Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration

Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration is an absolute masterclass in how to fashion a retro compilation, all the while providing both contemporary and older gamers with an immediately accessible and immaculately produced window into the halcyon days of one of the video game industry's most prolific pioneers. This is the preservation of video game history done right and Atari 50: The Anniversary Cel...

On June 27, 1972, Atari, as we know it today, was born. Well, technically, it was born a few months earlier under the name Syzygy Engineering, but the name Atari started life in 1972. I know this and many more interesting facts about the company because of Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, Digital Eclipse's love letter to the gaming giant.

Atari has been around for 50 years so it's time to celebrate the legendary company with one of the greatest game compilations ever.

Before I start talking about Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, I think it’s fair to give you a little insight onto why this collection felt so special to yours truly. I have already stated in the past that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game was my first gaming memory, but the first system I could consider my own as a small kid was… an Atari Lynx. Yes. Of all damn things, the Lyn...

Like any retro game collection, how much you get out of Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration is largely limited by your appreciation of its games. There are a lot here, and it’s safe to say that the majority of them didn’t really hold our interest. There are some classics that remain very playable though, and some were worth returning to just for a hit of nostalgia. The real reason to pick this u...

Several of the 19 new games — specifically those not found on the 2600 — are sadly not included in the new timeline and will need to be located within Atari 50’s game library. It’s no dealbreaker, but it would’ve been nice to get a bit of background information on their creation. We also feel like the exclusion of the original games created for the Intellivison to be a bit of a missed opportunity,...

Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration may very well set the standard for retro compilations moving forwards, and not necessarily because of the content it includes. In truth, a significant number of the 100 or so releases included here are borderline impenetrable – appreciated inclusions, yes, but pretty much unplayable. It’s the way the package is presented, then, that sets it apart.

An interactive journey through 50 years of video game history, including a specially-curated list of more than 90 games. PS5 version reviewed.

Atari 50 provides players the chance to play several generations of Atari on one disc. In addition to its whopping 103 games, an entire interactive museum chronicles Atari's history from their rise in the 70's, their fall in the 80's, and their return in the 90's. Packed with games, interviews, and loads of memorabilia, this is one anniversary celebration you should not skip out on.