Pac-Man (Atari 2600 review)

Developer: Atari, Inc.
Publisher: Atari, Inc.
Released: 1982

Pac-Man is a maze game that was first released in the Arcade in 1980.

+ Features eight different game variations that allow you to customise the moving speed for both the ghosts and Pac-Man.

+ As long as you expect a very rough approximation of the original, there is some fun to be had with the altered maze layout.

+ Turn-based multiplayer mode is a great inclusion that enables two friends to battle for high score bragging rights.

- Rampant sprite flicker, making the last few moments of an energy pill nervy as it's tricky to tell when foes return to normal.

- Ghosts no longer have unique behaviours, which is a blow to strategic play for those who enjoy learning enemy patterns.

- Additionally, ghosts sometimes rush towards you instead of playing defensively when you have an energy pill.

- Has many graphical deviations from the Arcade, and all the charm and personality has been lost in translation.

Qix (Atari 5200 review)

Developer: GCC
Publisher: Atari, Inc.
Released: 1982

Qix is an action game that was first released in the Arcade in 1981.

+ Gameplay is addictive and despite the simple premise the fast-paced action always forces you to think two steps ahead. 

+ Considerable amount of techniques you can employ to fill the screen, so you always have new strategies to try out.

+ Sparx are brilliantly devious, as they stop you from moving safely by chasing your lines around the playfield.

+ Genius points system, as while you can move fast to claim territory, navigating slowly racks up an even bigger score.

+ Expertly dividing two Qix is thrilling and the game rewards you for consecutive splits by increasing the score multiplier.

+ Unlike the NES version (1991), this port has multiple difficulty options to cater to your particular skill level.

- Action can become quite repetitive and there's no gameplay variations to increase its long-term appeal.

Missile Command (Atari 5200 review)

Developer: Atari
Publisher: Atari
Released: 1982

Missile Command is a shoot-em-up that was originally released in the Arcade in 1980.

+ Trak-Ball brings the Arcade game home in spectacular fashion, as it affords pinpoint accuracy over movement and shots.

+ Tasks you with strategic and resourceful play, as you only have a limited amount of shots to protect your bases.

+ Necessity to shoot in front of an enemy missile to create an explosion radius forces strategic planning ahead of your target.

+ Includes many ways to rack up bonus points, and it helps that multipliers are displayed prior to each wave.

+ Impending doom of missiles encroaching is anxiety-inducing, and the closing 'The End' screen is dramatically poignant.

+ Practice mode is a great addition, as it switches things up by only including homing missiles with deft manoeuvrability.

- Doesn't include any difficulty settings, and there's only one silo instead of the three featured in the Arcade original.

Pick Axe Pete! (Philips Videopac G7000 / Magnavox Odyssey 2 review)

Developer: Ed Averett
Publisher: Magnavox, Philips
Released: 1982

Pick Axe Pete! is an action game that's exclusive to the Philips Videopac G7000 / Magnavox Odyssey 2 console.

+ Various layouts on offer to encourage repeated play, and you can even program your own mazes using the keyboard.

+ Strikes an intriguing balance of simplistic gameplay and frantic multitasking that quickly becomes addictive.

+ Interesting dichotomy of feeling invincible when carrying the pick axe compared to extreme vulnerability when it breaks.

+ Avoiding boulders on two platforms by climbing halfway up a ladder widens the playfield and gives more evasive options.

- Gameplay and overarching objective isn't perhaps immediately intuitive without first reading the instruction manual.

- You only have one life per attempt and it can be demoralising to constantly be thrown back to the first stage.

- Can spend an exorbitant amount of time waiting for things to happen, and the sloppy controls will often let you down.

K.C.'s Krazy Chase! (Philips Videopac G7000 / Magnavox Odyssey 2 review)

Developer: Magnavox
Publisher: Magnavox
Released: 1982

K.C.'s Krazy Chase! is a maze game and the sequel to K.C. Munchkin! (1981, Philips Videopac G7000).

+ Differentiates itself from Pac-Man (1980, Arcade) by affording you the option of being the constant aggressor.

+ Forcefully munching the Dratapillar's body is a neat contrast to simultaneously playing defensively to avoid other enemies.

+ Managing to cut the Dratapillar close to its head results in dispersed parts which adds to the multitasking fun.

+ Option to eat trees scattered around the playfield for extra points adds a terrific risk-reward system for high score chasers.

+ Sprite animation is outstanding and K.C.'s smiley face and flopping ears brings oodles of personality to the game.

- Like its predecessor, it still only provides you with a single life, so improving your skills in higher levels takes real patience.

- Despite having five included maze types, there's no option to randomise them during a singular high score run.

Alpiner (Texas Instruments TI-99/4A review)

Developer: Texas Instruments
Publisher: Texas Instruments
Released: 1982

Alpiner is a mountain climbing game that's exclusive to the TI-99/4A computer.

+ The levels are randomly generated which makes each play-through a fresh and unique experience.

+ Collecting bonus points from the mountain beasts puts you in harms way and adds a great risk-reward element.

+ Being able to wrap around the sides of the mountain is very handy for dodging hazards and saving precious time.

+ There's a real visceral satisfaction when you finally manage to conquer a previously unbeatable mountain.

+ The Speech Synthesizer brings some personality to the game and helps to notify you of perilous falling rocks.

- Graphics are a little rough around the edges, and the jerky scrolling and flickering sprites are an eye sore.

- Very little is added to each successive mountain, so the gameplay can feel stagnant after a handful of levels.

Parsec (Texas Instruments TI-99/4A review)

Developer: Jim Dramis, Paul Urbanus
Publisher: Texas Instruments
Released: 1982

Parsec is a side-scrolling shooter that optionally uses the Speech Synthesizer module.

+ Resembles Scramble (1981, Arcade) in that the action is broken down into small sections with unique enemy patterns.

+ Inability to constantly fire results in strategic gameplay, especially when trying not to overheat your lasers in higher levels.

+ The 5-second countdown while you attempt to survive an asteroid belt is both exhilarating and terrifying!

+ The Speech Synthesizer module adds a great deal of charm to the action and assists you with incoming enemy alerts.

+ Background stars and foreground scenery creates a cool faux parallax scrolling effect that's very visually appealing.

- Once the sections loop and you advance to the next level you've seen everything it has to offer in short order.

- Occasional issues with lasers shooting through enemy ships, and the controls don't quite offer precision movement.