Crystal Castles for me. I'm probably the only one.
Let's Debate the Best Arcade Game Ever!
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MasterFygar
Well-known member
Cyber Troopers: Virtual On.
It's not a game, it's an experience.
The cabinet is a divided sit-down machine that feels like a cockpit on both sides. Players 1 and 2 are separated by a mirrored divider to keep "screencheating" from happening. The gameplay is some of the fastest out there and the tank controls for the giant mechs is one of the best control schemes of all time. Brilliant stylized 3D graphics, heavy-duty subwoofers in each chair to make players feel the explosion, an uncharacteristically soft and catchy soundtrack and a built in speedrun time recorder make this game a true masterpiece. Select arcades in Japan even received special widescreen "live monitors" to place on top of a cabinet to show the public a dramatic view of the battle during a tournament.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dptjP5aHaNc
Come on, tell me that isn't awesome.
Despite its strengths and cult following, Virtual On unfortunately never made it big in America. It was ahead of its time at its release in 1995 and even now its frenzied gameplay is only challenged by its own sequel, Oratorio Tangram, but not everyone was up for the challenge. It's control scheme was unparalleled once mastered... but it was confusing as hell to learn, and the confusing tutorials in attract mode and lack of widespread American support left it the odd one out. A fight between two really good "pilots" was enough to draw a crowd instantly... too bad that hardly ever happened. Its American release was limited, and aside from a few hardcore "Virtual On Clubs" in areas like Seattle and California, it never got the love it deserved and is almost forgotten these days, sadly. It was hard enough to find a place to play the original in 1995, let alone now, but Oratorio Tangram got such an underground American release its existence was hardly acknowledged. Let's hear it for the best and most underrated arcade game/series of all time!
It's not a game, it's an experience.
The cabinet is a divided sit-down machine that feels like a cockpit on both sides. Players 1 and 2 are separated by a mirrored divider to keep "screencheating" from happening. The gameplay is some of the fastest out there and the tank controls for the giant mechs is one of the best control schemes of all time. Brilliant stylized 3D graphics, heavy-duty subwoofers in each chair to make players feel the explosion, an uncharacteristically soft and catchy soundtrack and a built in speedrun time recorder make this game a true masterpiece. Select arcades in Japan even received special widescreen "live monitors" to place on top of a cabinet to show the public a dramatic view of the battle during a tournament.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dptjP5aHaNc
Come on, tell me that isn't awesome.
Despite its strengths and cult following, Virtual On unfortunately never made it big in America. It was ahead of its time at its release in 1995 and even now its frenzied gameplay is only challenged by its own sequel, Oratorio Tangram, but not everyone was up for the challenge. It's control scheme was unparalleled once mastered... but it was confusing as hell to learn, and the confusing tutorials in attract mode and lack of widespread American support left it the odd one out. A fight between two really good "pilots" was enough to draw a crowd instantly... too bad that hardly ever happened. Its American release was limited, and aside from a few hardcore "Virtual On Clubs" in areas like Seattle and California, it never got the love it deserved and is almost forgotten these days, sadly. It was hard enough to find a place to play the original in 1995, let alone now, but Oratorio Tangram got such an underground American release its existence was hardly acknowledged. Let's hear it for the best and most underrated arcade game/series of all time!
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Street Fighter 2:WW
Revitalized the arcade
Spawned a million clones and a massive genre
Movies, comics, anime, action figures
Subculture
takes hundreds of hours to get good and many more to even master
.... shen long rumors even...
Revitalized the arcade
Spawned a million clones and a massive genre
Movies, comics, anime, action figures
Subculture
takes hundreds of hours to get good and many more to even master
.... shen long rumors even...
splattergatz
Well-known member
for me its DEFENDER
get tired when i flip it, then my feet start to hurt
get tired when i flip it, then my feet start to hurt
xxstatic
Well-known member
I just don't understand why Looping doesn't get more love in this discussion....
eXidy
Well-known member
....
ZOOKEEPER
ZOOKEEPER
Same here! Centipede is my favorite. (That could change though once I get my Tempest project finished. I'm not sure yet.)
I forgot about Robotron since I don't have a dedicated machine. The jrok board is usually what is in my double dragon cab with Robotron running. I still have to stick with Centipede as my favorite with Robotron right behind. (Is really hard to not mention Defender and potentially Tempest. I haven't played enough Tempest in years to know got sure.)
Centipede: love the controls! I feel connected to the game more than any other game. Love the game art, cab art, and sound. Millipede was soul-less like Hootie and the Blowfish by comparison.
Defender: I usually hate games with complex controls, but damn is this one good! Awesome sound, awesome procedural noise-looking ladder shots. The definitive hand-eye coordination game.
Robotron: It is all about the controls and the frantic nature. The audio rules too like mist early Williams games.
DEFENDER when it came out i was 11 years old and it was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. I started to get pretty good at it by 14 or 15 but they were already disappearing by that time and I can still remember the 1st time I saw one converted, man that pisse me off. I still hate double dragon for all the converted Dedenders out there !
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I don't think there were enough of them. As a kid, I had it for Colecovision and loved it.
As an arcade rat, I walked or rode my bike everywhere that had games within about a 5 mile radius -arcades, diners, deli's, it didn't matter.
To this day, I have still never played or even seen a Looping machine in person.
7146aaron
New member
Looping
Looping is a great game. Most people only remember it from Colecovision. There were 2 within bicycle distance from my house back then. I bought it on Colecovision so I could play it at home also. I have owned 2 uprights in the last few years. The near mint one I have now will stay for a long time. Love that game. I did include it for Venture line on the marquee game.
Looping is a great game. Most people only remember it from Colecovision. There were 2 within bicycle distance from my house back then. I bought it on Colecovision so I could play it at home also. I have owned 2 uprights in the last few years. The near mint one I have now will stay for a long time. Love that game. I did include it for Venture line on the marquee game.
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Crazy Kong for me
For what it meant to the arcade industry and its status today, I have to say Pac-Man.
Steel76
New member
If I go for nostalgia I say "Phoenix" since it was the first arcade game I ever played back in the early 80:s and I completely fell in love with it
BUT...I still might say Robotron 2084 is the best game ever.
Challenging as hell, but still it lures me back even when I want to throw the MAME cab from the balcony
Everytime I have a party, Robotron is running in my MAME and people get stuck there for hours
Someday, SOMEDAY, I´m gonna get my hands on one of those dedicated machines.
Hard as hell to find here in Sweden as NOONE is parting with it...
....some day....
BUT...I still might say Robotron 2084 is the best game ever.
Challenging as hell, but still it lures me back even when I want to throw the MAME cab from the balcony
Everytime I have a party, Robotron is running in my MAME and people get stuck there for hours
Someday, SOMEDAY, I´m gonna get my hands on one of those dedicated machines.
Hard as hell to find here in Sweden as NOONE is parting with it...
....some day....
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LyonsArcade
Well-known member
Pac-Man. Not necessarily my favorite, but demonstrably the best.
ArcRevival
Well-known member
Donkey Kong.
i don't think it's the best looking and over all I like Atari games the best, but I like the fact that DK is like 4 games in one instead of the same screen over and over.
i don't think it's the best looking and over all I like Atari games the best, but I like the fact that DK is like 4 games in one instead of the same screen over and over.
Deadly
New member
Dddddddddd kkkkkkkkkkkkk
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