The gaming industry is a competitive animal. As such, if you are a gamer, you’ll play to win. What’s more, players of all ages have a chance to shine. Consequently, when King of the Arcade tells a sombre story of a man that is down on his luck, it makes you sit up and listen. Luckily, though; the plot isn’t too heavy and this arcade-loving title is mainly a lighthearted affair.
Developed and published by Super Villain Games, this is an adventure arcade experience. Moreover, it is witty, competitive, and can be enjoyed solo or with another. Furthermore, it is distinctly old-school and comprises some classic and original games. Therefore, there is something for everyone in this short but amusing endeavour.
King of the Arcade tells a fall from grace.
Everyone loves to see an underdog fulfil their potential. Yet, what isn’t so popular is when you witness their subsequent fall from grace. Sadly for the protagonist in this tale, this is exactly what happens. However, there could be a sting in the tale as the hero could redeem themselves and save the day.
You are Mac McCormick, a gaming prodigy who reaches his peak at the age of 13. Having won the King of the Arcade competition, his life then takes a downward spiral. 20 years on from that life-changing experience, Mac fid himself broke and desperate for work. As such, he enters Castle’s Arcade where he must prove his worth if he is to be employed. But this fateful encounter sets off a chain of events that could have devastating consequences.
80s gaming at its best.
I love retro gaming. Therefore, I felt very comfortable with every brilliant arcade game on offer. The action is divided into 2 modes. There is the story option or a private arcade to enjoy. The latter choice allows you free rein of every game, handheld device, console, or computer. Furthermore, you can enjoy most of the machines with someone else and that was great fun.
The body of the experience, however, is the excellent, albeit short story mode. Here, you must prevent a hostile takeover of Castle’s Arcade by overcoming 7 challengers and defeating a final boss. Each task incorporates a unique genre, and the “tough” and obnoxious characters wonderfully capture each clichéd personality.
Each title is astonishingly 80s in its design and this enhances the arcade theme and the retro style. Moreover, you’ll enjoy racing, air hockey, football, a claw grabber, plenty of shooting, platformers, and a punching bag game. Alongside this, some addictive and simple titles beg to be experienced. Accordingly, this straightforward affair offers plenty of variety during its short playtime.
King of the Arcade is gloriously low-poly.
Low-poly graphics aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. However, when it comes to retro gaming, they are a must. As such, I loved the boxy shapes, the garish colours, and the silly character models. Furthermore, the rough graphics and even rougher edges were fantastic. What was even better was how smoothly each title performed. Yes, they are extremely simple games, but I didn’t experience any issues. However, the same can’t be said for the protagonist’s movement. Disappointingly, he walks like he’s soiled himself, and bumping into the furniture is unfortunately a given. Accordingly, this should have been much better even if it wasn’t game-breaking.
80s gaming requires an upbeat and aggressive soundtrack. Thankfully, there is a fantastic choice of songs to listen to, and a retro jukebox is available to let you pick your favourite track. On top of this, you can “enjoy” some horribly shrill and apt sound effects. Whether it was the distorted sound of a crowd cheering, the tinny noise of bullets, or the crass noise of failure, it was amazing.
Excellent controls
Other than the aforementioned movement issues, the developers got their controls spot on. With responsive inputs, easy-to-understand layouts, and thorough tutorials, you’ll be enjoying this in no time.
Though the story is short, and that was annoying, there is still replay value and longevity. Thanks to the private arcade, the leaderboard, and the multiplayer action, there is plenty to do. What’s more, there are over 40 games to try out, so it is great value for money.
King of the Arcade is a tongue-in-cheek title that will tickle you.
There have been several games that have tried to replicate the arcade experience. Sadly, most of them fail and the action feels shallow and pointless. Luckily, King of the Arcade doesn’t take itself too seriously, and this helps its cause. Moreover, most of the games are great fun and this helps things further still. Yes, I wish the story was longer, but I still had an enjoyable time, nonetheless. Accordingly, I recommend that you buy it here! Your path to redemption has come to the fore. Can you prove your worth in the gaming arena and save the day? Take on each challenger, obtain every high score, and prove that you are the King of the Arcade.
