Top 25 Arcade Games

[Glockstar]

What an awesome list! Well, not the list presented below itself necessarily, but the idea of it: arcade games. Nice!

This one's from GameDaily. (http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/the-top-25-arcade-games-of-all-time/) Countdown:

25. Time Crisis
24. The Simpsons
23. Dragon's Lair
22. San Francisco Rush
21. Tetris
20. Final Fight
19. Mortal Kombat
18. Dig Dug
17. Dance Dance Revolution
16. After Burner
15. NBA Jam
14. Donkey Kong
13. Virtua Fighter 2
12. Joust
11. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
10. Tempest
09. Space Invaders
08. Pong
07. Daytona USA
06. Ms. Pac-Man
05. Robotron 2084
04. Asteroids
03. Defender
02. Street Fighter II
#1. Pac-Man


I'm working on mine.

If you need help thinking of some, or remembering names, check out the Killer List Of Videogames (http://www.klov.com/index.php) for help.

[Glockstar]

A Top 20.

1. Cyberball - No question about it.
http://www.klov.com/images/11/1181242101192.jpg

2. MegaTouch - Not your traditional arcade game I know, but I don't care, I'm counting it. And it doesn't matter what iteration either - I love them all.

3. Daytona USA - Oh my God, I still get that song stuck in my head. In fact, I've got it right now!

4. Golden Tee Golf - As with MegaTouch, one particular version doesn't really matter over another here. (As long as we're talking about the Incredible Technologies made games.) However, this one here looks like the one that I played the most, and have the fondest memories of. Golden Tee "Classic"? The name doesn't sound quite right, and I don't remember playing any "Scorpion Bend" course... but it looks like it's the one. But like I said, doesn't matter. I still occasionally play whatever one they got wherever today.
http://www.klov.com/images/10/1069724770.jpg

5. Gauntlet - The first ever 4-player co-operative (kind of) game. What a GREAT idea! God what a great time!

6. Burgertime - I AM the best Burgertime player to hit America since 1492! Well, that's what I used to proclaim anyways.

7. Ms. Pac-Man

And that's where the list ends, as far as a detailed order goes. For the next 13, I can only sort them into two groups.

8. Gyruss - Another game with great music. The KLOV says the cabinet had an 8-way joystick... that's not what I remember. I remember this very cool joystick that was 2-way, and 2-way only: left and right. It was perfect for this game and the 360-degree rotation/path that your ship took around the edge of the screen (ala Tempest). You'd think that the D-pad of the NES would've been perfect for the game too, but for some reason the developers didn't translate the movement continuity well, and where pressing in one direction on the arcade game meant that your ship would continue to travel in that direction around all the way around the screen, on the NES the ship would only go so far before the ups and downs got mixed up and you'd have to switch which way you'd press on the d-pad in order to continue your movement around. Still, I liked that version too. And I don't care what the reviewers say, I'm buying the XBLA version as soon as I get back on Live.

9. Mario Bros. - Think "co-op/simultaneous play" had anything to do with this game being a fave? Duh! However, I loved playing it by my lonesome too. I believe the NES version was a perfect port.
http://www.klov.com/images/11/118124213763.jpg

10. Track & Field - The NES version was NOT a perfect port of this arcade game. Hard to say which one I liked better. Just know that I loved them both.

11. Pengo - They had this game in the caddyshack where I used to spend my days. (I hated going out.) I watched people play this game for forever, then one day finally got the guts to try it for myself. It was all over for me then. They also had Zaxxon, but I never touched that game.

12. Star Wars - Remember seeing that game for the first time?! It was too expensive and I sucked at it, but it was AWESOME and I'll never forget playing it.
http://www.klov.com/images/11/1181242172188.jpg


Next group:

13. Play Action Football - I'm pretty sure that's what it was called. Thing is, I can't find a damn thing on it on the entire internet. Yeah I know there was a NES game of the same - that game was loosely based on this arcade game. Same top-down view; same diagonal field layout; same modes of play: versus, co-op, and everything in between. (That was a grea game too; tho' nowhere near as good as this one.) That's why I loved this game so, and remember it "so well"... me and a buddy used to like to play on the same team together and kick the computers arse. I also remember, vividly, the receivers always had a hard time catching the ball. They'd always come down with it eventually, but they'd always bobble it first, and the ball would bounce up towards the camera and get really large on the screen.

