Search Results for: thrill of the chase

Enter Your Very Own Arcade Paradise VR

April 5, 2024 By ausretrogamer

Wishlist the nostalgia-inducing arcade and light management sim today – this time it’s in VR!

Publisher Wired Productions and award-winning independent developer, Nosebleed Interactive, are thrilled to reveal that Arcade Paradise VR is releasing on 25th April 2024 for Meta Quest 2, 3 and Pro.

It’s almost time to enter the virtual realm in Arcade Paradise VR, transporting you back to 1993 for an all-new immersive experience oozing with retro-fuelled gaming nostalgia! Taking you on an empowering journey from rags to riches, Arcade Paradise is an adventure and light-management sim combo game where you transform the decrepit King Wash laundromat into a thriving business.

Set in the rundown town of Grindstone, you play as Ashley, a rebel teenager going against your father’s wishes to continue the family business. Get hands-on managing the fully gamified day-to-day tasks, from manually picking up gum, doing the laundry, and scrubbing a toilet perfectly clean – to throwing out the trash in a basketball style mini game. Then, take your hard-earned money from completing these tasks to unlock your real objective… buying more arcade units!

Featuring 12 fully realized VR cabinets alongside 27 traditionally controlled games from the original release, it’s time to play, profit and purchase your way to your very own Arcade Paradise. So, strap on your latest virtual reality tech – because the future is NOW!

Features:

12 brand-new fully realized VR arcade cabinets alongside 27, 90’s inspired, traditional controller games from the original release.
A wide range of gameplay from laundry mini-games to managing a full arcade with fully playable games cabinets.
Set high scores across each game in competitive online leaderboards.
Soundtrack composed by former The Prodigy live show member Kieron Pepper in collaboration with Black Razor Records.
Coming of age storytelling featuring award winning voice actor Doug Cockle playing your belligerent father, Gerald.
Bring the 90’s to the future with Mixed Reality, place cabinets in your living room for a whole new level of immersion.

Arcade Paradise VR launches on April 25th, 2024 on Meta Quest 2, 3 and Pro for US$19.99 / GBP£14.99 / AUD$27.32.

Press Release supplied

The next Super Mario Bros. game announced at Nintendo Direct

June 22, 2023 By ausretrogamer

Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Super Mario RPG And Many More Games Announced For Nintendo Switch!

In the latest Nintendo Direct video presentation, Nintendo revealed a wide variety of new games and content arriving for Nintendo Switch throughout 2023 and beyond, with Mario and friends featuring prominently in the line-up.

Highlights included Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Super Mario RPG, a visually enhanced version of Luigi’s Mansion 2, WarioWare: Move It! and a new game starring Princess Peach as the main character. The presentation also featured a range of games from Nintendo’s development and publishing partners, including Batman: Arkham Trilogy, Palia and DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Dark Prince.

Here’s more information about the featured games:

Super Mario Bros. Wonder: The next evolution of 2D side-scrolling Super Mario Bros. games is headed to Nintendo Switch. When you touch a Wonder Flower in the game, the wonders of the world unlock – pipes could come alive, hordes of enemies may appear, characters might change their looks for example – transforming the gameplay in unpredictable ways. Excitement and different surprises await in each course. Super Mario Bros. Wonder features Princess Peach, Princess Daisy and Yoshi as playable characters, in addition to familiar characters like Mario, Luigi and Toad. Plus, Super Mario Bros. Wonder sees the debut of Mario’s newest power-up, which allows him to transform into Elephant Mario. What other wonders could this game contain? More details will be shared at a later time. Super Mario Bros. Wonder launches for Nintendo Switch on 20^th October.

