Smash TV (XBLA, 2005)

Smash TV

Developed by Midway/Digital Eclipse

Published by Midway

Released for XBLA (11/24/2005)

Also on Arcade

 

Around a year after Xbox Live Arcade launched, Midway dropped a bunch of arcade classics as download-only titles onto the service and Smash TV was one such title. An arcade fondly remembered by those who played it back in the day, Smash TV is a twin-stick shooter with a game show theme heavily inspired by the Running Man. We'll go into a brief overview of the game to see if it's still worth playing all these years later... 

Smash TV is the textbook definition of an arcade quarter muncher, meaning that the game is excessively difficult and designed to empty out all of the quarters from your pockets. Death will come quick and frequently in Smash TV as you are constantly being swarmed from enemies in all directions. There are only 3 levels, but there are many screens within each. You'll get to choose your own path as you go, making for some nice replay value should you decide to come back for more. Each room is a screen where you'll have to fend off an onslaught of enemies while powerups and bonus prizes appear at random during the action. There's a nice array of weaponry to find here, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.

Super Contra (XBLA, 2007)

Super Contra
Developed by Konami/Backbone Entertainment
Published by Konami
Released for XBLA (7/25/2007)
Also on Arcade/Amiga/NES/PC
Backwards Compatible on Xbox One

Super Contra was released in arcades by Konami in 1988 and was the sequel to the popular Contra (1987). Super Contra takes the familiar run & gun formula and pumps up the excitement with 5 action-packed new levels and support for up to 2 players. Load up your firearms and prepare to shoot everything in sight as "the quest for freedom continues!" The XBLA port of Super Contra was released in late July 2007, around 7 months after the original was put up for download.

There are 5 levels in Super Contra and while the game is a bit shorter than Contra, the pacing is much quicker and the action more frenetic. The corridor sections that broke up the 2D platforming in the first game are gone, replaced with the new overhead shooter segments which play a bit like Capcom's Commando (1985). The game alternates between stage types, featuring a total of 3 side-scroller and 2 overhead-shooter stages. Regardless of how you feel about the overhead stages, the 3 side-scroller stages are top-notch and the bosses are menacing. The overhead levels can be fun once you become familiar with the layouts, but enemies love to quickly appear from the sides of the screen to wipe you out sometimes resulting in some cheap deaths. The biggest hurdle to clearing this game in a single credit are definitely going to be these overhead stages.

Konami Classics Vol. 1 (Xbox 360, 2009)

Konami Classics Vol. 1
Ports Developed by Digital Eclipse
Published by Konami
Released for Xbox 360 (12/15/2009)
Backwards Compatible on Xbox One

It wasn't very often you'd see games released for Xbox Live Arcade receive a retail-disc release, so Konami Classics Vol. 1 is worth a look for fans of physical media as it packs 3 of Konami's XBLA titles into one package. Released simultaneously with a second volume in mid-December 2019, this disc features Frogger, Super Contra and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. It's definitely an odd grouping, but each are classics in their own respect.

Each of these games have already been reviewed individually on this site, so be sure to check them out here at these links:

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (XBLA, 2007)
Frogger (XBLA, 2006)
Super Contra (XBLA, 2007)

Rush'n Attack (XBLA, 2007)

Rush'n Attack
Developed by Konami/Backbone Entertainment
Published by Konami
Released for XBLA (5/23/2007)
Also on Arcade/C64/CPC/MSX/NES/PC/ZX81

Rush'n Attack, also known as Green Beret, was originally developed by Konami and released to arcades in 1985 and is one of the earliest examples of a 2D side-scrolling run & gun action game. It may even be the first, but it's hard to make such an assumption when there's such a wide number of forgotten and unknown games out there. This XBLA port was handled by Backbone Entertainment, the same team that responsible for Konami's other classic titles that arrived on the service.

Rush'n Attack has you take control of a spec-ops solder who has been sent into enemy territory. Your mission is to infiltrate the hostile grounds, locate and rescue your fellow soldiers who are being held captive. Armed with only your combat knife, you'll have to stab or avoid oncoming enemies. A single hit from an enemy or a projectile spells instant death, at which point you'll be sent back to a checkpoint to try again until you run out of lives.

Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection (XBLA, 2011)

Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection
Developed by Midway/Other Ocean Interactive
Published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Released for Xbox Live Arcade (8/2011)
Also on PC/PS3

Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection (why not Arkade) was released in 2011 and boasted to have the original arcade versions of the first three entries in the series. Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 was previously released on XBLA but had since been de-listed, so it was nice to see that game make a return in some form. The games all featured support for both local and online versus battles. Let's start off with a brief look at each game:

The original Mortal Kombat game came out way back in 1992. I remember thinking this game looked pretty sweet all those years ago, but looking at it in modern times the first entry in the series really hasn't aged all that well. While the game does seem pretty accurate to the arcade version, the move-sets are quite limited and the characters all play alike except for a few special moves. There's only seven fighters to choose from, and while they are a colorful crew it just feels a bit lacking. Thanks to nostalgia, I'll personally always be able to play and enjoy the original Mortal Kombat but its simplicity will probably bore most of those who didn't grow up with it.

Mortal Kombat II hit arcades in 1993, just one year after the first title. Midway went all-out on this sequel and added in a bunch of new characters, fatalities and secrets. The new characters were all welcome additions and everything about the gameplay just felt better the second time around. There were more moves, better graphics and nastier gore. In my opinion, the second game was always the best in the series when it came to the original arcade Mortal Kombat games and the version included here is a solid port of the arcade.

Mortal Kombat 3 (for some reason they didn't use roman numerals this time) would release in 1995 and would receive an update that same year, titled Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. The Ultimate version of the game added in some fan-favorites and is considered by many to be the best version of MK3. The version included in the XBLA trilogy doesn't feel like it was ported from the original arcade code, feeling more like one of the console ports of the time. The character sprites look low-resolution and the colors feel a bit washed out. The game looks quite a bit worse than the previous two and I'm sure that wasn't the case with the arcade version of this game. Personally I was never a big fan of the third game but if it was your favorite beware this is no perfect port. It's still totally playable if you're willing to use the goofy run button and memorize lengthy combo chains.

The games all feature support for both local and online versus competition. While it can be tough to find a random lobby, if you have a friend with the game on Xbox Live and are able to play it the netcode is above average. You'll want to play against a friend for maximum enjoyment as the computer AI in all three games can be downright brutal and cheap. The options and settings are bare minimum but it does at least have a graphics filters and screen-size options. While definitely not a perfect compilation, Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection is still a nice blast of nostalgia for those '90's folks that remember these games. I would have liked to have seen the inclusion of Mortal Kombat 4, which was the last MK title to release as a proper arcade, but for some reason they never bother (likely due to emulating the 3D hardware of the time). The standard Xbox controller isn't the best for these types of games, which are definitely best experienced with an arcade joystick.

Final Verdict: If you're a fan of the original trilogy of Mortal Kombat games, you will enjoy Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection. Nostalgia member-berries galore with this one.

Related Links:
Buy Mortal Kombat Arcade - Xbox Marketplace
Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment - Official Site 
Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection - Metacritic
Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection - GameFAQs
Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection Achievement Guide - Xbox Achievements
Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection - True Achievements

Asteroids & Deluxe (XBLA, 2007)

Asteroids & Deluxe
Developed by Stainless Games
Published by Atari SA
Backwards Compatible on Xbox One

Asteroids was originally released in arcades way back in 1979, so with this in mind it's understandable that the gameplay is incredibly simple. You control a little ship that you can rotate using the stick and movement is initiated with a throttle button. You also have a button to fire and a "hyper space" button that will randomly teleport your ship to another spot on the screen. Using hyper space is risky as you could teleport in right on top of an asteroid. The goal of the game is to clear each screen of asteroids, which break down into smaller chunks each time you shoot them. Occasionally a UFO will appear on the screen and will try to eliminate you with projectiles which when shot down will net you a nice point bonus. Shooting anything in Asteroids gives you points and at every 10,000 points you'll receive an extra ship. You start off with three ships and once you lose those, it's game over and you start from zero again (this is before games offered continues remember). The game offers a two-player mode, but this is only alternating and not simultaneous play.

Asteroids was an absolute smash success in the arcades in its time and really helped solidify the Atari brand. While the game is about as old as they come, the gameplay is timeless and its simplicity makes it easy to enjoy in quick bursts by anybody really. One thing that never transfers to any home port is the brightness of the arcades vector monitor display. You really have to experience it firsthand but the monitors were really something else on these vector arcade games, featuring an image that shines so brightly it almost feels like its burning into your retinas.

