Ray's Top 50 Arcade Games - Part 2 of 2
Now I will list my remaining 25 favourite Arcade Games:
Ninja Spirit (1988)
Action Platformer
What better game to start the second half of my Top 50 Arcade Games with than another Ninja game! This one is very good though. It could be considered as a sequel to Legend of Kage as it feels quite similar. You can swap between various weapons during play which is a nice touch.
Pacland (1984)
Platformer
This is Pacman's only Arcade platformer outing to the best of my knowledge and what a change of scene for him. Maybe I was just a sucker for the colourful graphics when I was a kid but I played this quite a bit. Basically you need to get across town which means avoiding all the ghosts and leaping over swimming pools (with the help of small diving boards). The weird thing in this game is that you continuously tap the joystick in the direction you want to go in, strange at first but you get used to it.
Pang (1989)
Puzzle
This was quite popular when it came out. Simply destroy all the bouncing balls but watch out because when they are hit they split up into many smaller balls. The trick is to handle things one ball at a time otherwise there will be so many balls on screen that you will be overwhelmed by balls. I like balls.
Puzzle Bobble 2 (1995)
Puzzle
Speaking of balls - here's some more! Another great puzzle game. Match the ball in your launcher with 2 or more of the same colour and they will explode. In 2-player mode, the more you destroy on your side the worse it gets for your opponent. This game is sort of a demented take on Tetris.
Pocket Gal (1987)
Pool
This is not the definitive pool game. You have minimal precision when taking a shot but it's not exactly a hardcore simulation of the sport. Get those balls down in sequence and then you get to see some cartoon boobies... yay! What more could you want from a game?
Rally Bike (1988)
Racing
Go fast and try to qualify, but watch that fuel or you'll never make it! This is a fun and deceivingly simple racer. Aim for the ramps and jump onto the back of the pig truck, then you can steer it and take out your opponents!
Rampage (1986)
Action
No Top Arcade Games list would be complete without this classic! Take control of a famous monster and destroy some buildings. It's simple, well designed, attractive and fun. But I'll admit, after playing through 20 or so levels it can become monotonous.
RoboCop (1987)
Action
This is one of the best (if not the best) movie tie-in arcade games. Robocop the game manages to capture the cold and brutal tone of the film perfectly. It puts samples from the film to good use - adding to its authenticity. Nice graphics and just enough level variation help you stick through to the end. Excellent music too.
Rolling Thunder (1986)
Action Platformer
It may not be from Sega but Rolling Thunder has always felt like Shinobi's gun totting half-brother to me. This game was very polished for it's time - with it's fluid animation and stylised characters. An interesting feature is the ability to select a chapter at the start effectively meaning you don't have to play through levels you have already beaten - a fairly unique feature for an arcade game. An absolutely classic soundtrack too.
Rygar (1986)
Action Platformer
Yet another great game from the 1984 - 1988 time period (I think this is the golden era for me). Rygar stood out for its strange look and even stranger baddies. The ability to shoot in several directions with your grappling hook thingie helped it stand out too, not to mention the amount of weapon upgrading available too. This is one of those games that just has a great feel to it. Watch out because it has a steep learning curve.
Shoot out (1985)
Action
Practice in the shooting range then take to the streets and open a can of whoop-arse! This game is unique in that you don't have an aiming reticle (like Cabal for example) but simply 'feel' the aiming more naturally and point in the general direction of the baddie and fire. Strange at first but quite addictive once you get the hang of it.
Smash T.V. (1990)
Shoot-em-up
Whoah... this is one crazy shoot-em-up. This stood out for 3 key reasons when it was released. Firstly the controls. Each player had two sticks, one for walking and one for shooting, which was great as it meant you could comfortably walk in one direction and fire in another. Two, its unique T.V. show scenario (with over the top presenter included - not unlike the guy from The Running Man). Lastly, the action is absolutely unrelenting and blood filled. You will have literally killed over 100 baddies within 30 seconds of play!
Snow Bros (1990)
Platformer
Apparently there is some connection between this and the much older classic Bubble Bobble (in which you capture baddies inside bubbles instead of snowballs), but this isn't a Taito game so I can't imagine there's any connection other then this essentially being a re-make. This is one of the best two-player games around and is highly addictive. Cover the baddies in snow then smash them into each other for bonuses and weapon upgrades. Fun times!
Strider (1989)
Action Platformer
From the first moment I saw Strider it was apparent that it was in a league of it's own. Everything from the graphics to the gameplay is extremely polished and inventive. If you like platformers with plenty of action you must play this!
Time Pilot (1982)
Shoot-em-up
Travel through different time periods and shoot everything down! Simple, well made and with a nice control feel - this is a classic 'must-play' from yesteryear.
Toki (1989)
Action Platformer
Let me guess. Your girlfriend has been captured and now you need to get her back? Um, yes that is the startlingly original plot of this rather average platformer. I'm not entirely sure why I played this one a lot when I was young, but I spent heaps on it so I must have had a good reason... right? Maybe I just liked being a monkey?
