Atari's Classic 1983 CRYSTAL CASTLES Arcade Game Cabinet

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[@kj197734]

When I was much younger, I played Crystal Castles over and over at my local 7-ELEVEN. It was amazing that they carried this along with Gauntlet, 1942, and Indiana Jones and the Temple Of Doom. 1983 to 1985 had some amazing arcade games.

[@LyonsArcade]

It really did! I didn't start even noticing arcade games until about 1987 unfortunately.... I was born in 78 so I'm not sure why I didn't see them or remember them before 87.

[@arcadefussell3185]

I believe Crystal Castles is in the top 5 most iconic 1980's arcade game cabinets. Pure classic in every way. Crystal Castles captures 1983 in a way nothing else can or does. Its an instant time warp to play today. Thanks for sharing it with us Ron.

[@LyonsArcade]

Thanks for watching Kelly we appreciate it as always, glad you enjoyed it!

[@geopioneergsxr5357]

I've been gassing gaming in arcade since well before then, and I've literally never seen this game before.. Pretty weird.

[@mresturk9336]

This game has a special place in my heart since I played the C64 port a lot as a child. The local barcade sort of has it, albeit as part of an official emulated collection cabinet, so I usually play a few rounds when I am there. Along with Gaplus and Mr Do's castle which are both also available on that cabinet.

[@LyonsArcade]

It's a really cool game, almost forgotten by this point unfortunately! I don't think they ever made a sequel or anything, even for the home systems, did they?

[@mresturk9336]

@@LyonsArcade I don't believe there are any sequels, at least not official. This game released during the market crash so maybe that nixed any hope of a follow up. Might also explain why the game is so unusual. Atari were likely desperate for any new ideas that would renew interest in their arcade machines.

[@georgeshelton6281]

I'm impressed when you're revamping all of these classic old-timer video arcade game machines. Since you're going to get more than what you bargained for with the new video arcade game machines. I've definitely seen what the new video arcade game machines looks like..

[@robaustin3258]

It was at the local Pizza Hut. Played it after school all the time. Simpler times. The sound brings back those days.

[@chrisnizer5702]

The bowling alley in Fountain Valley had this game back in '83. The colors, graphics, and gameplay blew us away. We'd go to the alley just to play this game! Another reason why I have to get a USB trackball for MAME.

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

Marcel's Olympic Bowl, Rochester NY. I was 14 when this game came out. Marcel's was the only center in Rochester (of the ~40 that existed back then) that was open in the summer and I bowled junior league there for a few summers around that time. They had a Crystal Castles machine in the area of the center where we bowled and I'd play CC right before and after league. Our team actually ended up calling itself "The Last Gems" that summer. Good times!

[@LyonsArcade]

Wow what a story. So you're saying there were 40 bowling centers in Rochester? Or 40 Olympic Bowls? I love bowling centers too, I used to run a route with arcade games for an operator and I had 8 different bowling centers I serviced. Now that I think of it I think I had 13 at one time. 4 in Charlotte, 4 in Columbia, 1 in Lincolnton, 1 in Statesville, 1 in Salisbury, 1 in Gaffney, and 1 in Clinton. Whew!

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

@@LyonsArcade Back in the early 80s when I was in my early teens and an AVID bowler there were ~40 bowling centers in the Rochester area...western NY was a HUGE center for the sport back then. They made so much money during the season that they all closed for the summer, except for Olympic (which was an 80 lane center BTW). Heck, the 20 lane neighborhood center I bowled in back then had 150 kids in their junior program. Back then everybody around here bowled. Now we're down to 9 centers or so and if there are 150 junior bowlers through the entire Rochester area I'd be surprised. :(

[@myarcade8913]

I remember playing this in the arcade back in the day. Put the quarter in stood up and the game was over.

[@LyonsArcade]

hahaha it happens :)

[@sturkrazee288]

"Whistles" man that's a beaut! Loved this game in the cades This one and marble madness got quite a bit of my money

[@maccustoms2295]

Marble madness was one of my favs I know I pumped quite a bit of money into marble madness.

[@LyonsArcade]

It's one of those games that creates it's own little world.

[@pacscalatorarcade5736]

Very fun game and awesome cabinet I like the work you guys did to repair the water damage nice vid:)

[@LyonsArcade]

It was pretty rough when we started!

[@Valitzu777]

The game I'd play as I and the rest of the 6th grade friends of mine were waiting for the bus, Queens, Elmhurst NY :) 1985ish... great game

[@albertmorel2771]

Hi Joe, I used to play this game at the my local arcade in Chicago. It was called the Funzone and was located on Western Ave. across the street from WGN TV Station and by Lane Tech High School.... . It was one of my favorites. Only saw it at that arcade between 1984-1986.

