2 Pak Special - Motocross, Boom Bang
Two Classic Games in One Cartridge
This cartridge brings together two distinct experiences for the Atari 2600, giving you a mix of high-speed racing and frantic defense. You get to switch between controlling a cyclist in a handicap race and defending a home from waves of insects. Both games offer their own unique challenges and replay value.
In Motocross, you take control of a cyclist equipped with a fuel tank. The goal is simple but requires steady hands: overtake your opponents to take the lead in a handicap race. You will need to pick up cans of fuel marked by pennants scattered along the track to keep moving. If you run out of gas, you stop, and that is usually game over. The race feels fast-paced as you weave through competitors on a winding path.
When you switch to Boom Bang, the pace shifts from racing to survival. This game supports one or two players, allowing you to team up with a friend. Your objective is to defend a house from insect invaders crawling through the windows. The creatures come in waves of black, blue, red, and green bugs, each trying to eat up six layers of the building. You must use stoneshots to destroy them before they reach the interior.
Boom Bang is widely considered an unlicensed hack of Activision's Crackpots from 1983. While it shares similarities with that earlier title, it has its own identity as a shooter game. The action is intense as you try to prevent creatures from eating up six layers of the building. You will find yourself constantly moving your character to shoot at different windows as the insects attack from multiple angles.
Both games were published by Neckermann and HES, primarily for the PAL region, and are part of the 2 Pak Special line released in 1990. The Motocross title has been released by numerous companies in various configurations since 1983, making it a familiar face to many players.
If you enjoy this double feature, you might also like other titles in the series such as 2 Pak Special - Space Voyage, Fire Alert. That collection offers a different kind of challenge with space exploration and alert scenarios.
Playing these games together provides a nice contrast. Motocross tests your ability to manage resources like fuel while maintaining speed. Boom Bang tests your reflexes and accuracy as you defend against overwhelming odds. Both are short, intense bursts of gameplay that capture the essence of classic console gaming. You can also try more Atari 2600 games from the same system.