From Centipede to Breakout to Asteroids, some of Atari's greatest arcade games have been reimagined for the 21st century thanks to the Recharged series. First started back in 2020 and mostly developed by Sneakybox and Adamvision Studios, this is a line of classic game updates that builds onto the formula in fun and exciting ways. Featuring new power-ups, multiplayer modes and dozens of challenge levels in each game, the Recharged series has been a hit with both critics and fans. Here you will find a full and complete list of Atari's best and worst Recharged games, along with links to each of their reviews.
NEWEST ENTRY:
Berzerk: Recharged
#1
An intoxicating mix of Geometry Wars and Qix, Quantum: Recharged takes one of Atari's most unique arcade games and gives it the makeover it deserves. With a real emphasis on challenging new enemies and some important tweaks to the gameplay, this is the best version of Quantum yet. Add in some fun power-ups, different multiplayer modes and dozens of challenge levels just waiting to be completed, and you have another great entry in Atari's Recharged franchise. Quantum once again proves that you don't need shooting and explosions to create a compelling action game. Sometimes, all you need to do is draw a circle. (B+)
#2
While the newest Recharged game from Atari may be a deep cut, you shouldn't hold that against it. Gravitar is a fun shoot ‘em up with a surprising amount of mission types and a tragic backstory that makes it ripe for redemption. The gameplay may take a little getting used to and the aiming could be easier, but once you get the hang of things, you'll discover an ambitious shooter with a striking art style and a lot of variety. Gravitar is a new high-water mark for the Recharged franchise. (B+)
#3
Fourty years after first hitting the Atari 2600, the vengeful inspect is back in Yars: Recharged, an action-packed update to the console classic. Now a dual-stick shooter, this nostalgia-fueled action game updates the series with improved graphics, multiplayer modes, tons of missions to take on and a lot more. Sure, it suffers from some serious difficulty spikes, as well as a lot of the problems that have plagued past Recharged games (including samey backgrounds and a serious lack of options), but the shoot ‘em up thrills are exciting and, much like the original, Yars: Recharged doesn't feel like any other game on the market. This is one of Atari's best Recharged games yet. (B)
#4
More than 40 years after it first hit home computers, Caverns of Mars is once again wowing critics. By moving away from single-screen action games, this Recharged shoot ‘em up is able to try new things and set itself apart from most of Atari's upgrades. The usually consistent challenge missions are a bit disappointing, but don't worry, the single- and multiplayer arcade mode is riotously fun and worth the price of admission all by itself. Between Akka Arrh and now Caverns of Mars: Recharged, Atari hasn't lost a step after celebrating their 50th birthday. (B)
#5
Centipede: Recharged is not interested in reinventing the long-running series or adding a bunch of nonsensical lore, and that's a good thing. This widescreen update to the classic arcade hit manages to excel by sticking close to the original roots. It has a vibrant art style, a fantastic electro soundtrack and all kinds of challenge stages to master. The standard arcade mode may be a bit shallow, but there's more than enough content in Centipede Recharged to warrant the ten-dollar asking price. Finally, a reboot that remembers what made the original game so much fun in the first place. (B)
#6
Breakout is another great entry in Atari's Recharged franchise. By sticking to the original formula, this reimagined classic makes a strong case for why the 1976 arcade hit was so beloved back in its day. This Recharged version features some of the best challenge stages of the entire series, as well as a new-and-improved arcade mode with a lot of the options critics have been asking for. It's not perfect and the widescreen playfield changes the dynamics in some frustrating ways, but Breakout: Recharged is a big step in the right direction. If this is how we're going to start 2022, then I can't wait to see what Atari has in store for us next. (B)
#7
Fight for your life while navigating a complicated maze and escaping Evil Otto! That's right, Berzerk is back and fully Recharged, giving a brand-new generation the anxiety of being hunted by a massive bouncing ball with a huge smiley face. While not as original or unique as other games in the Recharged series, this updated remake has a lot going for it, including cool power-ups and tons of challenge missions to complete. Too bad the loose gameplay and bland visuals keep this otherwise fun shoot ‘em up from reaching its full potential. Action game fans will enjoy the familiarity of Berzerk, but I would recommend you stick with one of the better games in the Recharged series, like Quantum, Yars or Gravitar. (B-)
#8
Black Widow is a solid entry in the Recharged series, but nowhere near as exciting as the recent Centipede update. While the dual-stick shooting is fun and the concept is cool, the challenge levels are too repetitive and the action will remind you of dozens of far better shooters on the market. If you can get beyond the limited modes and the obnoxious buzzing in the background, you'll find a stylish shoot 'em up that does a solid job bringing the 1982 dual-stick pioneer into the 21st century. Black Widow: Recharged is fun, but not essential. (C+)
#9
Not to be confused with the 2020 release of the same name, Missile Command: Recharged gives the classic action game a complete makeover, complete with better graphics, new challenge missions, an upgraded arcade mode, cool power-ups and a great soundtrack. But while these enhancements make the package more enticing, the fact still remains that Missile Command is difficult to play without a trackball. The analog stick is a poor substitute, and normally easy challenges are made incredibly frustrating by the imprecise gameplay. Missile Command gets so much right, yet winds up being one of the weaker entries in the Recharged franchise. (C+)
#10
While longtime fans of Asteroids will find a lot of nostalgia in this Recharged sequel, new players may be bored with the slow pacing and frustrating gameplay. Even with the addition of power-ups and Recharged trappings, the monotonous structure keeps this from hitting the same heights as Centipede or even Black Widow. Worst of all, the always trusty challenge mode only helps to highlight the inherent shallowness of this concept. Asteroids: Recharged is a big disappointment. (C-)
