2019/8/25: Atari 2600: Shark Attack, Double Dragon

[VideoGameCritic]

These are two re-reviews. I recently replayed these games and noticed their reviews were a little sparse.

[envytomdead]

I actually like Double Dragon quite a bit. Once you master the elbow smash it becomes much more playable and fun! I have beaten the game without losing a life. I cannot use the default 2600 stick however, I need to use a genesis controller or a 7800 proline. You need a controller that can hit the upper left/right diagonal.

[goldenband]

There's a hack for Double Dragon that maps one of the moves to a second button on the Genesis controller (which the VCS can read, interestingly enough). It makes a real difference.

In fact there are a whole bunch of Genesis controller hacks for VCS games, and for some they completely change the playability of the game!

[VideoGameCritic]

Looks like I may need to give this one another look - with a Genesis controller!

[Voor]

Since you’re such a huge fan of Jaws (I am too), you may want to check out “Duel”. It was Spielberg’s directing debut, and in many ways, feels like a spiritual precursor to Jaws. Exceptionally simple plot, but super effective interns of building tension.

https://youtu.be/h-6A79qTFNg

[Stalvern]

Is "pick octopus" in the Shark Attack review supposed to be "pink octopus"?

Also, the Double Dragon review has "Linger anywhere near a thug [and] you'll take multiple hits" and "suggesting there a multiple levels".

[VideoGameCritic]

Thanks for the feedback Stalvern - fixing those typos now.

By the way my friend Chris and I revisited Double Dragon with a Genesis controller today, and it's really not much better.
Yes I did get the hang of throwing elbows, but sitting there trying to bait thugs into running into your elbow isn't much fun.
That's really not the way Double Dragon is normally played.

[Retro STrife]

Learning something new every day - I never knew you could use Genesis controllers on the 2600, thanks

[Luigi & Peach]

Learning something new every day - I never knew you could use Genesis controllers on the 2600, thanks

You could also use the 7800 controller on the Genesis. No real reason to, but in a pinch you could play an effective game of Sonic (Mortal Kombat not so much).

[SpiceWare]

Learning something new every day - I never knew you could use Genesis controllers on the 2600, thanks

Games hacked for two buttons can be found in this topic at AtariAge. It also contains a list of homebrews with 2-button support, though is missing newer ones like Scramble and Super Cobra Arcade.

The reading of the second button is the inverse of the normal one, which makes it possible to detect if a Genesis controller plugged in when the Atari is turned on. For Stay Frosty 2 I show what was detected on the title screen. I didn't realize it was possible for Space Rocks, so you have to select controller type in the menu.

large_1044_2600_StayFrosty2_Shot_1.png (1.55 KiB) Viewed 2276 times

large_1044_2600_StayFrosty2_Shot_2.png (1.57 KiB) Viewed 2276 times

spacerocks20121129_NTSC_encore.png (5.22 KiB) Viewed 2276 times