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The 12 greatest arcade machines of all time

Decades later, we still feel these dinosaurs' footsteps – and they still play perfectly

Words: GamesRadar US
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60 Comments
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davidthebowie  - 5 months 5 days ago 
I would have loved to have seen the Simpsons arcade game on the list as well, but its hard to think of which game to take off. For me personally, it would be virtual fighter, but I can still understand its inclusion.
Suicide  - 5 months 5 days ago 
You gotta love the old ones :)
lukel127  - 5 months 5 days ago 
Where is half life 2?!?!?!?!?

They have one at valve so ha!
Harmon20  - 5 months 5 days ago 
a lot of this stuff is at that 5 story arcade in Downtown Disney. It was like a walk into the past, a past I never got to witness (since I was born in '92...)
garnsr  - 5 months 5 days ago 
Not having Virtua Fighter would obviously be insane. Dragon's Lair has a good historical call to be here, but they also say these games are all playable still.
linkganon  - 5 months 5 days ago 
i know this may not have been in arcades but wasn't wolfenstein the first espionege based game in history? if so, if it was never created, there might have never been a solid snake nor metal gear solid series we have today. also without him, some playstation 1, 2 and 3 players may have never got into the gaming industry.
linkganon  - 5 months 5 days ago 
half life 2 is a series you wouldn't find in an average arcade.
sixboxes  - 5 months 5 days ago 
No 4-player games, like TMNT, or X-Men, or (like someone else mentioned) the Simpsons. No shooters like Operation Wolf. No racing games. No Shinobi. No Bubble Bobble. No Tetris. this list is BULLSHIT.

(ok, it's a good list. but it clearly doesn't pander to my bias well enough!)
GamesRadarEricBratcher  - 5 months 5 days ago 
Man, I feel all you guys who are suggesting additional games. We actually considered The Simpsons and Centipede and TMNT, along with about a zillion others like Tempest, Defender, Berzerk, Star Castle (just because it was the first arcade game I actually kinda rocked at) and a ton of others. Ultimately though,we had to narrow it down, so we went with those that had the best gameplay and longest-lasting impact.
GamesRadarEricBratcher  - 5 months 5 days ago 
By the way, Sixboxes, you may want to read the Gauntlet entry again.
ELpork  - 5 months 5 days ago 
And Tekken 4. First time I ever said "DAMN, Them's some sexy graphic's" in a crowded arcade.
oryandymackie  - 5 months 5 days ago 
What is this, nostalgia week?
435  - 5 months 5 days ago 
I would write a long, involved entry here for Double Dragon and the reason why this list needs to be bumped to 13 for it's inclusion, but I am lazy.

Just to say that the game essentially spearheaded a whole genre that people spent billions on; the side-scrolling beat-em-up. Such games as The Simpsons, TMNT, Sunset Riders, Alien vs. Predator, Final Fight and Streets of Rage owe direct lineage to the title's popularity, and even games such as God of War, Prototype, Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, Crackdown, Dynasty Warriors and the GTA series can be considered 3D derivations of the genre.

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skaface  - 5 months 5 days ago 
Tekken....
bensurfs  - 5 months 5 days ago 
Hows about Space harrier? First use of a hydraulic moving cabinet. That blew me away at the time...
Jordo141  - 5 months 5 days ago 
What the hell? No Metal Slug???
G1drake  - 5 months 5 days ago 
NBA Jam.........just...great
iluvmyDS  - 5 months 4 days ago 
My neighbor has an NBA Jam arcade machine. I agree with all the points on the Gauntlet entry.
MacGyver1138  - 5 months 4 days ago 
I love how far videogames have come, but I do miss the days of the arcade. There was something cool about the community aspect, and being able to play any of the dozens (or more) games you wanted, all in one place. I just wish that my parents hadn't always made me feel like I had wasted money every time I went. *sniff*
TheWebSwinger  - 5 months 4 days ago 
Ahh, yet another article whose impact I can't fully feel, since I was born in 1990. Thanks NostalgiaRadar!

p.s. i lol'd at calling Space Invaders a "bleak sci-fi shooter".
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