THE COLECOVISION COLLECTION LIST, PART 2

	P-R

	PAC-MAN ATARISOFT MAZE Atarisoft does it again... but doesn't get a chance to release it.  Oh well... at least it's out now!  I'd say that this translation was better than those available for ANY of Atari's own consoles, even the later ones. PEPPER II COLECO MAZE I was one of the half dozen people lucky enough to play the arcade game, and I've gotta admit, this is a close conversion.  It was definitely the best maze game on the ColecoVision before Pac-Man came around. PITFALL! ACTIVISION ACTION/ PLATFORM Remember the old garbage commercials?  Well, this is a wimpy, wimpy, wimpy translation of the hefty, hefty, hefty 2600 classic.  Honestly, the 2600 game is better. PITFALL II: THE LOST CAVERNS ACTIVISION ACTION/ PLATFORM If it weren't for Super Pitfall on the NES, this would be the worst version of Pitfall II ever made. PITSTOP EPYX RACING Bland graphics and repetitive gameplay set this game a few laps behind Turbo.  The pitstop in the title is a unique feature, but who the hell wants to be stuck in a pitstop when you could be RACING?! POPEYE PARKER BROS. ACTION/ PLATFORM Gee, another underwhelming arcade translation with poorly animated single color sprites.  I'll tell you what, Parker Bros... I'll pay you Tuesday for a copy of this today. PORKY'S FOX ACTION/ PLATFORM Race a cartoon David Duchovny (hey, that's what he looks like!) around a variety of rounds, hoping to blow up a greasy spoon while avoiding characters from the film.  You definitely don't want someone named Ms. Ballbricker catching you! POWER LORDS PROBE 2000 ACTION An ambitious action game that's noticably more complex than its Odyssey2 counterpart.  Whether it's as fun or as satisfying as the Power Lords board game remains a mystery, but it's pretty good by ColecoVision standards.  PURPLE DINOSAUR MASSACRE JOHN DONDZILA SHOOTER The kind of game you'd expect to see on Newgrounds is now available on your ColecoVision! Q*BERT PARKER BROS. ACTION A good enough translation of the weird Gottlieb coin-op... but corners were obviously cut, as was often the case with Parker Bros' arcade ports. Q*BERT'S QUBES PARKER BROS. ACTION/ PUZZLE The sequel to Q*Bert lets you spin cubes with different colors stamped on each side, giving the game a more cerebral, Erno Rubik inspired challenge. QUEST FOR QUINTANA ROO SUNRISE ADVENTURE Probably the best ColecoVision game by Sunrise, but Montezuma's Revenge is faster, less confusing, and more fun. RIVER RAID ACTIVISION SHOOTER The only real improvement I saw was that the game stamps each bridge with a number... otherwise, it's about the same as the 2600 version, with sharper (but less colorful) graphics. ROBIN HOOD XONOX ACTION Fight Prince John's corrupt soldiers!  Save the lovely Maid Marion!  Get a circumcision by Rabbi Tuckman!  No, wait, that's not right... anyway, I kind of liked this game, even though the characters are super shrimpy and you're defenseless in the last round. ROC 'N ROPE COLECO ACTION/ PLATFORM I don't get it.  Why didn't Coleco just have Konami program this?  It was their arcade game, after all.  Oh well.  It's not bad as it is... it has more variety than Donkey Kong did, and the music's pretty nice. ROCK 'N BOLT ACTIVISION PUZZLE Why weren't people paying attention to these games before Tetris was released?!  You'll wonder too after playing this excellent puzzler, featuring attractive isometric graphics. ROCKY SUPER ACTION BOXING COLECO BOXING Imagine fighting Mr. T with wooden splints tied to your arms and legs.  You'd feel pretty helpless, wouldn't you?  Well, this game makes you feel the same way. ROLLOVERTURE SUNRISE ACTION/ PLATFORM This weak, confusing platformer with a musical theme turned out to be Sunrise's symphony of destruction.  Good riddance, I say.

