Classic Game Room HD - PHOENIX for Atari 2600 review

[l85a1user]

this game looks FREAKIN AWESOME sure you might look like a chicken but it looks just awesome to play :D

[dpsinoh]

This was one of my favorite old arcade games. Its on the Taito compilation for the PS2 & Xbox

[Zoyxx]

In the arcade version, you see that you aren't controlling a chicken, but a space ship. vXQO0ibclm4

[finmarc]

one of the best for the 2600

[vicentedecordova]

Phoenix > Space Invaders > Demon Attack

[sglider]

I loved this game so much more than Demon Attack...which, IMO, was one of the most overrated 2600 games of all time.

[fpvshitsonhsv]

Was my favorite as a young lad too ,used to play this game all the time. Never used to understand the picture on the cart tho. I always thought you were a spider spitting web at birds then an alien mothership wants some at the end. Liked it so much that i bought a cocktail table top arcade of it ,however the gfx are much better ion the cocktail. Worked out very fast with the stars and planets in the background on the arcade version that it was in space lol. Well thats 2600 for ya haha.Great game

[disciple90633]

this was the best 2600 game ever with ms. pac man 2nd and berserk 3rd. most of the other games for the 2600 sucked bigtime.

[MattTheSaiyan]

A great, highly addictive game on the 2600. That the player looks like a chicken just adds to the charm.

[hpl138]

@GamingWombat Push down on the joystick

[hpl138]

I can't belive you liked Demon Attack better than Phoenix. This game had much more going for it.

[NWNisFUN]

1980 or 81 is when I was first taken to arcades I was about 4 at the time I think. This was one of the first games I ever saw and I only played it once . It was awesome I wish it was on gameroom (not the atari version)

[NinjaGhostScorpion]

You don't want to play this game with a hangover. Trust me.

Any other time, it's fun, but with a hangover, it'll push even the toughest man to tears.

[EastCoastDude99]

Another one of my later games for Atari before I got a Sega Master System. loved it.

[drbomb1025]

Good game. But the vid is marred by a rather less-than-enthusiastic narrator. Or is that the joke?

[ignaciojork]

I miss sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­o much the good old times of my childhood... (tears roll down)

[Zzyyxxyyxx]

This was a GREAT version of Phoenix. You just played Demon Attack first. Phoenix blows Demon Attack out of the water! Phoenix came first. I played that in the rcades in 1982. DAttack was Activisions answer to that.

[drbomb1025]

@Zzyyxxyyxx

Demon Attack was made by Imagic. Though you'd have to play the Intellivision version for the mothership.

The arcade Phoenix was good for its time but the animation was blocky as if imposed by an invisible grid. Demon Attack on the 2600 was very smoothly animated and had me hooked as I went past the 80th level.

I only hoped that the Atari 2600 version took the best from the arcade and Demon Attack and produce something not related to the 2600 port of Galaxian.

[itsallinallston]

I enjoy this guy, but he is WAY too hard on this game. Back in the day, I played this shit for HOURS...

[Quimbyrbg]

I'm disappointed with this review... Phoenix is my #1 favourite 2600 game and this was probably one of the most half-hearted CGR reviews I've seen...

I have played the arcade version (after years of only playing this version) and I prefer this hands down.

Phoenix is a fantastic game that can still kill a good hour when I'm in the mood :)

[thenintendogamer]

1987? My copy says 1985.

[MattTheSaiyan]

I just got this game today and I can't wait to play it! The world needs *even more* Space Invaders-style games!!

[Bredadarts]

This is my number 1 arcade game all time. Just play the real arcade game, with the better sounds and ''grafix''. I hope you do a review of that one too, because i need it on xboxlive or psn.

[antdude]

That was a short one!

[DusteDdekay]

I still play this game A LOT :) mostly on my laptop using an emulator when I'm bored in class, but also on my cabinet (same emulator, stella is awesome), but I'm pretty bad, think my max score is something like 180k

[ioport]

I don't think the reviewer realizes this is a port of a coin-op. Also, I agree this is a weak review and ends too abruptly

[johnwx777]

The cover for this version of Phoenix is arguably more interesting than the game itself (the 2600 version,not the arcade).

[GPatsos]

The Arcade Version of Phoenix is my all time favorite. This is unfortunatly a bad copy, but they made the best of it for the Atari 2600.

[stevieVantanna]

how do you activate the shield AND shoot - the joysticks had one button right>

[LordBicen]

@stevieVantanna You activated the shield by pulling the joystick down. since this was a left and right game, down was requisitioned as another button much like they did the shields in asteroids.

[4real0316]

@LordBicen There was shields in Asteroids? who knew lol

[LordBicen]

@LordBicen Well there were in Asteriods Deluxe in the Arcade, but arari's Asteroids had a Different set of play controls. you could select the level where you could have the options of hyperspace, shields and Flip control (flip control let turn aft immediately to shoot directly behind you) and all were activated by pulling down on the joystick.

