Best laserdisc games besides the two obvious ones

You will have to check with Matt for availability.
I did, several times. Unless it's been made in the last couple years, it was never available.

You would end up with a nonworking decor
Despite how complicated Star Rider hardware seems, it's fairly easy to make sense of just because of how it's broken down into several boards. SRs were also mostly parted out, so it was always fairly easy to dig up boards inexpensively. I've had a few of them and the boards themselves rarely ever had issues, but the power supplies were always burned up and [obviously] the players would usually need attention. The throttle twist-grip has a spring sealed inside it which often breaks, but that won't keep you from playing it correctly.

These days you just install a switching power supply, replace all the IDC board power connectors, install a Dexter and you'll have a reliable game.

SR, M3 & FF are probably the "best" LD games other than the games that only use an LDP for backgrounds, like Cube Quest, Interstellar and the 2 Theater6 games.
 
That's the crux of owning one back then. I had a few times I was able to get my hands on a upright. Of course not working, I didn't know anybody back then circa early '90s that worked on them.
A few times?? Lucky bastard, lol.

Curious... I know you're a big fan of Firefox, who does it compare to MACH III for you? Played a Firefox machine at Showbizz Pizza by me - never could get into. The former I was a fan of though - did see more MACH III's in the wild more than Firefox which might attribute to my opinion
There is no comparison for me. Firefox, to me, is a far superior game. Mach III just feels less interactive than Firefox. When you destroy an enemy in Firefox, it quickly switches tracks, branching a little as needed, and feels seamless. In Mach III, destroying a target doesn't affect the underlying laserdisc footage in any way, it just places a fire sprite over the target. For whatever reason, this feels "cheaper" to me. Plus, Firefox knocked it out of the park with the music and variety of levels with the "choose your own path" features. I've given Mach III multiple shots. I've always found myself disappointed.

Firefox truly is one of my favorite games. I'd love to have a cockpit for that one too, lol.
 
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Mach 3 has to be experienced in a cockpit to fully appreciate the game. The take off sequence and sound doesn't have the same effect on the upright. It's very realistic and you feel it rumble through the seat. It was a marvel in technology when it was released at the time but the amazement & attraction was the cockpit version. The flying & bombing sequences, the realism through the large screen prism overlay gave a 19" monitor the illusion to appear like it was 50 inches or more when most games had 19" crt's at the time and it had a realistic feeling of being in the plane and in the skies, this was one of the first if not the first that people noticed. The cabinet was extremely solid too, well built by Gottlieb/Mylstar.

Firefox, I vote for best attract mode: 'You'll be flying the most sophisticated warship on the face of this Earth. Where is it? Russia. You've got to steal it'! It really captures the '80's style movie type of scores that inspires.

The most playable game that didn't feel like a laserdisc game, my vote is still for Cobra Command. The Japanese animation before everyone just said 'anime' is very well done too. The music, the whole production was a little like a cross between the cartoon Starblazers, Voltron and GI Joe. People were just pissed because they converted many Dragon's Lairs to it at the time and they still wanted to play it but eventually they came around to appreciate it.

Laser Disc games in general are just way cool, the productions scream '80's. I could talk all day about Thayer's Quest too and where we thought things were going. Hope to see the Dragon's Lair project site updated sometime the way it used to be with serial #'s and all, it was inspiring.
 
Mach 3 has to be experienced in a cockpit to fully appreciate the game. The take off sequence and sound doesn't have the same effect on the upright. It's very realistic and you feel it rumble through the seat. It was a marvel in technology when it was released at the time but the amazement & attraction was the cockpit version. The flying & bombing sequences, the realism through the large screen prism overlay gave a 19" monitor the illusion to appear like it was 50 inches or more when most games had 19" crt's at the time and it had a realistic feeling of being in the plane and in the skies, this was one of the first if not the first that people noticed. The cabinet was extremely solid too, well built by Gottlieb/Mylstar.
I mean, even though I've never seen one in person... Firefox had one awesome looking cockpit, complete with a 25" monitor. I bet that would be awesome to play.

Firefox, I vote for best attract mode: 'You'll be flying the most sophisticated warship on the face of this earth. Where is it? Russia. You've got to steal it'! It really captures the '80's style movie type of scores that inspires.
For sure. I have my Firefox set to LOUD. Whenever the attract comes up it's very audible in the arcade. The music is a major jam when playing too. Especially the "rock/metal" version of the main theme that you'll get on one of the last sets of missions on the 9000 mile mode.
 
Mad Dog McCree for me without a doubt, I didn't know about Dragon's Lair or Space Ace when Mad Dog was released being born in '82 and compared to my 8bit computer and console this was mind blowing!
 
Mad Dog McCree for me without a doubt, I didn't know about Dragon's Lair or Space Ace when Mad Dog was released being born in '82 and compared to my 8bit computer and console this was mind blowing!
I would love to have a legit Mad Dog McGree.