	S

	SAMMY LIGHTFOOT SIERRA ON-LINE ACTION/ PLATFORM Guide the love child of Conan O'Brien and Elvis through an unforgiving series of rounds that require some experimentation and a lot of perfect timing.  I'm tempted to cut Coleco's flawed port of Donkey Kong a break after playing this unattractive and downright sadistic platformer.  SECTOR ALPHA SPECTRA VIDEO SHOOTER Believe it or not, game companies' unhealthy obsession with 3D graphics ruined plenty of games in the 80's as well.  This miserable shooter is just one of them. SEWER SAM INTERPHASE ACTION/ SHOOTER Ever wonder what Doom would have been like on the ColecoVision?  Try this, then imagine there's a lot more blood and bigger enemies. SIR LANCELOT XONOX ACTION Thank you, Atarisoft!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  Now we can play Joust instead of having to settle for THIS. SKIING TELEGAMES SPORTS A simplistic skiing game with two events and the world's most unconvincing animation. SKY JAGUAR KONAMI (conversion by Opcode) SHOOTER This Konami title, originally released for the MSX computer, is a welcome addition to the ColecoVision library.  You won't find another shooter on the system that's this complex... or  challenging! SLITHER COLECO SHOOTER It's Centipede with a Tex-Mex flavor.  The great graphics and trackball compatibility do enhance the game, but unlike Centipede, it just isn't very intense. SLURPY XONOX ACTION What is that thing?  A bagpipe?  An animated kidney?  Whatever it is, it sucks far more than the mindless enemies that float around waiting to be devoured. SMURF PAINT 'N PLAY WORKSHOP COLECO CREATIVITY This is essentially Cabbage Patch Kids Picture Show with new backgrounds and characters (who, thankfully, have their pants stapled on this time).  Um, er, Gargamel looks kind of cool... SMURF RESCUE COLECO ACTION/ PLATFORM Not a bad little platformer, but Konami's Cabbage Patch Kids has larger, crisper graphics.  It is better than the ColecoVision version of Pitfall!, though. SPACE FURY COLECO SHOOTER It's a more confusing, and confused, version of Asteroids with flickery graphics and three different power-ups.  The alien at the beginning is a nice piece of eyecandy.  SPACE INVADERS COLLECTION OPCODE (EDUARDO MELLO) SHOOTER An exceptional conversion of both Space Invaders and Space Invaders Part II, with absolutely nothing omitted.  The games look and feel, but not quite sound, EXACTLY like the arcade versions.  It's too bad Coleco's own games (particularly Gorf) weren't this faithful...  SPACE INVASION JOHN DONDZILA SHOOTER A slightly compromised version of Space Invaders with smaller characters but a very impressive title screen. SPACE PANIC COLECO ACTION/ PLATFORM Similar to Lode Runner, but with slow, clumsy, and frustrating gameplay.  Mr. Do!'s Castle clobbers this one. SPECTRON SPECTRA VIDEO SHOOTER A colorful shooter with what sounds like Journey music at the beginning of every game.  This would have been a whole lot more memorable if it had different rounds or a boss or SOMETHING. SPY HUNTER COLECO ACTION/ SHOOTER It's better than the arcade game, believe it or not!  The main reason why is that the control is a lot more precise now that the aggravating stick shift is gone. SQUISH 'EM SAM INTERPHASE (SIRIUS) ACTION "OK, Mr. Wolfcastle, say the line."  "I am Squish Them Sam!"  "No, no!  Squish 'EM!"  "Squish THEM!" "Oh, just climb that building and crush those alien insects with your feet."  STAR FORTRESS JOHN DONDZILA SHOOTER It's a slightly choppy port of the Vectrex game Star Castle, but frankly, I don't think Coleco themselves could have given us a better conversion. STAR TREK: STRATEGIC OPERATIONS SIMULATION COLECO ACTION/ SHOOTER On the ColecoVision and everywhere else, Star Trek has no trouble kicking Star Wars' overhyped ass.  A fun, unique shooter with multiple perspectives, including a very impressive view from the bridge. STAR WARS: THE ARCADE GAME PARKER BROS. SHOOTER It's hard to be satisfied with this after playing the beautiful and intense coin-op.  It's like being stuck with Jar Jar Binks after Han Solo gets frozen in carbonite. STEAMROLLER ACTIVISION (RELEASED BY BLUE SKY RANGERS) MAZE An inventive, fast-paced Pac-Man derivitive that starts out tough but becomes much easier- and more fun- when you get used to the odd play mechanics (the steamrollers can't reverse direction unless you hit the brakes). STRIKE IT! BIT CORP ACTION This dull Breakout clone has no trackball support, and you can't even control the paddle with the little dial on the bottom of your Super Controller.  This, of course, means that it plays like ass. SUBROC COLECO SHOOTER Sort of a first-person shooting gallery with jets, UFOs, and ships firing missiles at you.  Hideously choppy and ugly, but I've gotta admit, it's fun to get socked with the missiles. SUPER ACTION BASEBALL COLECO SPORTS Nice artwork, but I could never figure out how to play this game.  I think you need a second player to get the most out of it. SUPER ACTION FOOTBALL COLECO SPORTS   I haven't had the chance to try this one yet... but if it's like the other Super Action Sports games, I'm very lucky I missed it. SUPER ACTION SOOCER COLECO SPORTS An underpowered soccer game with some of the most hilariously crude camera close-ups I've ever seen.  The graphics look like something a caveman would chisel into the side of a large rock. SUPER COBRA PARKER BROS. SHOOTER If cobras only bite when they're provoked, you have to wonder what Parker Bros. did to make this one so mad. SUPER CROSS FORCE SPECTRA VIDEO SHOOTER Double barrel your enemies with two cannons, placed at the top and bottom of the screen.  Plays fairly well but the cross fire play mechanic can be a little frustrating. SUPER DONKEY KONG COLECO ACTION/ PLATFORM If this is Coleco's apology for their first mediocre Donkey Kong translation, they owe me another apology.

