Exploring Atari 50’s Latest Content Update

This won’t be the most in-depth hands-on in the world, but hopefully, we’ll be able to provide a little bit of information on each new game and help you determine whether they’re going to be worth your time or not. One thing we have to mention before we go on, however, is that every addition here comes with its own digital instruction manual; yet another example of Digital Eclipse’s unrivalled attention to detail. So without further ado, let’s take a look at the games included in this free update…

Adventure II (2005, Homebrew) – Atari 2600

The original Adventure is perhaps one of the most well-known and beloved games on the Atari 2600, with its hidden easter egg serving as the main inspiration behind the 2011 sci-fi novel ‘Ready Player One’. This official sequel, designed by the late Curt Vendel and incorporating elements from the 5600 homebrew title by Ron Lloyd, is pretty much more of the same, which is fine by us. The world is larger and more intricate than the 1980 original, yet retains everything that made it such a classic. The only downside here is that there are no game variations for this one, so it’s technically a lesser game than the first Adventure in that sense, but still well worth your time.

Aquaventure (1983, Prototype) – Atari 2600

Aquaventure is a game that unfortunately fell victim to the video game crash of ’83, left stranded as a completed project before being officially released on cartridge in 2022. It’s a game that thrives on its simplistic yet addictive gameplay, requiring you to simply navigate to the bottom of the ocean, retrieve the sunken treasure, and make your way back up, all while defending yourself from sea creatures and keeping an eye on your oxygen supply. The visuals here are a treat, with the sea creatures in particular showcasing gorgeous gradients of colour. With high potential for replayability and score-chasing, this might well be the best new game of the bunch.

Bowling (1979) – Atari 2600

Bowling was the last game designed by Larry Kaplan before he went on to co-found a little company called Activision. It’s a surprisingly satisfying experience that lets you briefly steer the ball in your desired direction to achieve those precious strikes. If you’re not up for that, then certain game variations allow you to focus solely on your initial throw. Two players are also supported, so if you want to replicate the days of playing Wii Bowling with your mum, this might just scratch that itch.

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