Worst Game (Atari 2600)

The Reason

I made this "game" after creating a series of videos about games that are worse than Atari 2600 E.T. , and realized that the quest was unfair to history and unfair to all the people who struggled to make Atari 2600 games when it was a going concern.  So instead of continuing the videos, I decide to design and create what I believe is THE WORST Atari 2600 game ever made, program it, and then make it available as a way to atone for my sins and take the heat off all the heroes who managed to get ANYTHING on the screen on an Atari in the golden age.

*Yes, the box art was created with generative A.I. because the "worst game" wouldn't be "the worst" without some crappy A.I., right?

Sadly enough he following story for the game WAS NOT A.I generated,  which kinda makes it worse, right?

Note: The game must be played on an Atari 2600 emulator.   The ROM is named worst_final.bas.bin.   I also added the source code, worst_final.bas for anyone to freely take and make even worse if they so desire.

The Story

It is the wedding eve for Princess Aurora and Prince Beau.  They are destined to be happy together after their upcoming glorious day of Matrimony.  For Aurora is the most beautiful princess in the land and Beau is the manliness Prince the realm had ever seen. But there is a deadly game afoot.   The evil wizard Maordrakevil does not want this marriage to happen!  He wants all the power of the kingdom for himself!  So he has conceived a diabolical plan.   

While the ancient magic royal spells prevent Maordrakevil from outright killing the happy couple, they did not prevent him from testing them!   The tradition of the ancient royal magic allows Maoredrakevil, the Wizard Of The Realm,  to design a game to test the couple’s suitability as a King And Queen who can work together to serve the kingdom.

.In the past happier times, these games have been simple, jovial challenges that gave the assembled wedding party a hearty laugh.   For instance, the prince helped the princess put on make-up with one hand tied behind his back,  or the princess directed a blindfolded prince to how to light a fire in the fireplace 

The eve before the wedding day is joyous and happy.  There is a delicious dinner and night filled with laughter, romance, flowers and happiness!  However, it does not end well!  After dessert is  served, it is time for Maordrakevil to announce the game he has designed for the happy couple to partake in.

“I have designed the worst game ever!” Mardrakevil announces!

The wedding party gasps in shock.

“I shall banish each of you, prince and princess to your own dimensions! There, separated, across the veil of the space/time continuum, you must work together to collect the energy of the suns!!   

“But it’s not so easy!”

“Fireballs from a sun in one dimension must be dodged, but as they cross the veil or space/time, they turn into pure energy that must be captured!!”

“And you must work together yet, you move in opposite directions!!”

“Bwahahahahah”

“Do this 256 times without fail, and you will earn your right to marriage!”

Then, with an evil laugh, Moredrakevil disappears, and the prince and princess are transported to alternate yet parallel dimensions!  

Now it’s your job to help them escape!

Can you help them capture the energy of 255 suns, save their wedding day, and free the realm from the evil grip of Mordrakevil?      

Can you help the prince and princess win at  the Worst Game!!!  ?

Game Play

Mordrakevil has banished the Prince into one dimension and the Princess to another.   He has trapped them in an evil game of which there is barely a chance for escape! 

You control both the prince and princess at the same time!

Since they are in opposite, parallel dimensions, they move in opposite directions when you push up or down the joystick.

Whichever side the fireball or energy ball is on, that character will be able to move away from or move towards, while the other moves in the opposite direction.

Watch out, there is chance the ball will glance off at an angle when it hits the veil of space/time.

As well, periodically the balls get smaller and move faster.

And then, there are the pits.

As the prince and prince progress, pits will open on the floor.  You must avoid these pits at all costs.  One touch and your game is over.

For an easier challenge, make sure both Difficulty Switches are set to the “A” position.

For an easier challenge, if you press select it a “happy face” will appear in the title screen where Moardrakevile stands in an homage to the games of Mythicon. 

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I don’t have time to go over the code, but I’ll post a link to all of this in the show notes if you are interested. 

There are probably a bunch of bugs in here too.  But you know what, it wouldn't be the worst game without some game killing bugs, would it