Stinky Games

Some games in the Atari 2600 library, many of them infact, are stinky. Here are three choice stinky selections that I will most likely never be playing again.

 

1. The Challenge of Nexar 

This one is promising, initially. We are greeted by a colourful screen with horizontal lines in different shades, signifying a 3D plane ahead from which enemies will emerge. Our task, predictably, is to shoot those things, but the gimmick here is that you can move all the way around the screen and your aim will stay locked on to the centre.

The enemy ships look pretty cool when they approach the edge of the screen and get bigger and chunkier, but the movement here is just a bit too awkward for the gameplay to be very satisfying. So, while Nexar looks cool and novel at first, it quickly becomes disappointing. 

 

2. Blueprint

This game is another that looks quite beautiful. You are a little stick figure guy, and you have some sort of robot contraption to assemble. To do this, you must enter houses to find pieces. The scene looks inviting. A gorgeous surburban street, and a chubby red enemy parading around with your beautiful blonde girlfriend at the top of the screen. Wow!

Tragically, the fun conceit of the game is somewhat ruined by the vaguely unpleasant feeling of playing it. It's easy to get killed, and it's unpleasant trying to figure out by what means you must build your machine. On top of that, there are bombs to dispose of. Sometimes you just walk into a house and now you're carrying a bomb you have to deal with, lest it blow you up. It's a little bit crazy. And less fun than it sounds.

 

3. BMX Air Master

This one just feels horrible. It gives you a little bike and shows you a beautiful sunset, yes, but it feels hideous. I don't need to say anything else, it just doesn't feel right at all. Eww. I'm not riding a bike. You can't make me.