Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Xonox Double Ender pairs two very different gaming experiences on a single cartridge, and each end delivers its own distinct style of play. Artillery Duel is a two-player artillery game where competitors take turns adjusting angle and power to lob cannon shells over hilly terrain. The precision of your shots, the wind factor, and the terrain profile all combine to create a simple yet surprisingly tactical duel. While the mechanics are straightforward, mastering shot calibration adds an engaging layer of strategy that keeps each round fresh.

Flipping the cartridge gives you Ghost Manor, a single-player side-scrolling platformer. Here you guide a character through a haunted mansion, avoiding ghosts, spiders, and other lurking dangers. The controls are deliberately crisp but unforgiving, demanding precise timing on jumps and attacks. Though the level layouts are relatively short, the creeping pace and rising difficulty curve force players to learn enemy patterns and optimize routes on repeat playthroughs.

Both games share the same basic Atari 2600 control scheme, which makes swapping between them painless. Artillery Duel shines as a head-to-head contest for two players, making it an ideal choice for quick multiplayer sessions. Ghost Manor, by contrast, offers a solo challenge that emphasizes exploration and survival. The stark contrast between competitive artillery fire and evasive platforming demonstrates Xonox’s ambition to maximize cartridge space with two unique experiences.

Replay value hinges on skill improvement and mastery. Artillery Duel rewards experimenting with different shot techniques and wind settings, while Ghost Manor invites players to memorize enemy patrols and mansion layouts. Together, these games deliver a well-rounded package: one part strategic duel, one part spooky platformer, both part of a clever double-ender concept.

Graphics

Artillery Duel’s visuals are minimalist but functional, featuring simple hills drawn in solid colors and tiny cannon sprites. While not flashy, the art does its job well—terrain contours are easily distinguishable, and shell trajectories are clear against the backdrop. The color palette is limited, yet the bright projectiles stand out, ensuring that players can always track their shots amidst the rolling hills.

Ghost Manor ups the graphical ante with more detailed backgrounds and character sprites. The haunted mansion backdrop features flickering windows, gnarled trees, and dripping chandeliers that set a suitably eerie mood. Enemies are represented by ghostly blobs, spiders, and bats, each with their own basic animation loop. Though sprite flicker and slowdown can occur when multiple enemies appear, these quirks are part of its retro charm.

Both games embrace the Atari 2600’s technical constraints. The low resolution and limited palette evoke nostalgia for early console gaming, and while neither title pushes graphical boundaries, they effectively convey their respective atmospheres. Artillery Duel’s spartan landscapes contrast nicely with Ghost Manor’s more detailed rooms, offering visual variety on a single cartridge.

Overall, the graphics may feel dated to newcomers, but retro enthusiasts will appreciate the straightforward design and clear read on-screen. The art style in both games prioritizes gameplay clarity over flashiness, ensuring that what you see is exactly what you need to react to in the moment.

Story

Artillery Duel features virtually no narrative beyond the premise of two opposing gunners in a ballistic showdown. There is no backstory, no characters beyond your cannons, and no plot progression—just a pure test of aim and adjustment. This bare-bones approach works for its genre, offering players immediate access to the central gameplay loop without distraction.

By contrast, Ghost Manor presents a loose framing device: you are an intrepid explorer venturing into a cursed estate to retrieve a hidden treasure. Though the plot is never spelled out in cutscenes or text dumps, the spooky setting and incremental challenges build a sense of advancing deeper into the mansion’s heart. Each level feels like a new chapter in a haunted-house tale, with rising stakes as traps become trickier and enemies more aggressive.

The lack of dialogue or in-game text in both titles means storytelling relies wholly on environmental cues and gameplay context. For many players, this evokes a sense of discovery; for others, the narrative might feel underdeveloped. Nonetheless, Ghost Manor’s setting is evocative enough to spark the imagination, while Artillery Duel’s absence of story is perfectly acceptable in a head-to-head artillery contest.

Ultimately, story plays a supporting role: it’s minimal in Artillery Duel and suggestive in Ghost Manor. The double-ender format emphasizes gameplay first, with narrative elements serving only to underscore the mechanical experience rather than drive it.

Overall Experience

Xonox Double Ender: Artillery Duel and Ghost Manor is a fascinating snapshot of early-’80s cartridge innovation. The novelty of inserting one end of the cartridge for multiplayer artillery battles and flipping it around for solo haunted-house exploration is an ingenious way to offer two distinct experiences in one package. This physical gimmick alone makes it a memorable addition to any Atari 2600 collection.

From a value perspective, players get two complete games for the price and space of one. Artillery Duel provides quickfire head-to-head competition, perfect for social gaming sessions or family gatherings. Ghost Manor delivers bite-sized solo challenges that encourage memorization and dexterity. Together, they offer flexible play options depending on your mood or company.

While both games show their age in terms of depth and graphical polish, fans of vintage consoles will find the straightforward controls and immediate gameplay gratifying. Those seeking complex narratives or modern visuals may be underwhelmed, but retro enthusiasts and collectors will appreciate the historical curiosity and compact fun.

In sum, the Xonox Double Ender cartridge stands out for its dual-game novelty and satisfying retro gameplay. Whether you’re lining up cannon shots against a friend or tiptoeing through a ghost-filled manor alone, this compilation delivers two solid slices of Atari-era entertainment in one cleverly designed package.