Atari Anthology
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Atari: 80 Classic Games in One! is a 2003 video game compilation developed by Digital Eclipse and published by Atari Interactive for Microsoft Windows; it was also released as Atari Anthology for PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The title is a compilation of 80 video games previously published by Atari, Inc. and Atari Corporation from the 1970s and 1980s, reproducing Atari's games from its arcade and Atari 2600 game console platforms. Many games permit one to play each title at varying speeds, with time limits, or with a shifting color palette.
Extra contents include original arcade artwork and scans of the instruction manuals for the Atari 2600 games, video interviews with Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell, Windows desktop themes, DirectX 9 runtime, and Adobe Reader 5.1 English version. Support for Stelladaptor 2600 to USB interface, and 24-bit color wallpapers for Asteroids, Centipede, Missile Command, Pong, Super Breakout, and Tempest themes are available as patches. The Xbox version had online multiplayer through Xbox Live which was shut down on April 15, 2010. Atari Anthology is now playable online using replacement online servers for the Xbox called Insignia.
Games
The following is a list of games included in the releases.
Marketing
As part of Atari's 40th anniversary, free download of Atari: 80 Classic Games in One! was also available in packs of General Mills boxed cereal products, including Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, Honey Nut Cheerios, Cheerios and Cocoa Puffs.
A free Atari: 80 Classic Games in One! CD could also be found inside General Mills boxed cereals in Canada.
Atari Anthology includes the following changes:
- The Windows desktop themes, DirectX 9 runtime, and Adobe Reader 5.1 English version have been removed.
- The Atari 2600 titles Atari Video Cube, Backgammon, and Hangman have been added.
- The Atari 2600 titles A Game of Concentration, BASIC Programming, and Codebreaker have been removed.
- Unlockable game challenges, which add challenges by reaching predetermined goals in specific games.
Atari Classics Evolved
Atari Classics Evolved was published for PlayStation Portable in 2007 and includes 11 arcade classics from Atari Anthology (such as Asteroids and Super Breakout) and also 50 unlockable Atari 2600 titles. Also, every arcade title has an "evolved" version with new graphics and sounds. To unlock the 2600 games, the player must win all awards in all arcade titles.
Reception
| Aggregator | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PC | PS2 | Xbox | |
| Metacritic | 70% | 66% | 68% |
| Publication | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PC | PS2 | Xbox | |
| GameSpot | 6.6/10 | N/A | 6.8/10 |
| IGN | 7.2/10 | 6/10 | N/A |
| Retro Gamer | N/A | N/A | 90% |
| X-Play | 3/5 | N/A | N/A |
The console versions of the game received "mixed or average" reviews, while the PC version received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.
Mike Davies of Retro Gamer complimented the release, specifically highlighting the 18 arcade games included, including that "some people have complained that the vector games are not emulated 100% accurately, but we can't find fault." Davies described the navigating through the games as a "real pain" finding the interface good-looking but difficult to use.
External links
The 80 Classic Games
Anthology
- Digital Eclipse Software, Inc page: ,
- Atari page: ,