$219 device’s 25 built-in games and working cartridge port appeal, but it still comes with that terrible palm-gouging joystick.
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Watch On “What I love most about THE 800XL is that it captures an entire way of experiencing technology,” said Namer Merli, the Senior Product Marketing Manager at Plaion. “Real keys, real cartridges, a proper joystick, BASIC programming, games, secrets and discovery.” Indeed, it does these things, with enough modern niceties (USB, HDMI, built-in game, etc.) to make it both accessible to newbies and appealing to Atari 8-bit computer veterans still maintaining ancient hardware.
Overall, the design appears to maintain the look and feel of the original, though we’d need to test it to confirm feelings about the build. Purchasers will also likely appreciate the immediate power-up-and-play capabilities of this recreation. There’s an instant software library, built in, and among the games I can see is Star Raiders II – the Atari 8-bit computer ‘killer app’ sequel. Of course you get versions of some Atari arcade/console classics too, like Asteroids , Centipede, Battlezone, and Missile Command. As well as the 25 instantly accessible games, there are two more – Castle Crisis and Super Breakout – that are only unlocked when you plug in an analog controller (not included).
Airball, Asteroids, Basketball, BattleZone, Berzerk, Boulder Dash, Bristles, Capture the Flag, Centipede, Crystal Castles, Elektraglide, Encounter, Flip and Flop, Henry’s House, Hover Bovver, Lee, M.U.L.E., Millipede, Miner 2049er, Missile Command, O’Riley’s Mine, The Seven Cities of Gold, Star Raiders II, Wavy Navy and Yoomp!
With its cartridge port, obviously the new 800XL can use a range of cartridges that also worked with the original. Specifically, the product page mentions that “most Atari 400, 800, XL, and XE cartridges” are supported by the new system.
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Key considerations
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Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/retro-gaming/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/retro-gaming/the-atari-800xl-returns-with-a-faithful-but-modern-retro-games-ltd-redesign-classic-8-bit-home-computer-revamp-sports-mechanical-keyboard-and-hdmi-connectivity#main
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Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.