Hardware Review: Atari Flashback 2

Back in 2004, the new Atari released the Flashback, it was a plug ‘n’ play unit shaped much like the Atari 5200. It was preloaded with a bunch of classic 2600 games along with a handful of 7800 games but alas the hardware inside that sleek new package was deceptive. The brains of the unit was nothing more then a Nintendo-on-a-Chip, the same chip that powers those cheaply made 100-in-1 controllers you may have seen in the mall. Hence all the games loaded into it were nothing more then poorly written ports. Flash forward to 2005 and Curt Vandel, the designer of the Flashback rectifies the problem with a sleek new chip that emulated the Atari hardware perfectly. The Flashback 2 is born.

Design: 80/100
Gone are the 7800 games but in their place several more classic 2600 games along with several Homebrew games Atari thought were good enough to be included with the classic collection for a total of 42 games (including 2 hidden ones). With authentic 2600 guts powering the games you had a brand spanking new Atari 2600 preloaded and gone is the need for those clunky Manual RF Switchboxes. As simple to set up as any modern console.

The design is great, not only do they capture the aesthetic look of the 2600, it’s sleek and tiny. Though the rather large bright orange buttons now on the faceplate of the unit are slightly garish but do not take away too much from the overall appeal of the unit. For those who relish the days of fake wood paneling (lol) they have included it as a retro sticker where the wood paneling was on original 2600 “Woody” model for added nostalgic value.

As for the hardware? It’s very solidly made, the games themselves play just like they did on the original hardware. As an easter egg for the purists, Vandel had included jumpers on the PCB for those adept with a soldering iron to attach a real working cartridge slot and play their old 2600 carts on it. Also the new video hardware does away with interference and other garbage that RF modulation caused back in the day.

The package also includes two new legacy style controllers, which are much more responsive then the originals and just as well built. Since they use DB-9 connectors they can also be used on an original Atari 2600. Pretty nice deal if I do say so myself.

Reliability: 89/100
The reliability of the unit is pretty high. there are no moving parts to wear out thus no motors or hard drives to worry about breaking down after years of play. Unlike the original Hardware however it’s not built like a beast. Some of the plastic case feels a little flimsy but it’s far from being cheaply made.

The controllers are without a doubt built like bricks, extensive play will not be an issue as these controllers will take a beating and still work. Definitely a nice factor if you go through controllers like a mad man.

Value: 78/100
While this may only really appeal to the older generation, it’s still a really sweet deal for those who want to try the games of their parents or those seeking a bit of Nostalgia. The 2 hidden games however are paddle games, the unit does not include a paddle controller so most gamers will find these games unplayable but other then that the rest of the 40 are playable right out of the box. The ability to modify the console to accept real Atari cartridges adds quite a bit of incentive as well.

With the trouble the new Atari has seen as of late, it’s sad that the proposed Flashback 3 (an Atari 8-bit computer/5200) and the flash based Atari Flashback Portable have either been shelved or indefinitely delayed till either Atari gets it’s act together or somebody better suited to run the company takes the reigns. So if your looking for a great way to play those old games without having to fish out your system and games, it’s quick and easy way to go back down memory lane. Also these can now be had for less then $20 so it could make a great present for that certain gamer on your list.