Well, MeLLoWDaDDee had suggested some of us try this, so I figured I'd start.  My first Throwback Thursday review is Combat for the Atari 2600.  This game is just a pure gem.  And in all honesty it stands up over time.

Combat is arguably one of the best games ever and it's superbly simple.  The game is one of the earliest attempts at multiplayer competitive gaming.  Without this game, Halo probably wouldn't exist.

The set up is insanely simple, there are a number of levels with different layouts.  In each level there are two vehicles.  Some levels are two tanks, others are two biplanes, and others are two jets.  You hook up two joysticks and play it in multiplayer.  Basically, you move with the joystick and shoot with the button.  It's just that simple.  Your objective is to shoot the other guy.

Moving and timing your shots is key in Combat.  You need to pick points to shoot from where it will be hard for your opponent to fire back.

Graphically the game doesn't stand the test of time, nothing on the 2600 does.  But the gameplay is still fun.  This game is like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, etc.  It is a game that will always be fun.  It's also a game that almost anybody can play.

Sadly, the game is a tad difficult to find.  It's not on those joysticks packed with games that you plug in to your TV dueto it's multiplayer only nature.  It was also excluded from the Atari Anthology released on PS2 and Xbox.

If you want to start to get into true retro gaming, the Atari 2600 and Combat are good options.  On eBay you can find an Atari 2600 for anywhere between $20 and $50 bucks depending on how many games come with it.  Since Combat sold a ton of copies, almost every eBay auction for the console includes the game.

For my retro cred, check my profile, see the consoles I own.