10 - Combat (Atari 2600)

I had to reach way back for this one, 1977 to be exact. The premise is simple, select from a number of different combat based games ranging from tank battles to pixilated dogfights in the clouds. While this game is basic and simple when compared to the highly complex and fast paced multiplayer games of today, it still retains a certain charm that many current games are lacking.

This harkens back to the days when games were just one-on-one, any extra friends would have to sit and cheer on those two lucky jerks who were taking so long to finish their game, as well as heckle and harass that one player who never seemed to lose. These were the days before the internet allowed for gamers to play in the safety and solitude of their bedrooms or basements and do battle with numerous foes from around the globe.

Everything about this game is simple, from the title to the graphics to the gameplay, but that’s what makes Combat such a blast to play. The game features several game modes: Tank, Tank-Pong, Invisible-Tank, Biplane, and Jet-Fighter. My two favorite game styles are Tank-Pong, in which two players take control of what appears to be tanks in an arena that is only as big as your TV screen. As the name suggests, this particular game allows for players to bounce their projectiles off the walls in order to hit their opponent, this provided a chance for intense tactical strategies that would allow you to land critical hits on these highly versatile tanks.

My other favorite game type is Biplane, in which two planes fly through a blue sky, and a strategically placed cloud. This is tactical dog fighting in its purest form. My favorite thing to do was to have myself and a friend fly into each side of the cloud at the same time while firing our machine guns and then seeing who came out the winner, which would ultimately result in some classic controller smashing onto the victor’s knee.

Chances are not many have played this classic gem, but if you happen to be one of the lucky few who still have an operational Atari 2600 I recommend you search EBay for a copy of Combat.