Midway Arcade Treasures

One thing though...If you're a 720 fan, you might be upset to know that the game controls are exactly BACKWARDS from the original arcade version. Takes some time to re-learn.

Other than that, EXCELLENT Game!


A fun trip to the past   June 12, 2004
Cameron Mccurry (Damascus, MD)
For those of us who were fond of spending hard-earned quarters in the arcades back in the 80s, this game is a wonderful treat. For twenty dollars, you get an express trip to memory lane and the chance to play some old favorites without running out of money. But a special bonus is included in the disk. You can learn about the history of each game, pictures of the cabinets or concept art and even watch interview clips with the creators.

I only found two minor flaws with the game. First (And most importantly) the controls can be a challenge the first few times you play. It's not easy translating old arcade console controls to modern game pads but that clears up with enough practice. Secondly, not all of the games had histories, interviews or pictures in the bonus feature. It might sound like a minor sticking point, but it was fascinating to learn the history of these games.

If you are looking for a break from three-dimensional animation, stereo sound and realistic violence prevalent in today's games, invest in this little gem. Older gamers will appreciate seeing old friends again and younger gamers will enjoy playing classics.


Essential for fans of classic games   June 2, 2004
Forest Law (Lakewood, NJ)
I purchased the Playstation 2 with the intention of only picking about 10 or so games for the console - any more than that and I would probably find myself up until the wee hours every night. One game that is highly essential, especially if you only have a small collection, is Midway Arcade Treasures. Anyone who remembers these games back when they appeared in the arcades will be thrilled to have the identical translations of these classic games - and the best part is that there are over 20 titles to choose from, all on a single disc! You can place most of these games next to many of the titles that are being released today, and they compare favorably when it comes to overall fun - these games don't have much of a burn factor and you'll find yourself picking it up quite often. Klax, Root Beer Tapper and Marble Madness are particularly engaging due to their many levels and the challenge that they present. Then there's Defender, Stargate, and the extremely challenging fast-paced Sinistar (perhaps one of the most difficult games of all time) for those who enjoy intergalactic shoot-em-ups. The games that I find myself going back to quite often are Rampage (where you become a mutant creature that goes around demolishing every city in your path) and Smash TV (this is basically the Schwarzenegger film The Running Man taken to the extreme) - and of course I'm only scratching the surface, there's so many other classics here that you'll never find yourself losing interest.

In summary: This game is highly recommended for anyone that frequented arcades back in the '80s, or anyone that might have overlooked what is now considered the golden era of video games. Take a look at Amazon's price for Midway Arcade Treasures - with the amount of time that you'll spend playing it, there's no way that you'll be disappointed.