Reindeer Rescue - Atari 2600

A total classic all the way. This is one of the earlier examples of an auto-scrolling platform runner that I remember seeing on the 2600, and it still holds up. I play a few rounds every Christmas and it really puts me in the holiday mood. It's an excellent challenge, too - the difficulty ramps well and I don't think I've ever passed the final level. Fun times!

If you like auto runners and Christmas, you can't go wrong with this game. It's a fun pick up and play experience. It may be frustrating at first, but once you get a feel for it, you'll want to play "just one more time." The Santa sprite looks remarkable good for a 2600 game too!

A good game with some frustration factor, but mostly challenging in a good way. The holiday theme may make it seem awkward to pop this game in during the middle of May, but the gameplay is fun enough to keep it in your rotation.

The graphics are great and watching the background scenery is part of the fun! The music is pretty amazing, and during the Christmas season you'll be happy to have it. (the rest of the year you'll probably want it off, or the people you live with will begin to worry about you).

My only real complaint is the aforementioned frustration factor that sets in due to some of the demanding jumps the game throws at you. The auto-scroll is entirely unforgiving and a misplaced step means a loss of life every time. This makes otherwise enjoyable levels very frustrating when a particular jump has you stymied (I'm looking at you, houses on level 3).

Other than that, there is all kinds of platforming fun to be had here, in any season!

Ho! Ho! Ho! It\'s Christmas Time once again at Atari Age and, like last year, you\'ve been tapped to take on the role of good ol\' St. Nick! This year your reindeer have been kidnapped(fawnnapped?) and you\'ve got to rescue them in time for Christmas Eve!Reindeer Rescue is the holiday cart for 2005. This was the third year of what\'s become an annual tradition here at Atari Age. Don\'t fret if you missed out as luckily for you Reindeer Rescue is now available as a non-numbered homebrew.When you power on the game, you\'re presented with a title screen with a decent rendition of Jingle Bells. A variety of Christmas tunes play play in-game, though you can turn off the music if you like using the right difficulty switch. Hit RESET or the joystick fire button to start the game.For the first level you start out at the North Pole and must make your way past Santa\'s Workshop and across the frozen tundra where you\'ll find 2 of your reindeer. All the levels scroll by themselves, so you must keep on your toes and jump over the obstacles else be crushed against the edge of the screen. Controls are well done, so if you do screw up you know it\'s your own fault. As you make your way across the level you\'ll be using up energy, which is cleverly represented as a tangled string of Christmas Lights that dim and go out. Scattered across the levels are items such as milk, cookies and candy canes that will increase your energy level. Other items can be found for extra points, lives, or even a spring to boost you up and over obstacles. There\'s also as dangerous things to avoid, like the Abominable Snowman.There are three additional levels, in a variety of locals, each with 2 more reindeer. Each level is progressively harder than the prior. I can easily beat levels 1 and 2, and have squeaked by level 3 a few times, but have yet to beat the game. As such, I wish there was a level select so you could practice levels 3 and 4(but still require playing the full game for the "bonus ending").The in game graphics are designed by Nathan Strum, Santa is well rendered in multiple colors while all other sprites are single colored. While some sprites seem out of place(was that a Star Wars snow speeder?), all are well done. There\'s even some sprites showing up at the top of the screen, outside of the gaming area, just to add atmosphere. David Exton did the label and manual art, which are also well done.

Cute game but not my favorite homebrew. If I was younger and this was 1982 all over again I probably would have scored it higher. I like the gameplay but I would have liked it better if it was a little more challenging. I found myself getting bored, kind of the same ol same ol. Jump, Jump, Jump. Would have been cooler if it was done Pifall 2 style and the player had a little more freedom to explore. The auto scrolling takes that away though. The music and graphics are very cute though and if you are lucky enough to have a kid(s) that will actually play Atari they would probably love it. This game was fun to play once or twice and the like I said, it\'s cute, but cute only goes so far. For what it\'s worth I would probably score it a 3 and 1/2 if I had that option. I say if you buy only one of Bob\'s games buy Elevators Amiss, If you buy 2 pick this one up