Blaze just announced an Activision edition of the Super Pocket, and it's for all of you who wondered why classics like Pitfall aren't on the Atari version. You could say that there are just so many gems by the publisher that they deserved their own handheld, and while that's partly true, the publisher is also hoarding a bunch of my favorite 2600 games.
Coming in at the usual $69.99 / $59.99 via HyperMegaTech, the Super Pocket Activision Edition is dressed like a homage to Pitfall. It's wearing a magnificent five-stripe trapezoidal rainbow that borrows design cues from that platformer's box art while using the publisher's original logo color scheme. It certainly looks like something that's packed with 34 licensed '80s classics, and the list includes romps by another big Atari developer.
Yes, it's got Pitfall, its "Lost Caverns" sequel, and River Raid for some scrolling shmup goodness. The entries I'd grab this retro handheld for, however, are by Activision's old third-party rival, Imagic. Any time I fire up the Atari 2600+ or my janky old original, I end up reaching for carts like Demon Attack, Dragonfire, and Moonsweeper, and this portable means I can play those anywhere I'd like.
- Barnstorming - Activision
- Beamrider - Activision
- Boxing - Activision
- Checkers - Activision
- Chopper Command - Activision
- Cosmic Commuter - Activision
- Demon Attack - Imagic
- Dolphin - Activision
- Dragonfire - Imagic
- Enduro - Activision
- Grand Prix - Activision
- H.E.R.O. - Activision
- Kabobber - Activision
- Kaboom! - Activision
- Keystone Kapers - Activision
- Laser Blast - Activision
- MegaMania - Activision
- Moonsweeper - Imagic
- Oink! - Activision
- Pitfall! - Activision
- Pitfall II: Lost Caverns - Activision
- Plaque Attack - Activision
- Pressure Cooker - Activision
- Private Eye - Activision
- River Raid - Activision
- River Raid II - Activision
- Robot Tank - Activision
- Seaquest - Activision
- Skiing - Activision
- Sky Jinks - Activision
- Spider Fighter - Activision
- Stampede - Activision
- Starmaster - Activision
- Thwocker - Activision
Naturally, there are more Activision releases on the new Super Pocket than Imagic, and you could probably release a separate version of the latter. But given that games from both publishers are absent from many handhelds and modern retro consoles, I'll take what I can get. Plus, if you're making a point of collecting all of Blaze's Evercade models, this one is going to stand out within the current lineup.
Just like those other models, the Super Pocket Activision Edition boasts all the same budget handheld bells and whistles. You're still getting a serviceable 2.8-inch IPS display, a circular d-pad, four face buttons, and an admittedly cramped set of shoulders around back. It's also one of the last bastions of physical gaming since it has a cartridge slot for Blaze's expansive Evercade collection, which provides it with access to over 500 other outings.
In fact, if you prefer the Activision version's striking '80s getup to the primary colors of the Super Pocket Rare Edition, you could pick this one up instead and still have access to Banjo-Kazooie come October. Yes, it'll run early 3D games just like every other Evercade console, and if you're patient, you'll even get Banjo-Tooie in the same collection.
The Super Pocket Activision Edition lands September 28, but it may take a while for pre-order links to show up worldwide. It'll arrive just before the Evercade Nexus, Blaze's flagship handheld that boasts thumbsticks and beefier specs for the increasing number of 3D romps entering its ecosystem. Every handheld and console will run the same games, though, so you'll have options that won't make your bank account flinch.
Take a peek at the best retro controllers and treat your console to a new pad.
