The soldering iron hummed in the background, a familiar soundtrack to a Sunday spent dismantling relics. Today’s patient: a battered Atari 2600, circa ‘82. The plastic, a faded beige, whispered tales of countless hours spent battling pixels. Then, a package arrived – the Atari 2600+. A resurrection, in a box.

My initial expectation? Nostalgia, pure and simple. A cynical cash-grab, perhaps. Modernizing a classic is tricky business. But holding this re-imagined console… it felt right. The same satisfying weight. The iconic four switches, begging to be flicked. This wasn’t a cheap imitation; it was a respectful echo. The design nailed the feel of the original, right down to the textured plastic mimicking the wood-grain variants – a minor but vital detail for authenticity.

The big deal, of course, is the game compatibility. Beyond the original 2600 cartridges, this new iteration also plays 7800 games. Consider it a bonus, an unexpected joy. The original 2600’s limitations – the notoriously simplistic sound chip, for example – remain, in a sense. It’s the charm. Don’t expect Dolby surround sound; you’re here for the iconic pew-pew of laser blasts. But the updated internals ensure seamless gameplay. No more flaky connections or pixelated glitches from a dodgy cartridge slot.

A small point, perhaps, but worth mentioning: the included joystick, while a decent replica, isn’t quite as responsive as the original Wico sticks, the gold standard for dedicated Atari players. The microswitches on those old beasts provided a crisp, tactile click absent here. Honestly though, a real purist would have a cabinet filled with them already. A workaround? Invest in a retro-style joystick with microswitches. Problem solved.

Compared to a modern console, the Atari 2600+ lacks a certain… oomph. No online multiplayer. No graphics that will make your jaw drop. But that’s precisely the point. It delivers a distilled, pure experience of early gaming.

For anyone who remembers the clang of the cartridge insertion, the anticipation building before Asteroids loads, or who’s just curious about video game history – this is a must-buy. For those seeking the cutting edge? Stick with your PS5. But for those ready to rediscover the simple joys of Space Invaders, or finally experience the 7800 titles they missed the first time around? This is your portal back in time. Go on, get it. You won’t regret it.