Friday Top 5 - Old School Arcade Machine Games

[flammableBen]

I like Geeky things.

1. Asteroids (1979)
Almost flawless in it's smooth loveliness.

2. Tempest (1980)
Pure adrenaline hectic madness.

3. Bubble Bobble (1986)
Super joys of strange sweety bonuses. plus proper multiplayer. plus dragons. plus bubbles. plus "Grab the fucking umbrella".

4. Rainbow Islands (1987)
The amount of depth in this if you get good at it is ridiculous. I'm not very good. Still love it though.

5. Bomb Jack (1984)
Simple yet fun. Has a beepy version of Lady Madonna as it's soundtrack if I'm remembering right.

All been ported with various degrees of goodness to most 8 and 16 bit machines, but it's worth downloading mame and playing the proper original versions without the worry of running out of coins. Good times.

Worthy mentions go to:
Cameltry (1989) - Dizzy inducing fun as you spin an entire maze to try and guide a marble through it
Strider (1989) - Sexy side-scrolling action platforming
Frogger (1981) - Bizarrely addictive despite it's simplicity
Donkey Kong (1981) - Spawned a few things this one, Jumpman got better at jumping when he changed his name;

And in the less oldschooliness, any of the Street fighters (well not the original it's shit). Particularly Street Fighter Alpha 3, and whatever the last Street Fighter II was (Super *** Turbo?). The proper arcade versions are the bestest.

You can probably tell I'm a bit bored. I'm not sure I'll get anybody else giving a top 5. Oh well.

[herthab]

You fail to mention the greatest of all old school arcade games, Space Invaders.

I remember when our local cafe got the first Space Invaders machine, before then it was all about pinball.

Ground breaking................

[Nomoreheroes]

Pac Man

NMH

[THE FLASH]

Phoenix - got it on my psp now..........my local had it on one of those coffee table machines.

Donkey Kong - mid 80s - very good!

Galaga - was charged with squatting at a machine in Weston.......circa 82........

Dont even get me started on Spectrum games!!!

[flammableBen]

You fail to mention the greatest of all old school arcade games, Space Invaders.

I remember when our local cafe got the first Space Invaders machine, before then it was all about pinball.

Ground breaking................

I nearly put in Space Invaders, but it hasn't aged very well. Stuff like Galaxian and Galaga are more fun. I did forget about Pac Man, wouldn't be in my top 5 though.

[Jamiesfuturewife]

chucky egg!

[THE FLASH]

Manic Miner - Knight Lore - Track n Field............

[Batch]

These are my personal favourites rather than ranked on technical merit, and in no particular order..

1. Space invaders - first game I played, 10p a go at "Solo" supermarket in Cirencester

2. Missile Command - second game I played, also 10p a go at "Solo", stuck with this for quite some time.

3. Pac Man. Another "Solo" game. I loved that, then they brought out a cartoon on TV. A game spawning a cartoon, whatever next a hollywood blockbuster?!

4. Outrun. I like driving in my car......

5. Breakout.  A holiday in blackpool, the lights, the funfair, getting stuck in a hotel lift, playing berakout on the hotel arcade game.

[Don Rogers Shop]

Grow up the lot of you, there are wars and black people starving and you want to discuss fuckin bubble bobble.

[Arriba]

in no order some old favs of mine.
toki,outrun,hard driving,the table style space invaders,defender,final lap,street fighter,

[THE FLASH]

If i was that bothered about that i would go to the Sudan..........but i already have a ticket for the MK!!

[A Gent Orange]

Xybots. Two-player co-op 3D maze shooter loved by no-one except me and my mate. Imagine a slow Space Harrier set in identical blank corridors but with jarring 90 degree turns.

And Pang. Pang was great. Again co-op but this time a puzzler.

[Panda Paws]

1. Space invaders - first game I played, 10p a go at "Solo" supermarket in Cirencester

I used to work at Solo ... but only when it was Gateway ... for about all of £3 an hour. Student days!

[Dazzza]

In no order

- Tank Attack - Where you peered into the scope and drove about
- Gauntlet - 4 Player Mayhem
- Double Dragon - 2 Player Mayhem
- Space Invaders - Classic
- Outrun

What was the name of one of the 1st moving seated games where you played a blond haired chap who flew about shooting at dragon and bean shaped things?  He used to make a uggggghhhhh noise when you lost a life. 

Got to also mention Star Wars (the original) as worthy of a shout as well.

[Batch]

I used to work at Solo ... but only when it was Gateway ... for about all of £3 an hour. Student days!

As did I (when it was Gateway), on the dairy bit (not behind the meat counter), Weds Thurs and Friday evening. Then I defected to Tesco before retiring from retail to attend Uni.