BallyAlley_r1_c1.gif BallyAlley_r1_c2.gif BallyAlley_r1_c4.gif
BallyAlley_r2_c1.gif BallyAlley_r2_c2.gif Reviews for Cartridges and Tapes BallyAlley_r2_c4.gif
BallyAlley_r3_c1.gif  
3x5 Character Set Review (Al Rathmell) "3x5 Character Set" Review.
By Al Rathmell.
September 15, 1982.

This is review of Craig J. Anderson's tutorial (released by H.A.R.D.; Hoover-Anderson Research and Design). The tutorial explains how to create a small character set for BASIC. This previously unpublished review was sent to Bob Fabris in October of 1982 and is part of the Bob Fabris Collection.
  1. "3x5 Character Set" Review - Original handwritten review.
Astrogames Tape Review Astrogames, Tapes A1 and A2 Review.
By Kevin O'Neill.
December 1983.

This is a review of seven games for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade that are on tapes A1 and A2 from Astrogames. This review first appeared in the "Outlet, Product Review Column" in NIAGARA B.U.G. BULLETIN, 1, no. 7 (December 1984): 25-26.

'Blast Droids' Review "Blast Droids" Review.
By Kevin O'Neill.
NIAGARA B.U.G. BULLETIN, 1, no. 5 (October 5, 1982): 13.

"Blast Droids" is the second independently-produced cartridge game by Esoterica Ltd for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade.
Coloring Book "Coloring Book" Review
"The Complete Guide to Conquering Video Games: How to Win Every Game in the Galaxy," by Jeff Rovin, 1982.

     "Coloring Book" is an unreleased cartridge.

Dragon & Vegas 500 Review by Bill Rueger "Dragon, The" & "Vegas 500" Review.
By Bill Rueger.
March 1980.

     Paul Thacker wrote, "I learned that Larry Camnitz was originally planning to sell "The Dragon" and "Vegas 500" (two tape programs that Adam and I found in tape and paper format [in the Bob Fabris Collection]). It appears these plans were scuttled after it was going to get a rather negative review. I don't find the programs particularly exciting, but they are at least a unique take on largely chance-based games. I certainly prefer them to the umpteen versions of slot machine."

Extended Memory Products Review #1: Do You Need Extended Memory? "Extended Memory Products Review #1: Do You Need Extended Memory?"
By Dave Carson.
Arcadian 5, no. 11 (Sept. 28, 1983): 166-167.

This is an overview of whether an Astrocade owner should or should not purchase a memory upgrade for their system. This review first appeared in the Extended Memory Products Review column.

Extended Memory Products Review #2: The Gate Escape and Wack-A-Mole "Extended Memory Products Review #2: The Gate Escape and Wack-A-Mole"
By Dave Carson.
Arcadian 5, no. 12 (Oct. 24, 1983): 178-179.

This is a review of two games released by WaveMakers for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade. These two games require extended memory and Blue Ram BASIC. This review first appeared in the Extended Memory Products Review column.

Extended Memory Products Review #3: Quadra "Extended Memory Products Review #3: Quadra"
By Dave Carson.
Arcadian, 6, no. 1 (Nov. 29, 1983): 2,1.

This is a review of Quadra, a game for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade which is made up of four main-games (some with separate parts). The games that are part of "Quadra" are: Brick Buster, Land Slide!, Laser & Slide, Safe Cracker, Smash Up and UFO Attack. This game requires extended memory and Blue Ram BASIC.

Extended Memory Products Review #4: Collision Course "Extended Memory Products Review #4: Collision Course"
By Dave Carson.
Arcadian, 6 no. 3 (Jan. 27, 1984): 28.

This is a game review of WaveMakers' Collision Course, for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade. This game requires extended memory and Blue Ram BASIC. Collision Course is a clone of Sega's 1979 coin-op arcade game Head On.

Outpost 19 (BRB) "Extended Memory Products Review #7: Outpost 19"
By Dave Carson.
ARCADIAN, 6, no. 11/12 (Oct. 31, 1984): 118-119.

The scenario of the game is that you are stranded aboard a lonely space station. Searching your surroundings will reveal trophies and treasures that you may "pick up" for points. You will also find that you are not quite alone. There is a really bad guy on board that can pass through walls, leaves a trail of "poisoned" garbage, and is obsessed with getting rid of intruders (you)!

Programmable Parade "Galactic Invasion" and "Space Fortress" Reviews
"Programmable Parade."
Electronics Games, July 1982.

     An article that includes reviews for various home consoles. Included are reviews of two Atari 2600 games: "Haunted House" and "Trickshot. There are also reviews for two Bally/Astrocade games: "Galactic Invasion" and "Space Fortress." Along with the reviews, there is some original artwork that accompanies each review. I'm especially fond of the artwork for "Space Fortress."

     The full article, in text format, can be read here.

Astrocade Game Reviews Compilation "The Game Player"
Bally Arcade/Astrocade Game Reviews.
By Michael Prosise.
"Arcadian," October 7, 1982 - October 31, 1984.

