Introducing the Atari 2600+: A Retro Gaming Console That Packs a Modern Punch
If you’ve ever heard older folks wax lyrical about Atari products, then you may want to give the Atari 2600+ a look. This reinvention brings the original hardware up to modern standards thanks to HDMI support, new cartridges, and even compatibility with original cartridges from the 1980s.
The Atari 2600+ is available to buy from November 17, and can be pre-ordered now for $129.99 / £99.99. The base package includes the console, a CX40+ joystick and a 10-in-1 game cartridge. Additional supported cartridges are also being sold for $29.99 / £24.99 each. The Atari 2600+ is available for purchase from the official Atari 2600+ store page or at Amazon.
The unit is quite eye-catching, with the front-facing wood grain panel contrasting nicely with the rugged black plastic, and it shaves off much of the size and weight of the original model while retaining its look and feel. The Atari 2600+ certainly looks the part.
The Atari 2600+ certainly does what it sets out to do, providing a modern way to play these legacy titles that helped to pave the way for gaming as a whole. It’s an excellent way to experience many cozy classic games via a more up-to-date gaming setup.
Performance-wise, the games run on the system natively via cartridges and the fact it’s compatible with existing 2600 cartridges is very impressive. Its games, while visibly quite simple and blocky, remain perfectly playable today. The responsive, rotational dials on the CX30 paddles are one-to-one with the on-screen action ensuring an enjoyable experience of classic games from the 80s.
There are some design flaws here that hold the Atari 2600+ back from being a must-buy product. The bundled joystick controller is unbearably stiff, and it’s your only option for a controller for many of the games as the console doesn’t have a USB port for alternate controllers. The controller ports located on the rear of the console create some awkwardness around wire placement.
In conclusion, if you’re interested in a modern way to play Atari legacy games and don’t mind dealing with the stiff joystick and some growing pains, the Atari 2600+ is a good buy. However, if you want a smoother controller, and don’t want to deal with messy wire placement, you may want to consider other options.
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