HANDS-ON: The Atari 7800+ seems to be set to enhance on the 2600+ in a single main method

While you consider outdated Atari consoles, most individuals image the Atari 2600 (aka the Atari VCS), that traditional woodgrain system with the big switches on it. It’s the rationale Atari determined to recreate the 2600 final 12 months with the Atari 2600+, an up to date model of the console that works on trendy televisions.

Not everybody grew up with that specific console, nonetheless, and the Atari 2600+ had a few points, so Atari has determined to kill two birds with one cartridge by updating one other classic system.

The Atari 7800+, very similar to final 12 months’s providing, is a contemporary model of the unique Atari 7800 with quite a few high quality of life options designed to attraction to long-time Atari followers. Just like the 2600+ earlier than it, it’s not essentially speculated to introduce newcomers to Atari – there’s the unbelievable Atari 50 by Digital Eclipse for that – however is as an alternative aimed toward a small however devoted area of interest who already play classic Atari video games.

The overwhelming majority of contemporary televisions don’t have the suitable connectors to deal with outdated consoles from the mid ‘80s, so the 7800+ makes issues a lot simpler by providing a regular HDMI output as an alternative of the outdated RF output you needed to plug right into a TV’s aerial socket.

Reasonably than containing a number of built-in video games like most of as we speak’s ‘mini’ consoles, the 7800+ runs precise Atari 2600 and 7800 cartridges from again within the day. It’s utilizing emulation below the hood, however the feeling of really operating bodily cartridges will nonetheless be one which some Atari followers will love.

After all, anybody who has the Atari 2600+ (or learn our evaluation of it final 12 months) will know that it already did all this, so what’s the purpose of shopping for the 7800+ if you have already got that? For plenty of folks, the frank reply shall be “not a lot”. In actuality, the 7800+ is extra a refresh of the 2600+, albeit one in a totally totally different kind issue.

Ardent Atari collectors will clearly need one as a result of at £110 / $130 it’s a comparatively cheap value to pay for one more recreation of a traditional system that’s in good situation and works on trendy TVs. Even when the 2600+ does virtually the identical factor, they’ll look nice side-by-side.

Some may even simply favor the design of the 7800+. Whereas the 2600 was very a lot a product of the Nineteen Seventies with its woodgrain end, the 7800 screamed ‘80s with its black case and its sci-fi silver stripe. Each consoles look utterly totally different, so it’s good to have the choice based mostly on private style.

The primary distinction right here, nonetheless, isn’t within the console itself however what it comes with. The 2600+ got here with a fairly genuine recreation of the unique Atari joystick, completely nailing the squishy really feel. What’s extra, as a result of the principle goal of the console was long-time Atari homeowners, the brand new joystick additionally labored on unique Atari VCS / 2600 consoles from the ‘70s, and anybody with outdated joysticks from again then might use them within the 2600+ with out challenge too.

This time across the 7800+ comes with a CX78+ controller. The 7800 was initially launched with an odd joystick that appeared a bit like a foot pedal, however in Europe it began delivery as an alternative with the CX78, a stunning little joypad impressed by the NES and Grasp System controllers (and that includes the latter’s skill to screw a tiny joystick into the center of the D-Pad).

It’s this splendid little controller that comes with the 7800+, and this time it’s even wi-fi. A receiver plugs into the usual controller port, permitting you to play the console untethered, fixing one of many most important issues folks had with the 2600+ and its brief controller cable.

Compatibility stays the order of the day too, which means the 7800+ can nonetheless deal with all these outdated wired Atari joysticks you will have mendacity round. The reverse is true too – I used to be informed the brand new CX78+ can be utilized on outdated unique 2600 and 7800 consoles, permitting you to play these wirelessly.

When it comes to video games, the 7800+ may have roughly the identical compatibility because the 2600+ plus. Final 12 months’s console supported outdated Atari 2600 and Atari 7800 cartridges, and the 7800+ will do precisely the identical factor.

It even comes with a brand new official 7800 sport, a sequel to Atari’s traditional Crystal Castles. Named Bentley Bear’s Crystal Quest, the sport was initially a homebrew launch however has now been given the official therapy and shall be bundled with the 7800+. And sure, it may be performed on unique 7800 {hardware} too.

Thus far, then, plainly the 7800+ goes to be an easy various to the 2600+, however a welcome one nonetheless with a brand new default management methodology that higher fits trendy play with out eliminating the choice for extra conventional controllers for many who need to use them.

The console shall be launched in November, however we must always hopefully have a full evaluation up earlier than then, simply in case there are any good (or nasty) surprises you have to be conscious of.