[doctorwhonico]

I put a lot of coins in this game during my childhood !!

[andoc]

Intead of Phoenix, this should have been called revenge of the headless chicken. Seems like a good game, though.

[OneEyedJack1970]

Phoenix is probably the best arcade port Atari ever made for the 2600. I got it to play on my 7800.

[Bongwyre2112]

This is his worst made review. I love Classic game room and I was wondering what his worst video was, and this is by far it. Terribly produced, chopped up, quick ending, yuk. Phoenix deserves much better than this.

[Lazyhoboguy]

@Bongwyre2112 I have to agree. That was definitely not his best review. I can forgive him though since he has kept me entertained for hours with his other reviews.

[Bongwyre2112]

True, I'll give you that. This is becoming one of my favorite youtube channels.

[OrochixstudioS]

i agreee i got 8888 score before it freezed on me but it was a great game

[Bongwyre2112]

Yeah, we should ask for a new review, one with more awesomeness. Since it is highly lacking in that totally awesome that we expect from a CGR video. He needs to turn the awesome dial up to 12, that's one more than eleven.

[neobogard]

@Bongwyre2112 i do agree that pheonix is on of the best 2600 games.way bette then demon attach.

[fpvshitsonhsv]

This is the best game,iv still got my table top arcade machiene of phoenix

[dpsinoh]

The arcade version is on the Taito Legends compilation for the PS2, Xbox, & PSP - great gme

[teddyrubskin]

this game was the shit! ... I loved it! The force field thing is a real life saver.

[therealKINDLE]

You're so right dude. This game ruled!

[hessrf1981]

Hay I love this game, hell I'm playing it now!

[jimbox114]

That final boss reminds me alot of the final boss in Demon Attack on Intellivisino.

[dclefevre]

I guess you never played the arcade version of Phoenix and didn't know what to expect as you expected that you were playing one of the birds. The gameplay is duplicated exactly and the graphics are really close. I played the original arcade version quite a bit, but it was on of the earlier shooters and this port looks like it was created many years later.

[atari2602]

You did the funky chicken!

[BillyCauseyjr]

I'd like to see him review Tatsunoko fight (ps1) since they just did a Tatsunoko vs capcom game.

[lilryanps3]

funky chicken Lol

[carm3d]

I remember playing this in the arcades.

[SuaveGemini]

I liked this game. I had it.

[mukatuna]

The 2600 version of Phoenix was not a bad arcade conversion. It plays just like the arcade version very well as well. Which is more that can be said for the dreadful Atari Pac Man conversion.

[400SA]

I agree with the reviewer that the game did not even APPROACH the coolness of the cover. I remember being excited when I bought it, and I stil enjoyed it, but there was the sense of hmmmm........that's it, eh? That was a problem for Atari in general back then given the technical limitations. Another excellent example of this is Demon Attack.

[Tryzon]

I used to have a version of Space Invaders on Game Boy Color, and that had cool bosses every other level. I wish I still had that game :(

[Sclemtak]

Crikey! this game rather sucks for the 2600.There are many better 2600 games out there like the brilliant SOLARIS.

[OhmygodSportacus]

sweet background music, they should rerelease all these games with awesome music and over the top voice acting

[dougd1015]

Honestly I would have found the title Funky Chicken even more than appealing than Phoenix, that just sounds like another unanimous space game from the early 80's.

Funky chicken is very much unique and consisting of something very interesting and does just as you say, putting a Space Invaders concept into completely new aspects.

[harleykman]

Good grief. Didn't you even watch the video??? "Phoenix" is not some arbitrary name. It's called Phoenix because the birds can spontaneously regenerate like the mythical phoenix.

Also this review sucks. Phoenix is the best shooter ever made for the VCS/ 2600. (Yes better than the repetitive and too easy Demon Attack.)

[dougd1015]

Good grief, did you even read my comment.

Sorry, but I think that to a large degree you misunderstood my comment.

I DO think that Phoenix is an excellent shooting game.

Its on my list as a prioritized 2600 games to get.

And in saying Funky Chicken I was saying how such sprite you control also making it unique versus the standard unanimous space ship.

I also was saying that I would have preferred it be called Funky Chicken, and yes, both I and Mark on the CGR both recognize that its clearly

[dougd1015]

the enemies its in reference to.

I was just making reference to the distinctive character you play as which both humorously and distinctly in a cool way, is a Funky Chicken.

CGR was just goofing on it for the same reason and also does not hate this game but rather highly merits it, you know he wasn't really serious, holding the Funky Chicken thing against the game, right?

If anything he's adding it as a PLUS to the game, and I certainly am too.

[dougd1015]

When I say, "Yes, Funky Chicken is an excellent game."

I'm not mocking it in saying so, I literally mean its an excellent game.

I'm just making reference to the character and nothing more, okay?

Please understand that I wasn't knocking of the game.

Trust me, I love this stuff, there's an arcade by my hose that has every 80's console and coin up machine you can think of.

I love that place!