Super Mario RPG: Originally only released in Japan and North America on Super NES, Super Mario RPG has been overhauled with new graphics. Join Mario, Bowser, Princess Peach, and original characters Mallow and Geno, in an RPG filled with twists, turns and treasure. Mario must team up with his allies to face down a menacing force known as The Smithy Gang in order to recover seven stars and repair the Star Road. Whether you played the original game or have yet to take the journey, you can dive into this Nintendo Switch version of the very first RPG in the Super Mario series. Super Mario RPG launches for Nintendo Switch 17^th November.
A visually enhanced version of Luigi’s Mansion 2, originally released on Nintendo 3DS, is currently in development for Nintendo Switch. Can Luigi summon the courage to save Evershade Valley? Explore haunted mansions full of spooky spectres and bone-chilling challenges next year.
Princess Peach will star as the main character in her own new game, which will be available in 2024.
Pikmin 4: Welcome to the Rescue Corps. In this game, you are the newest recruit, and you’ll customise your character before setting off to meet the capable Rescue Pup Oatchi and the plant-like creatures called Pikmin. New to the series? Don’t worry – this is a great entry point for anyone that wants to learn more about Pikmin. Collect treasures around the planet to fix the Rescue Corps’ spaceship’s radar and open new areas to explore, including underground caves, where an environment that’s completely different from the surface awaits. Pikmin 4 also features Dandori Battles – try to collect more objects than your opponent within the time limit to win and save the castaway. Plus, for the first time in the Pikmin series, you can eventually set out for night expeditions. But nightfall sends creatures into a frenzy, so stay alert. Thankfully, you’ll come across the new Glow Pikmin to drive them away. Much more awaits on this uncharted planet. Discover it when Pikmin 4 lands on Nintendo Switch 21^st July. Plus, a demo of Pikmin 4 will be available in Nintendo eShop on 29^th June.
Pikmin 1 and Pikmin 2: HD versions of the first two Pikmin games, originally released on Nintendo GameCube, will launch on Nintendo eShop later today. The games will be available individually or in a bundle that contains both games. A physical version that includes both games will also be available on 22^nd September. With the inclusion of these two games on Nintendo Switch, all four main games in the Pikmin series – Pikmin 1, Pikmin 2, Pikmin 3 and, as of 21^st July, Pikmin 4 – will be playable on one console.
The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC for Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet: More Pokémon, places and stories await in this two-part DLC^*3 for Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. In this story, you’ll be leaving the Paldea region and delving even deeper into the world of Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. Part 1: The Teal Mask has a planned release date of spring 2023 and Part 2: The Indigo Disk has a planned release date of summer 2023. The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC is available for purchase now on Nintendo eShop.
Detective Pikachu Returns: Discover the origin of the great detective Pikachu! Partner with the tough-talking, coffee-loving Pikachu who calls himself a great detective to unravel multiple mysteries across Ryme City. With the help of many other Pokémon, Tim Goodman and his talkative Pikachu partner work together to solve a series of mysterious incidents in this cinematic adventure game. Track down Detective Pikachu Returns when it launches for Nintendo Switch on 6^th October. Pre-orders begin later today on Nintendo eShop.
WarioWare: Move It!: Get ready for more microgame mayhem in the latest WarioWare game. Hold a set of Joy-Con controllers, then move your body to take on a flurry of lightning-fast microgames. React quickly with the right movement, and you’ll be on the road to victory. Sync up your actions to beat each microgame. Plus, up to four players can live it up across various minigames in Party Mode locally. Get your body moving to over 200 microgames in WarioWare: Move It!, launching on Nintendo Switch 3^rd November. Pre-orders begin today on Nintendo eShop.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom: New amiibo of Zelda and Ganondorf are planned for release in summer 2023. A vast number of players are currently exploring Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and this journey can be enhanced by scanning select amiibo figures to unlock valuable in-game items, as well as special fabric for the paraglider, to help Link in his adventure.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass Wave 5: Squeaky Clean Sprint, a new course, is racing into Wave 5 of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass DLC. More characters are also being added: Petey Piranha, who originally hit the track in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!; Wiggler, from Mario Kart 7; and Kamek, from Mario Kart Tour. Wave 5 zooms onto Nintendo Switch this winter. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass includes six separate waves, with eight courses each, which will all be released by the end of 2023. Buy the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass separately in Nintendo eShop, or enjoy it for no additional cost as part of a paid Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership.
Splatoon 3: The next Splatfest for Splatoon 3 has been confirmed: Which flavour of ice cream is best? Vanilla? Strawberry? Or Mint Chip? This Splatfest will be held from 15^th July at 10:00am AEST / 12:00pm NZST until 17^th July at 10:00am AEST / 12:00pm NZST. Guide your favourite flavour to victory. Plus, get splatting in themed battles with Challenges.
Batman: Arkham Trilogy: Become Gotham City’s ultimate protector in Rocksteady’s critically acclaimed trilogy, headed to Nintendo Switch in one complete package, including all DLC. The hit-and-run skirmishes of Batman: Arkham Asylum escalate into the devastating conspiracy against the inmates in Batman: Arkham City, and culminate in the ultimate showdown for the future of Gotham in Batman: Arkham Knight. Tear through the streets and soar across the skyline of Gotham City in the ultimate and complete Batman experience coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch this spring.
Palia: This charming free-to-play adventure sim offers a breath-taking world where you can build the life and home of your dreams. Unravel the mysteries of this always-evolving adventure and meet new friends along the way, from in-game villagers to players from all over the world. Create a customisable character and gather materials around the landscapes and biomes of Palia to craft your ideal home. Palia is a cosy massively multiplayer online game, so friends can visit each other’s homes and adventure the world together in a welcoming, playful and friendly community. Palia launches on Nintendo Switch this summer.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope: The Last Spark Hunter: Introducing the newest paid DLC for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. In The Last Spark Hunter, Mario and friends journey to a musical planet, filled with new areas to explore and new enemies to battle. Discover the wonders and dangers that await you in this world of melodies. The Last Spark Hunter launches later today. A demo of the main game is also available now on Nintendo eShop.
DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Dark Prince: Follow Psaro, a cursed prince, and his companion Rose as they travel through the demon realm of Nadiria. Explore and scout monsters, freely combine raised monsters to create more powerful allies and take on enemies with your powerful dream team through changing seasons. DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Dark Prince comes to Nintendo Switch on 1^st December.
METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.1: The origin of stealth action comes to Nintendo Switch. Experience the thrilling cinematic story of the METAL GEAR series as you infiltrate enemy fortresses and complete your mission to stop those wielding weapons of mass destruction from triggering total war. This collection features Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, along with the games that started the series – Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, and the NES versions of Metal Gear and Snake’s Revenge – plus plenty of bonus content. METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.1 launches on Nintendo Switch 24^th October. Pre-orders begin today on Nintendo eShop. Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater will also be available for purchase individually on Nintendo eShop.
Sonic Superstars: Spin dash with Sonic and friends through the mystical Northstar Islands in this new high-speed, 2D side-scrolling platformer game. Speed through 12 new zones as one of four playable characters and the return of an old nemesis. Harness seven new Emerald powers to move and attack in dynamic ways like climbing waterfalls, multiplying and more. And for the first time in the series, you can play through the entire campaign with friends in local co-op, available for up to four players. Combine your powers against Dr. Eggman and Fang when Sonic Superstars launches on Nintendo Switch this spring.
Just Dance 2024 Edition: The popular music video game franchise is back with its latest update – Just Dance 2024 Edition, featuring 40 songs from new hits to beloved classics. Connect with up to five friends and family members as you experience the never-ending dance party via online and local multiplayer. Every season will bring new content – like songs, a dedicated progression track and rewards. Win avatars, backgrounds, name badges and aliases to personalise your Dancer Card and show off your personality in the game. Plus, the Nintendo Switch version of the game will include one-month free access to the Just Dance+ streaming service, giving you access to hundreds of songs and exclusive seasonal benefits. Just Dance 2024 Edition launches 24^th October.
MythForce: Journey through crypts and castles with your friends in this first-person melee roguelike inspired by Saturday morning cartoons. Brave the dungeon alone or join forces with up to three friends in online drop-in co-op to take on the ever-changing Cursed Lands. It’s up to you to stop the evil Deadalus from taking over, but it won’t be easy. Make use of medieval weaponry and legendary magic to smite hordes of enemies. MythForce launches on Nintendo Switch this year.
Penny’s Big Breakaway: In this 3D platforming adventure from the team behind Sonic Mania, you’ll explore the bright and colourful world of Macaroon as Penny and her newly animated friend, Yo-Yo. Perform stylish, acrobatic tricks to avoid the clutches of the grouchy Emperor Eddie and his massive horde of pushy penguins in Story Mode. Power up Yo-Yo to protect Penny and put your speed running skills to the test in Time Attack Mode to unlock special items and complete secret stages. Penny’s Big Breakaway launches on Nintendo Switch early next year.
Fae Farm: Your magical home awaits in this multiplayer, cosy, farm-sim RPG. Craft, cultivate and decorate to grow your shared homestead and explore the magical island of Azoria. Create your character and customize your adventure with new outfits and decorations for your farm. The cosier your home, the more rewards you’ll unlock! Cultivate an enchanted farm with up to four players in local or online multiplayer. You can even share your progression by crafting items, tending crops and exploring your surroundings together. Fae Farm launches as a console exclusive on Nintendo Switch 8^th September. Pre-order the game on Nintendo eShop to receive the exclusive Cozy Cabin Variety Pack.
STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R: For the first time, Nintendo players can experience the visually explosive and fast-paced action battles of the second instalment in the STAR OCEAN series. After a mission goes wrong, federation officer Claude is stranded on an undeveloped planet. There, he meets Rena, who possesses mystical powers. Play as either Claude or Rena and make decisions that will impact your destiny. STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R is a full remake of the 1998 science-fantasy RPG, rebuilt with striking graphics that combine 3D environments and 2D pixel characters. Plus, new combat features let you execute battles with strategic precision. STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R launches on Nintendo Switch 2^nd November.
Persona 5 Tactica: The Phantom Thieves return in this tactical spinoff of Persona 5. Assemble a beloved team of heroes in a new story in this thrilling combat adventure set in Persona’s iconic universe. After a strange incident, the Phantom Thieves find themselves in grave danger until a mysterious revolutionary rescues them and offers a deal in exchange for their help. Build your three-hero squad from eight playable characters, equipping an assortment of weapons to wipe out oppressive armies in turn-based battle. An emotional uprising begins when Persona 5 Tactica launches on Nintendo Switch 17^th November.
Vampire Survivors: The devils are here and there’s no place to run or hide. Survive a 30-minute onslaught of monsters who grow increasingly stronger the longer you hold out. Gather treasure from defeated enemies to acquire upgrades in your attempt to outrun death. With couch co-op, up to four players can run, die and build their power together. Do you have what it takes? Find out when Vampire Survivors launches on Nintendo Switch 17^th August.
Silent Hope: Seven wordless warriors must work together to find the reclusive King. In this action-RPG, you’ll explore the Abyss and its ever-changing dungeons with seven silent heroes, each with their own abilities and fighting styles. After each dungeon run, you’ll return with your treasures and craft better equipment to dive deeper and grow stronger, levelling up your heroes to tackle the challenging bosses lurking in the depths. Silent Hope launches on Nintendo Switch 3^rd October.
Headbangers Rhythm Royale: Play online in this rhythm-based battle royale and aim to be the last bird standing. Up to 30 players can ruffle each other’s feathers in more than 20 musical minigames. Get ready to shake those tail feathers when Headbangers Rhythm Royale bops its way onto Nintendo Switch 31^st October.
Gloomhaven: Lead your mercenaries to riches or doom in this adaptation of the hit board game, featuring turn-based card battles with RPG elements. You’ll explore cursed dungeons with unsavoury mercenaries – choose from 17 different characters and master more than 1,000 unique abilities. Hone your deck, set up synergies and face an ever-growing challenge where each choice matters. Gloomhaven launches on Nintendo Switch 18^th September. Pre-orders for the Mercenaries Edition and Gold Edition begin today on Nintendo eShop.
Manic Mechanics: In this chaotic co-op game, you and up to three friends are cast as travelling mechanics who must repair vehicles quickly to earn points and work your way through the town of Octane Isle. Repair as many cars, trucks, choppers (and tractors, mini-subs and UFOs …) as possible before the timer runs out. The faster you work, the more chaos you’ll unleash – fuel spills, exploding tires, short-circuiting robots, stampeding cows and even alien abduction. Get your crew in the shop when Manic Mechanics launches first for consoles on Nintendo Switch 13^th July. Pre-orders begin later today in Nintendo eShop.
HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED 2 – TURBOCHARGED: The world’s raddest cars are back and taking fun to the next level! Zoom into wild racing action with over 130 vehicles and pull off outrageous stunts to avoid obstacles, find shortcuts and knock your rivals out of the way. Unleash your creativity by modifying your vehicles and building your own tracks. Race locally with friends in split-screen co-op or up to 12 players can hit the track online. Grab the wheel when this game speeds onto Nintendo Switch 19^th October.