	T-U

	TANK WARS BIT CORP SHOOTER A pretty good clone of Namco's Tank Battalion/Battle City, but it's very repetitive, and a little sloppily designed. TAPPER COLECO ACTION Serve (root) beer to dozens of demanding customers in this slightly watered down conversion of the Bally/Midway classic. TARZAN COLECO ACTION/ FIGHTING  You'll be amazed at the atmosphere in this adaptation of the legendary novels.  There's everything from lush jungle scenery to the constant pounding of native drums... and the amount of variety is surprising for a ColecoVision game. TELLY TURTLE COLECO CREATIVITY A ColecoVision version of LOGO, the fad programming language of the time.  Fortunately, the smart parents taught their kids BASIC instead of showing them how to steer around a turtle with a piece of chalk stuck up its butt. THRESHOLD SIERRA ON-LINE SHOOTER Like Megamania for the 2600, but without the personality.  Sure, you got a couple of funny mothership encounters, but past that you won't remember much about this shooter. TIC TAC TOE DAVID NEUWICZ TIC TAC TOE Well, the ColecoVision plays a decent game of Tic Tac Toe.  But then again, so does just about everyone who's out of preschool. TIME PILOT COLECO SHOOTER Time Pilot deserved a better translation than this, but as choppy as it is, this game is still playable... and even fun. TOMARC THE BARBARIAN XONOX ACTION/ PLATFORM They should have kept the Thundarr the Barbarian license.  At least that way, they'd have... well, Thundarr the Barbarian.  Unfortunately, the game doesn't offer too much else. TOURNAMENT TENNIS IMAGIC SPORTS Plays better than many of the sports games on the ColecoVision, but the graphics aren't that great, and it is just tennis. TUNNELS AND TROLLS COLECO DEMO   The title screen for an embarassingly obvious Dungeons & Dragons clone that was never finished.  I mean, really... Tunnels & Trolls? TURBO COLECO RACING A fun racing game with lots of colorful scenery.  Turbo is surprisingly relaxing... I've spent nearly an hour just passing cars. TUTANKHAM PARKER BROS. SHOOTER It doesn't have the huge variety of monsters in the 2600 version, but it is a much closer translation of the Konami coin-op. UP 'N DOWN SEGA ACTION A port of the innovative but clumsy driving game with dumbed down graphics.  Another game with a seemingly provocative name, Bump 'n Jump, is more solid and playable.

	V-Z

	VENTURE COLECO ACTION/ SHOOTER Hunting for treasure in a variety of dangerous rooms is a great idea, but the clunky control and repetitive gameplay make it less exciting than it could have been. VICTORY COLECO SHOOTER I'd enjoy this a lot more if it made more sense, had smoother scrolling, and didn't force you to use a trackball. VIDEO HUSTLER KONAMI POOL I know, I know... it's kind of a clumsy pool sim, and it's not even finished. What can I say?  I'm a sucker for Konami's games.  Besides, I like the arcade style play mechanics. WARGAMES COLECO ACTION/ STRATEGY A superb adaptation of the film which plays like Missile Command, except from an overhead viewpoint and with a lot more options.  Rumor has it that the graphics were good enough to make high-ranking military officials of the time nervous. WAR ROOM PROBE 2000 ACTION/ STRATEGY War Games' more cynical cousin.  Blast missiles and stockpile supplies in a futile attempt to keep the United States from being destroyed by communism.  Makes me wonder if Rósha Harris had a hidden agenda... WING WAR IMAGIC ADVENTURE A surprisingly long adventure that plays like an expanded aerial version of Imagic's Fathom.  Wing War offers both enjoyable, addicting gameplay and astounding graphics. WIZARD OF ID'S WIZMATH SIERRA ON-LINE (SYDNEY) EDUCATION Probably the best of the educational games on the ColecoVision.  It plays a little like Pengo, except you have to push blocks with numbers together to create equations.  Nicely drawn sprites, and fairly challenging if you're honest about your age. YOLK'S ON YOU, THE FOX ACTION Nudge a bunch of eggs into a barn before they hatch.  A game this simple needed cartoony graphics and fast-paced gameplay to make it work, and Yolk's has neither. ZAXXON COLECO SHOOTER This isn't a perfect arcade translation, but it's hard to complain about that when the isometric graphics are so amazing.  Plus, Zaxxon is still in here, which is something I wasn't sure about when I first bought the game. ZENJI ACTIVISION PUZZLE This great puzzle game was released at entirely the wrong time... if Activision had held onto it for just a few more years it could have given that other ethnically flavored puzzler Tetris a run for its rubles.

Notice something different?  You should.  The ColecoVision game company rating chart has been completely redesigned.  You'll no longer have to deal with the ugly HTML formatted chart or those irksome abbreviations for each company.  That's all been retired in favor of a much clearer bar graph, with the logos for both Coleco and its two dozen licensees listed right next to their respective ratings.