The arcade era has waned, but the spirit of the games lives on as more developers return to the arcade-style gameplay of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Franchises like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and streets of anger see new entries featured for nostalgic players and newcomers alike.
While some arcade games see sequels, there are new titles that seek to recreate the essence and spirit of the arcade games that have captured the attention and imagination of so many children. Some of these new games update the classic arcade style with new graphics and controls, while others retain the pixelated aesthetic and movement of the 1990s. Either way, these new games are welcome additions. to an inherited gender.
ten Streets of Rage 4 brings the series back after 25 years
The original side-scrolling beat-em-up was a hit in the 1990s with the successful release of three tracks. Although he was successful, streets of anger didn’t make the leap into the 3D world of video games and took a 25-year hiatus until Dotemu, Lizardcube, and Guard Crush Games came together to make a sequel to the original trilogy.
Streets of rage 4takes place after the events of the third game, still in the 1990s, featuring familiar and fun combat. The game supports four-player local co-op and two-player online co-op. Fans familiar with the series will love the nostalgic trip, and newcomers will get a taste of what the 1990s arcades offered for entertainment.
9 Shout out to Cowabunga with up to six friends in TMNT Shredder’s Revenge
From the same studio that brought back streets of anger, Dotemu, comes another throwback to a classic arcade game. Revenge of the TMNT Shredders is inspired by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1980s cartoon and the handful of games released in the early 1990s by Konami.
Players can choose from four Turtles, Splinter, April, or Casey Jones to play as, each with their own unique stats and specials, as they progress through levels taking on familiar foes like Bebop and Rocksteady, all in road to defeat Shredder. The game supports up to six players, or four on PlayStation 4, online or locally, which is absolute chaos and loads of fun.
8 Guilty Gear Strive is anime fighting at its finest
The seventh main installment, and 25th overall, in the franchise, Guilty Equipment Effort is a beautiful arcade fighter. While most gamers will opt for one-on-one arcade combat, Strive features a story mode that follows the events of Guilty Gear XRD.
The anime’s stylistic characters and background run smoothly and look beautiful as players connect combos and devastate opponents with brutal finishers. Strive retains the core essence of the franchise while updating it with new features and mechanics for a new generation.
seven Horizon Chase Turbo is a throwback to classic racers
Horizon Chase Turbo is a racing game familiar to gamers who have played Exceed Where Virtual Race where the road was only visible far ahead of the car. This was due to graphical limitations, but presented a challenge for players as they had to read and react quickly to obstacles and curves in the road.
Horizon Chase Turbo captures the theme and aesthetics of those old racers with updated graphics and controls for the current generation. The game is a dynamic world tour as it features tracks from 13 countries including South Africa, Chile, and Iceland.
6 Streets of Kamurocho is a free crossover we didn’t know we needed
To celebrate Sega’s 60th anniversary, Ryu Ga Gotoku, developers of thand Yakuza series, teamed up with Empty Clip Studios to create a Yakuza thematic version of Streets of rage 2. Players control the iconic characters of Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima as they navigate the streets of the fictional town of Kamurocho.
The Yakuza the games are a playground of beat-em-up action, and this format translates beautifully to the pixelated 2D style of old arcade games. The combat is simple but fun, although the game doesn’t take too long to beat.
5 Cuphead brings the 1930s to the present
Cuphead is a cooperative run-and-gun shooter that draws its art style from the classic cartoon days of the 1930s. Players control Cuphead and his brother Mugman as they progress through levels defeating enemies, upgrading their abilities and facing difficult bosses.
Cuphead the controls are tight, the aesthetic is beautiful, and the story is a fun adventure with or without a friend. There’s also a DLC pack that adds new levels, bosses, and a third character, Miss Chalice.
4 Nex Machina is a future full of balls and fun
NexMachine is a top-down, twin-stick shoot-em-up from the folks at Housemarque. Players move through levels blasting through hordes of enemies, trying to survive and rescue humans who are trapped. The real fun comes when a large number of enemies invade the player and the bullets start flying.
The crisp graphics and smooth frame rate really bring NexMachine live. With challenging gameplay and many hidden secrets to uncover, NexMachine provides players with plenty of fun to come back to hour after hour.
3 Achieve Top Down Bullet Hell Glory in Sky Force Reloaded
Skyforce Reloaded updates the classic top-down shoot-em-up with a modern design and gorgeous visuals. Players control a ship as they fly upwards across the screen, defeating enemies on their way to challenging boss battles.
Skyforce Reloaded Hellish gameplay draws players in as explosions and vibrant colors dance across the screen. Players can upgrade their ship to tackle higher difficulty levels in single player or local co-op mode.
2 Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions Evolved is a neon dream
Geometry Wars 3: Evolved Dimensions continues the top-to-bottom two-stick shoot-em-up action of the previous one Geometry Wars games, but now includes 3D levels for players to survive. Vibrant neon levels explode with color as players clear enemy shapes in over 100 levels.
Players can equip one of six companion drones, each with a useful skill, or enter Hardcore Mode and drop the drones and super attacks to keep the experience pure and challenging. Geometry Wars 3: Evolved Dimensions also features online co-op and competitive multiplayer modes.
1 Dance and sing the night away with Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix+
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While games like Guitar Hero and Rock band have fallen by the wayside, Japanese arcades are still offering a number of new rhythm games. One of the best and most popular is Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix+.
With over 170 songs, endless customization of Miku and her friends, different visual styles and personalized playlists, DIVA Mega Mix+ project is the epitome of the Miku experience and a great rhythm game, especially when played with an arcade controller.
