Atari 50: The Anniversary Collection: PS5 Review

Developed by Digital Eclipse
Published by Atari
Platform: PS5

If you are looking for a game which updates and revitalises the extensive Atari back catalogue for the next generation of consoles, then Atari 50: The Anniversary Collection is not for you.

But if you are looking for a game which explores the depth and raison d'etre of the Atari console and its gaming legacy, then it has to be said Atari 50: The Anniversary Collection is the game for you to both indulge your nostalgia as well as appreciate the whys and hows of the series throughout the decades.

Serving as both an emulator of the best Atari games (with some notable exceptions due to publisher issues and platforms) and an exploration of the console's history and foundations, Digital Eclipse's work here is exemplary.

Pulling the games into different timelines and presenting them with a look into the rich history, complete with interviews of those who made them, the depth and breadth of the scope of the game's coverage is amazing to behold - and engaging as well to newcomers.

With the likes of games such as Asteroids, Crystal Castles, I, Robot, Gravitar, Centipede, Tempest, Breakout, Atari 50: The Anniversary Collection doesn't lose sight of what it is there to do - to allow you to play these favourites once again.

And while it's fair to say that game tastes have changed through the years, and some of these games look positively primitive compared to current day releases, the fact they're so accurately emulated can't help but plunge you directly into a world of nostalgia once again.

Atari 50: The Anniversary Collection is a game that all serious game owners should have in their collection. Deeply respectful of the era it represents and yet clever in its way of presenting this slice of history, Digital Eclipse's trip into the past is a beacon for all future emulations - don't be a lazy cash grab, and make sure the jaunt back into the past is a nourishing and educational one.