Introduction
This is a self-contained unit that consists of 2 classic Atari paddle controllers connected together. The unit plugs into a TV and allows up to 2 players to enjoy 2 arcade games and 11 Atari 2600 (VCS) games.

Build
The quality of the build is very high - the primary paddle looks like an extended version of the classic Atari paddle controller and has an extra button, power switch,system reset switch and LED power indicator. The feel is solid and the movement of the paddle knob is smooth.

The main button (or action button) is on the side of the controller as it is in the real Atari paddle controllers - and is almost the same shape, size, colour and feel (the original button has slightly rounded corners - this copy doesn't.

It takes four AA batteries to power the unit. The second paddle is connected to the 1st controller and is a slightly smaller replica of an Atari paddle controller. I have a pair of original controllers and they feel the same as this 2nd controller.

There are 2 lengths of cable - the one connecting the primary controller to the TV (via composite connection - yellow, red and white plugs) and the other connecting the 2nd controller to the 1st - they are of a decent length and are non-restrictive but there are no connector plugs (apart from the TV connection) - they are integral to the unit.

Documentation
Instructions are printed on a decent quality 2 tone double-sided single sheet. The print quality is very good and includes all instructions required including adequate, if brief, instructions for each game.

Presentation
This is of a very high standard - after 2 boot up credit screens you are presented with a main menu from which you select the game you want to play. On the left half of the screen, the VCS games are displayed as a stack of VCS cartridges, end label facing forwards.

You select the cartridge by turning the paddle and selecting the game by pressing the action button. If you rotate the paddle controller right past the top game of the stack you highlight one of 2 images of arcade machines on the right half of the screen. Pressing the action button while an arcade machine image is highlighted selects that game for play.

You can also highlight a "view credits" option on the right hand side of the screen by moving the paddle left past the bottom game on the VCS game stack. The whole look and feel of the main menu screen is pleasing and works very well with the controller. The only minor niggle is that the options are not cyclic - ie. if you are at the bottom of the cartridge stack, you can't turn the paddle left and highlight an arcade game - you must turn it to the right, moving through the games until you highlight the arcade game you want. This really is a minor niggle and is hardly worth mentioning - every game is accessed in a blink of an eye on this screen once you get the feel for the paddle.

VCS Games
Select a VCS game and it is as if you have just switched on an Atari 2600 with the selected game in the slot. Press the MENU button and you are presented with a game matrix at the top of the screen along with a status display showing the game variation number currently selected. Below the game matrix showing the game variations and game numbers you see a recreation of a VCS woody console with its 6 switches. Rotate the paddle to select the switch for tv type, difficulty left, difficulty right, game select and game reset. As you move the paddle you see the switch being highlighted and a status display tells you what each switch does (activated by the action button). Turning the paddle to the left past tv type lets you return to the main game select screen. It is quite an elegant interface though its not suitable for very young gamers.

When you select the reset switch and press the action button the game starts. When the game ends and you wish to start a new game straight away some games will reset if you just press the action button - and some won't, in which case you must press the MENU button which brings you back to the game matrix/options screen (which also pauses a game if in progress - press it again to resume play), select the reset button and press the action button to start a new game. It is a bit fiddly for those games who don't reset with a press of the action button.

Since some of these VCS games are four player on the original hardware then there are some game variations missing from the game matrix and you can see that the game variations are not renumbered - you just can't select those game numbers not supported by the 13-in-1. This is an indicator that the emulation is true - those game variations are in there but just not selectable via the game matrix screen.

Mini Reviews of the VCS games

Canyon Bomber
Drop bombs from a plane for points against an opponent (computer or human). Is quite a primitive game but I find it entertaining. You can play in a canyon, just pressing the action button to drop bombs clearing blocks for points, or at sea using the paddle to select the depth at which your bomb will explode - scoring by destroying submarines. This game doesn't make heavy use of the paddle but it is a mild diversion that you might spend some time with - the sea bomber variations require more skill.

