Original Release: Sega, 1986, ArcadeOther Releases: Spectrum (1987), C64 (1988), Amiga (1988), Turbografx 16 (1990), Genesis (1991), Dreamcast (with Shenmue – 1999), PC (with Shenmue 1&2 – 2018) Yu Suzuki’s second big arcade title was arguably his biggest overall hit and cemented his legacy as an arcade pioneer. OutRun (Arcade, Sega, 1986) Where to Buy:…
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OFFROAD THUNDER
Original Release: Midway, 1999, ArcadeOther Releases: PS2 / Gamecube / Xbox (in Midway Arcade Treasures 3 – 2005) Midway spins off of Hydro Thunder with this truck racing title. Offroad Thunder (Arcade, Midway, 1999) Where to Buy: KLOV, eBay How to Emulate: Arcade Emulation Page Hey, they did the Hydro Thunder engine justice! Taking it…
NHL 2-ON-2 OPEN ICE CHALLENGE
Original Release: Midway, Arcade, 1995Other Releases: PlayStation (1996), PC (1997) Essentially the hockey version of Midway’s NBA Jam. NHL Open Ice (Arcade, Midway, 1995) Where to Buy: KLOV, eBay How to Emulate: Arcade Emulation Page Open Ice Challenge pretty much represents Midway’s attempt to quickly convert the NBA Jam engine into a similarly styled hockey…
MAT MANIA
Original Release: Taito, 1985, ArcadeOther Releases: Atari 7800 (1986), PS4 (2014), Xbox One / Switch (2019) An early arcade wrestling title with surprisingly good graphics and gameplay. Mat Mania (Arcade, Taito, 1985) Where to Buy: KLOV, eBay Damn, this game looks good and plays smooth for a 1985 release. Shame that console wrestling games would…
MAD GEAR
Original Release: Capcom, 1989, Arcade A racing game in the lineage of Bump N’ Jump that isn’t particularly good. Mad Gear (Arcade, Capcom, 1989) Where to Buy: KLOV, eBay How to Emulate: Arcade Emulation Page Mad Gear is a “spiritual update” (one might also use the term “ripoff”) of Data East’s Bump n’ Jump. It…
LEAGUE BOWLING
Original Release: SNK, 1990, Neo GeoOther Releases: Neo Geo CD (1994), Web browser (2002), PS3/PSP (2010), Wii (2011), PS4 / Switch / Xbox One (2018) A quick, easy and fun arcade bowling title with a strong focus on multiplayer competition. League Bowling (Arcade, SNK, 1990) Where to Buy: PlayAsia League Bowling is fast, simple and…
HIT THE ICE
Original Release: Taito/Williams, 1990, ArcadeOther Releases: Turbografx 16 (1991), Game Boy / Genesis (1992), SNES (1993), NES (unreleased complete beta – 2020) A simplified 3-on-3 hockey game that really plays up the violence and cartoonish elements of the sport. Hit the Ice (Williams, 1990, Arcade) Where to Buy: KLOV, eBay How to Emulate: Arcade Emulation…
HANG-ON
Original Release: Sega, 1985, ArcadeOther Releases: PC-88 / MSX (1986), Master System (1987), Dreamcast (with Shenmue – 1999), PC (with Shenmue 1&2 – 2018) Hang-On put a number of things on the map: Yu Suzuki, Sega’s Super Scaler technology, and elaborate arcade vehicle cabinets. Hang-On (Arcade, Sega, 1985) Where to Buy: Your best bet right…
FOOTBALL FRENZY
Original Release: SNK, 1992, Neo GeoOther Releases: Neo Geo CD (1994), PS4 / Switch / Xbox One (2018) SNK’s attempt at a simple and arcadey football title. Football Frenzy (Arcade, SNK, 1992) Where to Buy: eBay, KLOV Football Frenzy appears to be SNK’s ill-advised attempt to clone Tecmo Super Bowl. It’s a very arcade-y football…
BLAZING TORNADO
Original Release: Human, 1994, ArcadeOther Releases: Saturn (1995) A more simplified and arcadey branch of the Fire Pro Wrestling series. Blazing Tornado (Arcade, 1994, Human) Where to Buy: KLOV, eBay How to Emulate: Arcade Emulation Page In as far as my cursory research can dig up, this was Human’s only arcade entry for their long-running…