2023/5/28: Colecovision: Tournament Tennis, Treasure Hunt

[VideoGameCritic]

Here are two brand-new reviews of seasonally correct games!

Tournament Tennis has been long recommended, and it's very good.

Treasure Hunt is a game I had some trouble with (had to send it back for a replacement) but I like its underwater vibe. If somebody would fix the controls, it would be great.

Time for some feedback!

[mbd36]

This is the first I've heard of the "Pencil II", an obscure Australian computer. It's like the TI-99/4A and ZX Spectrum had a baby. https://randoc.wordpress.com/2021/05/02 ... pencil-ii/

[goldenband]

Awesome! Really glad you liked Tournament Tennis, and I agree about plugging in an Atari 2600 controller after selecting your configuration -- it works much better that way.

[VideoGameCritic]

Awesome! Really glad you liked Tournament Tennis, and I agree about plugging in an Atari 2600 controller after selecting your configuration -- it works much better that way.

Yeah, but one little aside for any of you who may be playing the game on a Collectorvision Phoenix (Coleco compatible) console. I plugged in my Wico bat handle for tennis, and later when I tried using it on my 2600 the plug didn't fit as snug and the controls were erratic. Apparently plugging that into the Phoenix stretched the pin holes or something. I would recommend using a cheap 2600 joystick just in case.

[SavagePencil]

I'm curious if your references are auto-generated, because sometimes they feel a little wonky. For example in Treasure Hunt, you cite Scramble which references the 2012 7800 version, but of course (as your Scramble review points out) it came out in arcades in 1981. These references can seem misleading without doing additional research. Not a big deal, but curious as to the methodology being employed.

[k8track]

Have you thought about doing a summer tennis special? You could even include Pong (Video Olympics/Pong Sports)! Also maybe revisit RealSports Tennis for the 2600 and perhaps bump up the grade a notch or so (I used to play that game a ton and would have given it a solid B at least)? I loved playing it with my Acuball controller.

[VideoGameCritic]

I'm curious if your references are auto-generated, because sometimes they feel a little wonky. For example in Treasure Hunt, you cite Scramble which references the 2012 7800 version, but of course (as your Scramble review points out) it came out in arcades in 1981. These references can seem misleading without doing additional research. Not a big deal, but curious as to the methodology being employed.

Good question. When I reference a game, even if it's an old arcade game, I like to link it to a review. In some cases I may have several reviews for a game, but I try to link it to one most representative (ie best grade).

So I am doing it on purpose.

The "if you like this try these" links are auto-generated.

[VideoGameCritic]

Have you thought about doing a summer tennis special? You could even include Pong (Video Olympics/Pong Sports)! Also maybe revisit RealSports Tennis for the 2600 and perhaps bump up the grade a notch or so (I used to play that game a ton and would have given it a solid B at least)? I loved playing it with my Acuball controller.

This is actually a really good idea! I certainly have enough tennis reviews to fill it out! Stay tuned and keep the suggestions coming.

[BlasteroidAli]

Treasure hunt looks awesome. So I decided to check it out. Someone was playing it badly on you tube. The game itself looks great when it is static but when it moves it is not great. Scramble/Super Cobra was a great game back in the day. Taking stages from that could be pretty good fun but then there is the problem with scrolling, something that the Coleco always have a problem with.

[k8track]

This is actually a really good idea! I certainly have enough tennis reviews to fill it out! Stay tuned and keep the suggestions coming.

If you could also go back in time to 1958 and review Willy Higinbotham's Tennis For Two, that would be nifty!

I wonder what the first non-Pong tennis game was for a console, was it Tennis for the Intellivision?