[@kbramlett6877]

Crystal Castles was the first arcade game to feature warp zones and have a true ending. Also, Bently Bear's original name was "Braveheart Bear." It had to be changed due to outcry from several Native American groups because the name "Braveheart" was a Native American name. Therefore, Atair was forced to change the name to "Bently Bear".

[@LyonsArcade]

I never heard that about Bently, didn't know that!

[@battledwarf8872]

'Crystal Castles' the arcade and the 2600 version can be found on the Atari Vault compilation. Didn't know about everything you described in the game, K Bramlett. I'm going to re-play this classic when I get a chance.

[@way8497]

Love your videos! I had a Crystal Castles a few years ago and sold it. I think it was sent overseas somewhere. Fun game and a fantastic cabinet. I read somewhere that the music was arranged by the programmer. I still have a Centipede in a cabaret cabinet and a Robotron 2084, which will probably be buried with me!

[@diegoknyte]

Best video game of all time IMO. Loved it. I think it was one of the first you could actually beat. Getting past the level 9 stages were a pain, and you couldn't warp to 9, always had to go thru 8 to get to 9. That level 9 witch phase, UGH, absolute pain. The first time made it to 10, I remember my heart pounding. First time beating was so gratifying. Thanks for the memories Ron! Highest score was about the mid 800K's. When you beat level to you get like 10K bonus per extra life you have. Looking at Twin Galaxies I could probably be in the top 10 but that was so long ago and no proof. OH well.

[@battledwarf8872]

I remember when this cabinet first rolled out in 1983 at Pinky's Fascination, Rockaway Park, Queens New York :)

[@LyonsArcade]

What a name place must have been cool...

[@davidorr8645]

Created at a time when Atari were openly letting everybody do drugs!🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@LyonsArcade]

I believe so too!

[@pcachu]

I was 2 edgy 4 this game when it came out. Which served as perfect cover for the fact that I sucked at it.

[@LyonsArcade]

I know what you mean man :)

[@mresturk9336]

I like it and still regularly play it at a local arcade. But the farthest I can ever get is level 5, even on a good run :P

[@the40yogamer]

always loved this cab but didn't care so much for the game but the cab is for sure a thing of beauty

[@LyonsArcade]

One of the best looking ever!

[@gallimead]

Great video, and sounds. First screen, roll around to the back of the maze, and press jump.

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

And BTW Poughkeepsie is in NY...it's maybe an hour north of New York City and is home to Vassar College (where my wife went). Drove the ~300 miles from Rochester to Poughkeepsie several times in '94-'95 to visit her there :)

[@LyonsArcade]

We get a bunch of stuff from "The Pinball Resource" out of Poughkeepsie, I've never visited though!

[@ataririder1980]

I went to CIA in New Hyde Park NY, one town over from "PO-Town". There are 3 beautiful colleges up there and huge IBM plant. Very country like but "PO-Town" is like Detroit. You wouldn't go there at night. I played Crystal Castles at my local Jamesway (like Target) way back in 87. Fun times when your department store had arcade room when your parents could shop and you can escape for about an hour.

[@LyonsArcade]

I remember when the department stores had a FEW games but by the time I came around most of them had thinned out. The first games I ever remember playing were in the atrium of a Hills Department Store....

[@johnDingoFoxVelocity]

I own one love it

[@LyonsArcade]

It's a great game :)

[@K.R.and.ArcadesofNorthCyp.]

I like how Atari designed this game's graphics. It's looks simple, but yet it looks awesome. Wish I had a trackball mouse, so I can play this game with it at the PC.

[@battledwarf8872]

LogiTech makes a rollerball mouse. CRT also makes a heavy duty mouse. Kensington makes the best rollerball mouse that professional sound engineers use.

[@K.R.and.ArcadesofNorthCyp.]

@@battledwarf8872 I used "Kensington USB /PS2 White TurboBall TrackBall Mouse" before. I borrowed from my friend to test it. It was pretty good but had to give it back to him as my friend used it a lot. Now I have been planning to get second hand one so I can not only play this but enjoy playing trackball games like The Simpsons Bowling and such.

[@battledwarf8872]

@@K.R.and.ArcadesofNorthCyp. I was mistaken; CST (Clearly Superior Technology) makes a heavy duty mouse; not CRT

[@K.R.and.ArcadesofNorthCyp.]

