Halo 2600

Halo 2600 is a homebrew shooter video game developed and published by Eddie Fries for the Atari 2600 in 2010 via the website AtariAge.com. It is a fangame based on the Halo series.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) While obviously simplified, the plot grasps the spirit of the franchise in a good old school fashion.
 * 2) Great grasp of the source material. For example, the first thing to do in the game is to find a weapon, like at the start of every Halo game.
 * 3) The opening screen consists in an amazing 8-bit rendition of the main menu of Halo: Combat Evolved, along with a convincing rendition of the ominous music.
 * 4) Addicting and polished gameplay, reminiscent of both Adventure and Berzerk!. In fact, the game plays like a combination of the two games. You go around shooting enemies, like in Berzerk!, and you enter areas by moving to the edge of the screen but there are also keys and many other useful items that you can pick up to your advantage and the game has an actual ending like in Adventure.
 * 5) Aside Master Chief, nearly all the Covenant enemy species are present in the game. Even some different colourisation of Elites and Grunts are implemented.
 * 6) The game is divided in six areas, each one of them reminiscent of a level of Halo: Combat Evolved. Two areas are set in forests like the second level, other two are set in snowy environment like the fifth and the eighth level and other two are set in a Covenant base with purple floors that will make you remember the Truth and Reconciliation.
 * 7) Flawless hit detection.
 * 8) Graphics and sound effects in pure Atari 2600 style.
 * 9) The physical game has been discontinued but AtariAge provides the possibility to download the rom, meaning that you can play this game even if you do not have an Atari 2600 without legal issues. The site has also downloadable scans of the box and the manual.

Reception
The Video Game Critic gave the game a rating of B+, stating that it makes you wonder how other modern franchises would fare on the Atari 2600.