I try to review games within the scope of their release year since I think it's unfair to retroactively judge titles based on our present day technology. That said, I do judge games relative to their contemporaries, and I can't fathom why anything was still being released for the 2600 in 1989.
If you were to try to review this in a 2600-only vacuum, I would say it's better than Adventure, and that's about all the praise I can muster.
If you were to try to review this in a 2600-only vacuum, I would say it's better than Adventure, and that's about all the praise I can muster.
(Atari 50)
It's no Zelda but by 2600 standards this is impressive damn
It's no Zelda but by 2600 standards this is impressive damn
(played as part of ATARI 50)
Kind of a ZELDA/METROID mashup for 2600. A tall order, for sure, but it kind of works? Crazy to see a game this primitive from the year the Genesis came out, but if the objective was to make something that could theoretically hang with the big boys on the dusty old wood-paneled Atari, I don't know that you could really do too, too much better.
Kind of a ZELDA/METROID mashup for 2600. A tall order, for sure, but it kind of works? Crazy to see a game this primitive from the year the Genesis came out, but if the objective was to make something that could theoretically hang with the big boys on the dusty old wood-paneled Atari, I don't know that you could really do too, too much better.
Imagine you have been tasked with creating a new game for the 2600 that can compete with the sorts of titles one-sided Atari rival Nintendo was putting out in the late 80's. Imagine you look to The Legend of Zelda and decide you want to create something that at the very least resembles the structure and content that game was bringing to the table. Miraculously, Secret Quest sort of pulls it off.
Make no mistakes, this is still a 2600 game. You won't find expansive overworlds, complex enemy patterns, or a soundtrack. What you will find is an ambitious action-adventure with exploration, fast-paced combat, saving in the form of passwords, and even a little cinematic flair with the countdown to each space station's self destruction.
I love ambitious titles. Creativity and the reach towards something that could maybe turn out incredible will always beat the competent execution of a tired concept in my book. The world is richer for Secret Quest's existence, even if it will never be able to take on Zelda in a head to head contest.
Make no mistakes, this is still a 2600 game. You won't find expansive overworlds, complex enemy patterns, or a soundtrack. What you will find is an ambitious action-adventure with exploration, fast-paced combat, saving in the form of passwords, and even a little cinematic flair with the countdown to each space station's self destruction.
I love ambitious titles. Creativity and the reach towards something that could maybe turn out incredible will always beat the competent execution of a tired concept in my book. The world is richer for Secret Quest's existence, even if it will never be able to take on Zelda in a head to head contest.
Played as part of Atari 50.
Metroid released 2 years earlier.
Metroid released 2 years earlier.
Secret Quest is another great and fun Atari game that has you exploring a dungeon or area in a similar vain to that of legend of Zelda as you explore and find the exit with these portals, all while making sure your energy and gas meters are in check. There are enemies that are easy to kill and the sword itself is very response to use. While not amazing, I did have a great time with it and will gladly go back and replay it.
While not as graphically impressive as the SwordQuest series, it feels a hell of a lot better to control and swing your sword around. Also pretty straight forward in your objectives and it even has music!