Say what you like about the original NES rival, but the Atari 7800+ makes for a fantastic way to revisit an underappreciated '80s console. Unlike the OG system, this revamp offers up crispy HD visuals via an HDMI port while retaining the ability to actually run physical cartridges, and it's now down to a price that's worth buying even if you're just a casual player or collector.
The discount in question chops the Atari 7800+ down to $59.99 at Woot, and it marks a new record low for the best retro console contender. That saving is more impressive when you realise it costs $129.99 at full price, and whenever I do see a discount on the 8-bit remake, it normally sits just under $80.
I spent a lot of time with this remake for my Atari 7800+ review, and I was initially grumpy about its lack of Atari 5200 game support and visual settings. However, those minor complaints only really apply if you pay full price for this system, as for under $60, it serves as a great value way to revisit your original collection from the '80s or even start picking up carts at your local retro games shop, flea markets, or wherever else you go hunting for gems.
The pitch with the 7800+ is simple; it'll connect directly to your new screen and provide easy access to both its library and 2600 games. Look, I get it, some of you purists would rather grab the real deal, but it's easy to forget that the actual '80s release opted for RF output that was designed to work with analogue tuners, which makes figuring out how to connect the retro console to a modern TV or monitor a real pain.
Ease of use is at the heart of the 7800+, and it really is a straight-talking console. The main goal with a system like this is to function just like the original while removing any antiquated tech barriers. For instance, it's still rocking the same controller ports as every Atari machine, but the reimagined pads in the box come with wireless receivers so that your living room isn't dominated by cables.
The 7800+ sadly doesn't come with any games built in like a typical plug-and-play gadget, but it does feature a pack-in cartridge. It's not any old cart either, as Bentley Bear's Crystal Quest is actually a homebrew sequel to the classic Crystal Castles. Basically, unless you've been keeping up with DIY adventures, you probably haven't played it even if you owned the OG console.
I should probably stress that if you're deliberating between the 7800+ and the extremely similar, albeit more interesting-looking, woodgrain Atari 2600+, it literally comes down to aesthetics. Both are virtually the same machine under the hood and run the exact same carts, and the only feature difference is that the latter swaps the 8-bit era wireless controllers for a joystick.
The vastly more expensive Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Edition is also the same console with a different pack-in cart and a pretty cute joystick. Therefore, unless you're really into the way a specific version looks, I'd say you're better off grabbing the 7800+ for a fraction of the price.
If you're not remotely into the idea of actually collecting old cartridges, then that's when I'd start eyeing up some alternatives. I'm currently waiting for My Arcade's Gamestation Pro to reach me, but it could very well become the best retro handheld for Atari games since it comes with over 200 games and every controller type you could need built in. It is $179.99 at Amazon, though, so not remotely a casual purchase.
My personal go-to for quick 8-bit sessions like this is the Atari 400 Mini, a microcomputer remake that features 25 classics and the ability to run your own backups. It's a little more niche, but it is actually a gateway to the company's relatively obscure 5200 middle-child system for anyone who missed out on that nonsense back in 1982.
The short of it is that I reckon the Atari 7800+ is well worth grabbing while it's under $60. For less than most new console games out there, it'll help you kickstart a new retro collection ahead of the new year, provide easy access to a bunch of old carts, or even serve as a nifty retro gift if you've got someone into the oldies in your life.
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