Also watch VANGUARD review for Atari 2600: www.youtube.com Classic Game Room reviews VANGUARD for Atari 5200. Previously CGR reviewed the 2600 version and you’ll note some major visual differences between two versions of this awesome game. Vanguard is one of the earliest space ship shooters, or SHMUPS, which was released in the arcades in 1981. This Atari 5200 release is from 1983 and would be an amazing game if the 5200 controllers did not suck the lift out of the gameplay. Maneuver your space ship through tight spaces, tunnels and fire at enemies in four directions… just don’t try to do any of it with precision thanks to the awful, mushy 5200 controller. Even a refurb controller can’t save the controls in this game. Vanguard was originally published by SNK who is better known for the Neo-Geo and Metal Slug than Vanguard! For a fun, affordable game that kicks ass, check out Vanguard on the Atari 2600, or brave the controls and take on the Atari 5200 version. This CGR review of Vanguard has gameplay from the Atari 5200 version of Vanguard showing old school side and vertical scrolling shooter game play.
I don’t have much of a problem with my controllers, and I have 4! But there is the Wico aftermarket joystick that seems to work very well, its close to the 2600 joystick.
I played this on an arcade cabinet growing up. It was the first game I could easily win on a quarter.
The 5200 version is pretty close to the original, but you really need 4 buttons to play.
Sounds like you need to hunt down either a masterplay interface or a competition pro joystick for your 5200. Then you will get more pleasure from your 5200
Was this ever released for the Atari 8-bit range of computers (400, 800, XE, XL, etc)? This looks like a nice game, and the graphics look awesome, but I can’t be bothered to get a 5200…but I do have an Atari 800 computer in storage that I’d like to get out and use, and many 5200 games were issued in nearly-identical versions for the 8-bit range of computers…was this game one of them?
This system is a case where emulation will do it justice. Playing 5200 games in M.E.S.S. with a PS3 controller is really nice.
like your reviews
Wow, I remember playing this at my friend’s place…. 1982? Thanks for the memories!
@2:51 Those white ship things look like the Star Ship Enterprise from Star Trek.
Play it with the trackball…
The arcade game is awesome. You have 4 buttons to shoot with. When it came out on the atari 2600 I was very impressed with the the version. I wish it has the a joystick with 4 buttions like the arcade.
I know someone in the SF Bay Area who has a Vanguard arcade game. He would probably be willing to let you play it.
like enjoying that 100 % version regarding this video from avatz (dot) net change (dot) to .
VANGUARD! Played this game a lot. Hehehehe! The Rainbow Zone. That boss battle at 5:50 always remined me of Tron.
Yes. I remember Firetruck.
the energize song sounds like star trek the next generation…
I loved playing Vanguard in the arcades. Whenever I got energized, it was a great powerful feeling when I was indestructible and hearing that heroic music playing.