Cult Classics, what games would they be?

[Ghostlyguy]

What exactly defines a cult classic?
Should we assume this is within specifically the current video arcade collecting community or when the games originally came out in the arcades back in the day?

Is it possible for a game that was un-loved back then to become a classic today?

A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style; something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or highest quality, class, or rank – something that exemplifies its class.

A classic car is an older automobile, typically 20 years or older, of sufficient historical interest to be collectable and worth preserving or restoring rather than scrapping.

(replacing the term film with game)
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film with a cult following, obscure or unpopular with mainstream audiences, and often revolutionary or ironically enjoyed. ... Cult films are defined as much by audience reaction as they are by content.

Guess we could also have a category for just 'cult games' that are not considered classics.

(I'll start off with some requirements)
Some requirements :

1. Not popular with the masses
2. Popular with a small group of individuals

Edit: I'll keep editing this as I think of new things.

possible list of cult classics:
Major Havoc
Mad Planets
Reactor

 

[famicom]

I'd agree with the 3 you listed.

What popped into my mind:

Darkstalkers 3:
popular among fighting game fans and maybe somewhat more mainstream in Japan, but the average gamer doesn't know this series, but it still has a competitive scene until this day

Food Fight

Neo Geo MVS:
The entire system and games are basically the definition of a cult classic. Even the most popular series like Metal Slug, Puzzle Bobble, Samurai Shodown, Fatal Fury, and King of Fighters, I would still consider cult level popularity.

Splatterhouse

Tapper / Rootbeer Tapper / Timber

Warlords

Zookeeper

 

[Onyx Jaguar]

Just how popular was Popeye back in the day? Juno First for that matter. I had never heard of that one until emulation.

 

[TheYeti]

I would submit the following:

Eyes
Nibbler
Wacko?


Hell, it's funny when I think about this question because....at this point...so many collectors are now just seeking out the obscure games...that in and of itself is making them cult classics.

Matter of fact, I would dare say the list of games that are NOT cult classics is smaller now than the list of games that are not.

 

[rod90]

Fire Escape!!

 

[XXI21]

used to be a - dime - a - dozen. now, B & Ws have gone mainstream...

 

[jericso]

Bubbles

 

[VectorCollector]

I would nominate Exidy Venture but it's probably more an "under-appreciated classic" than a "cult classic".
Though I'd like to believe there are many out there that admire 80's Exidy games. (Pepper II, Mouse Trap etc)

 

[Ghostlyguy]

Hell, it's funny when I think about this question because....at this point...so many collectors are now just seeking out the obscure games...that in and of itself is making them cult classics.

Matter of fact, I would dare say the list of games that are NOT cult classics is smaller now than the list of games that are not.

Yeah, I was having that issue when typing the original post up.

How many people need to be interested in something to attain cult status? If it become too many, than it really isn't a cult classic... it's just a classic? Can a cult classic become popular enough to become just a 'classic' later down the line? Does when the game achieves mainstream or cult popularity matter?

We probably use the term 'classic' too loosely & synonymous with "old game that others think was good" or 'old game that I personally think is good'. When it's a 70s or 80s game that no cares about. It seems it would just be a 'old game' as in order for it to be a classic, it needs to have some "outstanding example of a particular style; something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality "...now it appears defining classic games is getting into the realm of subjectivity. As there are games considered 'classic' games, that some would argue have trash gameplay & should be forgotten. Which I guess goes back to my previous comment about popularity being the only objective measurement.

Simplifying the question to "relative to only the video arcade game community", helps narrow it down. It starts getting difficult if you consider all of modern gaming.

Resolving these questions is probably moot, so I guess it is more fun to just have people list what comes to mind first. As (like you were saying) the list of classic games is probably significantly smaller than 'cult' classics.

 

[Ghostlyguy]

Going off the VAPS list of 'Top 100 Most Wanted Videogames"

We have games like DK, Galaga & Robotron. Which are expected to be on here. However we also have games that probably never achieved popularity when they first came out. But are popular now. Does that mean these games have become full fledged classics now? :faceplamface: I just need to stop.

