Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Travel back in time with collection of fun '80s games.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Midway Arcade Origins
What's It About?
What's old is new again. On one disc, MIDWAY ARCADE ORIGINS is a collection of 30 classic arcade titles from the golden age of gaming. This includes seminal favorites like Defender, Gauntlet, Root Beer Tapper, Spy Hunter, Joust, Rampage, Wizard of Wor, Xenophobe, Satan's Hollow, and Total Carnage. There are also lesser-known games and sequels (e.g. Defender II, Gauntlet II). Midway has also added Xbox 360 Achievements and PlayStation Network Trophies, so gamers can earn awards for playing well and compare them with friends. Plus, they've also added some co-op gaming support for three players on the same TV (depending on the game).
Is It Any Good?
These classics are likely to strike a nostalgic chord (hint: 40- or 50-somethings who grew up in smoky arcades) and can be something parents can share with their kids. These games are the original titles -- not remakes -- so purists will be happy with this collection. Some hold up better than others, such as Joust, Defender, and Robotron, while others perhaps not so much. Adding Xbox 360 Achievements and PSN Trophies is a good idea, as is co-op multiplayer on the same TV (and the ability to post high-scores online to boast to the world). But at $30, this is a little too much for what you get -- if you know what you're doing online, you can download these games and use an "emulator" to play them -- but it's still a good '80s collection of classics for nostalgic types.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether outdated graphics ruin the overall experience. Does a game need near-photorealistic visuals to be engaging or does solid gameplay make up for it? Can your imagination fill in the rest?
Families can also talk about the appeal of playing video games together. What is your favorite game for a group?
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 3 , Xbox 360
- Subjects : Language & Reading : following directions , reading , Science : gravity , motion
- Skills : Collaboration : cooperation , meeting challenges together , Thinking & Reasoning : applying information , solving puzzles , strategy
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Midway
- Release date : November 13, 2012
- Genre : Arcade
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Superheroes , Adventures , Animals ( Bugs ) , Robots
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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