Difference between revisions of "Megamania"

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[[Image:Megamania - 2600 - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|2600 box art.]]
 
[[Image:Megamania - 2600 - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|2600 box art.]]
  
'''''Megamania''''' is a classic single-screen shooter programmed by [[Steve Cartwright]] and published by [[Activision]] in 1982 on the [[Atari 2600]], and then later on the [[Atari 5200]] and [[Atari 8-bit]] computers. This is one of my favorite Atari 2600 games, and a favorite of the single-screen space shooter genre.
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'''''Megamania''''' is a classic single-screen shooter programmed by [[Steve Cartwright]] and published by [[Activision]] in 1982 on the [[Atari 2600]], and in 1983 on the [[Atari 5200]] and [[Atari 8-bit]] computers. This is one of my favorite Atari 2600 games, and a favorite of the single-screen space shooter genre.
  
 
I first played the game as one of the many games in a used collection of Atari game my parents bought us kids at a garage sale. I once programmed by own version of Megamania in [[QuickBASIC]].
 
I first played the game as one of the many games in a used collection of Atari game my parents bought us kids at a garage sale. I once programmed by own version of Megamania in [[QuickBASIC]].
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==Review==
 
==Review==
 
* '''Overall:''' 5/10
 
* '''Overall:''' 5/10
* '''Best Version:''' Atari 2600?
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* '''Best Version:''' Atari 8-bit
  
 
===Good===
 
===Good===
 
* Despite the Atari 2600's memory restrictions, Cartwright packed a lot of variation into this game's enemies. They follow different movement patterns, look different, and each have several variations.
 
* Despite the Atari 2600's memory restrictions, Cartwright packed a lot of variation into this game's enemies. They follow different movement patterns, look different, and each have several variations.
* Even though the ships design repeats, the palette shifts, and the enemy ships adopt new movement patterns in subsequent waves.
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* Even though the ship designs repeat, the palette shifts and the enemy ships adopt new movement patterns in subsequent waves giving the game more variety.
 
* Being able to control the ship's gun in different ways was a nice addition.
 
* Being able to control the ship's gun in different ways was a nice addition.
 
* The game has really nice sound for a 2600 game.
 
* The game has really nice sound for a 2600 game.
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* Nothing.
 
* Nothing.
  
==Box Art==
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==Media==
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===Box Art===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Megamania - 2600 - USA.jpg|The cartoonish 2600 box art beautifully depicts the game.
 
Megamania - 2600 - USA.jpg|The cartoonish 2600 box art beautifully depicts the game.
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</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
==Documentation==
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===Documentation===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Megamania - 2600 - Manual.pdf|2600 manual.
 
Megamania - 2600 - Manual.pdf|2600 manual.
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Megamania - Patch.jpg|Megamaniacs patch.
 
Megamania - Patch.jpg|Megamaniacs patch.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
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===Videos===
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8v-wtcDGpo youtube.com/watch?v=c8v-wtcDGpo] - Longplay of a full score of 999,999.
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==Ports==
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{| class="wikitable sortable" |
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! Port !! Released !! Porter !! Publisher !! Notes
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|-
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| [[Atari 2600]] || 1982-??-?? || [[Activision]] || [[Activision]] || Original release.
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|-
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| [[Atari 5200]] || 1983-??-?? || [[Activision]] || [[Activision]] || More detailed graphics and additional sound effects.
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|-
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| [[Atari 8-bit]] || 1983-??-?? || [[Activision]] || [[Activision]] || Nearly identical to the 5200 port.
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|}
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
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[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
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[[Category: Atari 2600 Games]]
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[[Category: Atari 5200 Games]]
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[[Category: Atari 8-bit Games]]
 
[[Category: Action]]
 
[[Category: Action]]
 
[[Category: Shooter]]
 
[[Category: Shooter]]
 
[[Category: Single-Screen]]
 
[[Category: Single-Screen]]
 
[[Category: Science Fiction]]
 
[[Category: Science Fiction]]
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[[Category: Multi-Player]]

Revision as of 10:57, 8 June 2018

2600 box art.

Megamania is a classic single-screen shooter programmed by Steve Cartwright and published by Activision in 1982 on the Atari 2600, and in 1983 on the Atari 5200 and Atari 8-bit computers. This is one of my favorite Atari 2600 games, and a favorite of the single-screen space shooter genre.

I first played the game as one of the many games in a used collection of Atari game my parents bought us kids at a garage sale. I once programmed by own version of Megamania in QuickBASIC.

Status

I own Megamania for the Atari 2600. My highest score is 111,920, well beyond the score of 45,000 needed to earn the Activision Megamaniacs patch, but a far cry from when the game stops counting at 999,999.

Review

  • Overall: 5/10
  • Best Version: Atari 8-bit

Good

  • Despite the Atari 2600's memory restrictions, Cartwright packed a lot of variation into this game's enemies. They follow different movement patterns, look different, and each have several variations.
  • Even though the ship designs repeat, the palette shifts and the enemy ships adopt new movement patterns in subsequent waves giving the game more variety.
  • Being able to control the ship's gun in different ways was a nice addition.
  • The game has really nice sound for a 2600 game.

Bad

  • Due to the extreme limits of the Atari 2600, the game is unfortunately too repetitive.

Ugly

  • Nothing.

Media

Box Art

Documentation

Videos

Ports

Port Released Porter Publisher Notes
Atari 2600 1982-??-?? Activision Activision Original release.
Atari 5200 1983-??-?? Activision Activision More detailed graphics and additional sound effects.
Atari 8-bit 1983-??-?? Activision Activision Nearly identical to the 5200 port.

Links