2020/1/25: Atari 7800: Dark Chambers, Serpentine

[VideoGameCritic]

Posted a pair of new Atari 7800 reviews. Dark Chambers is an update of the very short 1999 original, with the grade dropping from D to F. Serpentine is new.

[goldenband]

Always glad to see more Atari 7800 reviews! I've played Dark Chambers a little bit, not enough to know the game well but it's long been on my "someday" list. Playing with a Proline sounds like a miserable experience.

There's a funny video where a guy plays through Level Z with his kids watching, which -- spoiler alert! -- shows what happens when you complete Level Z:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ONpm32ZZvI

What a reward after all that effort!

[Teddybear]

Always glad for any 1980's game reviews! At first glance I thought Serpentine was a KC's Crazy Chase conversion for the 7800.

Dark Chambers is also on my "someday" list but when a game grade gets downgraded to an F I might find another game to tackle on this list (Space Shuttle or Secret Quest for example).

[envytomdead]

Although I wouldn't call Dark Chambers a good game, it's definitely not a F. IMHO, a F should be reserved for games that are unplayable. Dark Chambers is playable, just dull. I think the critic's first grade of a D was more accurate.

[AtariToday]

Dark Chambers is a guilty pleasure of mine. Downgrading it to an F rating?
It's not that bad, dude...

[ThePixelatedGenocide]

Most of your complaints about Dark Chambers are completely fair, but...

Dark Chambers is just a port of Dandy.

It's the game that inspired Gauntlet, not the other way around.

Atari probably would have loved to get the rights to the arcade game, but by then the arcade division was another company entirely, with more ties to Namco.

[crimefighter]

The dropping of an egg in Sepentine is when you finish a level and the enemy snakes don't eat it it spawns an extra life.

[VideoGameCritic]

The dropping of an egg in Sepentine is when you finish a level and the enemy snakes don't eat it it spawns an extra life.

I'm not so sure about that. I recall still chasing snakes around when this happens.

[zetax]

Kind of surprised by the low Serpentine score. Played the heck out of it in the mid 80s on the old 800XL and genuinely enjoyed it. Like Pac-Man crossed with Shark! Shark! (soft of). Granted, haven't touched it for almost 30 years. Just got the Atari re-hooked up, will give it another go!

[crimefighter]

The dropping of an egg in Sepentine is when you finish a level and the enemy snakes don't eat it it spawns an extra life.

I'm not so sure about that. I recall still chasing snakes around when this happens.

You're supposed to finish the level, don't allow another snake to eat it to get the extra life.