Arcade Games: Unlimited Play

I’d say it’s common knowledge that arcade games are built on a monetised system. It’s probably the grandaddy of monetisation in video games, with much of their design built around a coin-operated system. So what happens when it’s taken away? Will you have a better time if you can pocket your coins and tokens and play for as long as you want for a set fee?

Look, I know this is old news. Freeplay arcades have probably been in your neighborhood a long time 😅but I’ve never had the opportunity until recently when one relocated super close to where I live, so I thought I’d give it a go and write a little about my experience, because I had a way better time than I thought I would!

1UP Retro Arcade moved into the basement of Laser Force back in June and has around 140 arcade games, all set to freeplay with “a flat-rate daily entry and memberships that give you unlimited access!” I went in at around 5pm on a Friday evening and stayed til 9pm. The $25AUD casual entry fee was well worth it for 4 hours of unlimited games! (The memberships are great too!)

My meagre experience playing arcade games has pretty much been - give each game a go once or twice and not get very far in any of them. This means I’m only getting to experience each one for a couple of minutes, maybe five at most (I’m not great at them either😅) It’s not even a demo, but a mere glimpse into what a lot of these incredible games have to offer.

I played a lot of different stuff in those 4 hours, but here are some of the standouts.

Willow

Capcom (1989)

Based on the film from 1988, Willow is a 1-player, side-scrolling platformer. I’m not expecting to become completely immersed in an arcade game’s narrative, and I’m sure it helps that I know the movie well. But I felt this was a pretty good movie tie-in. I’ve only really played movie tie-in games on the DS and many of them have been pretty average, but this was fun, immersive and challenging while capturing the magical vibes of the movie. The first boss was tricky and I undoubtedly would have dropped a lot of coins in the slot to get as far as I did.

Gachaga Champ

Konami (1999)

This one was so fun, even though it was an RSI hazard due to the double joysticks! Exclusively released in Japan, Gachaga Champ pits 2 players against each other in a variety of fast paced mini games, from car racing to puppetry! The joysticks needing to be jostled quickly make it kinda stressful but at the same time, a riot!

Dariusburst: Another Chronicle Ex

Taito (2010)

Can you believe I played a shoot-em-up and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it for weeks?! Neither can I! 😱

I’d never seen an arcade game like this one and I’ve been to Japan 6 times! 😂Dariusburst: Another Chronicle Ex is a 4 player, horizontal shooter that is part of a long and involved series that began in 1987. Yet, I hadn’t heard of it at all until I clapped eyes on this one.

It was an entire experience, you guys! To fit 4 players in, the screen was ultra wide and while you battle these frankly, stunning marine-inspired battleships in space, you are lambasted with music that would’ve stopped me in my tracks if it wasn’t for the captivating visuals.

The soundtrack is an ethereal, genre-defying mix of extremely fast paced drum and bass with a little grunge thrown in. It’s chaotic and perfect for the rapidity of the game. I’ve since discovered you can get it on Nintendo Switch so it’s on the wishlist!

Crazy Taxi 3

Aka Crazy Taxi High Roller, SEGA (2003)

Not the first time I’ve played Crazy Taxi, but definitely the furthest I’ve ever gotten in the game thanks to not having to feed coins in constantly! It’s such a classic and one of my faves. It’s so nostalgic, from the art style and of course the OG soundtrack with The Offspring and Bad Religion. This installment apparently has additional locations inspired by Las Vegas, San Fran, and New York, but I didn’t get past the first which I’m pretty sure is a version of LA. It cracks me up trying to drive while standing up! Pure chaos!

Aliens Extermination

Global VR (2006)

I’m a fan of the Alien movies but have never played a game inspired by the films. This first foray was surprisingly good. I didn’t love playing as a “marine,” but it was engaging and I felt like it relied on casual gamers just dropping in for a round of shooting aliens than anything longer or deeper than that. The full voice acting and sound design were excellent too.

Bomber Man World

IREM (1992)

For up to 4 players, Bomber Man World is a hilarious game with a simple concept - drop bombs and get the heck out of there using only up, down, left, and right directions. I had a lot of fun trying to get out of the way of my own destruction and level up for some handy rewards like more speed and extra bombs! Nice!

Quake: Tournament Edition

Aka Quake Arcade, 1998

Quake never really had an arcade game beyond site testing. However, 1UP got their hands on the source code and managed to create a one-of-a-kind machine complete with custom trackball controls! I couldn’t get my head around the trackball, but I take my hat off to them for pulling it off and piquing my interest in Quake (another one for the ever growing wishlist!)

I played so many more games, but these were the ones I could recall and spent the most time with. It’s no surprise that my findings are that freeplay instead of coin-operated infinitely makes for a better gaming experience.

Do you have a favourite arcade game? Do you play them regularly? I’d love to hear about them!

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KO-FI