Activision Anthology [PS2] – Review
February 18, 2013
“Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)” by Squeeze is my favorite track from the tubular 1980s soundtrack.
Released on November 25, 2002 in North America, this compilation collects the majority of Activision’s output on the Atari 2600 and a little more. There are other versions of this game out there on various platforms and truth be told, the PC version appears to be the most complete, but hey, this is what I have. The Wikipedia entry for this game has a wonderful breakdown of what each version includes by the way.
Activision Anthology is nearly over the hill with a list of games that almost numbers fifty. Although many are rather simplistic – requiring the player to learn to uncomplicated mechanics and progressively improve their score – that doesn’t mean these games aren’t worth playing. This simplicity is these games’ selling point. Understanding the mechanics of these games comes quickly, but having a fantastic session and lighting up the scoreboard is something that requires practice.
With the passage of time though, Activision’s games grew more complicated and some, like Pitfall!, revolve more around the experience of a single player. Though sparse here, these games offer a break from the monotony of shooting waves of advancing enemies. Should this offering wear thin after a sojourn with each title, multiplayer should reinvigorate one’s time with Activision Anthology.
Although they’re not much to look at, it’s games like Demon Attack that’ll keep you trying for a better score.
One thing the PS2 game has going for it that perhaps not every version does is top-notch presentation. Barking Lizards Technologies and Contraband Entertainment really knocked it out of the park. Be it through these companies or someone at Activision, it’s clear that there was a real affection for Activision’s output in this era. Rather than a list of games to choose from, the “main menu” is instead stylized after a room as it might look in the 1980s. Situated inside are the Atari 2600, a rack of cartridges, and an old stereo among other goodies.
Hands down, the coolest feature has to be the ability to unlock patches for high scores or other criteria. After achieving a specific goal, a player back in the early 1980s could submit photographic proof to Activision in return for a patch signaling the accomplishment. These patches are quite the collector’s item today and spotlight a cool appreciation program from the past. Also spotlighting the past are the cheesy, premise-based commercials that can also be unlocked; these are definitely worth viewing.
Sega’s Bonanza Bros. must’ve been inspired by Keystone Kapers, Activision’s cops and robbers game.
The wealth of games to play, not to mention the numerous unlockables have kept me satiated longer than anticipated, and I don’t have a particular fondness for the Atari 2600! After a week or so, I’m still playing some of these games trying to beat personal best scores and to experience new enemies and stage designs. That’s the bread and butter of this package. Despite the wonderful presentation, the games are the reason to pick Activision Anthology up.
February 22, 2013 at 8:02 AM
[...] like Dragster, that’s deceptively enjoyable and replayable. Finally, included alongside it in Activision Anthology is an unlockable patch (awarded upon completion of game 3 in under 32 seconds) and its original [...]
February 23, 2013 at 2:36 PM
[...] Freeway’s original commercial and patch are two bonuses players can find in Activision Anthology. The commercial requires at least 30 points in game 1, which is attainable after a round or two, [...]
February 24, 2013 at 8:00 AM
[...] wasn’t my cup of tea. That doesn’t mean I didn’t unlock the related patch and commercial in Activision Anthology though. All I had to do was win a game against the computer and score four points in less than two [...]
February 25, 2013 at 8:03 AM
[...] was not released solely on the Atari 2600. However, it is the version I shall discuss (by way of Activision Anthology on the PlayStation 2 that is). Released in 1981 and designed by Larry Kaplan, versions were also [...]
February 26, 2013 at 8:05 AM
[...] Demon Attack was designed by Rob Fulop and published by Imagic for a variety of home video game consoles and personal computers in the early 1980s. At some point, Activision acquired Imagic, gaining access to their intellectual property and so the Atari 2600 version of this game is included in Activision Anthology. [...]
February 27, 2013 at 8:02 AM
[...] are two patches and a commercial to unlock in Activision Anthology. The commercial comes after losing all lives while the patches require 10,000 and 100,000 points. [...]
February 28, 2013 at 8:14 AM
[...] a match against the computer nets both the commercial and the patch for Tennis in Activision Anthology. I could not triumph and so inserting the hyperlink to the commercial will also be the first time I [...]