Review: Replikator on Xbox Series X|S

June 22, 2023 By ausretrogamer

Replikator: A Retro-Inspired Space Adventure with a Formidable Challenge

Ahhhhh, Ratalaika Games have been impressing gamers with its recent releases, offering low-budget indie games and nostalgic favorites. Among its collection, Replikator, developed in collaboration with R-Games and Meridian4, stands out as an affordable gem. This procedurally generated adventure challenges players to overcome a world dominated by artificial intelligence (AI) through sheer force. With intense action, customizable gameplay, and a retro vibe, Replikator offers an engaging experience for space shooter enthusiasts. Let’s delve into the thrilling amalgamation of exploration, combat, and survival in this throwback-style game.

Unleashing the Mercenary:

In Replikator, players assume the role of Khan, a skilled mercenary, tasked with investigating a fatal accident at a space research facility. As part of a team, Khan must uncover the cause behind the tragedy that claimed the lives of all personnel. The game sets the stage with a semi-animated cut scene and introduces the main character in a meeting hall, where interactions with other members of the team are possible. This initial area serves as a training ground, allowing players to become familiar with the controls and mechanics.

Challenging Gameplay and Intense Action:

Replikator offers a unique control scheme that combines movement and aiming mechanics. The left analog stick enables character navigation, while the right analog stick facilitates aiming from both close and long distances. With enemies relentlessly attacking, players must utilize ZR (on the Nintendo Switch) to open fire strategically, mindful of conserving ammunition. Careful resource management becomes crucial, as running out of ammo necessitates scavenging for supplies or seeking out terminals to make purchases. The L button provides a punch attack, enabling destruction of the environment to uncover hidden rooms and potential rewards.

Immersive Retro Graphics and Atmospheric Sound:

Embracing its retro-inspired roots, Replikator showcases visually detailed graphics that evoke a sense of nostalgia. The game employs a top-down perspective, effectively conveying the claustrophobic sensation of navigating confined spaces within a vessel. The enemies vary from flying drones and laser-firing poles to grotesque creatures reminiscent of the facehuggers from the Alien film series. Notably, only the current area is visible, while adjoining sections remain concealed in darkness, unveiling themselves as players enter. The atmospheric soundtrack enhances the immersive experience, transitioning between silent moments and intense action sequences. Accompanied by well-executed sound effects, such as laser guns, explosions, and opening doors, the audio complements the game’s overall ambiance.

Strategic Exploration and Resource Management:

Replikator encourages strategic exploration through its zoom-out feature, accessible by pressing the Y button. This function unveils a map highlighting item locations, aiding players in their quest to gather essential resources. However, the map does not reveal the positions of enemies, adding an element of surprise and tension. Noteworthy icons within rooms indicate collectible items, fostering an engaging gameplay loop of risk versus reward. Throughout the game, players encounter ammo packs, additional energy reserves, and blueprints for superior weapons that can be acquired later. Collectible cubes and in-game currency enable interactions with terminals, providing opportunities to recharge energy or replenish ammunition.

Perseverance and Progression:

Replikator’s challenging nature demands perseverance and adaptation. Frequent deaths are to be expected, but each defeat provides valuable lessons. Upon dying, players return to the main staging area, where collected cubes can be utilized for upgrades. Additionally, one or two free upgrades are available per life, enhancing the effectiveness of current gameplay. The sense of progression and the desire to overcome obstacles motivate players to keep pushing forward. Completing a level rewards access to a store, where cubes can be exchanged for credits to purchase health and ammo.