14. San Francisco Rush 2049 - Great game. Unfortunately, it was situated right next to Daytona USA. Still, we'd always save a few tokens for this game. In fact, the game might actually have been better than Daytona... but the competition between me and my friend wasn't there like it was on Daytona.

15. Bust-A-Move

16. Mappy - This and Burgertime: the only two games that I was any kind of decent at.

17. Ironman Ivan Stewart's Super Off-Road - This game would be a lot higher on my list if I'd have gotten 4-player action more often. (I guess the Gauntlet fellowship must have broken up by then.) This game needs to see a revival on XBLA!

18. Bump 'N' Jump

19. Omega Race

20. pinball - I don't have any specific tables that are favorites. Actually, I do, but I can't remember the name of it - it was a long time ago. Pinball tables are like anime and J-RPGs to me: I dislike a lot more than I like, but what I like, I love.

[BaneNWN]

No Tron?

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

I'll try to rack my brain and come up with some.

Cool thread. I always like trying to come up with my own Top 5, Top 10, etc. kind of stuff. This one will be kind of hard, since I haven't touched an arcade stick since before the days of the Sega Genesis.

[Cuddly Knife]

Ms. Pacman(speedy) - I never was any good at the slow version, but the fast version I could score hundreds of thousands of points. Good times.

Ultimate MK3 - Probably the arcade game that i got the best at. I am actually still undefeated in vs play. I sucked at the single-player though. Go figure. I would probably get my ass kicked these days though.

Super Punch Out!! - I remember that I couldn't ever get past Dragon Chan in the arcade, but I got to Super Macho Man on the SNES version.

APB - Digital voice, cool top-view. Aggressive gameplay. Funzo!

Karate Champ

Ironman Ivan Stewart's Super Off-Road - I agree that this one should come to LA.

Donkey Kong Jr.
Ninja Gaiden
Guerrilla War - this was the first arcade game where I cashed in more than ten dollars at once to beat the game all the way through.

Virtua Cop - This is the only other game where I did the same as above.

Double Dribble
Rolling Thunder

Pit Fighter - can't play the game nowadays because it's aged horribly, but I do have fond memories of digital images kicking the crap outta each other.

Micheal Jackson's Moonwalker - this one was awesome. Nothing like the side-scrolling Genesis version either.

Street Fighter 2 - Most-played arcade game ever. Probably not just for me, but ever.

NBA Jam
X-Men The Arcade Game - I only played 4-player co-op, but I heard there were cabs with 6-player action.
Star Wars - I never played the one with the sit-down cab, just a regular arcade cab. Game still kicked ass though.

Outrun - I still listen to the music for this game. Remixed, of course.

Gladiator - great game back when, but like Pit Fighter, it hasn't aged well. It's still impressive to shank someone in the neck with your shiv.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

Looking back, I don't think I played too many arcade games. Here's what I do remember playing:

1) OutRun - My favorite arcade game of all time. Unfortunately for it, I got a hold of the Sega Master System version of the game, so that was it. I still have the Sega Saturn version, and I can still rip the music off the game disc onto the cpu.

2) Rolling Thunder - I can't remember too much of this game, besides always wanting to play this at my local Big Lots (or was it Nichol's) store. I played it a few times and loved it.

3) Tekken 5 - I played this one a few years ago when I was still in school. I think I used Christie and Jin (or Jun, the dude that is the main villian's son) the most.

4) Street Fighter - I know I played this somewhere. I remember using Ken a lot, who is my favorite character in the series.

There were a lot more arcade games I played, but they were crappy. I only played them because I was either at a bowling alley, or somewhere else and couldn't go anywhere else.

