AGH Atari 2600 Review: PIGS IN SPACE by Atari Atari's kids games offerings in the VCS's latter years produced quite a few duds that gave players the idea that the company was more interested in capitalizing on its big-name licenses instead of producing solid titles. Thankfully, Pigs In Space was one of Atari's finer offerings that even older gamers can appreciate. The game aimed to parody some of the most familiar space scenarios by using the famed Muppet Show characters, and offers three entirely different games. The first game features Captain Link from the Muppet Show's Pigs In Space sketch in a Space Invaders-type setting. Link's task here is to take out row after row of advancing chickens while avoiding their deadly eggs. Players get five lives in which to eliminate the opposition, then dispatch a UFO circling the screen. The second chapter is similar to Donkey Kong. As Miss Piggy, players attempt to get to the top of the screen while dodging spaghetti strings and meatballs. It's fairly simple, and it's nice to see a character of the opposite gender do something more than just being a damsel in distress -- even if it's just a pig. Finally, you get to control Dr. Strangepork (who's he?) in a very Vanguard-ish variation. As Dr. Strangepork flies through a cavern, he must do away with menacing Gonzoids using a boomerang-like weapon called the Boomeray. While none of the sub-games is mind-boggingly original or overwhelmingly addicting, it's a decent compilation when they're thrown together in one cartridge. Pigs In Space is one of the better attempts at bringing younger players into the VCS fold, and my little nephew's hours of enjoyment playing this game is the final -- and most important -- proof of that. Title Pigs In Space Publisher Atari System Atari 2600 (VCS) Graphics 6 Sound 6 Gameplay 6 Overall 6 Reviewer Keita Iida