Asteroids Deluxe was originally released in arcades in 1981. It's very similar to the original but with a few new features to justify the "deluxe" in the title. You now have a shield button which can save you in a pinch but wears out with extended use. In addition to the saucers from the original title, there are now killer satellites that break apart when shot and come flying at your ship like a kamikaze. It's a decent sequel that definitely ramps up the challenge level if the first one wasn't hard enough for you. Again, the game was displayed on a vector monitor on the original dedicated arcade machines, and this of course never transfers over to home ports.

The Xbox 360 port combines both Asteroids and Asteroids Deluxe into one package. Each game can be played in their original arcade form or the "evolved" version with new graphics but familiar gameplay. Both the arcade and evolved modes also offer the "throttle monkey mode" which ramps up the difficulty and speed of the game if you want an extreme challenge. Unfortunately, in evolved mode the explosions that occur when the asteroids are shot is way too flashy, making it hard to see the trajectory of the smaller rocks. This unwelcome effect definitely has an impact on the gameplay, and for this reason I found the original arcade versions much more enjoyable on both iterations of the game. If you just want a nice home port of Asteroids I'd recommend this game, just beware that the "evolved" versions aren't all that great. If you're just looking for easy achievements stay away from this one, as only the most dedicated Atari fans will likely unlock the full set.

Final Verdict: The arcade ports of both Asteroids & Deluxe games are solid, though the "evolved" versions feel like more of a downgrade than anything else. Worth checking out if you dig the original or just want some old-school arcade action.

Related Links:
Buy Asteroids & Deluxe - Xbox Marketplace
Asteroids & Deluxe - GameFAQs
Asteroids & Deluxe - True Achievements
Asteroids & Deluxe Achievement Guide - Xbox Achievements

Time Pilot (XBLA, 2006)

Time Pilot
Ported by Digital Eclipse
Original Game by Konami
Published by Konami
Released for Xbox Live Arcade (8/2006)
Also on Arcade/Atari 2600/Commodore 64/Colecovision/MSX/PlayStation 2/Windows Mobile

Time Pilot, ported to the Xbox 360 courtesy of Digital Eclipse, was originally released in arcades back in 1982. In the game you fly a jet and are able to rotate in any direction, sort of like Asteroids except the screen scrolls in all directions and you have a sprawling sky you can explore. The game has an awesome premise, where each level features enemies from a different time period as pilot your futuristic time-travelling jet fighter. The first stage will have you in 1910, fighting biplanes and zeppelins. Stage two in 1940 features monoplanes that are a bit tougher than what you've fought prior. You'll then move on to 1970 where you'll face helicopters, 1983 with super jets and for the grand finale you'll face off against flying saucers in 2001! Such an awesome concept for a shooter and it's a shame Konami didn't continue to create entries in this series in later years.

Completion of each stage is accomplished by eliminating a certain number of hostiles, indicated by a bar on your screen. Once you've reached the designated kill count the boss will show up, which varies by each stage. Along the way there will be parachuting pilots you can rescue that will grant hefty point bonuses and will help towards earning an extra ship. The controls are a bit awkward at first with Time Pilot and you'll have to spend some time familiarizing yourself with the way you jet fighter turns. Once you get a feel for the controls the game is a blast to play, and really feels quite a bit ahead of the curve in regards to arcade shooters of the early '80's.

The emulation of the arcade port feels spot-on in graphics, sound and control. Like Digital Eclipses' other Konami arcade ports on XBLA the game offers enhanced graphics and sound options. The graphics and sound don't quite have the charm of the original, but it's definitely cool to see an attempt to update this often overlooked classic. The game also offers support for play over Xbox Live, but you'll need to coordinate a session as the game is quite old and nobody is going to be sitting around waiting in a lobby on this one. Time Pilot is still good fun and well worth checking out if you're interested in the early years of the arcade shooter genre. It would have been nice of Konami had they included Time Pilot '84 (the arcade sequel), or released it separately as its own title as it was good fun too.

Final Verdict: Time Pilot is a solid port of an arcade classic. A simple and fun overhead 2D shooter that often gets lost in the sea of classics from the '80's.