Time Traveler has amazing presentation across the board. It's hot garbage in Mame too so it cannot truly be experienced without a dedicated cab.

When I got my space Ace cab with Merlin, I turned it on and Dragons Lair started. I got goosebumps.
 
I did, several times. Unless it's been made in the last couple years, it was never available.


Despite how complicated Star Rider hardware seems, it's fairly easy to make sense of just because of how it's broken down into several boards. SRs were also mostly parted out, so it was always fairly easy to dig up boards inexpensively. I've had a few of them and the boards themselves rarely ever had issues, but the power supplies were always burned up and [obviously] the players would usually need attention. The throttle twist-grip has a spring sealed inside it which often breaks, but that won't keep you from playing it correctly.

These days you just install a switching power supply, replace all the IDC board power connectors, install a Dexter and you'll have a reliable game.

SR, M3 & FF are probably the "best" LD games other than the games that only use an LDP for backgrounds, like Cube Quest, Interstellar and the 2 Theater6 games.
That was the thing for me, I could never rob Paul to save Peter even back then. I had my chance to gut a Narc for the med. res. monitor - couldn't do it. I don't know what Star Rider #'s are but I can't believe that much, sitdown probably far less. I was a lucky... I did see a few SR machines bitd- I also live in the Chicagoland area.

Ken (Yellowdog) here, gave me a good rundown and interesting insight of Star Rider. He did mention power issues but from what I gathered was that unique Pioneer player itself was a big culprit too.

Coming across one of these in the '90s, you could gut one for it's player - that was still a crapshoot the player itself still worked. I'm curious who worked on these back then? My route op buddy used to send his stuff to Atlas Distributors for repairs. If he would send this in, probably would've been laughed at. I'm sure on know the fate of one sitdown SR... i'll just say you can subtract one for the production # list.
 
M.A.C.H. 3 baby.
 

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I've owned the two obvious ones (I prefer Space Ace), but I've also owned Time Traveler... and I'd still have it if it didn't take up so much space. A good game? Not really. A fun/addictive game once you get the hang of it? Yep.
 
Fast Draw Showdown
Us Vs Them
Super Don Quixote (Because it gave you the moves !)
 
This is just going to turn into a 'list all the laser games' thread. Because everyone has their opinion, and there really is no consensus on which games were 'best'. It's very subjective.

I'd have to nominate one of my not-yet-acquired grails: Star Rider. I'd love to own one someday. Williams. Laser. Oddball LD player. Python Anghelo animation. This game is way underrated.



Runner-up nominee: Casino Strip. I unironically would love to find one of these someday.

I think I have a Star Rider laserdisc.

As far as my favorites...well the Time Traveler im working on right now. I actually have 2 Time Traveler laserdiscs. I own a mad dog mcree alg cabinet with the LD. I also have Astron Belt LD with the main board but never had all the cabinet wiring to see if the board works. The LD does though
 
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I did, several times. Unless it's been made in the last couple years, it was never available.


Despite how complicated Star Rider hardware seems, it's fairly easy to make sense of just because of how it's broken down into several boards. SRs were also mostly parted out, so it was always fairly easy to dig up boards inexpensively. I've had a few of them and the boards themselves rarely ever had issues, but the power supplies were always burned up and [obviously] the players would usually need attention. The throttle twist-grip has a spring sealed inside it which often breaks, but that won't keep you from playing it correctly.

These days you just install a switching power supply, replace all the IDC board power connectors, install a Dexter and you'll have a reliable game.

SR, M3 & FF are probably the "best" LD games other than the games that only use an LDP for backgrounds, like Cube Quest, Interstellar and the 2 Theater6 games.
Yeah, I made a COPS image for Dexter back on Aug 2018. I can't recall anyone ever wanting it except for Galloping Ghost.
 
I actually like Goal To Go... and I'm probably one of the only people to say that. Haha.

I'd love to have one of those machines someday.
 
Yeah, I made a COPS image for Dexter back on Aug 2018. I can't recall anyone ever wanting it except for Galloping Ghost.
Awesome! I asked you guys about it many times on IRC and asked Kinder to bug you guys about it several times since then as there was no movement on an imag, so I just gave up at the time. I PM'd you about getting the image, since I have an otherwise working machine and a Dexter set aside for it. Thankfully I had one 1450 that worked well, but the shelf of 1450s with issues doesn't inspire confidence in long-term reliability.

Having a Dexter in the thing will ensure more people get to experience one of the more interesting but worst games ever. Play Mach 3 instead, folks!


cops.jpg
 
Actually, Go to Goal needs to be preserved properly soon with a Domesday Device. Last time I checked, I don't think there's a good capture out there, other than a YouTube upload.

And I had no idea there was a Cops laserdisc game, wow.
 
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