Conclusion:

Replikator successfully channels the spirit of classic retro space shooters while offering a formidable challenge and an engaging gameplay loop. The fusion of exploration, combat, and resource management keeps players immersed in an intriguing sci-fi world dominated by AI. With its visually appealing retro graphics, atmospheric soundtrack, and intense action sequences, Replikator captures the essence of the genre. Despite its occasional frustrations and shorter gameplay duration, the game’s affordable price tag and wealth of hidden goodies make it a worthwhile experience for space shooter enthusiasts and those seeking a nostalgic gaming journey. Embark on a daring adventure in Replikator, where survival hinges on your combat prowess and strategic decision-making.

Disclaimer: The Xbox review code for Replikator was provided by PR Hound.

My ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Weekend

March 9, 2023 By David Cutler

By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

Here is a little secret about entertainment: if something is good, people are usually going to find it and make it a success.

I’ve stayed away from buying a “Sonic the Hedgehog” game for all my life, but one recent weekend, I decided to purchase “Sonic Forces” and “Sonic Mania” for Nintendo Switch.

I’ve always played “Sonic” in a friend’s dorm room or at an arcade when I was younger, but I never bought a “Sonic” game; and I had a Sega when I was a teenager. All weekend long, I went back-and-forth playing the two Sonic games. I played “Sonic Mania” a little more because I like the retro look and feel to it.

The main thing that I’ve always enjoyed about “Sonic” games is the speed. I’m not the greatest at collecting tokens, however, I’ll get through each stage in a speedy fashion. When I land on some spikes and lose all my tokens, I’m never fazed by it. My focus is always trying to get to the end of the stage. I’m always trying to break my previous record; my time is my focus.

Before buying the games, my last interaction with “Sonic the Hedgehog” was the first film, back in 2020. I tried watching “Sonic the Hedgehog” with Jim Carrey; I got about an hour in, and said to myself, “This movie wasn’t made for me.” I hear kids love the film franchise. Worldwide, both films made $725 million combined. A third film is in the works for 2024.

When I went into my Sonic cave for the weekend, I couldn’t stop playing, I was enjoying myself so much. Yes, the game is hugely popular and iconic, but the game play, like the original “Super Mario Bros.,” is still thrilling and engaging.

And, like “Mario,” there are many iterations of “Sonic” to come. In the future, I may buy a third “Sonic” game.

image source: Ausretrogamer

The Retro Gaming Vault – August 2021

August 30, 2021 By ausretrogamer

As we come out of a long (southern hemisphere) winter, we look long and hard into the vastness of our retro gaming vault and come out with a number of juicy nostalgia-inducing classic gaming bits and pieces, starting with a couple of pretty cool, but useless NES peripherals!

We also have the mighty Neo Geo featured this month, with its interchangeable console and arcade memory card that we use on our AES and MVS. For the Nintendo fans, we have DK on the NES and a snippet of Super Mario World (you gotta look hard). For the really old school fans we have the Futuretronics Galaxy Invader 1000 tabletop and the cool Space Shuttle Game Watch we used to love strutting at school. The Contra lads make an appearance as well, as does the DynoVisor VR headset we use on the PC-Engine. Last but not least, our all time fave C64 compilation.

Enjoy the nostalgia and we”ll see what we find in the vault next month!

All images are copyright of ausretrogamer

Arcade1Up Attack From Mars Pinball – Review

May 19, 2021 By ausretrogamer

UPDATE 5-October-2021: Arcade1Up has released a firmware update to resolve the lag on the White Water game and a few other bugs which you can read about here. This review has been amended to account for this firmware update.

Product: Arcade1Up Attack From Mars Pinball
Price: AU$1,199 to $1,400 (depending on retailer)
Official Australian retailers: Kogan, Arcade Gamer, The Gamesmen, Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi

We love playing our real pinball machines. Heck, we love pinball on any platform, including in the digital space. Where digital (aka: virtual) pinball has always fallen short is in the physical and mechanical feel that real pinball machines provide, but that gap has somewhat been bridged, with digital pinball machines being fitted with solenoids and haptic flippers to provide the player that real tactile pinball feeling. How good can these digital pinball machines be?

PROS	CONS
+ Build quality is AMAZING! The Cabinet and Backbox are glorious	– 720p is sacrilege in this day and age
+ Compact size makes it fit in all kinds of spaces	– ~~The lag in White Water makes it totally unplayable~~ (this was fixed in the latest software code update!)
+ Packed with 10 of the greatest pinball machines of all time	– No Internet connectivity / No way of updating with more tables (right now)
+ Haptic flippers for real flipper feedback	– Price! The sweet spot would have been sub-$1,000 (AU).
+ 4 x Solenoid modules for real ball feedback
+ A real working plunger

Arcade1Up needs no introduction, as their 3/4 arcade machines of iconic arcade games have proven to be quite popular with gamers and collectors the world over. When Arcade1Up announced at CES 2020 that they would partner with Zen Studios to create 3/4 size digital pinball machines, our interest was piqued big time. At the show they announced three pinball machines, Attack From Mars, Star Wars and Marvel, each packed with themed pinball games from Zen Studios’ Pinball FX platform. We naturally gravitated to the Attack From Mars pinball machine, not only due to owning the real one, but the fact that it came with 10 of the greatest pinball machines of all time – Attack from Mars, Fish Tales, The Getaway: Highspeed II, Junk Yard, Medieval Madness, White Water, Red & Ted’s Road Show, Hurricane, Tales of the Arabian Nights and No Good Gofers.

