Arcade Games

Arcade games, from the first classics like Space Invaders to modern 3D games, have always been a whole genre of their own. They are, out of necessity, usually short and reasonably simple, but make up for this with graphics that are usually superior to home consoles of the time, multiplayer fun etc. Nowadays we can play classic arcade games at home, as well, using emulators like MAME. Not only does this allow us to experience many forgotten classics, but also saves lots of small change...

The problem with emulation, however, is obtaining legal rom images of games. They are, after all, copyrighted material. Personally, I believe that copyright should not apply to games for obsolete systems. Internet distribution is often the only way to preserve these games and allow people to play them. And everybody should be allowed to experience classics that are an important part of not only video game history, but the entire hstory of popular culture.

Luckily console ports exist of many classic games, and I would urge people interested in them to buy them. But for every classic readily available there are many that aren't, and obtaining actual arcade machines and games is beyond most people's resources. It's up to eveyone's own conscience how to proceed in such situations. I hope that game distributors will some day realize the cultural value of making all games available to the public, not just the ones deemed profitable.

Arcade Game Reviews

DoDonPachi
Strider 2

Console Ports of Arcade Games

I have also reviewed several console games that were originally released in arcades. Because it is practically impossible for me to aquire legal copies of actual arcade games (or their rom images for emulation), and video game arcades have pretty much vanished from the scene, I'll favour ports whenever I can, although there are a few games that are just too huge to pass by.

Castle Shikigami 2
Guilty Gear X2 #Reload
King of Fighters XI, The
Metal Slug Anthology
Tekken 3