Four of the Highest Ranked Full Sized Arcades from the 80s

The 80s were, without a doubt, some of the best years to be developing arcades back in the day. There was a great deal of innovation and new styles of arcade games that people had yet to try, which led to even more excellent ideas for people to conjure up once given the time. Here we shall go over some of these famous titles, what made them stand out, and what made them so successful compared to their many counterparts.

Donkey Kong

Gaining a great deal of inspiration from famous American movies such as King Kong, Shigeru Miyamoto developed a game in which he and Nintendo were hoping to make a significant splash in American markets. The game was a massive and addictive success, not just in making Donkey Kong a star, but for the previously named Jump Man in the game to turn into their flagship character Mario. As one of the earliest and most significant displays of a jumping platforming game, this arcade game would be memorable for the way the player would save Pauline from the clutches of Donkey Kong.

Donkey Kong Jr.

Coming out as one of the hottest full sized arcades for Nintendo, this game builds upon the success of its predecessor Donkey Kong. This game, unlike its predecessor, actually featured four different stages that you would traverse to win and then obtain the opportunity to play on a more severe difficulty. The main difference now is that you play as DK jr., trying to save DK senior from the clutches of Mario this time around, giving a twist and new flair to the game.

Defender

Taking inspiration from similarly themed games such as Asteroids and Space Invaders, Defender decided to take the space flight simulation-styled game to another level through its complex five-button layout and more complex gameplay. This feature gives you much more freedom in traversing the endless space of the game while saving other ships and fighting off invaders. This arcade became a massive hit, with tens of thousands of cabinets in the U.S. alone. 

Frogger

Traversing obstacles was quickly becoming a prevalent form of entertainment for arcade games in the 80s. For Frogger, you had different barriers that you had to try and avoid, such as moving vehicles, water, snakes, and other hazards that could take you out should you find yourself not being careful enough. Even today, its legacy can still be felt through modern titles being released through its name today, showing just how much of a mark it left in arcades.

Final Fight

Originally meant to be a sequel to the first Street Fighter game, this title morphed into a beat ’em up game where players would work together to punch their way through Metro City to fight crime on an epic and blown-up scale and have fun while doing so. Much was changed from the Japanese version to the western version, but the amount of fun you could have in this game when it came to throwing fists and kicks could not be denied when combatting swarms of enemies. 

Pac-Man

You can’t mention classic arcades without thinking of the iconic Pac-Man, whose legend can still be felt today through being featured on Smash Bros. Ultimate. With the creation of such an iconic character, his riveting gameplay of snacking down on pellets while engaging in a cat and mouse game with the ghosts that will harry his steps. Coming out in 1980, Pac-Man would transcend the normal bounds of video-game mascot, being seen through toys, cartoons, and other forms of media, taking video games themselves to another level of popularity.

Conclusion

The 80s were some of the most exciting times for gaming, given the new titles that were dropping around this time, especially ones that would continue to impact gaming itself for many years to come. When it comes to full sized arcades, it’s hard to think of other games that came out around this period that could match the impact of these games mentioned above.

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