This is a reply to the following YouTube(TM)(R)(C) video... for some reason, I can't bring myself to leave this comment on the YouTube(TM)(R)(C) page proper itself. Thankfully, they go in chronological order... or maybe not thankfully. It is kind of hard to rank these things in terms of the degree to which they defined Atari 8-bit gaming... but I'll certainly give it a shot!
1979 Star Raiders (Atari)
Certainly didn't hurt. A nice title from Atari itself for $34.95, made people imagine the possibilities of trying to emulate Star Wars with just 16K.
1981 Caverns of Mars (Atari)
I believe this one is featured briefly in the 1985 movie D.A.R.Y.L. It's the game of robotic kid geniuses! Not bad, but I think I'm more of a Phobos man, personally.
1981 Eastern Front (1941) (Atari)
Meh. But it certainly didn't hurt to help define Chris Crawford as an Atari(TM)(R)(C) genius. Probably his most memorable title, second only to "Gossip."
1982 Aztec Challenge (Cosmi)
Seems like these lists always have a ringer or two that slip the guy or gal compiling the list a little something. You know, like the old payola radio days. "Perhaps Mr. Benjamin will convince you to add this to the list" type of deal. It's like how Entertainment Weekly compiles its annual list of Greatest Movie Farts. They start off by giving the #2 slot to Adam Sandler's latest. I will say that, while Aztec Challenge is certainly not the WORST title that Cosmi had to offer... Crypts of Plumbous gets that distinction... I can see how it led to the inspiration for titles like Super Mario Bros.
1982 Miner 2049er (Big Five Software)
Classic. Used to have it in cartridge form!
1982 Shamus (Synapse)
Classic. Used to have it in cartridge form!
Classic. Led to the creation of Gauntlet and Gauntlet 2 in the arcades, if memory serves.
1983 Blue Max (Synapse)
A fun one. Alas, it doesn't quite work the same in emulation form for some reason. It led to a sequel, which clearly didn't make this list.
1983 Jumpman (Epyx)
Classic... even though it's more of a Commodore 64 title. Boo, hiss!
1983 Alley Cat (Synapse)
Never played it. Maybe part of it was just the general love for Synapse Software, maybe the rarity of having a cat as the avatar.
1983 M.U.L.E. (Ozark Softscape)
Never played it. Didn't Electronic Arts buy this one?
1983 Archon: The Light and Dark (Free Fall Associates)
Classic. I kicked the ass of my high school buddy in this one... Archon 2, not so much. Man, that guy was good.
1984 Bounty Bob Strikes Back! (Big Five Software)
...meh. Not as good as Miner 2049er.
1984 Bruce Lee (Datasoft)
Classic. Probably Datasoft's best title... well, second only to "The Goonies." In Goonies and Zorro, they don't use Player Missiles. Bruce Lee used a TON of 'em.
1984 Ballblazer (Lucasfilm)
Classic, but I remember it better as "Ballblaster" by a different company... Careful when you cite these names in mixed company.
1984 Rescue of Fractalus! (Lucasfilm)
Fun one, even though the 3D takes forever. It just did in Atari, for those who remember.
1984 Koronis Rift (Lucasfilm)
Never played it.
1985 The Eidolon (Lucasfilm)
Played it, never did finish it. Borrowed it from the same friend from earlier, if memory serves!
1986 International Karate (System 3)
Never played it. It's all about that Australian background, though. I remember that screen shot from Antic! magazine, maybe Compute! What is it with these computing magazines and the exclamation point?
1986 Star Raiders II (Atari)
Classic. WAY more fun than Star Raiders 1. But maybe that's just me. Sure, those big spaceships get a little annoying after a while, I'll give you that.
Okay, here's my question. What about the glaring absences from the list? What about BOULDER DASH? What about Lode Runner? Arguably, Lode Runner transcended the Atari platform, probably.
