Twenty years ago, I saw a screenshot for Snoopy and the Red Baron. This was in the early 2000s, when I was changing from someone who bought old games at yard sales to a collector who actively sought certain games. Snoopy stayed in my mind all these years. It was worth the wait.
Recently, the local game store sold me Snoopy for 50% off, so I got a good deal. Snoopy tends to be pricey, which is why it took me this long to get it. The store also gave me Double Dragon on Atari for 50% off. Their reason for low prices? Hardly anyone buys Atari games. They're just happy to sell Atari games to someone who wants them. Me! (I noticed, however, that H.E.R.O. was not 50% off.)
While I've been buying older games since I was a kid in the 90s, Snoopy is special to me because it represents the beginning of my hobby as a collector. I get to enjoy a game that's been on my mind for twenty years!
Snoopy and the Red Baron is a "kid's game," in that it is part of the Atari series that also includes Big Bird and Ernie games. The only thing "kids" about Snoopy, though, is the low difficulty. Beyond that, Snoopy is a fantastic, solid title for the Atari 2600.
The graphics look like a late red label Atari cart, like something produced in 1988 versus 1983. We have rendered clouds and a view of colorful hills. Snoopy looks like Snoopy, and his dog house takes damage in the form of bullet holes, just like in the comic and cartoon. His scarf shimmies in the wind. Really, it looks about as great as an Atari game can look.
The Red Baron's animation is excellent. Each plane scales in from the background, and there's strategy to where he'll pop out of the background and into your line of sight. He loops and dives. When you lose a doghouse, he performs a barrel roll in celebration.
The Red Baron's AI is pretty good for Atari. He'll lurk out of reach above the clouds, and perform dives and twirls to outmaneuver you. He'll also perform sneak attacks, rushing you from either side of the screen.
To add some variety, the Red Baron occasionally drops food items like pizza, popcorn, and dog bones. Apparently, he stole the allies' food supply. This collection aspect adds welcome variety, and it's a real challenge to chase after the treats. And if you want an extra doghouse, you'll have to collect a lot of those snacks.
The only "flaw" of Snoopy is the easy difficulty. At first, I was getting shot down pretty quickly, but once I learned the Baron's tricks, it was easy to sit back and rack up the score. Since I enjoy casual games, however, I like the laid-back pace of Snoopy.
Tips and Tricks:
Hang out below the Red Baron when he's in the clouds. He might drop a treat, or dive into range. If he won't budge, lure him out.
Never approach the Red Baron from the front. You'll get shot. Always shoot from behind.
You can rapid-fire, but don't do this all the time, because it only works in close range. Plus, you might blow up a treat by accident.
If the game is too easy for you, play it in expert mode, game selection 3. It's fast. To be honest, I didn't find expert mode all that difficult, but I didn't enjoy it, either. It's too fast and jerky for me, and the treats fall too quickly.
Once you take out 50 Red Barons, you earn a Gold Baron. I was happy to hit this mark, but didn't feel the need to play more after that point. So, for me, a good round of Snoopy means I earn a Gold Baron, and collect all the food for an extra doghouse. I don't need to play more, but it makes for a fun round on the Atari. This is all I need to play to enjoy the game, as a more casual experience.
Final Snoopy and the Red Baron Review:
Snoopy looks great and plays well. It's easy, once you get the hang of it, with just enough strategy and variety to keep it interesting for a while. I don't care if it gets monotonous after fifteen minutes, because it's a really fun fifteen minutes, and that's all I need.
I recommend Snoopy and the Red Baron to the Atari Curious, Nerds, and Collectors.
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