Retro Games Get a Facelift in Intellivision Gen2 Project

Back in the early 1980s there were few gaming consoles on the market. The big name was Atari with its line of cartridge-based games, particularly for the 2600. But, there was another company that fought for its own share of the market. Intellivision became a popular alternative and it’s apparent that there’s still a market for them as the Intellivision Gen2 project just launched on Kickstarter.

I’m foremost an Atari child, having both played the 2600 games extensively and even owned an Atari ST, but I’m still a fan of any retro game so I decided to check Intellivision Gen2 out. And as its name suggests, these games are getting a facelift into a more modern pixely look. You won’t find any state-of-the-art graphics but they are a major upgrade to the early days of video gaming.

In this first phase, three specific titles are getting the star treatment: Astrosmash, Shark! Shark!, and Night Stalker. For those who don’t know what these games are (and I’ll admit that they eluded my recollection), here’s the basic premise of each.

Astrosmash is basically an Asteroids clone, pure and simple. Shoot them down before they can do any damage. Shark! Shark! has you playing as a fish that feeds on smaller fish to grow larger. And Night Stalker is basically an escape from the labyrinth title. Back then, games were a lot more simple in their story. If they even had that much.

Intellivision Gen2 doesn’t just have the updated games and related merchandise available as rewards. You can even put in for a year’s subscription to the RETRO Video Game Magazine. And you can get both for just $25. If you wax nostalgic for days gone by, particularly if you have fond memories of the Intellivision console, then you should check this one out. It just launched and they’re asking for $100,000. A lofty goal indeed.

Track the progress of the Intellivision Gen2 Kickstarter in our Campaign Calendar.