Retro Atari Classics
{{Short description|2005 video game}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Retro Atari Classics
| image = Retro Atari Classics Coverart.png
| developer = Taniko
| publisher = Atari
| designer =
| engine =
| released = {{vgrelease|EU|March 11, 2005|NA|March 15, 2005{{Cite web |title=DS goes old school with Atari Retro Classics |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ds-goes-old-school-with-atari-retro-classics/1100-6115057/ |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}|AUS|March 18, 2005}}
| genre = Various
| modes = Single-player
| composer = Allister Brimble, Anthony N. Putson
| platforms = Nintendo DS
}}
Retro Atari Classics is a collection of Atari video games for the Nintendo DS developed by American studio Taniko and released in 2005 by Atari. The game features classic Atari games as well as remixed versions of each of the selections. The game's development faced challenges of working with the then-changing prototype Nintendo DS hardware. The game received mixed reviews from critics.
Gameplay
Retro Atari Classics is a compilation game that includes 10 different arcade games from Atari's library. Included games are listed below.
{{collist|
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Retro Atari Classics includes a "remix" mode which includes updated visuals by graffiti artists for the classic games. The games have been modified from their originals to support both DS screens and include a touch screen.
Development
Development on Retro Atari Classics began before the Nintendo DS had been released.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Mike |date=2017-05-12 |title=Wonder Boy: Omar Cornut Is Building His Own Miracle World |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/wonder-boy-omar-cornut-is-building-his-own-miracle-world |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512222612/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/wonder-boy-omar-cornut-is-building-his-own-miracle-world |archive-date=2017-05-12 |access-date=2023-03-26 }} The prototype DS that developer Taniko worked with only had a single screen for six months. Developer Omar Cornut, who was part of Taniko's programming team for the game, later recalled, "A month before they announced the DS, they told us, 'Oh, by the way, there's a second screen on the DS. Enjoy remaking your game.' The game was rubbish, but was interesting."
For the remix versions of the games, Atari hired a number of famous graffiti artists for the designs, including Shepard Fairey who designed OBEY Giant.{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Craig |date=2004-12-13 |title=Retro Atari Classics |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/12/13/retro-atari-classics-2 |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326044449/https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/12/13/retro-atari-classics-2 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=IGN Staff |date=2005-01-10 |title=CES 2005: Hands-On: Retro Atari |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/01/10/ces-2005-hands-on-retro-atari |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326044500/https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/01/10/ces-2005-hands-on-retro-atari |url-status=live }} The title was originally announced by Atari in December 2004.{{Cite web |last=Surette |first=Tim |date=2004-12-15 |title=DS goes old school with Atari Retro Classics |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ds-goes-old-school-with-atari-retro-classics/1100-6115057/ |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326044522/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ds-goes-old-school-with-atari-retro-classics/1100-6115057/ |url-status=live }} A preview of the game in the same month by GameSpot
Reception
{{Video game reviews
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| rev1Score =
| rev2 = Nintendo Life
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According to Metacritic, the game received average reviews with a 51/100.{{Cite web |title=Retro Atari Classics |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/retro-atari-classics/critic-reviews/?platform=ds |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=Metacritic |language=en |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326041205/https://www.metacritic.com/game/ds/retro-atari-classics |url-status=live }} CNET's Zennith Geisler called the older games "boxy and dull" and noted that the remixed versions "are bright, gaudy, and cheap."{{Cite web |last=Geisler |first=Zennith |date=2005-06-23 |title=Retro Atari Classics DS review: Retro Atari Classics DS |url=https://www.cnet.com/reviews/retro-atari-classics-ds-review/ |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=CNET |language=en |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326041205/https://www.cnet.com/reviews/retro-atari-classics-ds-review/ |url-status=live }} GameSpot's Jeff Gerstmann criticized the reprogramming that the classic games went through, noting that the controls were inferior to the original versions.{{Cite web |last=Gerstmann |first=Jeff |date=2005-03-25 |title=Retro Atari Classics Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/retro-atari-classics-review/1900-6120954/ |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US |archive-date=April 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430040552/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/retro-atari-classics-review/1900-6120954/ |url-status=live }} Gerstmann also noted that the remix versions artwork "isn't implemented very well" and said that the collection was "the sort of game that's unpleasing to every possible audience." Nintendo Life's Sean Aaron commented that many of the DS versions of the original arcade games as "disappointing."{{Cite web |last=Aaron |first=Sean |date=2010-08-01 |title=Review: Retro Atari Classics (DS) |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/ds/retro_atari_classics |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326041208/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/ds/retro_atari_classics |url-status=live }} Both Gerstmann and Aaron singled out Centipede as being especially worse in comparison to their arcade counterpart. IGN
References
{{Atari compilations}}
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{{Asteroids series}}
{{Breakout series}}
{{Centipede series}}
{{Missile Command}}
{{Pong series}}
{{Tempest series}}
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Category:Atari video game compilations
Category:Nintendo DS-only games
Category:Single-player video games