Atari and Bandai Namco are celebrating Pac-Man’s forty fifth anniversary in fashion.
Atari 2600 Pac-Man Version and controllers (Picture: ATARI)
Because the Pac-Man franchise celebrates its 45-year anniversary, Atari and Bandai Namco have teamed as much as launch a model new model of the 2600+, full with a shocking new design impressed by the pellet-munching mascot, in addition to a model new cartridge containing two variations of the arcade basic.
Obtainable from Argos for £129.99, the Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Version has a lot the identical performance because the outdated 2600+, letting you play unique 2600 and 7800 cartridges on trendy tv units.
Nonetheless, the very first thing you may discover concerning the newest model of the 2600+ is that it sports activities a brand new look that pays homage to Pac-Man.
A real sight to behold, the console includes a placing yellow and black color scheme that oozes fashion.
Whereas I’ve all the time been a fan of wooden grain look of the unique 2600, it is exhausting to not fall in love with the snazzy new color scheme sported by the Pac-Man mannequin.
One other good contact is that the entrance panel containing Pac-Man and his ghostly rivals truly lights up if you hearth up the console and begin enjoying. It is sufficient to make you are feeling such as you’re again within the arcades, and I completely adore it.
Whereas these design selections are all superficial, the console itself additionally comes with one or two small upgrades that additional justifies the marginally greater price ticket. (The Pac-Man Version prices £129.99, in comparison with £100 for the common mannequin.)
For starters, the 2600+ Pac-Man Version comes with essentially the most present firmware put in, which suggests you may have all the most recent compatibility, and with out the fuss.
I needed to replace the firmware on my unique 2600+ to be able to play a few of the newer Atari releases, which was a little bit of a ache, particularly as a result of I am primarily a Macbook consumer and also you want a Home windows system.
Luckily, you must now be capable to plug in and begin enjoying, which is the way it must be.
Followers can even be happy to listen to that in contrast to the earlier 2600+, the bundled CX40+ Joystick is wi-fi, which suggests you do not have to rise up shut and private together with your TV display when enjoying. You even get a bonus wi-fi dongle if you wish to use the controller on PC.
The controller additionally options the identical attractive yellow color scheme because the console, full with Pac-Man atop the joystick.
It appears so good that I am additionally tempted to choose up all the extra Pac-Man controllers that characterize every Ghost: Crimson for Blinky, Blue for Inky, Orange for Clyde and Pink for Pinky.
Pac-Man Double Function for 2600 (Picture: ATARI)
Sadly, nevertheless, the bundled CX40+ Joystick solely has the one button, which suggests you will not get full controller performance for some 7800 video games. The problem crops up in Tiger Heli 7800, the place you may solely deploy bombs when struck by a bullet.
Should you plan to choose up numerous 7800 video games sooner or later, then I might advocate grabbing a two-button Atari CX78+ controller individually. Not solely does the CX78+ controller have two buttons, however I discover the d-pad simpler to make use of. Be warned: the CX40+ Pac-Man joystick can also be on the stiff aspect out of the field, and takes a short time to interrupt in.
One other factor price noting is that whereas the Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Version comes with a USB energy cable, you may as soon as once more want to provide your individual plug, one thing that appears to be a development with these trendy retro releases.
On the plus aspect, whereas the console does not ship with a plug, it does include a recreation. And it does not get a lot better than Pac-Man Double Function, which is a 2-in-1 cartridge containing Pac-Man 2600 and a brand new 7800 model of Pac-Man that is a lot nearer to the arcade.
Pac-Man Double Function 2600 model for 2600 (Picture: ATARI)
Pac-Man 2600 is not a very nice port, that includes considerably ugly visuals and fewer responsive gameplay. It is not horrible when you get used to it, and undoubtedly price trying out as a curiosity, but it surely hasn’t precisely aged effectively.
Luckily, Pac-Man 7800 is a extremely nice model of the arcade basic. Not solely does it look the half and management easily, but it surely options an possibility to hurry up the gameplay for a very totally different expertise.
The Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Version is the proper marriage between two gaming icons. On the one hand you’ve got acquired the massively influential Atari console that helped take gaming out of the arcades and into houses, and on the opposite you’ve got acquired one of the vital recognisable and beloved gaming characters of all time.
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Issue within the high quality of life upgrades like wi-fi controller and up to date firmware, and the brand new 2600+ console is an absolute must-buy that may make collectors extraordinarily comfortable.
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