Classic Arcade Game Reviews
NFL Blitz review: football with the rulebook torn out
It kept the helmets, threw out the rulebook, and got you to the snap before your quarter cooled.
Hydro Thunder review: the boat race that rewarded showing off
Hit the red boost, pull the Hydro Jump, and land somewhere the other boats cannot follow.
Tekken 3 review: the step to the side that opened the ring
One sidestep for every fighter, and suddenly the background was somewhere you could go.
Virtua Fighter review: three buttons and a ring you could fall out of
Three buttons, a ring you could fall out of, and fighters built out of bare polygons.
![Daytona USA Longplay (Arcade) [4K]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/X1V_2pvlAiE/hqdefault.jpg)
Daytona USA review: the race that read you on the first lap
It watched your first lap, then decided whether the other cars would make room or block you.
The House of the Dead review: the bridge that split the night in two
Save the man on the bridge and you walk in the front door. Miss him and you go through the sewers.
![Arcade Longplay [1177] Time Crisis](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tqL4Hi1VZrE/hqdefault.jpg)
Time Crisis review: the pedal that taught you to hide
One foot pedal turned a shooting gallery into a game about the half second you spend behind cover.
Area 51 review: the gun game critics shrugged at and players loved
Critics shrugged, players lined up, and the plastic gun kept coming back to the pistol.
![Cruis'n USA Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Amx7xk1fq1g/hqdefault.jpg)
Cruis'n USA review: a road trip you could finish on a Saturday
A coast-to-coast drive shrunk down to a seat, a wheel and a timer that never stopped ticking.
Killer Instinct review: the fighting game that counted combos out loud
It made the combo a spectacle, then handed the person on the receiving end a way to break it.
![Arcade Longplay [1045] Ms. Pac-Man (US)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-hee2P8wu5w/hqdefault.jpg)
Ms. Pac-Man review: the sequel that out-thought the original
It took away the memorized routes and made you actually read the ghosts again.
![Punch-Out!! [Arcade Longplay] (1984) Nintendo {Japan}](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/T4KFbHB0qxs/hqdefault.jpg)
Punch-Out!! review: two screens, one boxer, and a tell in every eye
Two stacked screens, a see-through boxer, and opponents whose eyes told you what was coming.
![1942 [Arcade Longplay] (1984) Capcom {Revision A}](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UFH_-hWNlw4/hqdefault.jpg)
1942 review: a roll button, a P-38, and a sky full of Zeros
An American P-38, a sky that never stops coming, and a roll button that saved you just in time.
Marble Madness review: a trackball, a marble, and far too many edges
A trackball under your palm, a marble on a tilted course, and a clock that never stops.
![Gauntlet [Arcade Longplay] (1985) Atari Games {rev 7}](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0R3xVXCx2yo/hqdefault.jpg)
Gauntlet review: four heroes, one exit, and never enough food
A warrior, a valkyrie, a wizard and an elf, one wide control panel, and a narrator who knew you needed food.
![Arcade Longplay [856] Paperboy](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aCnpP-4pQwo/hqdefault.jpg)
Paperboy review: a bike, a bag of papers, and the worst street in town
Handlebars on the cabinet, a bag of papers, and a suburban street that wanted you off your bike.
![Star Wars Longplay (Arcade) [4K]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nJv94FPRddA/hqdefault.jpg)
Star Wars review: the trench run you could finally fly yourself
A yoke in your hands, voices from the film, and a trench run drawn in glowing color vector lines.
![Spy Hunter [Arcade Longplay] (1983) Bally Midway](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2KWkb5EPFks/hqdefault.jpg)
Spy Hunter review: a car full of weapons and a rule about civilians
A spy car with oil slicks and missiles, a steering yoke, and a score that stopped if you hit a civilian.
![Tapper [Arcade Longplay] (1983) Bally Midway {Budweiser, 1/27/84}](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/d3HCmltTkd8/hqdefault.jpg)
Tapper review: four bars, flying mugs, and no time to breathe
Four counters, a tap handle, and a stream of thirsty customers who never stop coming.
