If you were a child of the 1980s, or just happen to be a retro video game collector, the phrase “The Closest Thing to the Real Thing” may mean something pretty special to you. That was the slogan used in the initial marketing run of the Mattel Intellivision. Carefully constructed and crafted by toymaker Mattel Electronics, this classic video game console very nearly toppled the mighty Atari 2600 as the best of the era.
Development began in 1978, and the Mattel Intellivision would valiantly survive all the way until 1990. From 1980 to 1983 – a mere three years – over 3 million Intellivision consoles were sold. IGN, in an article in 2009, named it the 14th greatest video game console of all time.
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Fourteen? Not bad. But for anyone who actually had a Mattel Intellivision back in the day, it was Number One. Without question.
Taking the Lead
One of the edges the Intellivision had over Atari 2600 was its advanced sound capability. Dating from the 1970s, the Atari was still using standard “blip” and “bloop” sounds. Intellivision came along to change all of that. In one of their first demoed pieces of software, a golf game, players were treated to an effect that sounded an awful lot like an actual golf club swing. People were amazed; this was far different from the computery beeps that Atari used in their golf game.
Clearly, there was a new kid in town. Atari was nervous.
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In addition, Mattel Intellivision consoles also boasted a stronger graphics card. While some may find the idea almost laughable now, considering how modern graphics look today, at the time the technology used in the Intellivision represented a new, higher standard. These advances were especially dramatic when compared to the Atari.
Intellivoice and Other Mattel Innovations
Mattel eventually came out with the Intellivoice, a truly remarkable speech synthesizer add-on. It was unique in that it actually sounded like human vocal sounds. Both male and female voices with distinct accents were possible. While the amount of speech was limited, the Intellivoice paved the way for the game dialogue that we know today. Not bad for the early 1980s. (Like a lot of retro game hardware, many Intellivoices you see for sale these days have held up physically and still work fine. Thanks to that quality vintage craftsmanship!)
Intellivision II
In 1983, Mattel came out with Intellivision II. It wasn’t a sequel to the original Intellivision per se; it was in fact a stylish and affordable version of the original console. True Intellivision fanatics will want to have one of each. You do after all get massive style points for being able to fire up an Intellivision II when your friends come over for some old-school gaming. The Intellivision II console came with longer controller cords to go with its fresh new design.
Aquarius Computer
If you truly want to go down the Mattel Intellivision rabbit hole, look for the Intellivision computer. Yes really! In an effort to gain an edge in the computer game department, Mattel designed and released the now-rare Aquarius computer system. It was a great idea but unfortunately did not do as well as the Intellivision console. The Aquarius was capable of playing games from the Intellivision but was actually a step back graphics-wise. Some great new ideas were part of the Aquarius though. Modern enthusiasts can spend hours exploring the Aquarius’s programming capabilities. Working units are sold far less than Intellivisions but then again, the buying competition can be small and you might pick up a great system for relatively little.
Browse 210 current Mattel Intellivision for sale offers here
Collecting Intellivision games
Ask any retro gamer and he can probably tell you what his favorite Intellivision games were. During its run from 1979 to 1989, Intellivision saw the release of some 133 titles. (Wikipedia has a great list for completists.) And that doesn’t count rare unreleased prototypes, unofficial games, and latter-day titles made lovingly by retro-game designers. Most Mattel Intellivision games were released on cartridges – who can forget collecting (or renting for the weekend) all of those precious babies? – but others came on scarce and highly collectible cassettes.
Some Intellivision titles still impress. You may remember playing some of them, long and late into the night.
For example, Auto Racing. Auto Racing was released in 1980 and was a huge hit. Players could race either against each other or, if playing alone, against the clock. Auto Racing offered a different view of the race than other car games. For example, the standard at the time had been a kind of bird’s eye view of the entire course – easier to program but less visceral for players. Auto Racing instead offered a kind of zoomed-in look that scrolled around the track as you went. These graphics were highly commendable. Auto Racing was considered a top racing game at the time. Copies in their original fold-open boxes, with manuals and controller overlays, are commonly found for sale.
Another of Intellivision’s famous games was Utopia. Released in 1982, Utopia was a turn-based strategy game. It centered around building up an island you presided over while strategically damaging the other player’s. Whoever ended up with the most points at the end won. Utopia is in large part responsible for creating the genre of simulation games. Classics like Civilization and SimCity would eventually follow in Utopia’s tracks.
Old Mattel Intellivision Consoles: Where Are They Now?
If you’ve been looking to pick up an old Intellivision and try out some of those old cartridges, you’ll find quite a few. The heady days of the 1990s, when flea markets and yard sales were full of classic retro games that could be had for a song, are long gone. But fear not, for online marketplaces are teeming with still-working Intellivision gear. Sales of consoles range from super-cheap to a more pricey. At the upper end, sales include the original hardware in original packaging plus several boxed games. Methodically adding pieces to your collection – more game carts, the Intellivoice module, etc. – is part of the fun these days thanks to online sellers.
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Hey, it’s cheaper and healthier than a lot of obsessions. Why not?
What’s Intellivision Flashback?
Whether you’re a retro gamer or just a gamer looking to enjoy some history, you don’t have to actually buy an authentic Intellivision manufactured in the 1980s. Just pick up an Intellivision Flashback.
This newly-produced console comes equipped with several of the original games, hard-wired inside a retro-looking device that easily hooks up to modern screens. The compact system, while programmed with modern technology, still looks and functions the same as the old ones do. Holding the Flashback controllers is virtually indistinguishable from holding actual old ones. It may not be the Intellivision of old, but Intellivision Flashback looks and feels authentic. And of course the games are identical – and that’s the important part!
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Intellivision Flashback may well provide all the nostalgia you’re seeking, and you don’t have to make space to store dozens of cartridges and boxes. If you don’t have room for an actual old console, Intellivision Flashback is “The Closest Thing to the Real Thing!”
Rare Intellivision games
When perusing sales listings, keep an eye out for these titles. They represent some of the rarest Intellivision games. Owning (and playing) them instills you with a special type of retro gaming pride. If you get lucky you may even find some of these titles complete in their boxes (CIB) for cheap before they’re snapped up.
- Congo Bongo
- Body Slam Super Pro Wrestling
- Super Pro Decathlon
- Super Cobra
- Fathom
- The Jetsons – Ways With Words
- Thin Ice
- Learning Fun (I & II)
- Melody Blaster
- Stadium Mud Buggies
- Tower Of Doom
- Scooby Doo’s Maze Chase
- Mountain Madness Super Pro Skiing
- Triple Challenge
- Mr. Basic Meets Bits ‘N Bytes
- Pac-Man
- Turbo
- Pole Position
- Tutankham
- River Raid
- World Cup Soccer
- World Series Major League Baseball
