Retro Atari Classics

 DS
Metascore
51

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 17
  3. Negative: 9 out of 17
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  1. Nintendo Insider
    48
    The few games even available aren’t faithfully recreated, are mostly on the dull side, and feature remix styles that will mostly make you want to puke.
  2. GameSpot
    45
    The sort of game that's unpleasing to every possible audience. The hardcore retro fan base will scoff at the way these games have been shoddily reprogrammed. Fans of the graffiti artists will wonder why all the artwork is so poorly used.
  3. GameBiz
    45
    If you're dying to relive the classics, buy the actual Atari system and all the games - it can hardly set you back more than $20. At least you'll play the original, and won't have to face the travesty of the remixed modes.
  5. Eurogamer
    40
    Your veritable cast iron "mixed bag" of timeless gems and pointless curios in which some work well on the DS, some don't and as long as you can deny all knowledge of seeing the Remix mode retro gamers won't be totally offended.
  6. Cheat Code Central
    40
    What game would include a version of Pong as part of its compilation? That has to tell you something. I can live with Breakout - but Pong? That's digging to the bottom of the barrel.
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  7. RewiredMind
    40
    An average package by anyone’s standards, especially given that most people’s mobile phones can play a mean version of most of the games on the cartridge for a similar cost per title.
  8. Modojo
    40
    I'm a huge retro fan, and it disappoints me to see something with a good idea from the past ruined by so many little things.
  9. 1UP
    35
    Given a choice between these broken versions of classics or simply not having these games on DS at all, I think in the end I'd rather have not had them. At least then there'd have been hope that someone could have done them justice, someday.
  10. PALGN
    20
    An outright travesty.

Awards & Rankings

53
#53 Best DS Game of 2005
49
#49 Most Discussed DS Game of 2005

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
3.7

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 5 out of 7
  1. A.W.
    Dec 21, 2006
    3
    Right, I'm trying to think of a polite way to describe this, but I'm having a hard time. I love retro games, and I adore MAME, but Right, I'm trying to think of a polite way to describe this, but I'm having a hard time. I love retro games, and I adore MAME, but this compilation... No. I hate it. The remixes are dire, every time you lose a ball in arkanoid you're told "You Suck!" - actually no, if anyone sucks that'll be the developers, testers and graphicians ;) However, I could live with the nastiness of the remixes, if it weren't for the damage they've done on the originals as well... Breakout is a prime example - the play area is split across both screens, sounds good in theory, right? Wrong! Why? Well, the playfield alignment assumes there's no gap between the two screens... I've got news guys - there is a gap! This means that the ball suddenly seems to jump when it's halfway up or down the screen. Did anyone even playtest this on a real DS?!?… Full Review »
  2. DukjinI.
    Dec 1, 2007
    0
    0 Absolute 0, well deserved. I can't believe critics rated this anywhere close to 50. If you look at the review list, you'll notice 0 Absolute 0, well deserved. I can't believe critics rated this anywhere close to 50. If you look at the review list, you'll notice all the REPUTABLE reviewers put it in the red, low scores. Given that there are ports of these games out there, I figured, "how bad can it be?". None of these games appear to be emulations of the originals in any way. They are each shoddily written games that sort of look like the original visually... until you play them. Then you find that the controls are bad, the movement doesn't match up... it's all incredibly annoying, because these are LICENSED! Why can't they just put the original code in? (and the remixes are even worse) I bought this for $10, and I want my money back. I only bought it because I figured if even ONE of the games was good, I'd enjoy it... DEFENDER, TEMPEST... CENTIPEDE... but they ALL look like the original, and play HORRIBLE (This is SHOVELWARE. Do not buy at any price. I would not take it for free. Categorically inferior to any PC emulator version. Horrible controls for several of the games (tempest is unplayable) ) Publisher should be ashamed.… Full Review »
  3. AB
    Apr 5, 2005
    3
    The idea of having portable classic Atari games is great. The idea of having only ten ridiculously translated, nearly unplayable portable The idea of having portable classic Atari games is great. The idea of having only ten ridiculously translated, nearly unplayable portable Atari games with corny graphics is not.… Full Review »
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