Summary
- Release Year: 1982
- Genres: Arcade, Simulator
- Platforms: Atari 2600
- Developers: Mystique
- Publishers: Mystique
Bachelor Party (1982): A Sexist and Offensive Atari 2600 Game
Released in 1982 by Atari, Inc., Bachelor Party is a simplified version of Breakout where the “ball” is made to look like a nude man and the “bricks” are made to look like nude women. The man bounces back and forth horizontally rather than vertically. On the left, he is repelled by a woman with whom he collides and subsequently eliminates from play, or by the opposing wall. On the right, a paddle (said to be a container of aphrodisiac “Spanish Fly” in the manual) returns the depleted bachelor to the room full of women. The paddle is controlled by the player using a paddle controller.
The premise of the game is that of an unnamed bachelor having his final fling with a room full of inexplicably nude women. The equally unclothed bachelor is propelled repeatedly into the room of women by a container of “Spanish Fly” used as the player’s paddle. When entering the fray, the bachelor’s exaggerated and pixelated penis is seen to be erect. When he returns from having collided with (and presumably had sexual intercourse with) a woman or after hitting the opposing wall, his penis sags. It returns to erect when the bachelor is successfully set moving again toward the left.
Bachelor Party was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews upon its release. Critics lambasted the game’s sexist and offensive premise, as well as its poor graphics and gameplay. The game was also criticized for its lack of originality, as it was essentially a Breakout clone with a tasteless twist.
Despite the negative reviews, Bachelor Party sold relatively well, likely due to its novelty value. However, the game’s reputation has not improved over time. It is now considered to be one of the worst games ever made, and it is rarely played today.
Gameplay
The gameplay of Bachelor Party is extremely simple. The player controls the paddle at the bottom of the screen, which is used to bounce the bachelor back and forth between the women. The goal of the game is to eliminate all of the women by colliding with them.
The women are arranged in rows of three, and they can only be eliminated by hitting them from the side. If the bachelor hits a woman from the front, he will simply bounce off of her.
The difficulty of the game increases as the player progresses. The women move faster and become more difficult to hit. Additionally, the bachelor’s penis will sag more quickly, making it more difficult to keep him moving.
Graphics and Sound
The graphics in Bachelor Party are extremely crude, even for an Atari 2600 game. The women are represented by simple black and white sprites, and the bachelor is represented by a tiny, pixelated figure. The game’s backgrounds are also very simple, consisting of a single color with a few simple shapes.
The sound in Bachelor Party is equally unimpressive. The game features a single, repetitive tune that plays throughout the entire game. There are no sound effects to speak of.
Controls
Bachelor Party is controlled using a single paddle controller. The paddle is used to move the bachelor back and forth at the bottom of the screen. The player can also use the paddle to bounce the bachelor off of the walls and the women.
Reception
Bachelor Party was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews upon its release. Critics lambasted the game’s sexist and offensive premise, as well as its poor graphics and gameplay. The game was also criticized for its lack of originality, as it was essentially a Breakout clone with a tasteless twist.
Despite the negative reviews, Bachelor Party sold relatively well, likely due to its novelty value. However, the game’s reputation has not improved over time. It is now considered to be one of the worst games ever made, and it is rarely played today.
Legacy
Bachelor Party is a cautionary tale about the dangers of sexism and misogyny in video games. The game’s offensive premise and tasteless gameplay are a reminder of how far the industry has come in terms of representation and inclusivity.
Today, Bachelor Party is largely forgotten, but it remains a reminder of the dark side of video game history. The game’s legacy is one of shame and embarrassment, and it serves as a warning to developers about the importance of creating games that are respectful and inclusive of all players.
Review Score
2/10