Tron review: four games hiding behind one glowing grid
Four games behind one grid, a rotary dial for aim, and light cycles that still hold up.
![Xain'd Sleena Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hmO0595vI0M/hqdefault.jpg)
Xain'd Sleena review: five planets, and you pick the order
A bounty hunter liberating five planets in any order you like, with ten seconds to reach the ship after every boss.
Battlezone review: the tank that put you inside the screen
A periscope, two tread sticks, and a green wireframe world that wrapped all the way around you.
Tempest review: a shooter wrapped around the inside of a tube
A shooting gallery bent into a tube, with a spinner knob that made your hand part of the game.
Robotron: 2084 review: two sticks and nowhere safe to stand
One stick to run, one to shoot, and a screen designed to make you panic.
Joust review: flap, climb, and win by being higher
No eight-way stick, no space theme, only a flap button and the rule that the higher lance wins.
Dig Dug review: you draw the maze, then you fight in it
It hands you dirt instead of a maze, so every tunnel is a plan and every bad one is your fault.
Q*bert review: a pyramid of cubes and a hero who swears
A color puzzle, a snake on your heels, and a hero whose swearing every kid understood.
Rolling Thunder review: the spy game that taught you to wait behind a door
It turned a run and gun into a game about cover, doors and counting bullets.
Super Sprint review: three players, one tiny track
It put three players side by side over a track that fit on one screen.
![Arcade Longplay [715] Sinistar](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U8S5VSwcNag/hqdefault.jpg)
Sinistar review: the boss you watched being built
It let you watch the boss assemble itself piece by piece, and then it screamed at you.
Wizard of Wor review: the maze where your friend is also your rival
It put two players in one dungeon and never said whether they were partners.
![Gorf [Arcade Longplay] (1981) Dave Nutting Associates / Midway](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4o74yitZRtc/hqdefault.jpg)
Gorf review: five games wearing one cabinet
It packed several shooters into one machine and let a robot insult you between them.
![Moon Patrol [Arcade Longplay] (1982) Irem Corp.](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BwETYgebDe4/hqdefault.jpg)
Moon Patrol review: the buggy that never stops rolling
It made you drive, jump and shoot in two directions without ever touching the brakes.
![Zaxxon [Arcade Longplay] (1982) Sega](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xdf6X5UofT8/hqdefault.jpg)
Zaxxon review: the shadow that told you how high you were
It tilted the screen into fake 3D and taught you to fly by your own shadow.
![Pengo [Arcade Longplay] (1982) Sega {set 1 rev C}](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NGAFR1yacL0/hqdefault.jpg)
Pengo review: the penguin who fights with the floor
It gave you no weapon except the maze itself, and the maze turned out to be plenty.
Berzerk review: the room that would not let you stay
It punished you for standing still with a smiling face that could not be killed.
![NBA Jam Longplay (Arcade) [4K]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jzQmf1edPkY/hqdefault.jpg)
NBA Jam review: two on two, no fouls, and the rim is on fire
Two on two, no fouls, dunks from the rafters, and a hot streak you could see.
Mortal Kombat II review: faster, bigger, and a little bit funny
A faster fight, a bigger cast, and finishing moves that could turn your opponent into a crying baby.
Golden Axe review: swords, magic and the little blue thieves
A dwarf, a barbarian, a warrior woman, and a blue thief you kicked for magic.
![Track & Field [Arcade Longplay] (1983) Konami](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/narOHx5dwrw/hqdefault.jpg)
Track & Field review: the game that asked for your thumbs, not your brain
Two run buttons, one action button, and a scoreboard that dared you to hit faster.
Frogger review: a road, a river, and nowhere to hide
No gun, only a hop and a sense of timing, and that was enough danger for a whole screen.
![Arcade Longplay [866] Burger Time](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QlPp7WEnaCI/hqdefault.jpg)
BurgerTime review: the chef who builds lunch by walking on it
It turned walking into building and made every chase a trap you could set.
