Great One-Button Games?
December 22, 2015 7:37 AM Subscribe
I built a RetroPie system into an old Atari 2600 for my wife's Christmas Present, but I need some help deciding which ROMs to load. Snowflake details inside...
Mrs. Ifly46niner is what might best be described as an "old school" gamer, in that she only wants to play with the old Atari joystick. I've got MAME up and running, but now I need suggestions for great ROMS that only use a joystick and ONE BUTTON. So far, I've got:
Ms. PacMan
Frogger
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong Jr.
Donkey Kong 3
Mappy
Space Invaders
Time Pilot
Zaxxon
Any other suggestions would be MUCH appreciated!
Mrs. Ifly46niner is what might best be described as an "old school" gamer, in that she only wants to play with the old Atari joystick. I've got MAME up and running, but now I need suggestions for great ROMS that only use a joystick and ONE BUTTON. So far, I've got:
Ms. PacMan
Frogger
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong Jr.
Donkey Kong 3
Mappy
Space Invaders
Time Pilot
Zaxxon
Any other suggestions would be MUCH appreciated!
Best answer: Q*Bert for sure.
Asteroids
Dig Dug
If you're doing multiplayer, Combat was awesome and frustrating and would probably make a great drinking game.
posted by Ufez Jones at 7:50 AM on December 22, 2015
Asteroids
Dig Dug
If you're doing multiplayer, Combat was awesome and frustrating and would probably make a great drinking game.
posted by Ufez Jones at 7:50 AM on December 22, 2015
YARS REVENGE
posted by boo_radley at 7:50 AM on December 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by boo_radley at 7:50 AM on December 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Some of my favorites:
Joust
Centipede
Pitfall!
Enduro
Cosmic Ark
Atlantis
Riddle of the Sphinx
Q*bert
Dig Dug
Kangaroo
Freeway
Frogger
Pac-Man (any variant)
posted by limeonaire at 7:51 AM on December 22, 2015
Joust
Centipede
Pitfall!
Enduro
Cosmic Ark
Atlantis
Riddle of the Sphinx
Q*bert
Dig Dug
Kangaroo
Freeway
Frogger
Pac-Man (any variant)
posted by limeonaire at 7:51 AM on December 22, 2015
bondcliff: "Jungle Hunt!"
Oh man, what was sega's isometric jungle game? It was a one-button game, too and it'd fit in perfectly here.
posted by boo_radley at 8:12 AM on December 22, 2015
Oh man, what was sega's isometric jungle game? It was a one-button game, too and it'd fit in perfectly here.
posted by boo_radley at 8:12 AM on December 22, 2015
Best answer: Intruder Alert!
Intruder Alert!
Berzerk
posted by Rob Rockets at 8:23 AM on December 22, 2015
Intruder Alert!
Berzerk
posted by Rob Rockets at 8:23 AM on December 22, 2015
The Activision games for the 2600 were some of my favorites. Pitfall, Barnstormer, and River Raid.
posted by zippy at 8:25 AM on December 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by zippy at 8:25 AM on December 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I see that RetroPIE also works with Genesis/Megadrive titles. IIRC, Sonic the Hedgehog and its sequels are all one-button games -- all three buttons on the Genesis controller simply map to "jump".
posted by Strange Interlude at 8:31 AM on December 22, 2015
posted by Strange Interlude at 8:31 AM on December 22, 2015
Best answer: (It's actually possible to play Sonic on a Genesis with an Atari joystick, since the joystick ports are compatible!)
I don't have anything to contribute, except that H.E.R.O. is a personal favorite for the 2600.
Oh man, what was sega's isometric jungle game? It was a one-button game, too and it'd fit in perfectly here.
You're probably thinking of Congo Bongo.
posted by neckro23 at 9:17 AM on December 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
I don't have anything to contribute, except that H.E.R.O. is a personal favorite for the 2600.
Oh man, what was sega's isometric jungle game? It was a one-button game, too and it'd fit in perfectly here.
You're probably thinking of Congo Bongo.
posted by neckro23 at 9:17 AM on December 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
The Atari and third-party "de-makes" of popular 8-bit games when the 2600 was reintroduced in the mid-'80s were kind of interesting too. I remember playing the hell out of 2600 Double Dragon, Commando, California Games, Rampage, Ikari Warriors, and Kung-Fu Master well before we got an NES at my house. There was also a fairly intense Gauntlet clone called Dark Chambers that I have fond memories of.
posted by Strange Interlude at 9:58 AM on December 22, 2015
posted by Strange Interlude at 9:58 AM on December 22, 2015
Response by poster: These are all great! I'm trying to stick to MAME roms right now, and have already loaded a few based on your suggestions (Dig Dug, Q-Bert, Joust, Centipede, Jungle Hunt, Congo Bongo, and Berzerk). Keep 'em coming!
posted by richmondparker at 10:00 AM on December 22, 2015
posted by richmondparker at 10:00 AM on December 22, 2015
I can't believe nobody has suggested E.T. yet!
posted by Mr. Big Business at 10:56 AM on December 22, 2015
posted by Mr. Big Business at 10:56 AM on December 22, 2015
If you want a really deep cut, I'm pretty sure Scrambled Egg fits the bill. Which is like Pax Man in Hard Mode.
posted by KernalM at 11:23 AM on December 22, 2015
posted by KernalM at 11:23 AM on December 22, 2015
Lode Runner
posted by Nerd of the North at 12:39 PM on December 22, 2015
posted by Nerd of the North at 12:39 PM on December 22, 2015
Best answer: I do not see Galaga anywhere in these answers yet. YOU PEOPLE SHOULD BE ASHAMED.
Also, definitely needs Atari 2600 Adventure.
posted by hanov3r at 12:53 PM on December 22, 2015
Also, definitely needs Atari 2600 Adventure.
posted by hanov3r at 12:53 PM on December 22, 2015
Best answer: Wizard of Wor
Pepper II (This game deserves more recognition, it )
Amidar
Zoo Keeper (which was always way too hard)
Klax
Bust A Move/Puzzle Bobble
Sadly Venture has not aged well, but a younger me thought it was really cool.
posted by aspo at 10:35 PM on December 22, 2015
Pepper II (This game deserves more recognition, it )
Amidar
Zoo Keeper (which was always way too hard)
Klax
Bust A Move/Puzzle Bobble
Sadly Venture has not aged well, but a younger me thought it was really cool.
posted by aspo at 10:35 PM on December 22, 2015
Response by poster: Wow, aspo...how have I not seen any of those?! They all look great!
posted by richmondparker at 1:02 PM on December 23, 2015
posted by richmondparker at 1:02 PM on December 23, 2015
Smurf Rescue in Gargamel's Castle (Colecovision but also had a 2600 port)
Lode Runner
Space Panic
Air-Sea Battle
posted by Kafkaesque at 1:09 PM on December 23, 2015
Lode Runner
Space Panic
Air-Sea Battle
posted by Kafkaesque at 1:09 PM on December 23, 2015
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posted by bondcliff at 7:44 AM on December 22, 2015