# of Members who want
115 Donkey Kong
113 Tron
112 Tempest
108 Q*bert
108 Star Wars
107 Galaga
107 Robotron: 2084
91 Discs Of Tron
89 Tapper
75 Paperboy
70 BurgerTime
68 Spy Hunter
66 Joust
63 Dig Dug
62 Sinistar
61 Pac-Man
51 Ms. Pac-Man
51 Track & Field
49 Out Run
48 Dragon's Lair
46 Zoo Keeper
44 Food Fight
44 Marble Madness
44 Missile Command
43 Centipede
42 Lunar Lander
42 Simpsons, The
41 Crystal Castles
41 Donkey Kong Junior
41 Pole Position
40 Defender
40 Frogger
39 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
38 Popeye
37 720 Degrees
37 Battlezone
36 Warlords
35 Black Widow
35 Moon Patrol
35 Neo Geo MVS
35 X-MEN
34 Asteroids
34 Mad Planets
34 Major Havoc
34 Punch-Out!!
34 Space Invaders
33 Mario Bros.
33 Smash T.V.
32 Asteroids Deluxe
32 Berzerk
31 Ghosts 'n Goblins
31 Gorf
31 Gyruss
31 Star Trek
30 Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom
30 Star Castle
29 NBA Jam Tournament Edition
29 Quantum
28 Gravitar
28 Mortal Kombat II
27 Bubble Bobble
27 Elevator Action
27 Super Punch-Out!!
26 Crazy Climber
26 Gauntlet
26 PlayChoice 10
25 Computer Space
25 Millipede
25 Mr. Do!
25 Satan's Hollow
25 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time
25 Wizard Of Wor
24 Qix
24 Rampage
24 Space Duel
23 A.P.B.
23 NBA Jam
23 Pong
22 R-Type
22 Star Wars Trilogy Arcade
22 Stargate
22 Time Pilot
21 Crossbow
21 Demolition Derby
21 Journey
21 Red Baron
21 Super Sprint
20 Arkanoid
20 Killer Instinct
20 Nintendo Vs. System
20 Space Ace
20 Street Fighter II - Champion Edition
20 Sunset Riders
20 Tetris
20 Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
19 Daytona USA
19 Double Dragon
19 Ghouls 'n Ghosts
19 Mortal Kombat
19 Reactor

 

[Onyx Jaguar]

Its kind of a similar problem with films. You'll hear Rocky Horror called a "cult classic" yet I bet you it was getting more box office on a weekly basis back in the mid 00s than your average Disney movie. While something like Plan 9 would fit, but it is also uh CRAP. And the thing about video games at their core they need to be fun and engaging. So if you have a shit game then it definitely isn't a cult classic, it is just shit.

So you'd essentially have to find a game that a decent amount of people like, but wasn't popular really ever I suppose. Then you have the sort of scale right. Arcades were very popular from like 76-84, increasing over that time. Then they fell off quite a bit from 85-91 before picking back up again from 92-96. So while something like Ghouls 'n Ghosts might be more mainstream than Wizard of Wor. I bet more people played Wizard of Wor back then. Of course some games just sort of throw that out, uh Outrun and Gauntlet for instance would have shown great numbers even in comparison to other Golden age games.

 

[alfonzotan]

I would nominate Exidy Venture but it's probably more an "under-appreciated classic" than a "cult classic".
Though I'd like to believe there are many out there that admire 80's Exidy games. (Pepper II, Mouse Trap etc)

I've always loved Venture... but I have to confess I prefer the ColecoVision version to the coin-op.

 

[alfonzotan]

Does Crazy Kong qualify?

 

[Yoeddy]

I would nominate Exidy Venture but it's probably more an "under-appreciated classic" than a "cult classic".
Though I'd like to believe there are many out there that admire 80's Exidy games. (Pepper II, Mouse Trap etc)

One million percent agree with this one!

Jason

 

[VectorCollector]

One million percent agree with this one!

Jason

The Arcade version or the Colecovision version?

 

[Yoeddy]

The Arcade version or the Colecovision version?

Arcade totally...but I did have the Colecovision as well. That joystick is majestic!

Jason

 

[Yoeddy]

I've always loved Venture... but I have to confess I prefer the ColecoVision version to the coin-op.

The Colecovision did a great job, but there's no way that it can compete in the sound department with the arcade version. Especially the hall monster...one of the scariest sounding enemies in arcade history.

Jason

 

[VectorCollector]

Arcade totally...but I did have the Colecovision as well. That joystick is majestic!

Jason

Exidy did make cult-worthy joysticks.
It's all about girth and not length, you know ... but this stick had both.

 

[Ghostlyguy]

It's all about girth and not length, you know ... but this stick had both.

It was only a matter of time before this thread devolved into discussion of phallic objects.

 

[XXI21]

If I ever find a blasto, there will be a new birth of old school game cult following