The beast arrives!

While suffering insomnia one evening, we did what anyone would – we hit the web for some late night shopping (beware of weekend night-time shopping! – Ed). When we stumbled upon the Arcade1Up pinball machines, we ended up procuring the Attack From Mars machine, which surprisingly arrived on our doorstep a mere 48 hours after the purchase! Upon delivery we were taken aback by the size of the box, we somehow visualised a 3/4 sized pinball machine to be smaller than 3/4 – crazy hey!

Loving our @arcade_1up Attack From Mars pinball machine so far.

We’ll gather our thoughts & tell you what we think overall (soon-ish)!#pinball #gamer pic.twitter.com/42ZXejHQM1

— ausretrogamer (@ausretrogamer) April 30, 2021

We noticed that the pinball machine and all of its parts to put it together were perfectly packed, minimising the chance of damage while in transit. Once we started taking things out of the box the first thing that struck us was the build quality – it totally blew our expectation, with the whole thing feeling and looking superb! From the cabinet to the backbox, artwork and buttons, to the polished steel lockdown bar, legs and side rails, this thing oozes quality and is almost as good as a real commercial pinball machine, minus the cost (relax, we said “almost”! – Ed). Putting the machine together was a cinch, but it helped having another person around to assist in lifting the cabinet as it’s not that light. While the machine was coming together, we were constantly wowed by how good it looked and how sturdy it felt – it was a good start!

Assembling the machine was a breeze

The QA department checking our progress

Being impressed with the physical aspects of the machine was one thing, but how did it fare once the rubber hit the road, or should we say, once we turned it on – would it play as good as it looked? The quick answer is yes, but – there is always a but! Once we fired up the machine, we instantly loved the lit up backbox – it just makes the artwork pop! On the playfield screen, the interface felt familiar as it uses Zen Studios’ Pinball FX software platform. The button layout for interacting with the machine was intuitive, with the flippers acting as the selector (left, right, up or down) and the start/launch button (under the plunger) as the selection confirmation. On the front of the cabinet there are two rocker-type switches, one for turning on the machine and the other to control the volume – we preferred to set the volume via the software settings. Below these two switches are the settings and table guide buttons. The settings allow for the usual stuff, from adjusting the audio and video, to the pinball machine specific settings for the solenoids and plunger calibration. For the record, we left our machine settings stock, which worked perfectly fine for us.

Once the language is selected, the machine presents the 10 pinball machines to choose from. As mentioned earlier, we were quite chuffed to see that most of the classic Williams pinball tables were on this model. Barring the unplayable White Water due to excessive flipper lag and jerky motion, the rest of the pinball tables played pretty darn well, just like they do on any system that has Zen Studios’ Pinball FX.

We love playing digital pinball on any device!

With the screen being 23.8″, the first thing that ran through our minds was that it was too small. However, after playing a few games, we realised that the screen size was admirable and found that it did not detract from playing pinball. Our eyes adjusted and really didn’t know the difference in screen size – it’s as if someone played a Jedi mind trick on us! The best analogy we could come up with regarding screen size is that it’s like telling someone how great your 65” TV is and they are completely satisfied and don’t see the difference 3 minutes into watching the same stuff on a smaller, 55” inch TV – all being near the same in the minds eye. One thing that is unforgivable is the use of HD (720p) instead of Full HD (1080p) – it just makes the visuals not as sharp and looking a bit dated for this day and age where we expect 4K+ visuals! Hopefully this can be resolved with an update from Arcade1Up. ~~And while they are at it, we hope they fix the lag on White Water too~~ this has now been fixed with the latest firmware update!

There was quite a lot of discussion on social media regarding the black plastic bezel around the screen due to its thickness. When you stand over the machine while it is turned off, the bezel does detract from the visual aspect of the machine, however, once it’s turned on, the bezel, coupled with the screen set under it, creates a depth of field to the playfield screen which adds to the realism of playing pinball. Another neat touch in the video department on this machine are the different colours represented for each of the 4 players on the DMD (the small screen in the backbox), so there will never be any confusion whose turn it is or who wins!

We couldn’t really fault anything in the audio department on this little beauty. The dual speakers pump out great tunes and sound effects which immerse you further into your pinball playing pleasure. With the addition of the solenoids giving the player physical feedback plus the well integrated sound effects pumping through the speakers, you definitely get a sense of playing a pinball game just as you do from playing the real thing. Oh yeah, you’ll find that on maximum volume this thing can really get the heart rate going and possibly have your neighbours calling in to see what the heck is going on!

VERDICT:

We’ve been playing digital / virtual pinball games since the days of Video Pinball on the Atari 2600, and the one thing we used to always wish for over the decades was a way to play these games in a physical pinball cabinet format, just like the real deal. What we can say is that as an off the shelf consumer product, Arcade1Up have delivered on our wish, and even more so with the firmware update ~~even if it’s not 100% perfect~~. If you want to play the awesome Zen Studios produced pinball games, then there is no better way than playing them on an Arcade1Up pinball machine.

