Just what were the top video games of 1983 and 1984? Saturday Supercade gave very good insight into that question. I remember being 5 years old, sitting in my grandparents' bedroom on Saturday mornings and watching this treasure from my childhood. I know I only gave it a 7, but let's face it - things that stand out in your mind as a kid, you treasure, right?
Saturday Supercade consisted each week of four cartoons about 15 minutes in length apiece. Each week during the first season, you got one Frogger episode, one of Donkey Kong and one of Donkey Kong Jr., while the fourth one alternated each week. It was Pitfall one week and Q*Bert the next. During the second season, Q*Bert became a weekly segment, and Donkey Kong also remained, while Donkey Kong Jr's, Pitfall Harry's, and Frogger's runs were ended, having been replaced by Space Ace and Kangaroo. I really don't remember much about Frogger or Kangaroo's segments. Most of what I remember of Frogger is what is in the two episodes I am fortunate enough to have. By far, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr. and Space Ace were the most fun for me, but I also really liked Pitfall as well.
I really wish I could score this show higher for the sake of bias, but when it's four cartoons with little depth to them each week (with the exception of maybe Space Ace, since it's Don Bluth after all), 7 is about as high as I can give it. However, you get a very good idea of what video games were the hot commodities at the time! The video game crash was in force during this time, though, so it's interesting that a show about video games was still airing, and was also advertising the games. I only wish there had been a Mr. Do! segment. I like Kangaroo as a game a lot, but the cartoon segment to me was the weakest of the lot, so that's what I would replace with a Mr. Do! segment.
