Halloween

In recent years it’s become fashionable to dig up John Carpenter’s quintessential 1978 slasher, Halloween, and make it perform yet another silly dance. Everyone wants to touch the lightning in the bottle. That was true in the franchise’s earlier days, too. Unfortunately, the 1983 Atari 2600 game Halloween was made by the same developers as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Like Texas Chainsaw, Halloween caused a stir at the time for its depiction of violence, a depiction that now seems slightly more pointed than suggesting surgery on a grape. It’s boring and mild, but at least the grinning pumpkins it displays at the top of the screen are commendable for their cuteness.

What critics said: “There’s a lot of potential in the concept, but every stage is laid out very much the same,” jeremy1456 wrote on Infinity Retro. “The gameplay just doesn’t offer enough diversity to hold anyone’s interest for more than just a few minutes.”

What are your thoughts on these 10 horror wannabes? Do you think they stack up to the movies they’re based on? Do you know any scary games thastrike a better balance? Let me know in the comments.