The only thing I don't love is how the compilation machine with Pac-Man and Galaga and all those games, is

[dougd1015]

a whole 50 cents for each play!

It should be a quarter just like every else!

Even the Namco anniversary arcade coin op made in 2000 is only a quarter per play!

Anyway, hope to talk to you again soon.

(Sorry for leaving so many comments as a response.)

[prausch65]

Phoenix is my all time fav, but the port to the Atari does not seem too bad, there's only one problem, the boss ship does not have the small birds in it, making killing the boss quite simple. The Intellivision may have been a better system for this game.

[nephildevil]

SHUT IT ABOUT THE CHICKEN CRAP

this game is good!

>:{

[bearspaw1967]

that game was a rush hee hee

[classicgamer1968]

Back in the 80's this was considered an excellent port of the arcade game to play at home. With all 5 screens including a mothership battle it was super fun, and still is for 2600 enthusiasts.

[maiki60fps]

Phoenix was originally released as a coin-op by Taito I believe back in 1980. This is simply a conversion for 2600. As far as I remember it was very popular in the arcades even it was around 1988-90 already...

[nujie273]

the phoenix is just like chicken...and when it move..it really weird

[jaketoledo]

i used to play this to death! Man you just brought me back to that moment when i didn't care about anything but ATARI! I had pacman, ms. pacman, centipede & dig dug.

[koolkitty8989]

I think the enemies are supposed to be phoenixes, not the player. (they do look a fair amount like the box art Phoenixes, which are coming at you in the picture, attacking)

I have know idea why the player/player's ship looks like that though! Serriously looks like a chicken. O_O

Even a simple triangle or trapazoid shaped ship would be better.

[sandmanxo]

I remember playing this game back in the day on the 2600. I later on realized how great a port it was when I ran into a Phoenix arcade game in the mid 90s at my local college. One of the best games on the 2600!

[JustyHakubi]

That end boss looks like the Comet Empire!

[Uglimusashi]

Star Blazers?

[JustyHakubi]

That would be the series Star Blazers / Yamato.

[Uglimusashi]

i know anout the Yamato/Argo..... I meantg the comet empire in the 2nd? or 3rd season of Star Blazers

[JustyHakubi]

Yup, that is what I was referring to. It was a great TV show!!

[CyberHarlock]

Phoenix is one of the greatest games of all time and was definitely one of the better ports around in the 1980s, with sound and graphics indicative of the time. I don't think I recall anyone ever being disappointed? It was one of the 'must have' titles available.

The Arcade game is one of those awesome classics that was easy to play and could be lapped over - great for sharpening up your reflexes and endurance.

As a kid we once made a single game last 8hrs in relays on just 10p

...happy days :)

[DocHackenbush]

Isn't it supposed to be the first game with an end-boss...? So IC should show a bit more respect for PHOENIX even if it's just the ATARI version ;)

[400SA]

LOL basically all the Atari games had very cool looking cover art (wish I had all those old boxes now....), then you plug it in and see the primitive graphics and can't help but be let down. Still fun though!

[yournotjohn]

Great game!!!!

[pocketmego]

I'm just glad I'm not the only person that thinks your ship in Phoenix looks like a plucked, headless chicken.

[notyoursavior78]

I was just playing this game. I needed to get back to playing some Atari on my 7800 after going on a Oblivion and GTA binge of sorts and this game is awesome actually! I do agree though it should be called Funky Chicken.

I like how the enemies will just lose their wings if you don't hit them in the center and I really liked the boss fights. Anyway after my first time ever playing it and a few rounds in my high score is 21,120. I beat three of those bosses. I'm definitely going to revisit.

[ninelivecat]

Phoenix was one of the best ports for the 2600along with Vanguard Battlezone and Berzerk

[WebVMan]

All games look amazing now, but that doesn't mean the games are any good. I own the arcade version and 2600 and enjoy both, but Demon Attack rules them all. I'm from Tulsa, OK and that's the only city to have the super rare cartridge.

[notyoursavior78]

Funky chicken! It looks intriguing, I had never played it before and that box art is good.

[WCWite]

This game is awesome

[highway234]

yup, very loyal to the arcade version. i forget the name of that company who made those cartridges but they made some amazing games given what they had to work with. and it sounds like the reviewer wasn't familiar with the arcade version so maybe he didn't know how faithful the 2600 cartridge was to it. i had it when i was a kid and was quite amazed.

[NightSprinter]

The company who made Phoenix was Centuri.

[XSC3]

The arcade version is waaaay better

[1godis1]

looks kinda like space invaders???

[stafax]

I definitely remember playing this game! I think the only fun my brother and I had with this game was the end boss.

[ScrewAttackEurope]

What was the name of that arcade game that had a huge plastic spaceship stuck to the front of the screen? (it was either Atari or Midway)

[SashaNein]

Funky chicken! Drink.

[JoeFz2]

they should remake this game cause its a good concept 5/5

[loner121777]

sucky game