[Glockstar]

Time for Fantasy Arcade: If you could have any 2 arcade games in your house (if you don't room now remember it's a fantasy, so just fantasize yourself having a big place) what 2 would they be?

For me: instantly: Cyberball would be one. The other? While a MegaTouch machine would be cool, a bona-fide AAA pinball machine would be the cat's meow, and a 4-linked-cab Daytona USA would be EXTREME... I think I have to go with Golden Tee.

[Cuddly Knife]

Hmm, good question, Glock. Just two? I would probably pick speedy MS. Pacman, aaaand UMK3. Honorable mention goes to NBA Jam TE. There's also a simple memory game with only four buttons that I used to play all the time at the bowling alley. I loved that game, but it's not a videogame, in the current sense of the word. I guess, since it's fantasy, that I would rather grab me one of those arcade games that contain multiple games. Like Ms. Pac + Galaga + Centipede than just a Ms. Pac standalone.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

One would have to be either Daytona or Outrun, as long as it's one of those sit down cabins.

The other would probaby be one of those Time Crisis games, with the gun attached and all.

Overall, it has to be something that I can't get the same (or better) experience on any console.

[Cuddly Knife]

Well, Mr. Bounty Hunter, that's a big deal right there. Basically anything can be got on a console, whether it be a new, up-to-date version of classics we loved(like Outrun for the XBOX, that game was a sweet throwback), or even those classics themselves(like Robotron, and SC1 on LA), or top-down shmups with new twists on gameplay (like everyday shooter and SSHD with its rotating world). Add to that, the ability to play in HD, with the ability to take your games wherever you want, online play, and worldwide leaderboards, well, it's really no contest.

Am I tripping, or did I just sound like tlword? Without the nut-huggery.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

Not necessarily, Mr. Knife. As far as Outrun, I'm talking getting into the cabin thingy and playing the game. That's something that cannot be dublicated on consoles. Sure, there's the steering wheel for various systems, but IMO they suck. Especially the one for the 360(it's functional, but it's no fun to use). It's no fun, and makes me want to use the standard controller instead.

With Time Crisis, they can package a light gun with the home version, but it just isn't the same.

[Fivespot]

I hate lists at least writing them so here's mine in no particular order:

APB
Arch Rivals
Punch Out & Super Punch Out
Dragon's Lair
Track and Field
Ms Pac Man
Galaga
Ninja Gaiden
John Elway's QB Club (or whatever the heck it was called)
The Baseball game that had the funky stick you'd pull back and release to hit/pitch - no idea what it was called
Pole Position
Super Hang On (only if it had the bike attached)
Karate Champ
720

[Cuddly Knife]

Not necessarily, Mr. Knife. As far as Outrun, I'm talking getting into the cabin thingy and playing the game. That's something that cannot be dublicated on consoles.
With Time Crisis, they can package a light gun with the home version, but it just isn't the same.
Good points.

[Glockstar]

I don't know Cuddly... I mean yeah, most of your typical, simple arcade games could see a perfect port on consoles. But they'd be hardpressed to recreate those complex cabinet games. And then there's this thing where they could do it, but for some reason they don't.

Like Golden Tee: I've been fantasizing about a Microsoft/Incredible Technologies exclusive Golden Tee partnership for the Xboxes since the original XBox went Live. I've always thought - and still think - that a $200 trackball and game combo (kind of like Steel Battalion) would sell like hotcakes and be just the thing to push the Xbox to the top. But the two companies are apparently asleep at the wheel.

Technically I suppose they could do something like this...
http://www.klov.com/images/11/118124210239.jpg
... for the home consoles. But to have 4 consoles, 4 tv's, 4 racing wheels, and 4 seat and frame dealios all hooked up in one room... Like Hunter said, I think you're better off going ahead and buying the real thing.