Related Links:
Buy Time Pilot - Xbox Marketplace
Konami - Official Site
Digital Eclipse - Official Site
Time Pilot - Metacritic
Time Pilot - GameFAQs
Time Pilot Achievement Guide - Xbox Achievements
Time Pilot - True Achievements

Frogger (XBLA, 2006)

Frogger
Developed by Konami/Digital Eclipse
Published by Konami
Released for Xbox Live Arcade (July 2006)
Also on Arcade/Atari 2600/Atari 5200/Atari 8-Bit/Apple II/BBC Micro/Commodore 64/Tandy CC/Colecovision/Game Gear/Intellivision/Mobile Devices/MSX/Odyssey 2/PC/TI-99/Tomy Tutor/VIC-20/Spectrum ZX
Backwards Compatible with Xbox One

Frogger is a video game classic, originally released in arcades back in October 1981, and has since been ported to a good majority of gaming systems over the years. In case you somehow haven't heard of this title, the object is to guide your frog across the screen while dodging vehicles on the street and then navigating across the river, hopping across the backs of turtles and logs. At the top of the screen are five spots that each need to be filled with a frog. When your frog enters one of the homes at the top, you will respawn at the bottom of the screen and continue until all five homes are occupied or you lose all of your lives. Once all five spots have been filled, you move on to the next stage. The game gets progressively more difficult until you inevitably lose all of your frogs and reach the game over screen. It's an incredibly simple premise that anyone should be able to pick up and play within seconds, yet the game possesses that old-school arcade challenge level that will beat you down but keep you coming back for another try.

The Xbox 360 port of Frogger was handled by Digital Eclipse and the emulation feels true to the arcade original. There isn't a whole lot of bonus stuff here, but you do have the option to switch between the original or enhanced graphics. The enhanced graphics aren't going to blow anybody away but they are a nice alternative to the simple arcade graphics. The game allows for two-players to play simultaneously via split-screen and see who can get the farthest, with options for local play or over Xbox Live. You'll have to coordinate with somebody you know that has the game as I've never been able to find anybody playing this one (which is to be expected on old XBLA titles). The game also has leaderboards so you can see how you stack up against other 360 players around the world or just your friends. While the XBLA version of Frogger is a rather basic port, this classic has aged well over the years and this is a solid version of the game. In addition to being sold on the XBLA store, you can also pick up a physical copy of this thanks to Konami Classics Volume 1, which also features Super Contra and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

Final Verdict: Frogger is an easy title to recommend if you're in the mood for some simple old-school arcade fun!

Purchase Links:
Buy Frogger - Microsoft Store
Search Konami Classics Vol. 1 - eBay

Related Links:
Konami Classics Vol. 1 - Xbox Overview
Konami - Official Site 
Digital Eclipse - Official Site
Frogger - Metacritic
Frogger - GameFAQs
Frogger Achievement Guide - Xbox Achievements
Frogger - True Achievements

Soul Calibur II HD Online (XBLA, 2013)

Soul Calibur II HD Online
Developed by Project Soul
Released by Namco Bandai Games
Released for XBLA (11/2013)
Also on Arcade/GameCube/PS2/PS3/Xbox
Backwards Compatible with Xbox One

As somebody who used to frequently play the arcade and PS2 versions of Soul Calibur II back in the day, I can safely say that this is indeed a very solid port of a Namco classic. If you're unfamiliar with the gameplay, Soul Calibur is a one-on-one versus fighter where every character has a different weapon.This is an update of the console port, so you get the wealth of extras that were included with that version. In addition to the standard arcade, versus (local or online), time attack and survival modes, you get the robust weapon master mode.

 In weapon master mode, you fight across a map through various challenges unlocking different weapons, new characters, costumes, new game modes and other various features like artwork as you go., adding a ton of replay value to the single player experience. The HD update to the graphics looks great and it has definitely aged alot more gracefully than many other titles from this era. Namco has also included online support, which seemed to function quite well in the couple instances I was able to find a match. Since the game has been out for years now, it's no surprise to find the online community a bit dead. As an added bonus you get Spawn (from Image Comics) who was exclusive to the Xbox home port back in the day and Heihachi (Tekken) who was on the PS2 version, but sadly no Link (for obvious reasons) who will remain a GameCube exclusive..

Final Verdict: If you were a fan of the original game or a fan of fighting games in general, I'd definitely recommend Soul Calibur II HD Online. The two-player versus modes are an absolute blast.

Related Links:
Buy Soul Calibur II HD Online - Microsoft Store
Namco Bandai Games - Official Site
Fighters - Xbox Overview
Soul Calibur II HD Online - Metacritic
Soul Calibur II HD Online - GameFAQs
Soul Calibur II HD Online Achievement Guide - Xbox Achievements
Soul Calibur II HD Online - True Achievements 

Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting (XBLA, 2006)

Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting
Developed by Capcom/Sensory Sweep
Published by Capcom
Released for Xbox Live Arcade (8/2006)
Also on Arcade

As of this writing, Capcom has long since released Super Street Fighter II HD Remix, which remedies several of the things I'll be complaining about it this review, but that's another game for another review. Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting, released August 2006, is a solid port of the arcade game, but I'm perplexed by the "now loading" screen that pops up before each battle. A minor complaint, I know, but it would appear Capcom is using the port of Street Fighter II that came out on the original PlayStation (they've done this before in their various Capcom Classics releases). While the gameplay and graphics look pretty much arcade-perfect, there's really no reason at all this game should have loading times on the Xbox 360 or the PS3.

