Played as part of Atari 50... but I'm rating my experience with the game in other settings, with actual paddle controls and opponents.
Where else to start but here? I do think the controls of this game tend to give it a bit of a raw deal from those looking back on it--when playing via most modern control methods you're going to be screwed by the paddle speed most of the time, and it was very clearly designed with the dial controller in mind (or vice versa). If you can find a way to play this game like that (or at the very least with a mouse), and with another player, it's a pretty solid game and it's clear to see why it was a hit and games like Computer Space weren't. Doesn't beat actual table tennis or air hockey, but still definitely fun enough to come back to more than once, in the context of its release at the very least. Again, unfortunately most modern ports butcher the control methods, and Atari 50 is no exception (you can control the right paddle with the mouse, which is most of the way there, but no luck for the left paddle, but I imagine I'll be thankful for that for the single player ones later on lol), but it's a pretty solid ball and paddle game and it's obvious why it's the first game anyone remembers.
Where else to start but here? I do think the controls of this game tend to give it a bit of a raw deal from those looking back on it--when playing via most modern control methods you're going to be screwed by the paddle speed most of the time, and it was very clearly designed with the dial controller in mind (or vice versa). If you can find a way to play this game like that (or at the very least with a mouse), and with another player, it's a pretty solid game and it's clear to see why it was a hit and games like Computer Space weren't. Doesn't beat actual table tennis or air hockey, but still definitely fun enough to come back to more than once, in the context of its release at the very least. Again, unfortunately most modern ports butcher the control methods, and Atari 50 is no exception (you can control the right paddle with the mouse, which is most of the way there, but no luck for the left paddle, but I imagine I'll be thankful for that for the single player ones later on lol), but it's a pretty solid ball and paddle game and it's obvious why it's the first game anyone remembers.