Arcade Game Review Grabbag part 2
I know this is a classic and all, but I did not care for it. For a game that's all about being a giant monster and destroying stuff, I didn't really get a feeling of overwhelming power. The punches aren't that strong for how big you are and fact that you really can't avoid getting hit doesn't help anything. It was worth playing once to see the cool spritework but once was enough I think. 4 outta 10
I love the look of the Sega Model 2 arcade games. The blocky models have such a specific texture that's just chef's kiss, you feel me? I love that style, born of necessity, not choice, though I would love to see more modern throwbacks to it.
Zero Gunner is a shmup with the twist that you can lock on to your opponents and circle around them to attack. Because the game is in 3D, that means you get some cool angled cinematic shots that you wouldn't get with a 2D game. It also means you can focus on dodging bullets secure in the knowledge that you'll be hitting a target. It's fairly short and easy for a shmup but there do seem to be multiple campaigns across different parts of the world, which is cool. 7 outta 10
Man, this game does not play as nice with a joystick, nor does it play as nice when you can't run and jump with your thumb. Let's face it, Mario games were built for the cozy confines of a controller, not the hard boxy rigidity of an arcade cabinet. Controversial opinion I know, but I have to stand by it. And when said arcade cabinet has a bunch of extra nonsense designed to keep you feeding quarters, it's not as fun as the original. I was only willing to spend one quarter and that only got me up to world 1-4. Even that early some of the jumps they want you to do are silly.
But hey, at the end of the day it's still Super Mario Bros. Even just as a novelty it was a pretty fun way to play it. 7 outta 10
Finally playing this with an analog knob was revolutionary. Like no wonder I've always been bad at the console ports, it's a game designed around both fine control and fast movement that no dpad could ever replicate. Now I get it! Now it's fun!
Unfortunately I'm still pretty bad at it. But hey, the arcade version is at least pretty fun while I'm bad at it. The powerups make it a lot more engaging than regular Breakout. 8 outta 10
Galaga is a tough one to rank because there's so many later shmups that I'd probably prefer to play. It's very simple, as you well know, and with no powerups or alternate enemy setups, it rarely holds me for more than 5 or 10 minutes. But, well, it's always a good 5 or 10 minutes, isn't it? Sometimes simpler is better, especially in short bursts. 8 outta 10
I loved this game on Namco Museum an GBA why I was but a lad. Easily the best game in the collection, although I couldn't articulate why back then. Now as an adult I know. It's pure twitch reflexes and quick decision-making, while also also having to plan ahead to cover your options, And it sounds like a joke when you write it out like that, right? I'm talking about Ms. Pac-Man here. But no, that's really how it feels to play, especially in an actual arcade cabinet. With only a joystick you are juking, diving, running, all over the place. It's about as pure a gaming experience can get. And you have faster speeds than the original, more mazes, moving fruit, more colors. It's better than the first game by every metric. Plus, you get to play as a lady! Really and truly one of the best to ever do it, and the kind of game I'm always ready to play. 10 outta 10
