Very late to the party here and many of the classic ports have been mentioned. I still don't know why games on the NES control so well but maybe it was just the Super Mario Bros influence that made the likes of Capcom and Konami tweak their arcade games for the home crowd.
Feel there was something special about the Megadrive Strider port too - a superb game and one of my favourite cartridge games of all time.
I also love the extra modes in home ports of fighting games from Soul Blade (and sequels) to Street Fighter Alpha 3's World Tour. My favourite of these was Street Fighter EX+ alpha on PS1, with its barrel-breaking game and amazing trial mode, unlocking extra characters as you went. Brilliant.
@Moroboshi876 I'd say @mr_benn is right and it is mainly about the look and novelty of these at this size but My Arcade have been steadily increasing the quality of their range (they started off using NES roms, for example but now usually use the arcade or similar custom rom). They are great to have on your desk for a quick break from work, to let the kids mess around on, to show off to mates and look great on a shelf. Will defo get the OutRun one if it comes out in the UK though still waiting on Pole Position here...
I love Street Fighter and SF6 will be one of the things to get me to buy a PS5 eventually. Have so many versions (particularly of SFII) and really want the Yoga Flame Arcade1Up cabinet to round this out.
I feel the arcade version of Super Turbo is missing here as it would likely be rated much higher than the 3DO and GBA versions, despite the busted difficulty of the Western version. I reckon Alpha/Zero 3 will be near the top too, once it has enough scores - the number of platforms it was on perhaps hurts its ability to gain the votes as many (including me) won't have played the Japanese-exclusive Saturn version
@Uncharted2007 out of interest what would the four non-Nintendo handhelds in your top 5 be?
I think it is fair to say that Nintendo has completely dominated in this area since the release of the Game & Watch. Battery life, accessibility, fun factor, quality first-party games - they really are hard to beat in the areas that sell portable consoles. PS Vita is a lovely piece of hardware with some great games but when Sony themselves barely supported it, it is hard to place it high up in the pantheon.
Nostalgia has little to do it - it is like saying their console sales are biased... I'll get off your back now😜
Just an incredible run and a massive service to the preservation of arcade games. I wish there were a few more sales and that these were of a wider range of games within this catalogue but look forward to what the next 400ish bring
I'm guessing this doesn't extend to the Super Pocket... was thinking of picking it up, perhaps with the Irem and Toaplan cartridges as a Christmas present to myself. Features like autofire and high scores would help make my decision for me😏
This kind of work is so important as we are fast losing the opportunities to know who made some of these games. Imagine the early titans of cinema and recorded music being as anonymous as this! Though, saying this, history always writes some people out...
Great journalism, thank you for this information! I'd never heard of Takahide Harima before but it sounds like his name should be mentioned when we talk of those early heroes of early game design alongside the likes of Toru Iwatani and Takashi Nishiyama.
Interesting list and wish it was ordered. Missing a few of Capcom's finest: namely, Knights of the Round, The Punisher, Cadillacs & Dinosaurs and Battle Circuit but guess you can't have them all in here without unbalancing the list. Would defo have included an actual Double Dragon game, probably Double Dragon Advance (though I also love the Gameboy version and II on the NES - the latter a great reason to have the 2nd pad on NES Mini). Feels weird not having Streets of Rage 2 on here but I shamefully haven't played 4 yet so can't comment on which is better
@HefHughner This made me laugh - it is so spot on! The reference to basements also signifies a willingness to resort to negative stereotypes. His loss though, I guess. I just think of the home arcade I'd build if I had his money. Anyway, I'd better get back to the addiction... these games won't slavishly play themselves
@Damo it is a great article so well worth sharing again. I remember being blown away by the preview/promo for KI on the telly (GamesMaster?) back in what must have been around '93/'94. It panned down onto the rooftop stage and the two fighters in all of their pre-rendered glory. What a time it was to be alive🤣
Comments 11
Re: Talking Point: Is There A Home Port You Prefer To The Arcade Original?
Very late to the party here and many of the classic ports have been mentioned. I still don't know why games on the NES control so well but maybe it was just the Super Mario Bros influence that made the likes of Capcom and Konami tweak their arcade games for the home crowd.
Feel there was something special about the Megadrive Strider port too - a superb game and one of my favourite cartridge games of all time.
