Classic Arcade Archives - koru-cottage.com

Avenging Spirit, review

September 1, 2022 Richard Armitt 950 Views Classic Arcade, Coin-op, Platformer

Arcade games in the 90’s were great, Jaleco were a powerhouse and Avenging Spirit was considered a classic in the stable. Lovingly brought back to the living room by Ratalaika Games S.L. its a classic arcade platformer, that deserves to be remembered.

I have a few memories of Avenging Spirit, originally feeding coins into it between college lessons at a greasy cafe way back when. More recently however it cropped up on my Pandora driven Arcade Cab, and I couldn’t help but have a rose-tinted go.

Gaming Game Reviews PS5 Switch Console Xbox Series X

Arcade Paradise Review (XSX)

August 18, 2022 Barrie Clarke 1131 Views business sim, Classic Arcade, Laundromat, Retro

Arcade Paradise is a game that has me squarely in its sights. I have been lucky enough to go through evolution of coin-op gaming.

From the lone Space Invaders in the corner of the Family Bar at the local pub. Through the side room at the fish n’ chip shop filled with Commando, Ikari Warriors, TMNT, and the likes.

Arcade Paradise is letting us relive that golden era of side rooms filled with glorious fun.

Gaming Byte Size Review PC / Mac

Serious Sam Siberian Mayhem Byte Size Review (PC)

January 27, 2022 Barrie 1760 Views Classic Arcade, Doom, FPS, Serious Sam, Shooter

In an interesting move a bunch of Serious Sam 4 fans and modders have joined together and formed Timelock Studios.

And with the help and approval from Croteam, the developer behind the Serious Sam franchise, they have released Serious Sam Siberian Mayhem.

A 5-6 hour stand alone game based between the final two levels of Serious Sam 4.

Serious Sam has always been a not-so-serious run and gun franchise and Sam’s Mayhem in Siberia is just as un-serious.

Gaming Byte Size Review Nintendo Switch Console Video Content

G-Darius HD, Switch review

November 16, 2021 Richard Armitt 1344 Views Classic Arcade, HD, R-Type, Scrolling, Shooter

The 90’s gave birth to some classic families of Arcade Games, and for the time the original G-Darius HD was among one of them. Now iningames.com have brought it back.

The formula is classic Arcade, side-scrolling shooter, Bullet Hell and Boss Fights. What could go wrong? Well, back in the day not a lot, it was challenging and fun with some interesting nuances.

Gaming Byte Size Review PC / Mac PS4 PS5 Switch Console Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

Gearshifters, PS5 Review

October 3, 2021 Richard Armitt 1790 Views Car combat, Classic Arcade, indie game, Retro

Gearshifters is a game that fits right into a classic arcade niche. Up until recently it was completely off my radar, but for catching a Tweet and having my fancy tickled. It turns out this indie game is right on the money.

Red Phantom Games have pulled out a fun, playable homage to cult car games and arcade shooters. Now, I’m off for one more go before bed.

Gaming Byte Size Review Switch Console

Space Invaders Invincible Collection, Switch review

September 4, 2021 Richard Armitt 1125 Views Classic Arcade, Nostalgia, space invaders

Space Invaders Invincible Collection speaks for itself really. There’s no mistaking the impact that Taito’s original game made on the landscape, but that was a long time ago. In the decades that have followed generations have fallen in love with many different games and genres.

Whilst Space Invaders has always been present in some shape or form, it will never have the gravitas it started with.

Gaming Feature Article Hardware Video Content

Building the Arcade Dream, Part 2

August 27, 2021 Richard Armitt 1911 Views Classic Arcade, Coin-op, Homemade, Jamma, Pandora Box, Retro

Part 2 of the series, where I build my own Arcade Machine.

There is plenty of mystery surrounding the homemade arcade scene, until you get under it’s skin. Wherever you live there will be local knowledge and country related forums. This is as true in Australia as it is elsewhere. On the way to picking up and deciding on which cabinet I was going to tackle first I came across lots of useful resources.

Google and Youtube are absolutely your friend, especially if you’re an okay-ish handyman like myself.

Gaming Feature Article Hardware Video Content

Building the Arcade Dream, Part 1

August 8, 2021 Richard Armitt 2296 Views Arcade, Classic Arcade, Coin-op, Homemade, Jamma, Pandora Box, Retro

Growing up in the 80’s gave the Arcade Machine a special place in my heart. While I wasnt ever able to fervently feed all my money into them I knew my way around. There was a time when you could stumble across a cabinet literally anywhere, from the local greasy spoon cafe to the common room at college. It was the best of times, etc. Even school swimming lessons would see us running across the road at the last minute after crowding a dark back room in a takeout. Shouting out ‘dibs’ on your mate’s last man in Frogger.

This is part one of a series. I’ve made my decision to go with the path of least resistance, in the next instalment I will share a wealth of useful resources I’ve been finding to make sense of the process. Along with some updates on the build itself.

For now, join me in wistful yearning to be able to play The Speed Rumbler again.

Gaming Byte Size Review PC / Mac PS4 PS5 Switch Console Xbox One Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

R Type Final 2, Switch review

May 16, 2021 Richard Armitt 1217 Views Classic Arcade, R Type, side scroller, The Force

R Type Final 2 is a trip down memory lane, for me. I first flew an Arrowhead Fighter in the Arcades of 1987.

Following it up with the Commodore 64 a while later. After that, we parted company for a number of years. From memory the original was a revelation in the schoolyard, Gieger styled enemies and the enigmatic upgrade ‘The Force’.

After growing up on side scrollers like Scramble you had to admit R Type was an epiphany.

Gaming Game Reviews Indie Game PS4 Switch Console Xbox One

Moving Out, PS4 Review

April 25, 2020 Richard Armitt 1262 Views Classic Arcade, Co-Op, Couch, indie, Local Multiplayer, Moving Out, Team17, Unpacking

How to start a Moving Out review?

Well, its probably best summed up with a classic like “Great things come in small packages”.

In short the game is a frantic race against the clock, part puzzle, part arcade craziness and a sprinkle of comedy charm. If you are looking for a couch co-op game to keep the family entertained or at least blaming each other.

Then look no further, its got lockdown shenanigans all over it.