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Not quite what I expected

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 36 / 37
Date: January 19, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game hoping to relive all of those hours spent standing in an arcade without having to worry about converting my allowance into quarters. What I got was not quite that good.

This software seems to suffer from the same problems that I've encountered in other "historic" PC games. They run too fast on a modern PC. I installed this package on an 300MHz machine (hardly state-of-the-art hardware) and, especially in the case of Centipede, the game pieces are too fast to hit -- even on the first level.

I also found it troublesome that the size of the playing area is limited. I have a 21" monitor and am forced to play the game in one small window.

I do, however, have to say that while it has its problems, this is the best release of the classic games I've seen so far. The Pong game is great!

Blast From the Past!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 15
Date: April 18, 2000
Author: Amazon User

If you loved these original arcade games you'll love this CD! I wasn't sure after buying it if it would be as authentic as the arcade experience I remembered as a pre-teen but it was! Complete with the original sound effects, images, and "insert coin for 1 or 2 players" on the monitor as in the original games. It works with either a controll pad or mouse (or keyboard) but I think the mouse gives superior performance over the controll pad in maneuvering around in games like "Tempest" and "Missle Command". I had no problems installing or playing it on my 500 MHz 56 K modem (Win 98). The graphics are to be expected considering their original look. Another great thing is that there in no 100 page instruction booklet before you can play. You just jump right in and start bringing back those memories!

Blasting at the Past

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: November 08, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I finally bought a pc made for this decade and was excited to search the software world for fun things to play. Having played "Tempest" during my early college years, I had wonderful memories of wasting book or food money at a corner restaurant trying to move up one more level. I was delighted to see this game available along with the other five "classics" on this inexpensive cd. My only complaint is that I miss the joystick (or was it a ball? Damn beer). I realize they can be purchased, and I may in the future, but for now a mouse or the arrow keys don't give me as quick and precise of movement as I remember from the arcade game. Maybe it's clouded memory, I'm certain it's at least partially atrophed skills, or maybe it's as one reviewer explained that the game is much "faster" in this version. For some of the other games this doesn't seem to be as much of a factor. I think "Centipede" plays as close to the arcade version as I could hope, and "Pong" (Holy Odyssey Batman!) is easy enough with a mouse. Regardless, this is a great value, beats hanging at the bowling alleys or laundramats that still have dusty original versions, and is a fun and nostalgic way to waste time on your computer (is that a redundant phrase?). Now, if I can only find a "Dragon's Liar" cd-rom...

Atari is alive and kicking!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: October 16, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I remember playing Tempest at the age of 8 in 88.And I was glad to see that i could do it all over again at age 20 on my pc!The game is the same as before including the "tempest tubes".And it runs without the cd on my pc which is great.And the screen savers gave me that "arcade system of yesterday" feel!If you love arcade this 1 is a must for your collection.I also have Revenge of Arcade classics.Arcade lives right on your pc no coins needed this time,so no real game overs or asking your parents for more change to play!

True to the arcade classics

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: February 17, 2001
Author: Amazon User

If you loved the old arcade games, you will love this game pack. I give this game a "4", simply because there is a limit on how much you can play a game like Missile Command or Centipede.

What worried me was whether the games would emulate the Arcade machines well. I would say it's almost perfect.

The video interviews with the founder of Atari are great too! :)

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