Keystone Kapers [Atari 2600] – Review
March 18, 2013
Officer Kelly runs and jumps comically well in Keystone Kapers.
Taking inspiration from the Keystone Cops, a series of slapstick films from the 1910s, Garry Kitchen’s Keystone Kapers nails the humorous exchange between Officer Kelly and Harry Hooligan with animation alone.
Harry has ripped off Southwick’s and Officer Kelly is hot on his heels in the expansive four-story department store. Although Harry has a massive head start, Officer Kelly runs comically fast; and whoever said white men can’t jump must have never met Kelly. Regardless of speed or mad hops though, knowing the stage layout is the most important factor.
With four floors, getting around and catching Harry can be difficult, even with elevators and escalators. I found that I used different methods depending on the stage because Harry would immediately run the opposite direction as soon as we were on the same floor. These updated strategies were prompted by the ever-growing amount of obstacles that I’d have to have Kelly jump over and duck under. There was a puzzle solving element to the game as I advanced to new stages and had to combat the obstacles.
Sega’s Bonanza Bros. must’ve been inspired by Keystone Kapers, Activision’s cops and robbers game.
Originally released on the Atari 2600 in 1983, Keystone Kapers 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 was 35,000 points.
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.