Breakout
Largely made redundant by Super Breakout - this is only worth playing for nostalgia. Still its a great old game and there are some variations such as timed games that you won't get in Super Breakout.

Circus Atari
The second best game in this collection. Bounce little men (supposedly clowns) to the top of the screen using a see-saw to take out coloured blocks (supposedly balloons!) for points and extra lives. Great fun and a good challenge.

Video Olympics
This is basically Pong-mania - every variation you could possibly think of for 2 players.Basic but entertaining.

Night Driver
Primitive driving game - though the 3d effect of the road is surprisingly good. A bit too primitive for my tastes but for those who played this back in the day a great nostalgia kick. I suspect you won't spend too much time with this though.

Casino
A filler title. Play black jack and poker for 1 player only. There is a Poker Solitaire game here too which is worth a look - but then I like Poker Solitaire.

Steeplechase
A horse race game. The horses run automatically over a steeplechase course with different sized obstacles. Set the height of the jump with the paddle and jump with the action button. This isn't bad - mildly diverting between Breakout sessions.

Super Breakout
Best game on offer here - and for me the reason for buying this. This version is actually better than the arcade version as you have straight Breakout (which isn't in the arcade version) as well as Cavity (2 extra balls trapped inside the wall), Double (2 balls at a time) and Progressive (a really tough variation where the wall starts moving towards you). Only 1 player for progressive mode though.

Street Racer
A filler title - hardly worth including. It is just far too primitive. I suspect this was a filler title in the late 70s!

Warlords
Players try to break down the walls of opponents' castles (and protect their own) by deflecting a ball - the walls are made up of bricks in a similar fashion to Breakout. A great game - but pretty much redundant because the arcade version is also available in the 13-in-1. Still, its good for nostalgia - and it does allow you to control 2 castles at once which isn't in the arcade version. This game's sound is not perfect - the sound of the fireball collision is different - it isn't annoying though.

Demons to Diamonds
Quite an original game. Shoot "demons" of different colours - some turn into skulls that fire back at you , others into fast moving diamonds you shoot for bonus points. Great 2 player simultaneous action - just a pity that this game was badly beaten with the ugly stick - the graphics are very poor even for the Atari 2600.

Mini reviews of the Arcade Games

Warlords
Seemingly perfect recreation of this great game. Press MENU to set DIP switch settings. Great game but suffers because you can only have up to 2 players at once.

Pong
Pong - pure and simple. It plays very well and what you see is what you get. I haven't played either of these games in the arcade so I can't comment on their accuracy. Again, press MENU to set the DIP switch settings. The beep that you hear when a point is scored goes on for too long for my tastes but maybe that is how it was on the real thing.

Overall control
Control over all of these games is excellent - if you lose a life it is not the fault of the controller. I have noticed a bit of shudder the odd time - sometimes the paddle on screen will make very small jinks from side-to-side when you are not touching the controller. I remember this happening on the real thing with new controllers - so maybe its an inherent fault in this type of controller. Having said that , it has no effect on gameplay whatsoever.

A missed opportunity
As good as this is, I can't help but think how much better this could have been. If only Jakks had somehow got hold of the licence to have Activision's Kaboom! and Imagic's Solar Storm and dropped some of the redundant and weaker titles this would have been truly a must buy.

I also feel that a port for a second set of paddles or a second 13-in-1 unit allowing for four way play could have been done - which would have sent the playability of this sky high.

However it is as it is and its a very good product. If you have an Atari console with these games and controllers then all you get from this is convenience and perhaps a better quality picture through a TV. I'm glad I got it and being a Breakout/Atari Circus fan have got lots of value from it already.

If you don't have the original hardware then go for it - if you haven't held a paddle controller you really don't know what you're missing - it makes the mouse look a very poor substitute for ball and paddle games on the PC.

I'm of a mixed opinion on this. I recommend this with reservation - you will only really get a lot out of a few of the games on offer - and only then if you are a fan of older games. The best games on this really are great but I don't see this converting anyone. Having said that - the feel of a great responsive paddle controller may just be an epiphany for some !!