Second Generation Appreciation Thread

[BoneSnapDeez]

So I dug out the Odyssey² last night. This console always seems to get lost in the shuffle among the likes of the Atari 2600, Intellivision, and ColecoVision.

Released in 1978 it uses the same type of joystick as the 2600 (one button instead of a wacky keypad), and most games control very well.

The system received little third-party support unfortunately. Notable exceptions include Imagic's Atlantis and one of the very few home ports of Turtles. I've also heard of some arcade games being ported by Parker Bros. but I've never seen these and can't even find artwork. Maybe they were Europe-only? Most everything else is pure Magnavox and some games are blatant copies of more well-known ones. K. C. Munchkin! is a take on Pac-Man and Alien Invaders - Plus! is a lot like Space Invaders, for example.

There's a wide array of sports games, but many require two players. There are also some fun exclusives like Pickaxe Pete and The Quest for the Rings (which came with an accompanying board game).

Good console overall, but it simply lacks the enormous libraries of its competitors. Still worth checking out if you're interested in all the second gen has to offer and unlike, say, the Vectrex, the console itself and games aren't particularly rare or expensive.

[Gunstar Green]

One of the cool things about the Odyssey 2 that makes it unique is the Interactive board games. I've only ever seen Quest for the Rings in person but the idea of combining board and video game was really neat.

[prfsnl_gmr]

The Quest for the Rings (which came with an accompanying board game).

Quest for ther Rings is on my "to beat" list. I don't know how I am ever going to beat it without purchasing an Odyssey 2, however...

[BoneSnapDeez]

The Quest for the Rings (which came with an accompanying board game).

Quest for ther Rings is on my "to beat" list. I don't know how I am ever going to beat it without purchasing an Odyssey 2, however...

Well yes that would be a barrier.

You'll also need a complete copy of the game too, otherwise it's essentially unplayable.

(Not that I can talk - my "To Beat" list contains FDS, Jaguar, and CD-I games).

[Gunstar Green]

Dang, a store near here had a complete copy I could have picked up if I knew someone was looking for it but it's gone now. They do still have a boxed Odyssey 2 and a bunch of boxed games though.

[BoneSnapDeez]

So I've been known to use the website StrategyWiki while playing RPGs and the like. It has some great walkthroughs for RPGs, as well as some very specific guides - like how to achieve every ending in Chrono Trigger.

But the other day I discovered that it's also a fantastic resource for second gen and Golden Age games. Many game profiles are featured, complete with strategies, walkthroughs, home version comparisons, and so on. It's also a great site to visit when you find yourself pondering that eternal question: "wait, when is that game really beaten?"

To give just one example, here is BurgerTime:
http://strategywiki.org/wiki/BurgerTime

[Gunstar Green]

Yeah I discovered how excellent StrategyWiki was for golden age games when I was looking up information on Berzerk a few years ago. They have some really nice layouts and good information.

They also usually have nice home port comparisons.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Activision's Freeway is awesome.

Like Frogger but with a chicken. And you can only move up/down.

Hard as hell, but so addictive.

[ExedExes]

Don't forget Bloody Human Freeway, available on most if not all Anthology collections.

[arcadifvid]

been messing with some emulators lately out of boredom and..

OMG the vectrex is so awesome! only very recently have i tried it. and seeing it for the first time, even without nostalgic factor, WOW! the graphics are so unique, and the games are still fun!!! i am honestly wishing they would release something like a flashback series for this!

anyone who lived through the second gen era owning this? how was it like back then?