Game Review

Miner 2049er is a port from the incredibly fun Atari 8-bit version, and unfortunately the results here aren't pretty. The game begins showing the first level with a rendition of "Clementine", the same theme used in other versions. It's not great, but at least not too hideous. But things do get worse once the game starts. Graphically, the game is mixed, but overall poor. The various platforms and slides look fine even if a little blockier than the 8-bit counterparts. But our hero, Bounty Bob, and his nemesis mutants are horrible! The developers didn't even try to come close to the original, and both are a blocky, unrecognizable mess. Sound is very limited as well; there's some shuffling and plinks and a few other noises, but nothing impressive. Some sounds are missing, I think it would have been no problem at all for the 2600 to handle the flashing screen and alarm sound that starts each attempt in other versions (on the other hand, maybe it's good that was left out if they couldn't be bothered to do it well like the other half-baked elements in the game). Ok, so expecting a perfect graphics and sound translation isn't reasonable for the Atari 2600, but I think they could have done a much, much better job than we have here.

I wouldn't be so worried about that, though, if the game played well as the graphics and sound might be ugly but are clear enough that some stellar gameplay could easily make up for it. But, alas, in this version, it does not. For starters, there's only three levels somewhat based on the original ten! I can see some cuts being made due to more limited ROM's for the 2600, but really, only three? A sequel of sorts, Miner 2049er Part II, was released which is an identical game but with three different levels to (sort of) account for this. And due to the blockier graphics, the levels are more limited in scope as well and almost look as if they're zoomed in on a small portion of a larger screen. There's fewer platforms, fewer ladders, and all around fewer contraptions than the original. The gameplay is also far more sluggish on the Atari 2600; Bounty Bob moves around taking his sweet time. The slow shuffle of our character is especially frustrating as each level has a time limit and you'll need to traverse the platforms around the entire screen. The time limit exists in all versions, of course, and naturally it seems there's rarely enough time as well, but the slow movement makes that fact feel more aggrivating than when Bounty Bob runs along at a decent speed. Jumping seems to be tougher as well; in other versions you did need to be sort of precise in leaping over mutants, but it wasn't bad; in this version you have to be extra careful and it's downright annoying. Since there's less room on the screen most of the mutants also don't wander as far left and right as in other versions. This means they have to turn around far more often giving you less space where it's safe to jump over them.

Overall, this is easily the worst version of the game. It's missing too many elements, the gameplay is too clunky, and it just completely fails to capture the feel of the original. Atari 2600 hardware is so limited it can be forgiven when games don't get everything exactly right, but Miner 2049er is what happens when too much is wrong and the results aren't even particularly fun. I'm going to give this version a D-.