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Review of Arcade Party Pak on PlayStation

by Tanya Krane Tanya Krane photo Oct 1999
Cover image of Arcade Party Pak on PlayStation
Gamefings Score: 7
Platform: PlayStation PlayStation logo
Released: 27 Oct 1999
Genre: Various
Developer: Digital Eclipse
Publisher: Midway Games

Introduction

Have you ever wished for a time machine to teleport you back to the neon-lit, quarter-sucking arcades of your childhood? Well, Arcade Party Pak might not quite be a DeLorean, but it sure brings the buzz of classic arcade gameplay straight to your PlayStation console! With a line-up of legendary titles such as Rampage, Klax, and Smash TV, this compilation is a retrospective love letter from the 80s and 90s, packaged in the nostalgic veneer of pixelated nostalgia. Welcome to a 'Pac' filled with 'Arcade' fun, where high scores reign supreme, and your thumbs prepare for battle.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Arcade Party Pak revolves around an easy-peasy main menu where you simply pick your poison-er, game. The fusion of genres can only be described as a half-baked buffet of gaming delight. Each game manages to embody its unique spirit while keeping the adrenaline rushing through your veins like a double espresso on a Monday morning. - **720°**: Get ready to don the wheels as you shred your way through this skateboarding game. Completing gnarly tricks will raise your score and your coolness factor, assuming you can still stand after one-too-many virtual wipeouts. - **Klax**: Unleash your inner puzzle master as you catch and match colored tiles in an enjoyable yet slightly maddening race against time. It's like an N64 party game where everyone drinks too much Mountain Dew and says 'Let's do it again!' - **Rampage**: Channel your pent-up frustration and destroy cities as bigger-than-life monsters. This is the game you play when you've had a rough day, and no amount of therapy is gonna help-just smash everything in sight like a toddler refusing to share their toy. - **Smash TV**: Enter a dystopian game show where defeating waves of enemies wins you prizes-because nothing screams 'fun' like fighting for your life on live television! Forget Survivor; this is where the real jungle lies. - **Super Sprint**: Want to race without the risk of dying in a high-speed crash? Try this fun overhead racer that's perfect for competitive couch co-op (no one loves your victory that much, Karen!). It's essentially Mario Kart but without the banana peels and pesky mushrooms getting in your way. - **Toobin'**: If you've ever wanted to float down a river in a tube while colliding with random objects and, let's face it, other players, then you're gonna love this. Just remember: the best way to win is to leave your friends in the water to flounder while you coast away to victory. Classic moves. While the mechanics of these arcade classics are simple, the challenge they pose becomes part of their addictive charm. Sure, they might not have the flashy graphics of today's games, but sometimes the old adage holds true: less is more. If you plan to tackle all six games, prepare for hours of battling for top scores, or at least hours of blaming your friends for stealing all the fun.

Graphics

Let's be honest; the graphics in Arcade Party Pak won't win any beauty contests any time soon. They're reminiscent of digging out your grandma's old photos from the 80s-blurry, nostalgic, and slightly embarrassing, yet oddly endearing. Each game has retained its original arcade design, making it feel like you have a time capsule in your hands. 720° might look like it was painted by an angry raccoon; Klax might have color schemes that made early humans cry; while Rampage has the art style of comic book pages left out in the rain for too long. Yet, the lack of polish is part of the charm that fills this collection with nostalgia for those who survived the wild arcade days. These games are packed with personality-even if that personality is a little rough around the edges (think current user reviews on Yelp).

Conclusion

Arcade Party Pak does a commendable job of packing classic arcade experiences into a single PlayStation disc. It's a delightful mixture of chaos, competition, and frankly, pure fun. You will be able to enjoy the unique charm of each game and remember why we used to stifle our giggles in arcades-a classic blend of skill and occasional frustration waiting just for you. Sure, it might feel like a video game museum exhibit at times, but it's a museum you'll want to keep visiting. So grab your snacks, rally your friends, or just dust off the old game skills (sorry, no refunds for broken controllers), and dive into the wondrous world of Arcade Party Pak! You may lose some friends along the way, but let's be real, they probably couldn't hang with your high scores anyway.

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