March 1, 2013 at 8:01 AM
[...] and Commodore’s VIC-20. There are no unlockable patches or commercials for this game in Activision Anthology but there is an unlockable visual mode to play games in – disco mode, in which the screen is [...]
March 2, 2013 at 8:03 AM
[...] Completion of the first stage in under 30 or so seconds unlocks Barnstorming’s commercial in Activision Anthology. I flew the coop on this game before I unlocking it so adding this hyperlink is my first time [...]
March 3, 2013 at 8:02 AM
[...] are three related unlockables in Activision Anthology: a commercial (seriously lacking R. Lee Ermey), a patch, and a gameplay mode. They require 4,000, [...]
March 4, 2013 at 8:03 AM
[...] of north of 1,500 in games 1 and 3, players will unlock a commercial, patch, and a gameplay mode in Activision Anthology. The commercial really plays off of the game’s theme whereas the multi-screen gameplay mode [...]
March 5, 2013 at 8:01 AM
[...] From what little of the game that I played, I couldn’t tell if the four tracks were based on preset patterns of racers and obstacles or if they were random. This would make success dependent on either memorization or luck/skill. When going balls to the wall, these obstacles and competitors appeared on screen with little time to react. Albeit, I didn’t spend the proper amount of time to develop any skills or techniques. Should I have devoted more time to the game, I might’ve unlocked the related commercial and patch in Activision Anthology. [...]
March 6, 2013 at 8:02 AM
[...] Activision Anthology unlockables included a commercial, a patch, and a gameplay mode which were unlocked with scores of 5,000 to 45,000 points. The trippy commercial features a theme song of sorts performed by The Tubes. The starfield gameplay mode attempts to be as wondrous but doesn’t quite make it. [...]
March 7, 2013 at 8:00 AM
[...] there is an unlockable commercial and patch in Activision Anthology, awarded after 12,000 and 20,000 points which was the actual requirement to get the patch back in [...]
March 8, 2013 at 8:06 AM
[...] points will unlock an additional gameplay mode (cloud cover mode), a commercial, and a patch in Activision Anthology. I thought River Raid was very well-made and contained a satisfying amount of challenge though so I [...]
March 9, 2013 at 3:19 PM
[...] an unlockable commercial or even a new gameplay mode, the only goal for players of Activision Anthology to strive for is the unlockable patch, award after completing game 1 in 37 seconds or less, the [...]
March 11, 2013 at 8:03 AM
[...] represents a first in my articles over Activision Anthology. It is the first game in the compilation that was not originally developed for the Atari 2600. It [...]
March 12, 2013 at 8:02 AM
[...] scoring 1,000 points in Activision Anthology, players unlock the hyperspace gameplay mode. Resembling the popular sequences from the Star Wars [...]
March 13, 2013 at 8:00 AM
[...] Kitchen, it was originally released for the Atari 2600 in 1983. Scoring 17,500 and 25,000 points in Activision Anthology will unlock a patch and a new gameplay mode. Originally players had to achieve a score of 75,000 [...]
March 14, 2013 at 8:07 AM
[...] in Activision Anthology are three patches. The bronze, silver, and gold medal patches are unlocked with 8,000, 9,000, and [...]
March 15, 2013 at 8:06 AM
[...] it be played on Activision Anthology, scores of 10,000 to 25,000 points will unlock patches and a gameplay mode. These requirements are [...]
March 16, 2013 at 5:47 PM
[...] designed by Larry Miller and released for the Atari 2600 in 1983. Driving 250 miles or more in the Activision Anthology version will unlock the “Roadbusters” patch. The original requirement was to drive 5 days or [...]
March 17, 2013 at 8:09 AM
[...] I was able to improve game after game as I tried to unlock the new gameplay mode and patch in Activision Anthology – 4,000 and 12,000 points respectively. The simple and fun arcade-style gameplay on [...]
March 18, 2013 at 8:02 AM
[...] was ported to a few other home consoles/computers of the day. Scoring 10,000 points or more in Activision Anthology will unlock access to “The Billy Club” and the game’s related patch. The original requirement [...]