     "The Game Player" was a review column from the "Arcadian" newsletter that ran for twenty-one columns. It reviewed a total of thirty-nine games, only five of which were cartridges. The rest were all games that were sold on tape. The reviewed games are:
Tape Reviews (34)
-----------------

1) Adventure                Astrogames                  
2) Astro Analyst            Educational Software Systems
3) Astro Terror             The Tiny Arcade             
4) Candy Man                L&M Software                
5) Castle of Horror         Wavemakers                  
6) Caterpillar              H.A.R.D. Software           
7) Collision Course         Wavemakers                  
8) Defense Professional     Astrogames                  
9) Dungeons of Dracula      Wavemakers                  
10) Exitor's Revenge         L&M Software                
11) Flying Ace               Wavemakers                  
12) Galactic Hitchhiker      H.A.R.D. Software           
13) Gamma Wars               Tiny Arcade                 
14) Gate Escape, The         Wavemakers                  
15) L.T.                     Wavemakers                  
16) Lost in Space            Edge Software               
17) Memomax                  Educational Software Systems
18) Metro Attack             Astrogames                  
19) Micro Pac                H.A.R.D. Software           
20) Morse Code Trainer       Educational Softwear Designs
21) Music                    George Moses Co.            
22) Nam-Cap                  New Image                   
23) Nautilus                 L&M Software                
24) Night Bombers            Astrogames                  
25) Omega Valley             The Tiny Arcade             
26) Paper Chase, The         H.A.R.D. Software           
27) Peter Piper              Astrogames                  
28) Road Toad                Esoterica, Ltd.             
29) Secret of Pellucitar     L&M Software                
30) Super Pac                Astrogames                  
31) Super Slope              Esoterica, Inc.             
32) Tic Tac Tollah           H.A.R.D. Software           
33) Vindicator               The Tiny Arcade             
34) Wah's Revenge            Astrogames                  

Cartridge Reviews (5)
---------------------

1) Cosmic Raiders           Astrocade                   
2) Ms. Candyman             L&M Software                
3) Sea Devil                Bit Fiddlers                
4) Sneaky Snake             New Image                   
5) Solar Conqueror          Astrocade                   
'Incredible Wizard' Review "Incredible Wizard, The" Review.
By Joe Santulli.
Digital Press, #28 (Jan/Feb 1996): 9. Print.

     A review of 1982's "The Incredible Wizard" by Astrocade, Inc.

Insights and Feedback on The Incredible Wizard and Wizard of Wor (Coin-Op) Insights and Feedback on The Incredible Wizard and Wizard of Wor (Coin-Op).
By Tim Duarte.
November 23, 2016.

Tim wrote feedback for the Bally Alley Astrocast #6 podcast, which included a review of The Incredible Wizard. Tim took this feedback and made it into an article in the tradition of his print newsletter The 2600 Connection.

'Mazeman' Review "Mazeman" Review.
By Kevin O'Neill.
NIAGARA B.U.G. BULLETIN, 2, no. 5 (June 1984): 22. Print.

"MAZEMAN is unlike any 'gobble game' you have ever seen! Each time you clear a screen, you find yourself beginning a different maze. There are 12 completely different mazes, each requiring changes in tactics. [...] The four bad guys get slightly faster and a bit more aggressive with each new maze. The mazes cycle after 12, but the increase in difficulty goes on and on. From level one through nine there are eight "Jekyl to Hyde" transformers per maze. After level 9 there are only four. MAZEMAN has challenge enough for the serious gamer, but will provide hours of satisfaction for the beginner."

Munchie "Munchie" Review
"The Complete Guide to Conquering Video Games: How to Win Every Game in the Galaxy," by Jeff Rovin, 1982.

Music Maker "Music Maker" Review
"The Complete Guide to Conquering Video Games: How to Win Every Game in the Galaxy," by Jeff Rovin, 1982.

'Machine Language Manager' Review "'Machine Language Manager' A Review"
By Bob Fabris and Al Rathmell.
ARCADIAN 4, no. 3 (Dec. 24, 1981): 29.

This is a review of the "Machine Language Manager" (MLM) cartridge by The Bit Fiddlers (Andy Guevara). The "MLM" is a machine language monitor that allows an unexpanded, 4K Bally Arcade/Astrocade to program in machine language using hex digits instead of the clumsy decimal method that is required by "Bally BASIC" and "AstroBASIC."

This article has been copied from the "Arcadian." The original hand-written article is also available for download.
  1. "Machine Language Manager," Review - pdf
  2. "Machine Language Manager," Review - Handwritten
Pirate's Chase Review "Pirate's Chase" Review
Electronics Games, November 1982.

     An excerpt from an article called "Programmable Parade" that includes many reviews for various home consoles. This review calls the game "Pirate Chase," but the correct name of the game is "Pirate's Chase."

     The excerpted review, in text format, can be read here.
Quest for the Orb "Quest for the Orb" Review
"The Complete Guide to Conquering Video Games: How to Win Every Game in the Galaxy," by Jeff Rovin, 1982.

Software Review Software Reviews:
"Bach's 15 Two-Part Inventions," "27 Christmas Carols" and "Guitar Course"
By C.J. Anderson.
CURSOR 2, no. 4 (November 1980): 79.

A review of three tapes (two by George Moses and one by WaveMakers) for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade.

Treasure Cove and Cosmic Raiders Software Review Treasure Cove and Cosmic Raiders.
By Kevin O'Neill (July 1984).
Niagara B.U.G. Bulletin, 2, no. 6 (July 27, 1984): 29-30.

Reviews of two Bally Arcade/Astrocade games released in 1983: Treasure Cove by Spectrecade and Cosmic Raiders by Astrocade, Inc.

Z-80 Mini Course Review "Z80 Mini Course" Review
By Al Rathmell.
April 20, 1982.

This is a previously unpublished review of 1982's "Z-80 Mini Course" by Larry Simioni. The "Z-80 Mini Course" was written specifically to introduce Bally BASIC programmers to Z-80 machine language.

While not easy to read, for reference purposes, the original handwritten review of the "Z-80 Mini Course" can be read here:

"Z80 Mini Course" Review - by Al Rathmell.

The 46-page "Z-80 Mini Course" tutorial can be read here:

Z80 Mini Course - By Larry Simioni

BallyAlley_r3_c4.gif
BallyAlley_r4_c1.gif BallyAlley_r4_c2.gif BallyAlley_r4_c4.gif