A second complaint stems from the lack of options. The options menu is quite bare as there's no round select and very few video settings. The netcode for the online vs mode seems pretty decent, but it can be quite difficult to find an opponent online playing this version due to the age of the game, but there's always local vs. So, it's a very basic port of the 90's fighting game giant that does at least remain quite faithful to its arcade counterpart, but how well this game has aged will depend on whether or not you played it back in the day when it was hot. I also find it worth noting that when using the in-game menu to return to the dashboard the game would freeze my system. If I exited via the guide I could get around this issue but there were several times I forgot and froze my system up. I couldn't seem to find anything about anyone else having this issue so maybe it's just my 360.

Final Verdict: If you want a more robust game with more features plus updated graphics, you may want to check out the later released Super Street Fighter II HD Remix. If you prefer to play the game as it was in 1992 arcades, Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting takes you back to the past on the 360.

Related Links:
Buy Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting - Xbox Marketplace
Fighters - Xbox Overview
Capcom - Official Site
Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting - Metacritic
Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting -GameFAQs
Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting Achievement Guide - Xbox Achievements
Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting - True Achievements

R-Type Dimensions (XBLA, 2009)

R-Type Dimensions
Developed by Tozai Games
Published by Southend Interactive
Released for Xbox Live Arcade (9/2009)
Also on PC/PS3/PS4/Switch
Backwards Compatible with Xbox One

What a treat this is for old-school shmup fans! R-Type Dimensions features arcade perfect ports of R-Type and R-Type II. The graphics have been uprgaded for HD, but you can switch to the original 2D graphics at anytime by hitting the right bumper. The R-Type games are classics and have always had their own feel compared to any other shmup of the era. The level design is challenging but not unfair. Some of the boss battles, particularly in the second game, are very difficult. In order to master this game or even clear it in its classic arcade form will require razor-sharp reflexes and monstrous memorization.

R-Type Dimensions also includes the new 'infinite mode' for people that don't like getting a game over and restarting after losing their ships. This way anybody will be able to see both games through to their completion, which can be rather difficult without infinite lives. Veterans will likely hate this mode but you are also able to select classic mode, so you don't have to use it if you don't want to. I really love the chunky, detailed sprites and everything looks great in widescreen (I normally play with the original 2D artwork, but the update is nice too!). They did a great job porting these classics over to Xbox Live Arcade where it remained an exclusive for over 4 years before finally releasing on Playstation Network. Shmup fans won't want to miss this one!

Final Verdict: If you're a fan of the original arcade games or you love shoot-em-ups, definitely give R-Type Dimensions one a go. Also for the gamer that likes a serious challenge.

Related Links:
Buy R-Type Dimensions - Xbox Marketplace
Shmups - Xbox Overview
Tozai Games - Official Site
R-Type Dimensions - Metacritic
R-Type Dimensions - GameFAQs
R-Type Dimensions Achievement Guide - Xbox Achievements
R-Type Dimensions - True Achievements

ArcadeCraft (XBLIG, 2013)

ArcadeCraft
Developed by Firebase Industries
Released for Xbox Live Indie Games (1/2013)>
Also on Android/iOS/PC

ArcadeCraft is a personal favorite from the Indie Games section on Xbox Live. In this title you manage an arcade from the start of 1980, beginning with an empty storefront and you'll progress through the years filling up your arcade as you go. The game sold well (by XBLIG standards) and received excellent support from the developers in the form of content update patches, though in the end there were some unfulfilled promises that kept the game from reaching its full potential.

You'll start off choosing a name for your arcade and will be presented with some choices of arcade games to purchase over time as they are released. Once you purchase a game, you must designate a spot on the floor where you'd like to place it. Each arcade game has a few options, allowing you to adjust price and difficulty settings, each will have an effect on the games earnings. Every so often you'll have to repair your games, which varies in cost depending on the issue with the game.