Truxton (1988)
Space Shooter
This was easily my favorite in the very full 'Vertical Scrolling Space Shoot-em-up' genre. For one simple reason - the weapons were the absolute coolest and biggest out of all the other contenders. A solid and fun 2-player space shooting experience. Get that blue laser gun and toast some space scum!
Neo Turf Masters (1996)
Golf
What's there to say? This is the best arcade style golf game I have ever played. Simple controls, great graphics and possibly the most annoying soundtrack of all time! If you like golf games get this now, you will not be disappointed.
Vigilante (1988)
Beat-em-up
Vigilante can be considered the sequel to one of my all time favourites Kung Fu Master. Except this is meaner, faster and harder. Madonna (WTF?) has been kidnapped and you need to get her back, so it's time to crack some skulls! Check it out if you like this genre, it's a fine specimen.
Violence Fight
One on One Beat-em-up
I would call this more of a brawler then a beat-em-up. I like how brutal the fighting is and how you are not restricted to simply walking left and right. In one of the bonus stages you have to beat up a Tiger! Funny stuff! This is sort of like a decent version of the very crappy Pit Fighter.
Wardner (1987)
Platformer
Wardner is a slow moving but attractive platformer that stood out at the time for it's atmospheric graphics and the ability to purchase upgrades and health between levels. Nothing really exceptional about it really, it's just a decent platformer.
Wonder Boy (1986)
Platformer
This game almost made it into my Top 10 as it is simply an absolute classic! I assume that your girlfriend has been kidnapped etc? Whiz along on a skateboard (if you can handle the speed) and chuck stone hammers at the natives (this game is not PC at all). An essential platformer, plain and simple.
WWF Superstars (1988)
Wrestling
What can I say? If you grew up in the 80's you watched WWF. So what could be better then actually controlling the likes of Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior? This is addictive, fun and highly amusing, nuff said.
WWF Wrestlefest (1991)
Wrestling
Just like it's predecessor except a little slower and with absolutely huge sprites! This is the bomb! Great 2-player tag-team fun!
Xain'd Sleena (1986)
Action Platformer
Possibly the strangest named game in history. Nevertheless this is a pretty cool space themed game with good level variation (you visit 5 very different planets and wipe out everything!). It also features some side scrolling action in your spaceship too. This game almost made my Top 10 until I re-played it and realised I used to have far more patience.
Well there you have it. These are the Top 50 arcade games from my youth. Some I just feel immense amounts of nostalgia for while others I still play to this very day. I hope somewhere in here you are reminded of one of your old favorites and you seek it out to re-live the glory days. One golden era of gaming has passed let's hope another one arrives soon!
Previous Top 25 Arcade Games
Ninja Spirit (1988)
Action Platformer
What better game to start the second half of my Top 50 Arcade Games with than another Ninja game! This one is very good though. It could be considered as a sequel to Legend of Kage as it feels quite similar. You can swap between various weapons during play which is a nice touch.
Pacland (1984)
Platformer
This is Pacman's only Arcade platformer outing to the best of my knowledge and what a change of scene for him. Maybe I was just a sucker for the colourful graphics when I was a kid but I played this quite a bit. Basically you need to get across town which means avoiding all the ghosts and leaping over swimming pools (with the help of small diving boards). The weird thing in this game is that you continuously tap the joystick in the direction you want to go in, strange at first but you get used to it.
Pang (1989)
Puzzle
This was quite popular when it came out. Simply destroy all the bouncing balls but watch out because when they are hit they split up into many smaller balls. The trick is to handle things one ball at a time otherwise there will be so many balls on screen that you will be overwhelmed by balls. I like balls.
Puzzle Bobble 2 (1995)
Puzzle
Speaking of balls - here's some more! Another great puzzle game. Match the ball in your launcher with 2 or more of the same colour and they will explode. In 2-player mode, the more you destroy on your side the worse it gets for your opponent. This game is sort of a demented take on Tetris.
Pocket Gal (1987)
Pool
This is not the definitive pool game. You have minimal precision when taking a shot but it's not exactly a hardcore simulation of the sport. Get those balls down in sequence and then you get to see some cartoon boobies... yay! What more could you want from a game?
Rally Bike (1988)
Racing
Go fast and try to qualify, but watch that fuel or you'll never make it! This is a fun and deceivingly simple racer. Aim for the ramps and jump onto the back of the pig truck, then you can steer it and take out your opponents!
Rampage (1986)
Action
No Top Arcade Games list would be complete without this classic! Take control of a famous monster and destroy some buildings. It's simple, well designed, attractive and fun. But I'll admit, after playing through 20 or so levels it can become monotonous.
RoboCop (1987)
Action
This is one of the best (if not the best) movie tie-in arcade games. Robocop the game manages to capture the cold and brutal tone of the film perfectly. It puts samples from the film to good use - adding to its authenticity. Nice graphics and just enough level variation help you stick through to the end. Excellent music too.
Rolling Thunder (1986)
Action Platformer
It may not be from Sega but Rolling Thunder has always felt like Shinobi's gun totting half-brother to me. This game was very polished for it's time - with it's fluid animation and stylised characters. An interesting feature is the ability to select a chapter at the start effectively meaning you don't have to play through levels you have already beaten - a fairly unique feature for an arcade game. An absolutely classic soundtrack too.