![Cadillacs and Dinosaurs Longplay (Arcade) [4K]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6URmVK9knUQ/hqdefault.jpg)
Cadillacs and Dinosaurs review: the brawl where the dinosaurs pick no side
It put a wild animal in the middle of every fight, and the animal did not care whose side you were on.
![Captain Commando Longplay (Arcade) [60 FPS]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ta2UnwzcPLg/hqdefault.jpg)
Captain Commando review: four heroes, one crowded screen
It took the Final Fight formula and made room for four players at once.
![Final Fight (1989) -- (Full Game) Arcade Longplay [012]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZPErXkMZTnc/hqdefault.jpg)
Final Fight review: the brawler with the big sprites and a mayor
Huge sprites, a wrestler mayor, and a desperation move that cost you health every time.
![X-Men [ Arcade 1992 ] - 6 player Synchronized Longplay/Playthrough](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FagfB8DeBe4/hqdefault.jpg)
X-Men review: six players, two screens and a lot of Sentinels
Six players, a double-wide screen, and powers that cost you health every time you used them.
The Simpsons review: a family brawler where teamwork was the move set
A vacuum cleaner, a skateboard, a jump rope, and a dad who could carry his kids on his shoulders.
After Burner review: the cabinet that flew with you
A jet, a seatbelt, a flashing lock warning and a cockpit that rolled when you did.
Rampage review: the game where you were the monster
Three monsters, one city, and a designer who wanted a game with no wrong way to play.
![Sunset Riders Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0aL-U_fMPLo/hqdefault.jpg)
Sunset Riders review: four bounty hunters and one fight over the reward
Four friends ride together against the outlaws, then race each other for the bounty on the boss.
Dance Dance Revolution review: the arcade game you played with your feet
It moved the controls to your feet, and the person on the platform became the thing everyone watched.
Big Buck Hunter review: the one rule that made a bar go quiet
Shoot the buck, never the doe. One rule, and a whole room holding its breath.
Primal Rage review: clay gods with a real mean streak
Clay monsters, stop motion fights, and worshipers you could eat for health.
![Pit-Fighter Longplay (Arcade) [4K]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/g_lp6UyvryU/hqdefault.jpg)
Pit-Fighter review: real people, real punches, stiff legs
Real people, filmed punches, a crowd that fought back, and room for three at once.
Hard Drivin' review: the arcade car you could actually stall
A clutch, a shaking wheel, a loop, a drawbridge, and a replay of every mistake.
![Operation Wolf Longplay (Arcade) [4K]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fzAqA62ftVo/hqdefault.jpg)
Operation Wolf review: the mounted Uzi that kicked back
A shaking gun on a swivel, a counter of targets, and never quite enough bullets.
Lethal Enforcers review: six shots, then point it away
A six shot revolver, a city of photographed faces, and a promotion you could lose.
![Terminator 2: Judgement Day Longplay (Arcade) [4K]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vLh_DitivaU/hqdefault.jpg)
Terminator 2 review: the mounted gun that got tired
A gun that fired forever, until it started to slow down and made you let go.
![Smash TV Longplay (Arcade) [4K]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WIPn7RZJ4vg/hqdefault.jpg)
Smash TV review: the game show that wanted you dead
Two joysticks, four doors, endless waves, and a host who loved every second of it.
Double Dragon review: two brothers, a borrowed bat, and one girlfriend
Two brothers side by side, a bat taken from the enemy, and a final fight nobody saw coming.
Karate Champ review: two joysticks and one clean point
No health bar, two joysticks, and a judge waiting for one clean strike.
Kung-Fu Master review: one hallway, five floors, and endless grabbers
One hallway, a stream of grabbers, and a boss at the top of every floor.
Dragon's Lair review: a cartoon you had to survive
A real cartoon in a cabinet, a hero who dies in funny ways, and a price of fifty cents a try.
Pole Position review: you have to qualify before you can race
A qualifying lap, a real circuit, and a race that paid you for passing instead of just surviving.
