How did Atari screw up a concept as simple as Blackjack?
Written: Apr 13 '08 (Updated Sep 08 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: If you like Blackjack you might like this game (for a hand or two)
Cons: No splitting, no insurance, crazy computer rules, a glitch in the controls.
The Bottom Line: It's gambling at its most boring.
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| Chad9976's Full Review: Blackjack for Atari 2600 |
The funny thing about the home video game console is that from its very inception right up until today people would pay good money to play a video game version of something they could do in the real world for free. Case in point: “Blackjack” for the Atari 2600. At the time of its release it was probably sold on the novelty of playing a standard card game on your TV. Why get a pack of cards out of the junk drawer when you could plunk down $19.95 instead?
PRESS FIRE TO START
Well, it’s Blackjack – nothing more, nothing less. It’s a classic card game wherein the goal is to get as close to 21 points without busting while at the same time out-scoring the dealer or allowing the dealer to bust.
All numbered cards are worth their numbered amount with the face cards worth 10 points. Ace has a variable amount of either 1 or 11 points and is up to the player to decide how they want to play it. You (and up to two additional players) are dealt two cards face up while the dealer is dealt one card face up and one face down. You decide if you want to hit (take additional card[s]), stay (do nothing) or double down (double your bet but take only one more card). Strangely enough, this game doesn’t allow you the option of splitting when you have two face cards or two cards of the same value.
You also have the option to play Blackjack casino-style or private-style with slight variations in the rules determining the winner and when the dealer hits. You can also choose when you want the cards shuffled.
You start out with 200 “chips” (NOT dollars) and the game ends when you either reach 1000 chips or run out completely. You can vary your bet from 1 to 25 chips max, which makes the gameplay very tedious if and when you have a bigger pile of chips to draw from.
PLAYER 1 – READY!
I’m not a huge fan of gambling but I do like Blackjack because there is definitely some element of skill to it. It’s not completely random like roulette or slots. And I’m sure when this cart was released for the VCS it was probably fun to play by virtue of the fact it was “video.” Of course, if you don’t like Blackjack to begin with you wouldn’t play, let alone buy, this game in the first place.
As someone who genuinely enjoys Blackjack I find this version a bit strange. First of all, why can’t I split? This is just silly. I suppose it’s to save space on the screen so there’s enough room for all three players’ plus the dealer’s cards.
Secondly, why couldn’t the game designers have thrown in a simple addition feature to add the cards’ total for you? I know it’s very simple math, but it would have made the game much more enjoyable had this feature been present. Especially considering the fact when the dealer’s cards are shown they appear on the screen in rapid succession and before you can add them up you’ve either won or lost. Half the fun of Blackjack is the suspense of it. It’s annoying to just rush through it because there’s no moment of joy or even disappointment for the player.
Thirdly, there are no suits to the cards – they’re all either black or red. A skilled Blackjack player advances by counting the cards that have been dealt, but that’s not possible when you don’t know what suit a card is from. Why even color the cards at all if there are no distinguishable suits?
Fourthly, if the computer is dealt a face card and (unknown to you) an Ace, you automatically lose because the computer’s Blackjack is revealed. What the hell kind of rule is this? No casino I know of plays by that rule that if it has Blackjack to start out, the player doesn’t even get to make a move at all. Why doesn’t it give you the option to buy “insurance” at least? In fact, why doesn’t it give you the option to buy insurance if the computer is showing an Ace?
Fortunately, Atari corrected most of these problems when they merged “Blackjack” with two poker games on the “Casino” cart.
JOYSTICKING
The game is played using the paddle controller, which enables you to quickly scroll through your options such as what move you want to make and how much you want to bet. The problem is, after each hand the amount you want to bet might change depending upon where your controller was moved. For example, if you bet the max amount of 25 chips and scrolled clockwise to make your selection to stay or hit, after the hand is over your next bet might be 18 chips or 10, etc., because you moved the knob. It’s a slight annoyance that could have been easily avoided.
SPRITES & PIXELS
Since this is a text-based game the actual screen visuals have no effect on the gameplay. To its credit, “Blackjack” uses a nice shade of green for its entire background color and the cards themselves are easy to read. Why there are no identifying marks of the individual suits is a bit strange, though.
CHIPPED TUNES
Sound in a game like this is 100% arbitrary. It could have been a completely silent game and the play wouldn’t have been affected at all. There is no background music, just chimes when you win and a foghorn when you lose. Cute for the time I suppose.
INSERT COIN TO CONTINUE
As a video game it’s quite boring and repetitive. It’s fun for a little while but grows old quickly, especially considering its funky rules. I spent more time writing this review than I did playing the game (and I can’t believe I’ve written as much as I have!).
GAME OVER
It’s clear this “Blackjack” cart was nothing more than a ploy by Atari to add another title to its library and maybe cash in on the gaming craze of the time. Gamers would have been better off opting for “Casino” which contains Blackjack with all the REAL rules and options available plus two more games. For absolute die hard Blackjack fans only.
Recommended:
No
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Chad9976
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Member: Chad Polenz
Location: Albany, New York
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