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.