Galaga review: the game that let the enemy borrow your ship
Lose your ship to a tractor beam, win it back doubled, and pay for it with a bigger target.
Xevious review: the shooter that watched how you played
It split the sky from the ground and quietly adjusted itself to how well you played.
Elevator Action review: a spy story told one floor at a time
It built a whole spy thriller out of doors, lights and an elevator you had to wait for.
Mr. Do! review: the clown who dug his own maze
It let you carve the maze you would later have to survive in.
Mortal Kombat review: the fighting game that looked like a movie
Real actors turned into sprites, a block button, and a finishing move the whole crowd waited for.
Street Fighter II review: the game that put a stranger next to you
Six buttons, eight fighters, and a second start button that let any stranger challenge you.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles review: four players and a Saturday cartoon
Four turtles, four joysticks, and a cartoon you could finally walk into.
Arkanoid review: the paddle game that learned new tricks
An old idea, a control knob and capsules that changed the rules mid game.
Out Run review: the racing game that was really about the drive
A convertible, a radio dial and a fork in the road, and no reason to ever hit the brakes.
Bubble Bobble review: the game that told you to bring a friend
Two dragons, a hundred single screens, and an ending that told solo players to come back with a friend.
Contra review: two commandos and a joystick that aimed everywhere
Run, jump, aim in eight directions, and never let your partner hog the good gun.
Metal Slug review: the war game drawn like a cartoon
A hard shooter with the timing of a cartoon, and a little tank everyone wanted to climb into.
Golden Tee Golf review: the trackball that lived in the bar
One trackball for power, direction and curve, and a cabinet that belonged next to the dartboard.
Samurai Shodown review: one clean cut beats ten combos
Every fighter carried a blade, and one heavy hit was worth more than any combo.
![Arcade Longplay [178] Altered Beast](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DqHpyHR1P0I/hqdefault.jpg)
Altered Beast review: walk, punch, and wait to transform
You punched your way to three power-ups, and then the game let you become a monster.
Shinobi review: the ninja who had to save the kids first
Endless throwing stars, one hit of life, and hostages to reach before the boss.
Rastan review: a barbarian who swings like he means it
A sword, a jump you could steer, and weapons that never lasted long enough.
![Commando [Arcade Longplay] (1985) Capcom](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zdKmtckwkVE/hqdefault.jpg)
Commando review: one soldier, one direction, no way back
One soldier, a jungle, an army, and nothing to do but keep walking north.
Ikari Warriors review: the joystick that turned in your hand
You walked one way and shot another, by twisting the stick itself.
Bad Dudes review: a ninja brawl built on one silly question
It asked if you were bad enough to rescue the President, and every kid in the room said yes.
![Arcade Longplay [499] Donkey Kong](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UBHJhla8TO4/hqdefault.jpg)
Donkey Kong review: the climb that taught games to jump
A story, a hero who could jump, and a construction site to climb. This is where Mario began.
![Defender Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lWPAUjAZJfQ/hqdefault.jpg)
Defender review: the machine that dared you to walk up
It asked for five buttons, a joystick and a lot of nerve before it gave anything back.
![Arcade Longplay [601] Centipede](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oQhUKhgWUac/hqdefault.jpg)
Centipede review: the garden that fought back
Every shot left something behind, and the mushroom field became a record of how you played.
![Arcade Longplay [621] Missile Command](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nokIGklnBGY/hqdefault.jpg)
Missile Command review: the game you were never meant to win
It asked you to protect cities you knew you would lose, and it told you so at the end.
Space Invaders review: the march that got faster as you won
The better you played, the faster they came, and the music would not let you forget it.
![Arcade Longplay [900] Asteroids](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_TKiRvGfw3Q/hqdefault.jpg)
Asteroids review: the ship that would not stop drifting
It made you fight your own momentum before you ever fought a rock.
Pac-Man review: the maze everyone was allowed to lose
It let beginners stay on the screen, and the people who stayed are the ones who still remember it.
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