Atari 2600 HALLOWEEN is a GRUESOME Rarity with Even SCARIER Gameplay!
Halloween is a horror video game for the Atari 2600, released in October 1983 by Wizard Video. It is based on the 1978 horror film of the same name. The game was programmed by Tim Martin. When Games by Apollo went bankrupt, Martin and another former employee, Robert Barber, developed Halloween. Although the game was called Halloween, and featured the film’s theatrical poster as its cover art as well as the movie’s main music theme, the game itself never refers to any characters, including the killer, by their names in the film.
#atari #halloween #retrogaming #genxgrownup
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@Winslow_Leach_01
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
As a 13 year old, I sent away for both of these titles way way back in the day.
I loved the MUSIC on Halloween, but… that's about it. It was fun to use to impress friends, but it just wasn't a good game. However, compared to TCM, it was GTA III….. TCM was just infuriating and so disappointing. I had expected more for some naïve reason.
@nerddaddavid
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Never knew about this game. This actually looks pretty fun.
@h2low404
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
I the new version on Xbox series x
@eunhwastevens
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Can you direct me where I can buy the CIB for $1K. Thanks in advance.
@katmacoconnor
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
👾💜🎃👻💨
@TheSlasherReport
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Its a nice game to kill some time around Halloween being a Halloween fan for sure. I bought this one a month ago for under $200. For an Atari 2600, this is pretty good, especially for having the music. Think Ghostbusters with the theme too, the difference is there's a break in the music lol. Speaking of a break, it's nice to have those safe rooms at the far ends so if you need to chill for a second or use the bathroom, you got that for you. I think if I recall, the speed/difficulty resets after a certain score, much like Donkey Kong Arcade. Overall its a lot better than the other 2600 games and I'd give it a solid 7/10.
@BeastCake1349
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
18:07 I do! I do! Subterranea! Subterranea!
@bw3230
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
I usually play this game along with Haunted House, Simon's Quest and PS1's Clock Tower every Halloween as tradition.
@SymbioticTragedy
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
For your information: Wizard Video was a parallel entity founded by the same producer as Empire International Pictures, Charles Band, who is now the founder of Full Moon.
@metaljustice4518
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
How the heck did you get a copy? Wowsa!
@crazyclimber80
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
I always imagined how cool it would be for someone to make a game of HALLOWEEN II with hospital settings. Spa room, OR, nursery, doctors offices, etc. and finding bodies of the staff members. Maybe collect items like a lighter, gun, walkie talkie, scalpel, etc. The goal would be to get Laurie (and maybe Dr. Loomis as 2nd player?) out of the hospital safely.
@radgraham
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Man still to this day playing Friday the 13th on NES just creeps me out😂 The 8 bit music and Jason popping out of nowhere still makes me jump🤣🤙
@jayme69
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
I still think this is a great game but Michael doesn't attack kids in the OG movie, so there's some liberties taken 😉 Keep up the awesome work Jon!
@exidy-yt
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Well…..um……the sprite animation was nice? And they did manage to get a 2-voice version of the Hallow'een theme going on the ol' VCS without adding a custom chip…but pretty lame overall I agree. If it was reworked with some better graphics, more places for Michael to pop out of and overall better AI it could make something decent on something a bit beefier like the ColecoVision, but….eh. It's better left to history. Good score run though Jon!
@MissRavenLaRuesTarot
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
I played this, 1 year ago; I was told there was nothing special; no plot, no main objective, no naming the characters after the movie characters, no understanding in even the most rudimentary sense of life or death, of good or evil, right or wrong,or previous Atari 2600 memories. I met this… 42 year old Atari 2600 game with this blank, pale, emotionless setup, and… the dullest graphics & sound – the Devil's graphics and sound. I spent eight minutes trying to play it, and then another eight trying to keep it out of my mind, because I realized that what was living behind that game's design was purely and simply… evil.
Plus, it felt like a discarded Haunted House prototype.
But seeing you play it for Halloween, I quite enjoyed it. Hope you had a Happy Halloween, John.
@seanb9362
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
I always loved this game – guilty pleasure!
@ZMAN_420
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
It's not the best but not the worst in my opinion. Music is cool it gets old after a while.
@ZMAN_420
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Happy Halloween 🎃 everyone!
@TeletubbyMobile
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Happy Halloween 👻
@Zoyx
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Nope, don't own this. I think the only way I'll get one of these is by reproduction.
@Alpha5119
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
I think it was a pick. Halloween on Halloween on Friday the 13th. Ok 31st. 13 backwards. I played it before but didn't understand it. Now i do and it's not that bad. Thank you
@ajeba98
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
I've never heard anyone refer to Micahel Mtyers as a Nerd.
@theTemplar08
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
I am a smart babysitter! I’m gonna take all these kids and put them in one room, so the third is your target for the maniac😮
@loganjorgensen
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
It's a funny contrast on your part, oh no I see why stores wouldn't sell this game, to boy this game sure is boring lol. I think the foundation of the gameplay is good, much like Gremlins(5200) or Home Alone(Genesis) it captures the basic events of the movies into a working gameplay system.
I agree about the complete lack of options as none of the console switches are employed and it needs more game items and things to do in the environment. For example Lakeview Cabin finds puzzle like actions to accomplish within levels.
@Datan0de
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
I'll definitely check it out, but then probably go back to Frankenstein.
Off topic, I can't wait for the Amazing Stories podcast episode!
@tacaskey69
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
🎵Happy Happy Halloween… Silver Shamrock🎵… Oops wrong movie… Lol… But yeah, this game kinda blows… I've played it after watching the AVGN Halloween episode…
@Niac022
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
The question is "Is it better or worse than the Texas Chainsaw Massacre?"
@1969cougareliminator
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Huh, I never knew/heard of this game. I see what you mean about the game play, seems repetitive but hey, it fits for today! Thank you for covering it!
@ultimatemaitai
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
I guess "child murder and babysitter decapitation" won't be coming soon to a GxG t-shirt anytime soon.
@ultimatemaitai
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
You know that doesn't seem like the worst game at all.
@CaptainRufus
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Another old game that costs entirely too much for what it is sadly. I mean you our video maker might be able to make it tax expenses but most of us not so much. Now the Retro Realms Halloween game on the Switch is pretty great and cheap at least.
@NotMuchHere
March 25, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Jon … shes not hot … i had a 800XL strip poker .. the Frat brothers were not impressed … how gruesome can a 2600 game really be. ! 🙂 have a weekend!
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