@@battledwarf8872 No worries. I can't even find that brand of trackball easily. To be honest, the trackball mouse can wait, as this COVID is still going on.

[@6581punk]

A very nicely designed cabinet.

[@LyonsArcade]

Yes it is, they really did a great job on these Ataris!

[@WWRNC]

Awesome game! First game ever to have an actual ending!

[@LyonsArcade]

Yeah they were really on some good stuff when they came up with this one :)

[@WWRNC]

@@LyonsArcade Lmao, no doubt!

[@johnnypatterson7512]

I had this game on the Atari 2600 back in the day.

[@LyonsArcade]

We get it in for the 2600 every once in awhile in our shop!

[@gustavocastillo8212]

Excellent video..I used to played this game.

[@LyonsArcade]

Thanks for watching Gustavo, we appreciate it!

[@TheRealHammerBillyLee]

I saw this for sale on your website and was hoping there would be a video coming! Such a beautifully designed cabinet and artwork. There used to be an ice skating ring back in the day in upstate NY called Low Tor that had a snack bar room with a whole row of arcade games and this was there once. Such a classic game!

[@LyonsArcade]

Very cool man, "Low Tor" what in the world does that mean? I used to have games in an ice skating rink and they ran really good I think they like the cold :)

[@nfavor]

Played this as a kid at my local swim club. You're much better than I was!

[@LyonsArcade]

I'm going to keep practicing :)

[@johnDingoFoxVelocity]

remember the volume potentiometer can no longer be purchased

[@LyonsArcade]

I'll bet I could find one on ebay :)

[@theoldar]

Now you are in my wheel house! 1983 was a great arcade year for me.

[@LyonsArcade]

There's some really cool stuff in 1983!

[@AnJohnThanhNguyen]

Awesome 👍🏻👍🏻

[@LyonsArcade]

Thank you for watching!

[@CusiArcade]

That blue tee molding looks great.

[@LyonsArcade]

We like to put it on certain games

[@TboneTenEighties]

I always liked/played this strange trackball game in the arcades.

[@LyonsArcade]

It's very unique!

[@olepigeon]

When I was a kid, my local roller-skate rink had both Crystal Castles and Marble Madness. I was convinced the games were related (or perhaps sequels) because they both had trackballs, and on some levels in Crystal Castle, they had marbles. :)

[@LyonsArcade]

I'm sure the one was inspired by the other for sure :)

[@tgriffin6938]

"If You Ain't First Your Last"!!!

[@LyonsArcade]

Yup, second place is FIRST LOSER

[@xxDADDYDAYCARExx]

@@LyonsArcade that’s NOT what my wife says 😳😉

[@tcb8295]

Another great classic arcade game. Unfortunately, I didn't play this one. But still a classic.

[@LyonsArcade]

Very original game, nothing quite like it!

[@pezjohnson]

I was hoping you were going to talk about the High Score being part of the Crystal castles. Good looking machine. One of the first secrets I learned in arcades. When you get high enough, the game tells you to run behind the first level and jump to warp. As the gem eaters are swallowing (their necks go red as they eat), you can run into them and kill them. I had so much fun on this game.

[@LyonsArcade]

It's a very clever design, it's cool to see an original game get made into a big time cabinet and they ran with it...

[@kins749]

One of the best looking cabs of all time, under-rated game too

[@LyonsArcade]

Definitely!

[@dk2655]

Great video.

[@garshanarny]

Maybe the only place I ever saw and played Crystal Castles was at my local arcade, Hucky Finn's at what was then called Pennyrile Mall in Hopkinsville KY.

[@LyonsArcade]

You folks really know how to put a name on something, I love it 😎

[@chrisnizer5702]

You can attack those worm-like enemies when they're picking up a gem. Just run into them when they're picking one up and you'll take 'em out and score extra points.

[@demofilm]

i must say you are pretty good at this game , and what a nice cabinet

[@LyonsArcade]

Thanks man I try :)

[@Jeroen_a]

Darn it.... the name of the game rang a bell.... and once i saw it.... YES!! i have played this game alot.... never seen it on an arcade game... Probably on the Commodore 64 (years and years ago!) i even remembered the first few levels :D this is a lovely game! :D Nice repair!

[@LyonsArcade]

Glad you enjoyed it Jeroen and it rang a bell somewhere, just think you've been carrying those memories around hidden in there all these years :)

[@Jeroen_a]

@@LyonsArcade Yes! the memories already had cobwebs on them :D

[@theodorethompson9032]

There'a this band called Crystal Castles that is pretty cool...