Build quality is top stuff!

Looking good from any angle!

Interface instructions – quite easy really!

Settings galore!

Front of the cabinet – the control deck of the Arcade1Up pinball machine

Love how the angled bezel creates the depth of field!

Can’t wait to get flippin’

Let’s get these pesky Martians!

The backbox does pop once the machine is switched on!

Another fave table of ours

Oh how we wish they used 1080p to sharpen the look on these games!

Lil austretrogamer loves a bit of flipper action! The kids seem to love this machine.

It looks just as good turned off!

For the record, nothing beats playing our real pinball machines, but the Arcade1Up is still darn cool!

Obscure Commodore Controllers

May 14, 2021 By ausretrogamer

We cherish our Commodore gear, from the Commodore 64 and Amiga 1200, to our Commodore watches, joysticks, CD32 and the obscure and gorgeous CDTV (aka: Compact Disc Television / Commodore Dynamic Total Vision).

Speaking of the Commodore CDTV, we particularly love its obscure controllers, the game pad that doubles as a remote control and the CD1200 trackball – both using good ole fashioned infrared (no Bluetooth here – Ed) for that true wireless gaming experience. There is also the CDTV keyboard, but that ain’t no controller, well, sort of.

The CD1200 trackball is peculiar in that it also has two DB9 joystick ports on the front so that you can hook up you fave joysticks, like the TAC-2, to play your Amiga games in comfort. However, the use of “C” batteries to power it in wireless (IR) mode is not that environmentally friendly at all. The remote control / game pad on the other hand uses “AA”, which means we can use our Eneloops for a more enviro friendly gaming session.

What obscure Commodore gear do you have? Hit us up on Twitter or our Facebook page now!

CDTV Remote Control

CD1200 Trackball

CD1200 Trackball – joystick ports

CDTV – Keyboard et al

Oz Comic-Con is back with OCC Pop Up Shows!

February 4, 2021 By ausretrogamer

Oz Comic-Con gets back to the grassroots of pop culture with the launch of community-based OCC POP UP shows

In a year that relegated fans to virtual conventions, the team behind Oz Comic-Con are thrilled to announce the launch of their first LIVE event of 2021. OCC POP UP is a community-based event
showcasing the local pop-culture scene and is set to hit Sydney Showground on March 6th and 7th. We can assure you that masking up has never felt this good.

Since its Australian launch back in 2012, Oz Comic-Con has secured a permanent place within the hearts of fans across the country through its ongoing support of the local community. Although things may seem a little different this time around, OCC POP UP will encompass everything we have come to love and know over the years.

With a jam-packed schedule full of workshops and activities, attendees can expect appearances from local creators, comic artists, gaming and freeplay opportunities, industry talks and panels and exclusive merchandise that can’t be found anywhere else. Some of the highlights include:

Creators Live – an area dedicated to promoting Australian digital content creators such as YouTubers, streamers, podcasters, bloggers, and influencers. Whilst it’s a great chance to sell merch and network with each other, Creators Live provides a new platform amongst an ever growing community and a chance for Creators to interact with their fans;
Cosplay Active – a cosplay competition for mainstream competitors that find themselves a step above the Cosplay Parade but not quite ready for the Championships of Cosplay. Open to both solo and group performances, Cosplay Active is an opportunity to showcase crafting talents, perform a skit, and bring along the PLAY component of cosplay. And, even your pets can get involved, with the finalists of the OCC Pet Cosplay being invited to attend the Con;

Confirmed guests for the OCC POP UP include Queenie Chan (The Dreaming, Fabled Kingdom), Christopher Sequeria (Sherlock Holmes: The Australian Casebook, The SuperAustralians ), Louie Joyce (Haphaven, Past the Last Mountain ), and JusZ Cosplay, with more announcements yet to come.

A first-of-its-kind event in Australia, OCC POP UP is truly an event for the whole family no matter what fandom you belong to. For more information about the event, guest announcements, and to purchase tickets, please go here.

EVENT DETAILS:

OCC POP UP Sydney
WHEN: March 6 – 7, 2021
WHERE: Sydney Showground, 1 Showground Road, Sydney Olympic Park

TICKET INFO:

Tickets to OCC POP UP will be sold in sessions with a limited amount of full day tickets available for each day. In full compliance with government guidelines and regulations, session times will allow for crowd management in a controlled environment. For more information about ticketing and general information regarding OCC’s COVID guidelines, please visit the Oz Comic-Con site.

STAR WARS Comic Art Pinball: May The Force Be With You

May 12, 2020 By ausretrogamer

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far too close to home, I was excited when Stern Pinball announced their Star Wars pinball machine. I was so excited by this news, I almost bought one without playing it!

But there was a disturbance in the (pinball) FORCE in mid 2017! Bear with me here, as this story delves into the depths of the dark side before I see the light.