ArcadeCraft starts off pretty slow initially, when you only have a handful of games for the first few months, but once you start getting a nice selection of machines the fun really picks up. Each month will bring new games out that you can purchase, most of them being inspired by real arcade hits of the era. Veterans of the arcade era should have no problem telling which games these titles were originally inspired by. The cabinets each feature a unique image on the monitor and marquee. It would have been nice if the monitors had some animation, but unfortunately the images on the screens are static. In addition to your standard upright arcade machines, there are also sit-down driving games and pinball machines. During the summer-time you'll have the option to import a Japanese sit-down game. There's also the soda machine and jukebox you can place for some additional revenue. The patrons in your arcade are represented by avatars of people from your Xbox Live friends list. You can't interact with the guests except when one occasionally rages and starts beating up a machine. If you don't select them and remove them in a timely manner, they will beat up your arcades until they require maintenance.

The key to profitable arcade in ArcadeCraft is to keep your popularity high. More popularity means more customers, which of course means more money. There's a five-star rating system at the top of the screen that displays your current popularity and it will adjust in real-time as you manipulate your arcade. The key to getting your popularity up at the start of the game is to have a nice variety of different genres. Each game has its own popularity rating, which will naturally decrease over time but there are other factors that will impact it. When a game receives a port to a home console, the popularity of that machine will decrease significantly. Placing games with sequels next to each other will grant them a popularity boost, helping you breath some life into those older games. There's quite a bit of depth to the popularity ratings and keeping an eye on these will help your overall arcade rating.

In addition to purchasing arcade games, you can also do some minor customizing to your arcade. You can change the color of the floors, walls and pillars. There's also an option to add neon lighting which looks nice and also gives you a nice boost to your popularity. The popularity system works well for the most part, but in the later years once you start raking in the big bucks you won't really have to pay any attention to it. In 1983, the video game crash occurs and the highest popularity you can reach for that year is only 3 stars.

ArcadeCraft is a lot of fun until you reach the in-game year of 1987. Once you reach 1987, new games are no longer released. While you are still allowed to manage your arcade beyond this time, your arcade's popularity is doomed in the coming years due to the fact you can't add new games. I had a great time with the game up until new machines were released, but unfortunately there's just not much incentive to keep playing past this year, leaving the game feeling a bit unfinished once you reach this point. The developer delivered 3 content updates, addressing various issues and adding in some new content. There was a 4th update that was promised, which would allow you to relocate to a larger building where you'd be able to house more machines, but the developer struggled to optimize performance with more games on the screen so this update was ultimately never finished. I'd always hoped maybe the developer would have followed up with future updates on the PC version or maybe even the Xbox One, but unfortunately no such thing has happened at the time of this writing.

ArcadeCraft was originally released for XBLIG in January 2013. The game would later receive a port to PC the following year and would eventually even see a release for both Android and iOS devices. The developer stated on their Twitter page that a Switch port was possible and hosted a survey to gauge interest. The survey results stated that people were definitely interested in the port. This post was back in December 2017 and there hasn't been any announcement from the developer since, so unfortunately it seems like this could possibly be the end of the road for ArcadeCraft.

Part of what I love about ArcadeCraft is the potential in the concept. While what's here is fun while it lasts, the game feels a bit unfinished once you get past 1987. Ideally, the game would have continued on into the '90s since that was a huge era for arcades as well. The fighting game boom would have been awesome to have in here and they could have had an option where you could host local tournaments. The ability to expand the floor to hold more machines or relocate to a new facility would have really helped extend the game's length. There could even be an option to turn your arcade into a franchise, allowing you to expand out to other markets. Understandably many of these ideas are just too big for an XBLIG title, but there's definitely a good core here that sparks the imagination.

This type of game is definitely not for everybody, as the gameplay mostly consists of digging through menus and moving your machine arrangement around. If you dig management simulations such as the SimCity or Tropico games, you may enjoy ArcadeCraft, though be aware it is way more casual than those titles. I have a lot of nostalgia for the arcade era of the 80's and 90's so I was instantly interested in this one as soon as it released. My complaints are that content update 4 never came out and that there's just not much to do after you reach year 1987. ArcadeCraft is lots of fun until you reach the late 80's, then there's really nothing to do but start over again and try to maximize your profits.

Final Verdict: ArcadeCraft is an excellent management-strategy sim game, though a bit short and casual. If the concept of owning your own arcade sounds cool then I'd recommend checking it out.

Related Links:
ArcadeCraft - Steam
ArcadeCraft - GameFAQs 
Firebase Industries - Twitter