[@LyonsArcade]

I think I've heard of them but never checked them out, i'll have to give them a listen...

[@johnDingoFoxVelocity]

The Atari logo by the speaker glue the back side of it with silicone it’s glass plate it snaps the logo off and the glass lands on the player

[@davy_K]

Wow - as early as '83? I thought this was a later game and I associate it with the general decline of arcades and it being one of latter great games of the classic era. I suppose arcades had started to slide a bit around then though.......What a gorgeous game. Loving the madness - best not to try and think too hard about it!!! :) Nice mixing up the t-molding - I have Discs of Tron blue on my Asteroids Deluxe and it goes really well with the side art. This game emulates pretty well in MAME using the mouse control.....but nothing like playing on the real thing of course.

[@LyonsArcade]

I think by 83 the decline had already started for sure... I know it was full fledged by 85, when the Nintendo Vs. system came out, because it was designed and marketed as a solution. Also Space Shuttle (the pinball) that came out in late 84 was credited with "saving Pinball" because the pinball market was already destroyed....

[@davy_K]

@@LyonsArcade :(

[@Teckno77]

90% of video playing the game haha ...awesome :) I just managed to fit my first custom crt tv onto my cabinet I made from scratch that's gonna be a Galaga style build. What a pain in the backside!!!! Lol 21" CRT are heavy man when you are lifting it in an out to get it's position right omg. But we'll worth the effort :D

[@RozarSmacco]

Crystal Castles Music by Franz Liszt and Tchaikovsky Hint:Go to the very back of the first level’s castle and jump. WARP!

[@retrogameroom9019]

I can remember about 4 summers worth of seeing ASS castles high scores lol

[@LyonsArcade]

Lol there’s one in every crowd 😎

[@CasioGreg]

OMG!!!! i played this religously..... along with StarRider

[@LyonsArcade]

StarRider is RARE...

[@FreezerBurn.]

Man those bees remind me of the sound used in Accolade’s 1987 Test Drive....which i still have kickin around somewhere on a 3.5”er 😁

[@LyonsArcade]

I believe you mentioned that game before, it must have really made an impression on you back in the day :)

[@FreezerBurn.]

@@LyonsArcade Gauntlet, Test Drive, Mortal Combat and a many other classics made me the well rounded idiot i am today! 😁

[@RR-xg1cm]

Learning the shortcuts will get you high scores.

[@LyonsArcade]

I'm going to keep practicing!

[@annax5212]

Played it for free for many years , switch off unit at top press 1P and keep pressed while you switch on ....enjoy

[@oldskoolems9248]

"Its not horrrrrroible!!!!!! lol I havent seen this game since i was a teen! great looking game. Fun Times!

[@LyonsArcade]

I like the design and gameplay, very fun!

[@johnDingoFoxVelocity]

Also most Atari crystal castles the wood marquee frame is usually made from a recycled centipede cabinet

[@Ajaxaxxess]

Cant fall off the edge? Great idea! you must take as much time to record as you do to repair. Great vids man!

[@LyonsArcade]

I'ts kind of like Pac-man where you're basically stuck in a maze and can't fall off edges...

[@mikie144]

Beautiful, I use sounds for mobile , there's hidden jump to other screens.

[@LyonsArcade]

Very cool. I always forget where the warps are :)

[@wiredawg2005]

Cool, I was much of a Cystal Castle player waaaay back then, mainly because I sucked at trackball games. LOL Nevertheless, awesome vid!!!

[@MrVectrex]

Awesome video, never seen the game before, wondering if they reached Sweden actually. Will you load up videos when you fixed it? That would be nice.

[@LyonsArcade]

We didn't film fixing it since the cabinet was kind of rough, people wouldn't be able to handle the truth :) One of our viewers in Australia has said he didn't see it over there either, maybe it was a limited release and didn't make it internationally.

[@EsotericArctos]

I don't think I ever saw it out here in Australia. It does look like someone was on something slightly illicit when it was created.

[@LyonsArcade]

This guy was definitely 'expanding his mind' lol It's amazing that they had the guts to actually make it and distribute it! I believe it came out for some of the home systems but maybe it's more rare than I realized if it didn't make it over to Australia. The trackball really helps it, makes it pretty unique to play.... thanks for watching Brendan!

[@RetroToonsOfficial]

Thank Yo

[@LyonsArcade]

Thanks for watching!

[@fatbelly2438]

one of the hardest early video games ever

[@LyonsArcade]

They made all the early games EVIL level hard so they could get those quarters :)

[@MegaSpambox]

if you use a hair dryer on the marks on the marquee should take em out nicely my friend :)

[@LyonsArcade]

We'll leave that for the next owner :)

[@Foxonian]

Always thought this game was a cross between Pac Man and Donkey Kong. Cleaver for its time.