Cooler heads prevailed and I took Ms. ausretrogamer’s advice to play the pinball machine before making a decision to buy it or not. Well, on that fateful day in mid 2017, my initial impression of Stern’s Star Wars pinball wasn’t at all positive. I played the Pro model of the game, and let’s just say that it didn’t inspire me to press the start button to play it again. The FORCE just wasn’t strong enough to engage me. I was gutted! I felt that the machine did not capture the theme and universe of my all-time favourite movie franchise. I buried my disappointment and forgot about the machine. As the great Jedi Master, Yoda once said, “Disappointment is the path to the dark side. Disappointment leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Welllll, he didn’t say that exactly, but you get my drift.

Luckily I did not give in to the disappointment, no matter how tempting the dark side of the force was. At the time, I found solace in another pinball machine, Chicago Gaming Company’s Attack From Mars Remake. My pinball mojo was back to peak level and the disappointment of the Star Wars pinball machine was all but a distant memory.

source: Stern Pinball Inc.

Then in mid 2019, there was a flicker in the FORCE. My brother-in-law, who got the silverball bug after playing our machines, went hunting for his first pinball game and settled for a Stern Star Wars Premium pinball machine. I remember thinking to myself, I hope he loves the game. Well, to my surprise, he did. What surprised me even more was my reaction to the game – once I pressed the start button and started flipping, I was immediately grabbed by the FORCE, just like Darth Vader’s force choke. Taking Yoda’s advice to heart, we had to unlearn what we learned about this game.

Wow, what a difference two years had made! The updated code and of course, this being the Premium model of the game, it felt like I was in the middle of the (original) Star Wars universe! I found that my excitement for the machine was at the same level as when Stern first announced that they were making a Star Wars pinball game. I knew then that I had to hunt down a machine to fulfil my wish of owning my pinball dream theme.

Dum, Dum, Dum, Dum-te-dum, Dum-te-dum#StarWars #pinball #SternPinball pic.twitter.com/rqht7UaPKT

— ausretrogamer (@ausretrogamer) May 9, 2020

Just like all Star Wars stories, starting with a struggle and then ending on a positive note, so has this musing. I finally saw the light side of the FORCE and procured my pinball dream theme, a Stern Star Wars Comic Art Premium machine, beautifully presented by Star Wars comic artist, Randy Martinez – it’s so eye-poppingly beautiful. It was a long time coming to get to this point, but I am glad I went on this journey and reached my destination. The moral of my story is, never judge a book by its cover and always come back to a pinball game you haven’t played in a while, it may surprise you.

Thanks to the folks at Zax Amusements for fulfilling my wish – they made this Padawan very happy. May the FORCE be with you!

A lightsaber is required to bust open this beauty!

The Ausretrogamer Fun Factory is READY!

The machine is (almost) in its position – love the right side cabinet art!

Love the left side art cabinet too!

And we are upright!

We have the keys to the Millennium Falcon

Time to play and defeat the evil Empire!

Always Use The Force!

Love the LCD – it integrates the theme with visual Star Wars eye-candy

The comic art is eye-poppingly gorgeous on this machine

Taking in the comic art with the glass off!

Randy Martinez should be commended for his brilliant art work on this machine

Let’s blow up the Death Star

Making the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs

The magnets on this machine whiz the balls around on the hyperspace loop at breakneck speeds!

And we are on, like Donkey K… Ah, never mind!

Who doesn’t like seeing their name on the high score table

Just enjoying the view

A handsome threesome in the Fun Factory

Metal Slug: The Ultimate History – Book Review

December 5, 2019 By ausretrogamer

The very first game we bought when we got our Neo Geo MVS arcade machine was Metal Slug. That was quite a while ago, and we must admit, we have the series on pretty much every format – the games are that darn good!

Once we had heard that Bitmap Books was going to publish a book on this brilliant gaming franchise, our interests were obviously piqued. Upon receiving Metal Slug: The Ultimate History from Pixel Crib, we noticed this thing was heavy, which is a good thing when it comes to these kinds of publications.

If you have read any of our previous Bitmap Books book reviews, you’ll know what to expect from this published work of art – it oozes quality and quantity. When you hold a Bitmap Books tome in your hands, we guarantee you’ll be smiling from start to finish. Sam Dyer and his amazing team have done a wonderful job in bringing us a fully licensed art book on the Metal Slug series.

With unprecedented access to SNK‘s vast archives, this book contains some of the best high-resolution artwork (including concept artwork) and illustrations, with some being made publicly available for the very first time. Even though it is primarily an art book celebrating Metal Slug, this tome also contains eleven exclusive and detailed interviews with key members of the development team, including Kazuma Kujo, Takushi Hiyamuta, Andoh Kenji and Takeshi Okui, the latter two of which have never spoken about the series previously. These insightful discussions bust myths and reveal the real truth behind the creation and evolution of this esteemed franchise, extensively covering the formation of Nazca and the truth behind Metal Slug Zero – the version of Metal Slug when you only controlled the SV-001 tank. The book also dives into and explores the roots of Metal Slug, looking at Irem titles In the Hunt and GunForce II and how these arcade cult classics influenced what was to come later. This page turner is definitely a must for any fan of the Metal Slug series, and if you are into art, then this book is for you too.