Pacman on the Atari 2600 might be one of the worst games I’ve ever played…
I want to start off by saying that I didn’t grow up in the age of Atari. Born in the year 1986 the Nintendo Entertainment System had already been released 3 years earlier.
The Atarti 2600 was released in the year 1977 way before I was even a thought in anyone’s mind.
Since this is my first ever Atari 2600 Game Review. I wanted to make a note going forward that my thoughts on this game and future games. Are coming from someone without the Nostalgic Factor for the system as a whole.
I didn’t get my first video game system (The Super Nintendo) until the 91-92 which has the most nostalgia for me. Anyways, I just wanted to set the premise that will be reviewing games without the nostalgic rose-tinted glasses.
On with the Atarti 2600 PACMAN review.
Unleash the Addictive Power: Gameplay Secrets of Pac-Man on Atari 2600
Pacman on the 2600 falls shorts on just about every category besides gameplay. Don’t get me wrong the gameplay ISN’T good.
But, it’s not THAT bad either.
You can move up, down, left, and right. You collect your pac pellets along the way and it features the power pellet which lets you eat ghosts. All in all, it features everything from the arcade version just in the simplest form ever created.
Movement doesn’t feel fluid, Pac-Man only changes 2 directions facing left or right. It feels awkward at times but in the end, it works.
From Bland to Blocky: Unmasking the Visual Flaws of Pac-Man on Atari 2600!
The video and picture here can show you just enough to know that the graphics are terrible. Everything looks the same color, the ghosts are all the same. The mazes are bland.
The Atari 2600 is a simple console but this is by far one of the worst ports of Pac-man ever created. Pac-man himself even looks weird. He is more blocky than a full circle.
Why Pac-Man on Atari 2600 Fails to Hit the Right Notes!
If you thought the graphics were bad, then the sound is even worse.
The Atari 2600 when done right has some pretty cool sounds. This, however, does not do the 2600 justice at all.
No familiar sounds are found throughout the game from the arcade. It all just feels rushed, and the sounds weren’t important at all to capture the true sounds.
The Ugly Truth Revealed: Pac-Man on Atari 2600—Is It Truly the Worst Game Ever?
My final thoughts on the Atari 2600 version of Pacman are very similar to pretty much everyone’s opinion on the game.
It is bad.
After much research and videos on the history of this version of Pac-man. The game was completed rushed out the doors and was given maybe 2 weeks of development time.
If this game took 2 weeks to make then what we have here is quite impressive for what little development time was given. That doesn’t mean I think the game is good, but for what it’s worth it is still impressive that it functions as well as it does.
Pacman will always be one of my favorite arcade titles. It was sad to play the game on the 2600 and it is in the shape that it is. Ms. Pac-man and Pac-man Jr. on the system showcasing that they can make a GOOD game on the system featuring Pac-man.
On AtariAge the User and Developer Dintar816 took it upon himself to make a homebrew port of Pacman.
The latest version of the game created by Dintar 816 is called Pac-Man 8K and is the proper way to enjoy Pacman. As far as I know, there are no physical carts of the game so you will have to play with an emulator right now, or flash your own cart.
Download – Pac-Man 8K
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