Rygar (1986)
Action Platformer
Yet another great game from the 1984 - 1988 time period (I think this is the golden era for me). Rygar stood out for its strange look and even stranger baddies. The ability to shoot in several directions with your grappling hook thingie helped it stand out too, not to mention the amount of weapon upgrading available too. This is one of those games that just has a great feel to it. Watch out because it has a steep learning curve.
Shoot out (1985)
Action
Practice in the shooting range then take to the streets and open a can of whoop-arse! This game is unique in that you don't have an aiming reticle (like Cabal for example) but simply 'feel' the aiming more naturally and point in the general direction of the baddie and fire. Strange at first but quite addictive once you get the hang of it.
Smash T.V. (1990)
Shoot-em-up
Whoah... this is one crazy shoot-em-up. This stood out for 3 key reasons when it was released. Firstly the controls. Each player had two sticks, one for walking and one for shooting, which was great as it meant you could comfortably walk in one direction and fire in another. Two, its unique T.V. show scenario (with over the top presenter included - not unlike the guy from The Running Man). Lastly, the action is absolutely unrelenting and blood filled. You will have literally killed over 100 baddies within 30 seconds of play!
Snow Bros (1990)
Platformer
Apparently there is some connection between this and the much older classic Bubble Bobble (in which you capture baddies inside bubbles instead of snowballs), but this isn't a Taito game so I can't imagine there's any connection other then this essentially being a re-make. This is one of the best two-player games around and is highly addictive. Cover the baddies in snow then smash them into each other for bonuses and weapon upgrades. Fun times!
Strider (1989)
Action Platformer
From the first moment I saw Strider it was apparent that it was in a league of it's own. Everything from the graphics to the gameplay is extremely polished and inventive. If you like platformers with plenty of action you must play this!
Time Pilot (1982)
Shoot-em-up
Travel through different time periods and shoot everything down! Simple, well made and with a nice control feel - this is a classic 'must-play' from yesteryear.
Toki (1989)
Action Platformer
Let me guess. Your girlfriend has been captured and now you need to get her back? Um, yes that is the startlingly original plot of this rather average platformer. I'm not entirely sure why I played this one a lot when I was young, but I spent heaps on it so I must have had a good reason... right? Maybe I just liked being a monkey?
Truxton (1988)
Space Shooter
This was easily my favorite in the very full 'Vertical Scrolling Space Shoot-em-up' genre. For one simple reason - the weapons were the absolute coolest and biggest out of all the other contenders. A solid and fun 2-player space shooting experience. Get that blue laser gun and toast some space scum!
Neo Turf Masters (1996)
Golf
What's there to say? This is the best arcade style golf game I have ever played. Simple controls, great graphics and possibly the most annoying soundtrack of all time! If you like golf games get this now, you will not be disappointed.
Vigilante (1988)
Beat-em-up
Vigilante can be considered the sequel to one of my all time favourites Kung Fu Master. Except this is meaner, faster and harder. Madonna (WTF?) has been kidnapped and you need to get her back, so it's time to crack some skulls! Check it out if you like this genre, it's a fine specimen.
Violence Fight
One on One Beat-em-up
I would call this more of a brawler then a beat-em-up. I like how brutal the fighting is and how you are not restricted to simply walking left and right. In one of the bonus stages you have to beat up a Tiger! Funny stuff! This is sort of like a decent version of the very crappy Pit Fighter.
Wardner (1987)
Platformer
Wardner is a slow moving but attractive platformer that stood out at the time for it's atmospheric graphics and the ability to purchase upgrades and health between levels. Nothing really exceptional about it really, it's just a decent platformer.
Wonder Boy (1986)
Platformer
This game almost made it into my Top 10 as it is simply an absolute classic! I assume that your girlfriend has been kidnapped etc? Whiz along on a skateboard (if you can handle the speed) and chuck stone hammers at the natives (this game is not PC at all). An essential platformer, plain and simple.
WWF Superstars (1988)Wrestling
What can I say? If you grew up in the 80's you watched WWF. So what could be better then actually controlling the likes of Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior? This is addictive, fun and highly amusing, nuff said.
WWF Wrestlefest (1991)
Wrestling
Just like it's predecessor except a little slower and with absolutely huge sprites! This is the bomb! Great 2-player tag-team fun!
Xain'd Sleena (1986)
Action Platformer
Possibly the strangest named game in history. Nevertheless this is a pretty cool space themed game with good level variation (you visit 5 very different planets and wipe out everything!). It also features some side scrolling action in your spaceship too. This game almost made my Top 10 until I re-played it and realised I used to have far more patience.
Well there you have it. These are the Top 50 arcade games from my youth. Some I just feel immense amounts of nostalgia for while others I still play to this very day. I hope somewhere in here you are reminded of one of your old favorites and you seek it out to re-live the glory days. One golden era of gaming has passed let's hope another one arrives soon!
Previous Top 25 Arcade Games
posted by Ray_Tango at 2:00 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home