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Check out this Top 50! The 50 Greatest Arcade Cabinets In Video Game History (http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/50arcadecabinets/default.php)

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That said, Time Crisis Hunter? I always thought those were ported over pretty well to the consoles. Heck, better.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

I remember seeing one Time Crisis arcade game, and there was a gun (forgot what kind it was, but it was a better model than the home version guns) that was attached to the front, where I think you had to lean down a bit to shoot. It just looked more interesting than having a light gun in hand, though I keep thinking of the old school Master System and NES light guns.

[VGV]

Very nice thread !

I'll list them in order of quarters spent on each one :D

10. Dig Dug (Never knew that dropping boulders on a bunch of enemies could be so much fun)

9. Space Invaders (First arcade game I really got into, simple yet challenging on later levels)

8. Hang On (First game i really got a sense of speed out, during that time I rode motorcycles so hence my love for this particular title)

7. Qix (Obscure title, puzzle game, quick thinking ... quite addicting)

6. Forgotten Worlds (As next gen as this list will get ... frug R-Type)

5. 2084 Robotron (Twitch gaming at it's best ... there were remakes afterwards but the originial is still unbeatable in my book)

4. Mortal Kombat (Bite my head off ... street fighter fanboys)

3. Galaga (Especially the challenge levels ... shoot every enemy and score big on bonus points. Truly a classic masterpiece)

2. Ms. Pac Man (One of classic gaming's best ... well thought out levels, truly a rush at later levels ... hehehe the intermissions ... gotta love those)

1. Centipede (I rest my case ... fast 'n furious, frenetic ... a true blast, don't think any game has come near the experience this one offers.)

[Gadfly2317]

A missing game I would add is Space Duel, by Atari in 1982. It was a vector graphics Asteroids-style game that featured two player play that was co-op. . . . you could actually tether your two ships together and blast away and fly that way, which was totally original, or un-tether and blast separately. It was also in color.

You can watch it here, and hear it also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG8AQB9MC-I

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LG8AQB9MC-I&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LG8AQB9MC-I&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

I loved that damn game.

My top arcade games aren't that different than the intial top 25 list, among my very favorites were Galaga, Ms. Pacman, Galaxian, Joust, Robotron, Missile Command, Centipede, Defender, Dig Dug, Space Invaders, Gorf, Satan's Hollow, Tempest, Street Fighter, NBA Jams, Gauntlet, Gyruss, Sinistar, Tron, and Star Wars. Oh yeah, and Moon Patrol.

[Cuddly Knife]

Moon Patrol?! I never knew that was an arcade game. i remember playing it on our computers back in mid-school. Hell, that was almost twenty years ago!

[Gadfly2317]

Moon Patrol?! I never knew that was an arcade game. i remember playing it on our computers back in mid-school. Hell, that was almost twenty years ago!

Gadfly has long walked the earth; Having played Space Duel on an arcade cabinent unit ought to give me some kind of old-school gamer cred, eh?

Space-Duel kicked all kinds of ass over Asteroids.

You know what Cuddly? Guess where I first played it? Your stomping grounds: New Mexico, next to the swimming pool at a Marriot.

[Gadfly2317]

I was just curious, did any of you ever play Space Duel back in the day? I posted screens below. I think there may be a flash version of this game around for PC still. I should try it again, see if it holds up to my memories. I doubt it could; part of what was so great was the co-op, me and my drunken worthless step-dad having a bonding moment. It was a really good time.

[VGV]

I was just curious, did any of you ever play Space Duel back in the day? I posted screens below. I think there may be a flash version of this game around for PC still. I should try it again, see if it holds up to my memories. I doubt it could; part of what was so great was the co-op, me and my drunken worthless step-dad having a bonding moment. It was a really good time.

Well Gad, I never played Space Duel before ... but seeing your list of games, I knew it had to be worth my while to look into. Looked around and found myself an authentic version of the game :D

Yeah, you're right this game kicks some serious @$$age, the enemies are much more challenging and interesting than those found in asteroids. From what I've seen up until now the stars which gravitate towards you and the spaceship combo with a vertical destruction field between them make the whole proceedings that more interesting.

I just started out, so I'm sure it's gonna get even better once my skills go up !