[@LyonsArcade]

I can see that...

[@gordiasgordian925]

It seems like this one didn't get a lot of traction but I remember playing at the main arcade in town. I remember the game being difficult and it took a few quarters to get anywhere. I don't think I have seen one since 1984 or so.

[@LyonsArcade]

They don't pop up that often anymore, I don't know how many were made....

[@EngineeringVignettes]

Reminds me a lot of Lode Runners Rescue. No cats tho. :)_ Cheers,

[@swilliamisdead]

"...It's not Crystal Castles, it's Crystal..." - Mark Alipger

[@e30m3mike]

footy

[@t10mcg]

I just got this arcade game. Not much damage, has the black trim. The lights in the top don’t work- cool to know they are there. I need to get new track ball parts, it is t rolling well (but it is the original red lighted one). What do you use to clean the console area around the track ball and buttons- that cleans but isn’t damaging? Thanks!!

[@chadtrips3203]

I'll buy it.

[@ricj9594]

niceeeeeee

[@LyonsArcade]

Very cool game for sure :)

[@CHINASAUR]

Crystal Castles is the best :D

[@LyonsArcade]

It's a great game!

[@LBAK1021]

This is awesome do y’all sell machines?

[@LyonsArcade]

We do, you can see all of them at www.LyonsArcade.com

[@CasioGreg]

i think if you jump over the enemies they freeze momentarily

[@LyonsArcade]

I think you're right!

[@timkunk3498]

I miss Bentley!

[@TORCHish]

got a question for ya....someone has for sale 1950s Wurlitzer juke box, 1963 Slugger baseball pinball and 1957 Flagship with wood rail and legs.all three $2,500 they all look in good shape its close to me just wondering if that price seemed good

[@LyonsArcade]

Sounds like a good deal to me if they look decent and play Well!

[@peterjv8748]

I never realized CC is a LSD nightmare.

[@LyonsArcade]

Once you notice it, you can't un-notice it!

[@Zepphd2]

Hey Ron! I have a question I hope you don’t mind answering. Is the Sharp shooter pinball worth $375? So far I know everything lights up. A friend is selling it for his mother in-law, said his wife plugged it in and it came on just didn’t try to play it. Thanks!!

[@LyonsArcade]

You basically want to see if the backglass looks pretty good, and if there's more wear on the playfield than you can live with. Sharpshooter was made by a strange company that only made a few games, and the gameboard is very unique, the issue is they mounted a battery right in the middle of the board. If that battery has started leaking alkaline the board is likely destroyed and it's very expensive to get another one. If I saw one for that price and it looked good I'd buy it though and try to fix the board.

[@Zepphd2]

@@LyonsArcade, thank you for the feedback!

[@curbydinobot8633]

The game closest to being like this one is Marble Madness, but even that games a little different

[@LyonsArcade]

When I was a kid I had Marble Madness on the NES but I couldn't get anywhere on it, lol

[@falcon3tube]

I (still) have marble madness on the Sega Master System. I could only reach level 3 or 4 when i was a kid.

[@shmonkles1790]

I found a Crystal Castles cocktail on craigslist for $600. Is it worth it?

[@LyonsArcade]

Sounds like a good deal to me!

[@CrazyMan_Engineer]

Shame the bear could not keep his original braveheart first name.

[@LyonsArcade]

Bentley sounds sophisticated :)

[@CrazyMan_Engineer]

@@LyonsArcade Yeah Atari had to change the name because of the native Americans and they decided to name him after a car company.

[@carlperkins1452]

Aladdin's Castle

[@MrDirkles]

Atari were the kings of originality back in the mid eighties. Crystal castles, marble madness, paperboy, Indiana jones, APB, 720 and toobin were all such great games. Sadly they are everything that modern games aren't.

[@gorillaau]

Crystals... Methamphetamine, perhaps?

[@LyonsArcade]

Maybe we’d have to find the designer 😎

[@xxDADDYDAYCARExx]

I DO NOT remember this one?????

[@LyonsArcade]

We're slipping into the forgotten games of the past!

[@xxDADDYDAYCARExx]

@@LyonsArcade I know i’am getting old (51) but if I’d ever seen it I would not forget haha.... don’t think this one ever made it to the Emerald Isle?? Unless someone knows better!!?? Still gonna watch you fix it as usual though Joe 👍👍🖖🖖🖖🖖