Robotron: 2084

Atari 5200

Review by Jeff Cooper

Atari

Arcade

Graphics: ?

Sound: ?

Gameplay: ?

Overall: 8


This cart is noteworthy simply because, as far as I know, it is the only version of Robotron that allows gamers to effectively use two joysticks; in short, it's the only version that allows you to play the game as it was intended to be played. It also highlights the nutty approach Atari took toward controllers. They produced revoltionary analog controllers that, when new, worked great--but only on certain games. They offered an elaborate (and pricey) Trak-ball controller. They included the joystick coupler for free with Space Dungeon and Robotron, and it works wonderfully on both games. Snap a 5200 controller into each slot of the coupler and you are ready to rumble--one stick moves your character, the other fires. Yet for all their recognition of the importance of controllers, Atari never offered a simple four-way joystick to work with blockbuster releases of Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man (my understanding is that the subject of a four-way 5200 controller created a great deal of in-fighting at Atari). Ther is much about that company that I will never understand.

Anyway, 5200 Robotron is not as good graphically as the 7800 version, much less the arcade ports that exist for the 32-bit systems. Nor does it have quite the level of intensity of those later versions. It looks and feels kinda old. But it still plays pretty well, and if you want to use two joysticks instead of two thumbs (which I have never gotten used to), it's the only Robotron in town.

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Last updated: Wednesday, December 10, 2003 02:31 PM