Activision Anthology

UPC: 047875804937

Platform: PlayStation 2

Publisher: Activision, Inc.

Developer: Contraband Entertainment, Inc.

Category: Compilation

Style(s): Multi-Genre Compilation

Synopsis: Activision's second Atari 2600 compilation for a PlayStation system covers their entire catalog rather than a limited selection of 30 titles. PlayStation 2 owners will be able to revisit nearly 50 games in Activision's classic lineup, from landmark titles, such as Pitfall! and Ice Hockey, to popular hits, like Kaboom! and Chopper Command. In addition to the library of released games, a number of prototypes are also available to peruse, including Kabobber and a few other surprises. Rather than simply offer each game in a traditional menu format, the developers aimed for a nostalgic 1980s interface complete with a simulated bedroom containing a phone, an Atari 2600, and a radio. Complementing the theme is a soundtrack featuring licensed music from the decade of decadence, where players are free to switch songs at any time by clicking on their "bedroom" radio. Two modes of play include Classic, where the games are viewed exactly as they were originally intended, and 3D Enhanced, which presents the games in a new light. Here players can view games on a rotating cube, a bouncing screen, and similar visual effects for an added challenge. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Package Contents: 20-page Instruction Manual

Controls: Joystick/Gamepad

The black-and-white manual has a screen shot of each game, and the interface is explained. However, to find out how to play each game, you'll have to access the disc. ~ Brett Alan Weiss, All Game Guide

The blocky graphics are laughable compared to standard PS2 titles (such as Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec and Devil May Cry), but they are emulated superbly, which is in perfect keeping with the philosophy of the collection. ~ Brett Alan Weiss, All Game Guide

Besting Activision Classics for the PS by 18 games, Activision Anthology collects 48 titles on one disc, giving nostalgia buffs, historians, and fans of retro-gaming alike a chance to relive the glory years of the Atari VCS on their PlayStation 2. As longtime gamers know, Activision, which was the very first third-party video game company, produced some of the best games ever for the VCS, including such groundbreaking classics as Pitfall! and River Raid. While a number of the games in this package are dated beyond playability (a really slow game of Checkers anyone?), many of the games are still enjoyable, especially those of the largely forgotten "slide-and-shoot" genre, such as Demon Attack (certain Imagic titles are included) and Spider Fighter. Other games, such as Stampede, Fishing Derby, and Plaque Attack, offer doses of quirky, sometimes addictive enjoyment, falling into the "they don't make 'em like that anymore" category. Regrettably, Kaboom!, which was the most intense, most enjoyable game Activision ever produced, is virtually unplayable without the Atari paddle controllers. Luckily, most of the other games handle extremely well using the PS2's modern controls. All the games are emulated perfectly (with the exception of scores having a different, less blocky font), and 11 of the games were previously unreleased on any compilation: Baseball, Beamrider, Bridge, Commando, Decathlon, Demon Attack, Moonsweeper, Pitfall 2, Robot Tank, Space Shuttle, and Tomcat: The F14 Flight Simulator. There are two games included that have never been released in any form: Kabobber and Thwocker, both of which are enjoyable. It's nice to have so many titles in one collection, especially for those who grew up with an Atari joystick in one hand and an issue of Electronic Games magazine in the other. Nostalgia is definitely the order of the day, and the interfacing is spectacular, from the onscreen VCS system, to the cartridge rack to the scanned manuals, to the stereo system that plays a variety of hit songs from the 1980s, including tunes by Naked Eyes, Missing Persons, and Twisted Sister. There's something totally surreal (and thoroughly enjoyable) about listening to Blondie's amp;"Tide is High" while playing a rousing game of Megamania. One of the best things about this compilation is that by scoring certain amounts of points in various games, players can unlock original Activision television commercials. Also nifty is the ability to unlock the old send-away patches for achieving high scores. Much less successful are the gimmicky, superficial, largely pointless gameplay modes, which let players add a variety of graphical effects to the games, such as a starry background, cloud cover, or disco colors. Many of the descriptively titled modes, including "Whirl," "Tilt-O-Vision," and "Cube," make the games needlessly harder because of the distorted, nausea-inducing visuals. Hands down the biggest disappointment with this collection is its confounding lack of high score saves. Obviously, since you can unlock certain things by reaching specific scores, the disc charts your progress, but your high scores vanish each time you restart a game. This inconvenience is simply inexcusable considering the vast storage space on the PS2 memory card, not to mention the power of the system itself. These old games are all about high scores, and it's ridiculous not to include a save feature. Nostalgia for the past has very little to do with the hassle of writing down your high scores in a note pad. Despite one silly inclusion (the goofy game modes) and one egregious absence (high score saves), Activision Anthology is a must-have for collectors and a good history lesson for those too young to have experienced the heyday of the Atari VCS. Not only are many of the games still enjoyable, it's like a virtual trip down memory lane. ~ Brett Alan Weiss, All Game Guide

The variety of games on the disc is truly impressive, but they would be more fun to play if you could easily and conveniently shoot for your highest scores. ~ Brett Alan Weiss, All Game Guide

The original game sounds are emulated faithfully and the selection of '80s hits make the games all the more enjoyable. ~ Brett Alan Weiss, All Game Guide

Many gamers will ask: Why play the archaic Enduro when I can whip out my copy of the highly advanced Gran Turismo? Others will respond: Because lots of these games, which were created when gameplay was king, are still enjoyable, still challenging and still addicting. ~ Brett Alan Weiss, All Game Guide

the game requires Joystick/Gamepad.