Arcade Advanced
Score: 90% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: Konami Developer: Konami Media: Cart/1 Players: 1 - 2 Genre: Miscellaneous/ Arcade
Graphics & Sound: Frogger. Time Pilot. Yie Ar Kung-Fu. As a child of the '80s, these are but a few of the gems I grew up with during Nintendo's Golden Age of 8-bit glory. For years, I've dreamt of having the chance to revisit Rush'n Attack and other fine arcade classics in the palm of my hands -- and now, those brilliant folks at Konami have granted that wish with Arcade Advanced for GBA. As if simply porting six legendary titles wasn't enough, the developers have updated and enhanced the sights, sounds, and gameplay of each masterpiece without tainting that classic retro touch. Just enter the 'ol Konami code that's been burned into your brain since the Contra days (up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A) at each title screen, and voila! Practically a new game at your fingertips! For instance, Frogger has a cartoony new 3D look with new Disney-style tunes, while Scramble gets a sleek graphical facelift for its handheld debut. Everything you remember about the originals is still here, only way better!
Gameplay: Boy, do these bring back memories. I can recall playing Time Pilot with my dad on vacation in Colorado when I was only about six years old; it was one of my first video game experiences, and I'll probably never forget it. And although the controls aren't quite the same, the fun's still here on the little screen in Arcade Advanced. To reiterate, Konami has packed in the aforementioned games (plus Gyruss, a sort of wacky cross between Galaga and Tempest) for a total of six groundbreaking games from the early 1980s. Each one holds its own unique flair, but if you ask me, portable versions of Yie Ar Kung-Fu and Rush'n Attack are reason enough to buy this on sight. Whether it's old school fighting or side-scrolling shooters you're looking for, chances are you'll be delighted by at least one of these little pieces of history to pass the time on a road trip in the near future. Ah, but the best part? Yes, multiplayer modes (single or multiple cartridge versions) for four of the six games! Finally, you can slash up those guards with a buddy in Rush'n Attack, or vie for the highest score in Frogger anytime you'd like, as long as you've got a link cable handy. Once again, Konami's gone the extra mile to boost replay value through the roof.
Difficulty: Just like their arcade counterparts, these familiar favorites can be quite unforgiving in the challenge department. Good luck clearing all of Rush'n Attack's new levels with only a handful of lives, or mastering Time Pilot's constant onslaughts without continues! Any 8-bit veteran will tell you the difficulty's just right with all of them, but newbies might need a reality check before trying to tackle these bad boys on a clean slate.
Game Mechanics: Being from a simpler, happier time when the machines only had one or two buttons and a joystick, it isn't tough to imagine how 'complex' these controls can be. Of course, some of the games don't quite feel like the originals since the GBA D-pad can't measure up to an upright stick -- namely, Time Pilot and Gyruss take some getting used to, as both involve 360-degree motions -- but who cares? After a couple of minutes of practice, you'll be in flashback fantasia. Simply put, Konami nailed this one just right. The only possible improvements could've involved new graphics and full multiplayer modes for all six titles, but there's really no room for complaints. And since this is apparently the first installment of Konami's Collector's Series for GBA, we're sure to see another six-game package on the horizon soon enough to whet our wistful gaming appetites yet again. Here's to hoping for Jackal and Blades of Steel in Arcade Advanced Volume 2!
-Ben Monkey, GameVortex Communications AKA Ben Lewis
Worms World Party Cruis'n Velocity