a 486 CPU (whereas the Marty has a 386) and have more features than a standard FM Towns.