The compilation includes the following games, all licensed from Atari Corporation. All of the games except Battlezone can be played in two-player mode, where both players alternate turns.[4]
Critics praised the compilation's use of emulation to exactly recreate the games' arcade versions,[6][7][9][10] the menu system,[7][9] and the documentary FMVs.[6][7][9] A reviewer for Next Generation elaborated that "Unlike the Williams disc ... the history is narrated over a slideshow of memorabilia, and the insightful clips run longer, dispelling ancient rumors and relating anecdotes of Atari coin-op's golden age."[9] Most also applauded the selection of games as consisting almost entirely of classics which remained enjoyable in spite of the gaming industry's advances over the years.[6][7][9][10] However, reviews generally criticized that the standard PlayStation gamepad does not work well with the games in the collection, particular those which used paddle controllers and trackballs when they were originally released,[6][7][9][10] though the PlayStation Mouse is supported and was considered a better option.[6][7] Tom Ham summarized in GameSpot, "Bringing together six classic games that launched entire video game genres (and stole countless quarters from gamers), The Atari Collection 1 is a wonderful trip down memory lane."[7]Electronic Gaming Monthly's review team focused more on the controller issues, and had a less enthusiastic reaction overall.[6]GamePro similarly concluded, "Even though the authentic graphics and gameplay rate high, the limitations in control and sound bring down the overall enjoyment."[10]
