ColecoVision

The arcade on the box

Coleco’s 1982 annual report dates the console’s introduction to August and describes a licensing programme built around games such as Donkey Kong and Zaxxon. Familiar arcade names helped explain what the system offered. The company’s claims of arcade quality were sales arguments, however; each conversion still needs to be judged on its own controls, rules and omissions.

Native games and adapters

Expansion Module #1 lets the system play Atari VCS-compatible cartridges. That does not turn those cartridges into ColecoVision conversions. Their original platform, program and control requirements remain relevant. The ranked collection here contains native ColecoVision releases.

Expansion Module #2 supplies a steering wheel and accelerator for driving play. The expansion number identifies a piece of equipment, not a general upgrade that improves every game. Check the individual release’s requirements before treating an accessory as optional.

Selecting and playing

The standard controller combines a short joystick, a keypad and side buttons. Coleco’s manual uses the keypad to select game options and describes additional uses in individual games. Some cartridges provide an overlay to identify those commands.

That layout separates choosing a mode from moving through it, but software can also call for keypad use during play. A replacement controller that supplies only a stick and one button may omit an action the original cartridge expects.