Atari Mania [PC] | REVIEW

Atari have brought themselves back into the limelight over the last few years, not only with the release of a new console (the Atari VCS) but also with the ‘recharged’ releases of older titles. Heck, they even turned Pong into an RPG, showing that they are both embracing and innovating some of their back catalogue. Their latest release, Atari Mania, follows that trend, with it offering a mini-game fuelled escapade that celebrates the history of the brand and the video games it brought along with it.

Check out some screenshots down below:

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Atari Mania puts players in the role of the caretaker of the Atari Vault, which essentially acts as a museum that celebrates all things Atari. It’s full of iconic characters, familiar sights, and plenty of little easter eggs that those who love Atari will appreciate, with the retro aesthetic certainly offering a blast to the past. Whilst you have your typical jobs to complete in the vault, chaos soon erupts when you encounter a dreaded dead pixel, meaning you’ve got to re-visit mash-ups of classic Atari games and fix the problems that the pixel has caused.

It’s a charming little setup that gives Atari Mania a bit more personality than I expected. It would have been easy for the developers to just give players an influx of mini-games to complete with no context, but the narrative here feels like a real celebration of all things Atari. It even gives personalities to characters who have been voiceless stars in the past, and believe me, the game certainly takes some comical and unexpected turns with their portrayals. It’s all good fun and makes the whole experience all the more endearing, ESPECIALLY for Atari fans.

There are also an abundance of collectibles to find related to classic Atari releases, with the likes of game manuals and images available to collect. These will be a real blast to the past for oldies who enjoyed the games back when they originally released, whilst it’s also cool for younger folk to get a taste of the old-school vibes offered back in the day. It reminded me of how much I miss game manuals though, so it’s really cool to see them preserved in such a fun format here.

“The mini-games are a lot of fun, with plenty of clever mash-ups of Atari titles utilised to give players a quick-burst challenge that offer a wide range of quirky objectives.”

So the concept and nostalgia factor of Atari Mania are top notch, but how does it feel to play? The mini-games are a lot of fun, with plenty of clever mash-ups of Atari titles utilised to give players a quick-burst challenge that offer a wide range of quirky objectives. Whilst they aren’t as small as the mini-games seen in the likes of WarioWare, they’re short enough that you’re not left doing the same thing for too long nor will you tire of the old-school mechanics. There are a few duds in the bunch, but the vast majority implement some charming ideas that feel fun to complete.

There are even elements of exploration and puzzle-solving on offer outside of the mini-games, with the Vault offering plenty of areas to uncover. Whilst there’s nothing too complex to get stuck into, it helps make Atari Mania feel like more of a meaty adventure as opposed to just a mini-game compilation.

There is the caveat that a lot of the game’s charm comes from the nostalgia it offers. If you haven’t played or heard of some of the titles being represented, Atari Mania can lose some of its appeal. It’s catered for gamers who appreciate an old-school approach too, especially with its aesthetic and simple mechanics. If that doesn’t float your boat, you might find yourself tiring of the game quite quickly.

Check out some screenshots down below:

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It’s also single player only, which feels like a bit of a miss on the developer’s part. Whilst the story-driven adventure elements of Atari Mania are one if its strongest features, it would have been nice to re-visit some of these mini-games with a friend in cooperative or competitive action. Games like this are at their best when experienced with others, after all.

You know what, though? With its thoroughly enjoyable single player experience and wealth of content to get through, it’s hard to complain too much. There’s just something super addictive and enjoyable about Atari Mania that has kept me coming back for more, with the whimsical approach it has taken to old-school gaming certainly ticking plenty of the right boxes for me.

Developer: ILLOGIKA
Publisher: Atari
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), Nintendo Switch, Atari VCS
Website: https://atari.com/products/atari-mania