V3.co.uk lists top-10 arcade games.

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V3.co.uk lists top-10 arcade games.

It's a bad list.

(Administrator) 2010-04-08, 14:42 #1

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Subject: V3.co.uk lists top-10 arcade games.

V3.co.uk listed the top 10 arcade games of all time. I do not know what kind of criteria they used to come up with this list, but I think it's rubbish.

Honourable Mention: Spy Hunter
10: Time Crisis
9: AfterBurner
8: Battle Zone
7: Dance Dance Revolution
6: Tekken
5: Pong
4: Pole Position
3: Donkey Kong
2: Space Invaders
1: Pac Man

Quote by Commenter:
This is not a list of the most influential games, or most played games, or coolest games .. its a list of "old" arcade games you played and think are cool.

Damn straight.

Off the top of my head, ten of the best, in no particular order:

Ms. Pac Man

Robotron

Hydro Thunder

Samurai Shodown IV

Asteroids Deluxe

Puzzle Bobble

Raiden II

R-Type

Tetris

Donkey Kong

What would you add to the list?

BLEARGH

2010-04-08, 14:53 #2

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Street Fighter 2
Daytona USA
Ms. Pac Man
Time Pilot
Raiden 2
Mortal Kombat 2
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Final Fight
Killer Instinct
Virtua Fighter 3

2010-04-08, 18:30 #3

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Daytona does seem to be a pretty egregious omission. I feel like one of the Gauntlet games should be on the list somewhere too, if only because very few games have replicated the same multiplayer joy.

Sega fanboy that I am, I feel like Virtua On should always be on a top ten list. Even though several twin stick controllers were released for home use, Virtua On is one of those games that remains an arcade-only experience. Sega Rally seems to merit inclusion on that list as well, although Daytona definitely outranks it in terms of sheer popularity.

(Administrator) 2010-04-08, 18:38 #4

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Millartime's inclusion of TMNT (which could be effortlessly replaced with any of the other identical Konami 4-way brawlers) would probably satisfy your 4-player mayhem cravings, so I reckon it's a suitable replacement for Gauntlet. Neither one entertain me much now, but I enjoyed both when they were fresh.

I never really liked Sega's racers, though I did spend a lot of time with Daytona (and sucked at it). And when it comes to twin-stick combat, my money's on CyberSled over VO.

I don't think I'd have ever included Killer Instinct or Mortal Kombat 2 in a top-games list. Gimmicky rubbish, both of them, IMO.

BLEARGH

2010-04-08, 22:49 #5

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Entirely subjective as it is, to identify what can broadly be called the top however many arcade games of all time requires identifying what makes a good, successful arcade game in the first place. Arcades for me have always been about an experience, one that can't be had in the home due to the difference in processing power, even these days now that home console power has caught up and in some cases surpassed the arcade counterpart.
I would say that some of the major criteria that define a good arcade game are:
Some element of competition, either in-game or by way of a scoreboard/ranking.
To leave the player(s) fulfilled that they've received enough of a challenge/satisfaction from their money, i.e. leave the punters happy enough that they'd come back and play the game again. Even if they make marginal actual progress, there should be the desire to play again if they see it.
A theme that reflects or can be associated with the time of release, where did you first play a certain game, what are the associated memories?
The game should define the genre. When someone plays any related or similar game and has played this game, it should provoke some sort of reminder.

Given these, I'd identify a top ten as follows (not numbered as they're in no particular order)
Street Fighter 2
Space Invaders
Daytona USA
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4P
Dance Dance Revolution
Outrun
Virtua Fighter
Virtua Cop - Although I'm tempted by Time Crisis as it refined the concept with the pedal and better feedback, but did have appx 2 years to do it.
Donkey Kong
Pac-Man

And my personal top 10 arcade games I would definitely stop and play if I saw them in the wild:

Super Street Fighter 2 X/Turbo
Rainbow Islands
Wardner
Bubble Bobble
TMNT 4P
WWF Wrestle Fest
Samurai Shodown 4
Robotron
Zookeeper
Track and Field

"...either stop and think or fuck right off" (TheOutrider)

(Administrator) 2010-04-08, 23:05 #6

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If I were to list the games that meant the most to me, it would differ somewhat from my first list.

Robotron

Gravitar

Dragon's Lair

R-Type

Power Drift

Hydro Thunder

Magical Drop 3

Samurai Shodown IV

Raiden II

Time Pilot '84

Actually I guess it didn't differ much at all.

Quote by Vertigo:
1. Some element of competition
2. the desire to play again if they see it.
3. A theme that reflects or can be associated with the time of release
4. The game should define the genre.

Hrm.

1 seems to define most games. How many, especially in the arcade, don't promote competition in some way?
2 seems totally ridiculous. A game on this list should be enjoyable. Well, um... duh?
3 is interesting, but while the late 80s and early 90s were full of stereotype punks getting beaten in stereotype streets, how does Tempest apply? You might as well say 'games that I remember'.
4 makes me pause for a moment. Defining a genre is tricky, and a lot of games are one-shots. Tempest hasn't really got a lot of genre following it, but was still brilliant. What genre was Joust? Zookeeper certainly doesn't resemble any genre I'm aware of...

BLEARGH

2010-04-09, 02:09 #7

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The criteria were some of my idea of what makes a good, successful arcade game in the first place. In order to identify the "top ten" you have to identify some sort of parameter. If you're being a New Games Jounalist wanker, that is. As pointed out by your quote in the first post, a lot of that list is just old shit that really has been surpassed. It's a subjective list and even then you'd have to question certain entries, particularly Pole Position which was surpassed numerous times in the '80s to the degree that it really isn't something you'd play for more than a credit or two.

Point 2, by the way, is somewhat meant to reflect this: you'll remember the fun times you and your best friend had kicking the crap out of each other on Street Fighter 2 or slicing hundredths of seconds off times on Outrun or adding another 100 points to the best score on Bomb Jack, but how many ticket-shitting redemption games will you fondly remember in 10 years' time?

Also, Zookeeper is awesome

"...either stop and think or fuck right off" (TheOutrider)

(Guest) 2010-05-07, 02:26 #8

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If an arcade top 10 list does not contain SF in any form then it simply is not a top 10 list.

Street Fighter II CE / Super Turbo
Final Fight
Galaga
Out Run
Chase HQ
Raiden II
Shinobi
Cadillac & Dinosours
Super Pang
River Raid

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