PixlBit

Though not the most popular game developer or publisher, Data East has made many cult arcade titles adored by fans years after their creation. In addition to being somewhat of a cult company, Data East was also one of the first Japanese arcade companies that successfully released their games to North American arcades. Data East Arcade Classics is a collection of these works, some of which earn the title of classic and others which don’t even approach it.

Data East Arcade Classics is comprised of 15 arcade games that were created by Data East in the 80's and 90's. Each is an arcade-perfect port with no changes or enhancements. Since many of these games were presented in a 4:3 format, that has been unchanged in the compilation. This results in black borders if players have their Wii set to display in widescreen. While I can accept that no enhancements have been made at all, it's a little disappointing that the developer has not included some kind of art for the borders to make them a bit less dull.

Since many of these games were early arcade titles, they feel very archaic by today's standards. However, there are a solid number of titles that are still enjoyable, especially if you like older arcade games. Burger Time, Bad Dudes, Magic Drop III, and Caveman Ninja are all standout titles in the collection. Unfortunately, similar to many compilation titles, there are a couple of duds in this collection, the most infamous one being Peter Pepper's Ice Cream Factory which is a very disappointing sequel to Burger Time and Lock 'n Chase which is a poor Pac-Man clone. Because a selection of titles in the compilation are mediocre, it will unquestionably limit its appeal.

Similar to many compilation titles on Wii, Data East Arcade Classics spans the gamut in different control options. Players can use just the Wii Remote, Wii Remote & Nunchuk, Classic Controller, or the GameCube controller in any of the games. Since many of the titles are rather simple, all of the control schemes work fine, for the most part. Unsurprisingly, the Classic Controller or the GameCube controller works the best especially for a game like Heavy Barrel, which requires two analog sticks to play properly. If you play Heavy Barrel with the Wii Remote or the Wii Remote & Nunchuk it will feel a little awkward, however, the game is still playable.

While the games are for the most part unchanged, there are a couple of decent additions. All of your high scores are tied to your Mii. For those who like achievements, each game in the compilation features five goals, all of which are achievements that unlock extras in the game, like artwork. Also you have the ability to insert as many coins as you want which means that you can technically beat any game in one sitting without losing or starting over. Save states have also been integrated so that players can save their progress.

Though the compilation features games of inconsistent quality, the true issue with this title is the overabundance of loading times. At times I found starting up a new game very frustrating because I had to sit through at least two or three different load screens. While the loading times are never abundantly long, there are simply too many to deal with just to access a game or a specific feature.

At first glance, Data East Arcade Classics is a good value, featuring 15 games for $20. However, since a number of titles in the compilation will have limited appeal, and some of the titles are of low quality, only fans of classic Data East games or classic arcade games will enjoy this compilation. Those who were raised on modern games will probably find the compilation both archaic and unappealing.