Atari 5200 Reviews K-L

It's taken me decades to review what might just be the last unreviewed game on my old Atari 5200 multicart. I always assumed this game didn't work, but then I discovered it only works on the four-port 5200 models. I don't know if I should attribute this bug to the game or the system! When it comes to the 5200, there's plenty of blame to go around.

It turns out I wasn't missing a heck of a lot. This is basically a generic Berzerk (Atari 5200, 1983) clone. You're a skinny little guy working his way through maze-like screens, trying to eliminate wandering robots before heading for the exit. It's not very hard because these robots are slow and lumbering.

These controls could be better, and you can't lay all the blame on the Atari 5200 controller. The fact that you cannot move your man diagonally makes the controls feel stiff. Fortunately you're fleet-of-foot, so when a bullet is coming away, you can often side-step it. The collision detection is suspect, but usually works in your favor.

You can fire shots diagonally, but it's kind of a pain. When you hold down the button you assume a crouching position while aiming your gun with the stick. You'll really need to feel around to find that elusive diagonal angle, and most of the time it's not really worth it.

The flat-headed robots can collide with each other or accidentally shoot each other, and the explosion effects are pretty sweet. Unlike Berzerk, new robots randomly appear around the screen, sometimes right next to you! This is where all the challenge comes from; reacting to new robots appearing around you. It's pretty cheap actually.

The exits are a little narrow and the walls are deadly to touch. It's kind of a bummer when you eliminate 20 robots, only to bang your head on the top of a doorway when dashing out. Eliminating all the robots rewards you with a bonus. The game makes a big deal out of this with whirling sounds and flashing lights. Then it just gives you 300 points. Big deal.

When you die, one of your guy icons at the bottom of the screen keels over in a mildly-amusing (but mostly cheesy) death animation. After each game your performance is evaluated, and you're assigned a rating like "class 5 goon". After decades of owning an Atari 5200 console, I finally got a taste of K-razy Shootout. I didn't find it particularly krazy, but I guess it puts the "K" in OK. © Copyright 2026 The Video Game Critic.

Like most ports of their other Atari 2600 titles, Activision didn't bother sprucing up Kaboom! for the 5200. They just slapped some blocky buildings in the background, and as you catch bombs, the game plays notes from Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture (otherwise known as the theme to the Bad News Bears). The only other addition is a "pitch and catch" mode, which allows a second player to be the mad bomber - not a big deal. The 5200 joystick has analog capabilities, so the control is respectable -- but there's really no substitute for a good paddle controller. I'm a pro on the 2600 version, but I couldn't get very far on this one, and didn't find it nearly as fun. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

It's clearly inspired by Donkey Kong yet Kangaroo has a certain charm of its own. You are a mother Kangaroo attempting to save her kid at the top of the screen. The platforms are formed by tree branches, and these trees happen to be inhabited by apple-hurling monkeys. But get this: you can punch the monkeys in the face! Yes, your kangaroo is armed with a boxing glove and I love how it gets extra large when you unleash your fury. It reminds me of Battletoads (NES, 1991).

Climbing the trees isn't easy due to apple crossfire and the fact that falling any distance will kill you. You collect fruit along the way for points and ringing a bell causes more valuable fruit to appear. The arcade-style graphics look sharp but the audio is lousy. The nursery rhyme-style music will make you cringe and the high-pitched sound effects are just grating. And since this is on the Atari 5200 it almost goes without saying that the control sucks. You push up on the stick to jump, and since it doesn't auto-center you end up hopping several extra times.

Leaping between platforms requires a precision these controllers lack. The spaces between branches are small but your timing needs to be exact or you'll plunge to your death. Your toe literally needs to be just over the edge before you initiate that jump! My first instinct was to dial down the difficulty, but there are only two skill levels: novice and advanced! I guess it's that challenge that keeps me coming back for more. Kangaroo follows a familiar formula but has enough twists to keep things interesting. © Copyright 2014 The Video Game Critic.

While I love the Atari 2600 version of Keystone Kapers, I wasn't impressed with this adaptation. The graphics are nearly identical to the 2600, except for some additional background department store items which have no bearing on the gameplay. I was expecting Activision to at least add a few new obstacles, but no, this is the same game. Happy music plays incessantly, but fortunately it can be turned off. The control is fine until you try to take the elevator. It was difficult enough to line up your man in the 2600 version, and it's nearly impossible here! One nice feature is the ability to select your starting level. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.

This 5200 homebrew cartridge is highly original. You control a yellow fire-fighting helicopter named Koffi, and your main adversary is a storm cloud by the name of "Pyro". Pyro likes to set forest fires with his lightning bolts, but can be defeated simply by bumping into him a number of times. Be warned; you'll need to time your attacks carefully to avoid his bolts. Koffi must also collect raindrops to fill up his water tank, allowing him to douse the flames below. Rescuing animals in the forest earns you bonus points.

Koffi's graphics are colorful and appealing. Lightning bolts shoot from the side of Pyro to form actual words like "BURN!" - a nice touch. The three forest screens are colorful and attractive, and I especially like the one with the evergreen trees and snow. There are ten different animals you can save, and each is nicely rendered in multiple colors. I found it amusing how this group includes a blue whale and calamari. The fourth screen is a "boss" confrontation with Pyro's mother -- a cloud stretched across the top of the screen with two huge eyes.

The game has a few technical issues. First, you must fly at just the right height above the fire in order to release your water, and it took me a while to figure this out. Also, the clumsy 5200 controller will cause Koffi to "slide" into the fire if you're not careful. Rescuing the animals is fun - too bad it's not more integral to the game. Finally, the whole "bumping into clouds" business does get repetitive after a while. Koffi is an acquired taste, but it's fun once you get the hang of it. Five skill levels are provided, so there's ample challenge. Koffi Yellow Copter is a fresh addition to the 5200 library that should appeal to arcade fans of all ages. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.

Having reviewed just about every official release for the system I now find myself descending into the deepest, dark bowels of the Atari 5200 library. Yes, I'm referring to the world of unreleased prototypes - conveniently found on my handy multicart. Looney Tunes Hotel stands out in this wretched hive of scum and villainy, mainly on the strength of its big-name license.

The title screen boasts a large Bug Bunny face overlooking a parade of characters. Actually these "characters" are weird monochromatic shapes that require quite a bit of effort to discern. It's a good thing subtitle names are used to identify Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, and the Tasmanian Devil. Taz looks like a giant purple frog for Pete's sake!

Start up a new game and you're presented with a grid of generic doors, prompting some serious eye-rolling on my part. Some doors contain up or down arrows, transporting you between floors. Playing the role of Bugs Bunny you'll try to avoid the roving Elmer Fudd and a bomb-rolling Yosemite Sam.

Doors left ajar allow you to take cover from enemies and bombs. When a bomb comes to a stop you can pick it up and place it in the doorway, ala Spy Vs Spy (Atari XE, 1984). If you think it all sounds perfectly awful, you'd be right! The game is no fun at all and the point system makes no sense. Confusing, awkward, and just plain ugly, Atari did us all a favor by pulling the plug on this mess. © Copyright 2016 The Video Game Critic.