The Atari 2600+
The Atari 2600++ announcement has sparked nostalgia among retro gamers, with many posting pictures of their old collections and reminiscing about their favorite games. I’m not sure why this has affected me so strongly, but it’s made me a bit sad. Maybe it’s the fact that I never had a real Atari 2600, my first gaming experience was with a Master System, or maybe it’s just the fact that I’m getting old. Whatever it is, Atari games from the ‘70s and ‘80s really hit me where I live.
“Why did I sell my collection?” is a common refrain, as one user posts a picture of their old games, with many expressing regret for selling off their games when they were younger.
“Kaboom! for the win. Those controllers were just perfect,” one user comments on a picture of the Kaboom! Atari game, which used dial controllers, rather than joysticks.
The Atari 2600+’s compatibility with the 7800 is also mentioned, with one user saying they’re excited to finally play Galaga on their old console.
“You know, I actually thought Galaga was on the 2600, but it’s not,” another user replies. “I’m still excited though.”
User “User name checks out” replies with: “I’m Batman.” This is a reference to a popular meme, where someone posts a nonsensical comment and someone else replies “I’m Batman,” meaning that their comment makes absolutely no sense.
Several other users reply with variations of “I’m Batman,” including “I’m Adam West,” in reference to the actor who played Batman in the ‘60s TV show. This turns into a discussion about the existence of a “Porky’s” game, and whether or not it’s a real game or just a picture that someone made up.
“Porky’s” is actually a real Atari game, which surprises several other users. This leads to a lengthy discussion about adult games on the Atari 2600, which includes screenshots of several games that you probably don’t want your kids to see.
Some users won’t buy the new Atari console because it doesn’t have River Raid, while others point out that many of the games they’re posting have already been released on the Atari Flashback Classics and Atari Flashback Portable, and are already available on the Switch.
Finally, one user says they won’t get the Atari 2600+ because they won’t be able to play River Raid on it. “I’ll never buy a console without River Raid on it,” they comment. “Never.”
Many of the replies to this comment mention how popular the game is, with one user saying that even their grandmother loved it. “I love it, I love it, I love it,” their comment reads, with several heart and love emoticons.
Another user posts a picture of their old Atari console, which they say they used to play in the early ‘80s. They ask about a 4-player game with paddles.
“Warlords,” several other users reply.
Several users also remember playing the game Seaquest, which made a sound when you surfaced for air. “I always thought it was a shark dying,” one user comments.
Other users reminisce about their childhood experiences with Atari consoles, and wonder what happened to them. “I still have my 2600,” one user replies. “It’s in storage, and it works.”
“I’m all for gaming from the SNES era and below,” another user replies, “but some of these Atari 2600 games still hold up pretty well.”
Finally, a user posts a comment saying that they’ll never buy an Atari console because they won’t be able to play Beany Bopper on it. “Beany Bopper 2: The Beany Bopper Returns,” is a parody of the game Beany Bopper, and a popular meme.
