Share Your Favorite, Lesser-known Arcade Gems

mediamogul

'Moonwalker' is one of the titles I make double sure is running on any emulation setup I have. It's a guilty pleasure due to it's main hero, but the game plays very well and the music adaptations are top notch. I can never get 'Smooth Criminal' out of my head for days after playing.

AlexMurphy

@mediamogul I understand MJ is out of favour... That has nothing to do with the game. It's a thoroughly enjoyable and infinitely playable game and more fun than it needs to be! And the music is great. I still snicker when he rescues the kids...

mediamogul

@AlexMurphy said in Share Your Favorite, Lesser-known Arcade Gems:

I still snicker when he rescues the kids...

Ha! It is pretty funny. It's a rare game that can be enjoyed both ironically and as a genuinely satisfying gaming experience.

caver01

@AlexMurphy Moonwalker definitely qualifies! Thanks for the reminder. I have never played it, but I see it mentioned occasionally.

AlexMurphy

I'll also mention Cabal and the follow-up Blood Bros.. Both simple one screen "wreck-em-alls` but so much fun... and essentially the same game from TAD.

pjft

@Capeman what emulator do you use for Ninja Baseball Batman? Does it run full speed for you?

I'll vote for Midnight Resistance, as I always had loads of fun with it in spite of being perceived as a cheap Contra knock-off. The soundtrack is great though. Play it on MAME 2010, though, 2003 messes up the audio.

Rodland and Tumble Pop are nice bubble bobble type games, as well as Snow Bros, which is slightly more famous than these two.

It'd be great if you all mention which emulators you use for these games, for reference:)

AlexMurphy

@pjft Everything I have posted is from 0.78

pjft

@AlexMurphy thanks. I was under the impression that Moonwalker didn't run well on 2003. I'll definitely try it then!

Also love Cabal, but either play the bootleg version on MAME 2003 or the standard joystick version on FBA, as the standard ROM on 2003 does not allow you to perform the much needed roll manoeuvres using the joystick and buttons, as the original game used a trackball and it required one to quickly spin it to the bottom left/right to roll.

AlexMurphy

@pjft Trackball? Never seen that version. In ONE of the arcades I used to hang about in it was just a 4 way js and 2 buttons for each player. Just checked 2003.. and you can't roll. I'll get the hack / bootleg.

Capeman

@pjft said in Share Your Favorite, Lesser-known Arcade Gems:

@Capeman what emulator do you use for Ninja Baseball Batman? Does it run full speed for you?

I'll vote for Midnight Resistance, as I always had loads of fun with it in spite of being perceived as a cheap Contra knock-off. The soundtrack is great though. Play it on MAME 2010, though, 2003 messes up the audio.

Rodland and Tumble Pop are nice bubble bobble type games, as well as Snow Bros, which is slightly more famous than these two.

It'd be great if you all mention which emulators you use for these games, for reference:)

Runs in mame 2003 just fine, except the menus and spinning map are slow and choppy. If you can get past that, the actual game is quite playable

AlexMurphy

@pjft Using cabal.zipon lr-fbalpha - World Joystick Version and hitting both buttons makes the roll. Just as I remember it!
EDIT: You have to be pushing left / right on the JS at the same time!

pjft

@AlexMurphy I believe there's one version (if not that one, in fact) in FBA where it's mapped to a third button for convenience. :)

AlexMurphy

@pjft I'll see if I can find it but I like it like the one I played... just a personal preference.

caver01

I went back and edited my OP to include the emulator I am using for my suggestions.

caver01

How about:
Mayhem 2002 (lr-mame2003)
This game is like the movie Rollerball (1975) starring James Caan. It features two-player head-to-head action. like roller derby hockey.