The warm months brought some hot retro prospects
Recent weeks have seen an absolute blitz of retro announcements, with Atari pulling out the biggest of the bunch by unveiling a new console. The Atari 2600+ is a trimmed down four-switch version of the classic woodgrain console, compatible with both classic controllers and cartridges – and in a nice touch, includes the ability to play Atari 7800 cartridges too. The system will use software emulation, and offers modern niceties such as HDMI output and a widescreen toggle. The package includes a CX40+ joystick modelled after the original, and a cartridge featuring ten games including classics such as Adventure, Combat and Yars’ Revenge.
The console will be available via Atari and Amazon in North America, but a variety of different retail partners have been chosen for the console in other territories, with Amazon being the exclusive retailer for the UK. The system will sell for £99.99/€119.99/$129.99, with Amazon advertising a shipping date of 17 November. Atari is also releasing various other products, including additional CX40+ controllers (£19.99 each) and the games Berzerk: Enhanced Edition and Mr Run And Jump (£24.99 each). The Atari 4 In 1 Game Cartridge Plus Paddle Pack (£29.99) features a set of two paddle controllers and a four-game cartridge comprising Breakout, Canyon Bomber, Night Driver and Video Olympics. All of these products are to be compatible with both the Atari 2600+ and original Atari 2600 hardware.
As for games, one of the most exciting ones is on our own front cover – Star Wars: Dark Forces is receiving a remaster via Nightdive Studios, with the classic firstperson shooter set to benefit from a higher resolution and framerate, modern controller support and more. Nightdive also has a remaster of Turok 3: Shadow Of Oblivion on the way, completing the fondly remembered N64 trilogy. Both games will be coming to all modern platforms, with a release date for Dark Forces yet to be confirmed and Turok due to arrive in November.
Fans of the point-and-click classic Broken Sword will be delighted to know that the original game is being remastered as Broken Sword: Shadow Of The Templars Reforged. Revolution Software is promising 4K visuals and enhanced audio, and a release on PC, consoles and mobile in early 2024. Even more exciting is the announcement of Broken Sword 6: Parzival’s Stone, the first new game in the series since the Kickstarter-funded episodic adventure Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse almost a decade ago. Only a short video clip has been revealed, but George and Nico are back a