I also love the extra modes in home ports of fighting games from Soul Blade (and sequels) to Street Fighter Alpha 3's World Tour. My favourite of these was Street Fighter EX+ alpha on PS1, with its barrel-breaking game and amazing trial mode, unlocking extra characters as you went. Brilliant.
Re: My Arcade's OutRun Mini-Arcade Will Include The Legendary OutRunners
@Moroboshi876 I'd say @mr_benn is right and it is mainly about the look and novelty of these at this size but My Arcade have been steadily increasing the quality of their range (they started off using NES roms, for example but now usually use the arcade or similar custom rom). They are great to have on your desk for a quick break from work, to let the kids mess around on, to show off to mates and look great on a shelf. Will defo get the OutRun one if it comes out in the UK though still waiting on Pole Position here...
Re: Best Street Fighter Games, Ranked By You
I love Street Fighter and SF6 will be one of the things to get me to buy a PS5 eventually. Have so many versions (particularly of SFII) and really want the Yoga Flame Arcade1Up cabinet to round this out.
I feel the arcade version of Super Turbo is missing here as it would likely be rated much higher than the 3DO and GBA versions, despite the busted difficulty of the Western version. I reckon Alpha/Zero 3 will be near the top too, once it has enough scores - the number of platforms it was on perhaps hurts its ability to gain the votes as many (including me) won't have played the Japanese-exclusive Saturn version
Re: Best Handheld Consoles Of All Time, Ranked By You
@Uncharted2007 out of interest what would the four non-Nintendo handhelds in your top 5 be?
I think it is fair to say that Nintendo has completely dominated in this area since the release of the Game & Watch. Battery life, accessibility, fun factor, quality first-party games - they really are hard to beat in the areas that sell portable consoles. PS Vita is a lovely piece of hardware with some great games but when Sony themselves barely supported it, it is hard to place it high up in the pantheon.
Nostalgia has little to do it - it is like saying their console sales are biased... I'll get off your back now😜
Re: Arcade Archives' Nintendo eShop World Record Might Be Unbeatable
Just an incredible run and a massive service to the preservation of arcade games. I wish there were a few more sales and that these were of a wider range of games within this catalogue but look forward to what the next 400ish bring
Re: New Evercade Update Adds Turbo Fire, High Scores, And More
I'm guessing this doesn't extend to the Super Pocket... was thinking of picking it up, perhaps with the Irem and Toaplan cartridges as a Christmas present to myself. Features like autofire and high scores would help make my decision for me😏
Re: Flashback: Who Created The Arcade Classic Frogger?
This kind of work is so important as we are fast losing the opportunities to know who made some of these games. Imagine the early titans of cinema and recorded music being as anonymous as this! Though, saying this, history always writes some people out...
Re: Flashback: Who Created The Arcade Classic Frogger?
Great journalism, thank you for this information! I'd never heard of Takahide Harima before but it sounds like his name should be mentioned when we talk of those early heroes of early game design alongside the likes of Toru Iwatani and Takashi Nishiyama.
Re: Best Beat 'Em Ups Of All Time
Interesting list and wish it was ordered. Missing a few of Capcom's finest: namely, Knights of the Round, The Punisher, Cadillacs & Dinosaurs and Battle Circuit but guess you can't have them all in here without unbalancing the list. Would defo have included an actual Double Dragon game, probably Double Dragon Advance (though I also love the Gameboy version and II on the NES - the latter a great reason to have the 2nd pad on NES Mini). Feels weird not having Streets of Rage 2 on here but I shamefully haven't played 4 yet so can't comment on which is better
Re: The Last Of Us Star Says Banjo-Kazooie Was So Good It Made Him Quit Video Games
@HefHughner This made me laugh - it is so spot on! The reference to basements also signifies a willingness to resort to negative stereotypes. His loss though, I guess. I just think of the home arcade I'd build if I had his money. Anyway, I'd better get back to the addiction... these games won't slavishly play themselves
Re: The Making Of: Killer Instinct, Nintendo's Street Fighter And Mortal Kombat Killer
@Damo it is a great article so well worth sharing again. I remember being blown away by the preview/promo for KI on the telly (GamesMaster?) back in what must have been around '93/'94. It panned down onto the rooftop stage and the two fighters in all of their pre-rendered glory. What a time it was to be alive🤣