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Elevator Action Review Rewind

Tactical Espionage Action

“Elevator” and “action” aren’t words that typically belong in the same sentence. But lo and behold, Taito released an arcade game in 1983 that would pair a mundane function with the trappings of a spy thriller in the game Elevator Action. You play the role of a secret agent that finds himself at the top of everyone’s hit list. Avoiding certain death requires cunning, skill, and riding a lot of elevators. It made a big enough impression to become a cult classic that people remembered fondly.

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Renegade Review Rewind

The Street Fighter

Sometime in May 1986, Japanese arcades saw the release of a brawler called Nekketsu Koha Kunio-kun (roughly meaning Hot-Blooded Tough Guy Kunio in English). It stars Kunio- a miscreant high schooler fighting for a classmate being picked on by rival gangs. The game is notable for being the first brawler to feature an urban setting and introduced many trademarks common to the genre- a tough guy protagonist, themes of street justice, generic thugs, female villains, and so on. The game underwent significant revisions for its Western release and subsequent NES port, including a name change to Renegade and the story wholly disconnected from its source material.

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Galaxian Review Rewind

In space, it's always cicada season.

If you live anywhere in the northeastern United States like me, your space is likely being invaded by the periodical cicada brood this time of year. After experiencing the terror of having one smack me in the eye the other day, I realized that these critters share some interesting commonalities with the insects in the arcade classic Galaxian. They’re red-eyed, noisy in groups, and will eagerly dive-bomb you as if “Ride of the Valkyries” were blasting in the background. If you told me cicadas were the inspiration behind this game, I’d totally believe you.

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Mechanical Roots: Ice Cold Beer

Errbody inna arcade get tipsy!

This is a video game site, and you are a video game fan, but sometimes it’s important to look at games that have no video at all. These games appeal to players for the same reasons we pump thousands of dollars into our hobby and can give us great insight into some fundamentals of the latest modern console releases.  Mechanical games are still around, mainly spitting out tickets at Chuck E. Cheese’s, but I want to explore some classics too.  Whenever possible I plan to look at some of these games and discuss how they operate, why they’re fun, and if there’s a way to simulate playing them without too much trouble. 

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Bust-a-Move Universe Review

Bust-A-Move on over to the Snood website to get a better game.

Although the Bust-A-Move series has been around for seventeen years, I had never played a single game until yesterday, with the release of Bust-A-Move Universe. After spending some quality time with the game I walked away extremely underwhelmed, and was left sorely missing a game I had wasted plenty of time with back in the day when I should’ve been studying: Snood.

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Bust-A-Move Universe - Trailer

The trailer for Bust-A-Move Universe, available for the Nintendo 3DS.

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Bust-a-Move Universe Preview

The formula remains the same, except for some small enhancements and 3D effects.

Taito and Square Enix have found yet another home for their Bust-a-Move (Puzzle Bobble) series in the 3DS. While the gameplay will remain the same, players will have access to the game's implementation of auto-stereoscopic 3D.

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Space Invaders Infinity Gene Review

BOOMSPLOSION.

1978. When I began a new game in Space Invaders Infinity Gene, my score ranking was 1978. Coincidence? Hardly. 1978 is the year Space Invaders, by Taito, originally made its way into arcades, bars, and any other locations that could store a classic arcade title. Space Invaders Infinity Gene is based upon the evolution of a genre first solidified in 1978, and any chance the opportunity presents itself, the game makes sure its player knows this.

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Space Invaders Invades the Third Dimension

See the switch from simple two-dimensional, classic Space Invaders gameplay to the minimalist third dimension in this launch trailer for Space Invaders Infinity Gene on XBLA and PSN.

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Qix++ Review

The groundwork is laid for an excellent modern day upgrade, but the content is a bit too thin to make it anything special.

Qix (pronounced 'kicks') is a classic title that first made its appearance many years ago in arcades across the world. The addicting gameplay eventually allowed the title to make its way to a variety of other systems, while encouraging a number of sequels and imitators. Given the title's past popularity, Square Enix and Taito have decided to update the title for Xbox Live Arcade.

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