2020/5/31: Atari 2600: Basketball, Final Approach, X Mission (Europe)

[VideoGameCritic]

Here's a new batch of Atari 2600 reviews for your reading enjoyment.

Basketball is an update, but grade is the same.

Final Approach is an update, with grade changed from D- to C-

X Mission is a new review.

Feedback welcome.

[Teddybear]

When I first saw Atari 2600: Basketball in the news feed I figured that you were re-reviewing all the basketball games in keeping of the spirit of the NBA Finals that ain't happening this June.......Of course, there is Basketball, Double Dunk and that "basketball" option on Video Olympics.....are there any others?

While off-topic from this current round of 2600 reviews, I would like you to revisit your Double Dunk review. It is from 2000 and I would strongly argue that this may be the BEST sports game for the Atari 2600. I'd put it very close with Super Football, to be sure.

[VideoGameCritic]

Teddybear - Double Dunk just shot to the top of my re-review list! Thanks for the tip.

[VideoGameCritic]

A helpful reader pointed out a few errors I have since fixed.

First, it was the air traffic controllers playing Basketball in the movie Airplane.

Also, the correct spelling of X Mission is X'Mission.

[goldenband]

Nice treat to see a review of X'Mission. I rather liked the gameplay, and it's one of those PAL exclusives that was memorable enough to stick with me, along with a few others like Donald Duck's Speedboat, Time Warp, Mr. Postman, and Parachute.

[VideoGameCritic]

goldenband - can you send me those ROMs?
Donald Duck's Speedboat sounds like a fun summer game.

[goldenband]

goldenband - can you send me those ROMs?
Donald Duck's Speedboat sounds like a fun summer game.

Done! I've just sent them to your Gmail. And yes, Donald Duck's Speedboat is a nifty little game -- not necessarily one you'll play for hours and hours, but cute while it lasts.

[VideoGameCritic]

Whoa. I got sent the motherlode from two readers.
I won't be running out of 2600 games to review any time soon!
A critic's work is never done...

[goldenband]

Awesome! Send word if you need any help sorting it all out -- the plethora of different versions, etc. can get a little overwhelming.

Good news is, you're getting close to having all the official NTSC releases done -- fewer than 50 left. Meanwhile, some of those PAL exclusives were released in a sketchy/bootleg-ish way in NTSC, while others only have fan-made conversions -- but in any event all of them are playable thanks to the efforts and research of various folks.

By the way, AtariAge user IHATETHEBEARS has a pretty good sum-up of the full Atari 2600 library here:

https://atariage.com/forums/blogs/entry ... nswer-471/

[VideoGameCritic]

If you guys could point me to the ones most worthy of reviewing, that might save me a lot of time and effort.
Thanks!!