Top 10 Atari 7800 Exclusives

Super Skateboardin’

Published by Absolute Entertainment, who were made up of ex-Activision staff, Super Skateboardin’ is the only example of game they released for the Atari 7800 that is completely different to the Atari 2600 version.

Whereas Skateboardin’ on the 2600 was an actual skating game, this is a rather strange arcade adventure type affair with very little emphasis on the actual skateboarding. The plot tells us that you are the last employee left in a giant factory and you must make your way round it turning off all the electrical equipment. All of this must be done within a time limit too, making it much harder than it actually sounds.

Ok, so Super Skateboardin’ doesn’t exactly set the world alight but what’s here is pretty good and probably more akin to stuff to the type of games you would find on the rival Nintendo NES and Sega Master System. That alone makes it worth checking out.

Crazy Brix

The first homebrew title on this list, Crazy Brix was released in 2011 by one Bob DeCrescenzo, who is dubbed by many as being the king of Atari 7800 homebrew. This is one of his few original titles, with most being ports of existing games such as Moon Cresta and Space Invaders.

While I say original, it should be pointed out that in reality Crazy Brix is yet another take on the much used Breakout and Arkanoid theme, but one with a twist of its own. This comes in the form of the double ball mechanic, with you always starting with two in play. Essentially this gives you an extra life but also makes it easier and quicker to clear each screen if you can keep them both in play.

Multiple skill levels, a two-player option and a high score table help to keep things interesting. Put this all together and you’ll find Crazy Brix on the Atari 7800 is a must have title for fans of these classic brick bashing arcade games.

Chuck Norris: Missing in Action

Despite the high profile license attached to this game, this scrolling beat ‘em up for the 7800 was never actually released due to publisher TNT Games going bust just as the game was finished. But thanks to the efforts of the Atari community as well as programmer Chuck Peavey, Missing in Action finally saw a release on cartridge in 2007.

Based on the 1984 movie of the same name featuring Chuck Norris as the protagonist Missing in Action takes place during the height of the Vietnam War. As Colonel James Braddock, a captured POW, your mission is to escape from an internment camp, rescue other prisoners, free the American embassy and, finally, kill the evil drug baron.

There’s no doubt that Missing in Action is just the kind of game the Atari 7800 needed back in 1989 (the year it was due for release) and it’s a shame that we missed out on it. However we should be thankful that it’s now been brought back to life for everyone to enjoy.

Water Ski

Froggo’s second (after Tank Command) and only other game for the Atari 7800 is not only also rather good but very original too. It’s actually quite amazing how good their ProSystem games are when you look at just how bad their Atari 2600 titles are!

I suppose Water Ski can best be described as a driving game, but you control a boat on a river, as opposed to a car on a road, but the theory is the same. Here you must negotiate a speedboat as well as water skier that follows behind up a dangerous river full of hazards. Using a unique control system the joypad controls your boat while the two buttons move your man from left to right. Another brilliant feature is that you can also play this game in two-player, so one of you takes control of the boat and the other of the skier! As well as all the hazards that must be avoided there are also little ramps and if you manage to jump off one of these you land yourself some massive bonus points.

While being a pretty hard game to master, Water Ski is technically impressive, highly original and also a lot of fun to play too. This is definitely a real hidden gem within the Atari 7800’s already under rated games library.

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