23 Underrated Games on Arcade Archives

[@JohnRiggs]

20 great and sometimes underrated Arcade games of the 80s and 90s - kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6CqmHacaNpkj6c

[@Metaphor9696]

Loving the ECW throwback shirt. Stevie Richards rules!

[@tdog5993]

Flak attack’s jet is similar to an F-15 (Eagle) not the 14 (Tomcat).

[@JohnRiggs]

@@tdog5993 Thanks for the clarification!

[@SophiaNyx]

I watch all ur vids! :)

[@doctorx0079]

How about Blazing Star and Magical Drop?

[@TheArcadeArchive]

It was me who found sky skipper 😊 We revealed it in Atlanta 3 years ago now. We got invited into Nintendo’s head quarters and they allowed us to scan the only remaining arcade machine left in the world. Such a great story.

[@JohnRiggs]

Dude!! That's amazing!!! Thank you so much! What a great story. Definitely a piece of Nintendo History.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

@@JohnRiggs Thanks John.😊👍

[@SaviorGabriel]

The folks at HAMSTER are doing God's work here preserving the arcade legacy.

[@penatio]

@@mastersproutgamer9327 Sega, Namco and Capcom have their own collections though (Sega ages, Namco Museums and Capcom Arcade Stadium).

[@penatio]

@@mastersproutgamer9327 They make their own arcade ports.

[@retrofan4963]

Namco fortunately made a deal with HAMSTER recently. As far as I know, Pacman, Xevious, Rally X and Mappy are ported recently in Arcade Archives.

[@retrofan4963]

@@mastersproutgamer9327 I didn't know they're ported recently on Arcade Archives. That's cool :)

[@retrofan4963]

@@mastersproutgamer9327 I hope Namco ports Hopping Mappy in Arcade Archives. That game is exclusive in Japan for a long time. It's time to finally re-release that game internationally in Arcade Archives.

[@TriModeGaming]

Its alway cool to see another youtuber that hang out with there kids while gaming on and off the videos ,keep it up, you inspire me

[@MyRetroLife]

Well definitely going to have to get X Multiply now. Didn’t realize it was kind of in the Rtype family. Tube Panic looks awesome. Also you reminded me that the arcade versions of Rygar and Ninja Gaiden are there. Great vid!

[@Omn1Slash]

loved to see a comprehensive look at those Arcade Archives lineup of games. Also +1 for the bWo ECW shirt :)

[@reagandow850]

This is AWESOME Riggs!!! Thanks so much for putting these all together. I’m also an arcade guy and these games are my youth man!! All those days (and nights) in the arcades in the late 70’s but mainly wary 80’s. Oh man!!! Arcade Archives are the greatest!!

[@akildukes7499]

You’re thinking of Kung Fu with David Carridine, regarding Rygar.

[@bestudesu4833]

Beverly hills ninja did a spoof on this as well

[@Bman4hire]

Thats what I was thinking...that was an awesome series

[@isaacescalera9643]

I remember Jean Claude Vandam doing this too

[@orenmauritzen8674]

Legend of Cage: The documentary explaining how Nicholas Cage can star on so freaking many movies, often several at once I subbed to you even before knowing you give a lot of attention to obscure underrated games, awesome this is what I came for... You know, since I have played the hell out of every other classic game by now... :))

[@kenterminateddq5311]

Looking at Riggs's shirt, John must be a huge ECW fan. I wish today's wrestling can be as good as the 90s wrestling (one can wish).

[@SEANski1411]

My father used to call Burger King “burger chef” and McDonald’s “mcdougals” I always thought he was just being a smart ass. You just blew my mind.

[@mastersproutgamer9327]

List of games for mobile users: Sky Skipper 0:37 Vs. Balloon Fight 1:21 The Legend of Kage 1:53 Ninja Spirit 2:25 Ninja Gaiden 3:04 Rygar 3:38 Yojyūden: Heroic Episode 4:18 Mr. Goemon 5:03 Ikki 5:50 Naughty Boy 7:19 Pooyan 8:15 Radical Radial 8:50 Wiz 9:23 Water Ski 10:22 X Multiply 11:36 P-47: The Freedom Fighter 12:19 Terra Force 13:04 Omega Fighter 13:23 Flak Attack 13:59 Tube Panic 14:30 Conclusion 15:06

[@Gasmurken]

Many great titles in the Arcade Archives, and they are perfect for the Switch in my opinion. I do wish they were a bit cheaper to buy however, and there could have been some bundle options. But I guess people buy them anyway as there are rarely any big sales on them.

[@villain5873]

I too love retro games but you had me with “Naughty boy” I didn’t think I’d see that on modern consoles.

[@enelan619]

John, the movie with the jugs that burned the mark in the heroes arms was Kung Fu with David Carradine. Great 80’s martial arts movie!

[@Typical.Anomaly]

Found the comment I was going to leave lol ✌💗🤘

[@OneColdMonkey]

I don't know about Bruce Lee, but picking up the pots with your forearms and getting brands was a part of the Kung Fu TV series.

[@barryklinedinst6233]

I just found your channel. Not sure how I missed it before. I love old games. I'm stuck in the 16 bit Era. I play new stuff but really love old school games. Looking forward to your content

[@Jayce_Alexander]

Another nice list there, John. I'd love to see a list of arcade games you'd like to see added to the Arcade Archives collection on Switch. Personally I'd love to get Chase H.Q. There aren't a whole lot of 80s arcade racers with a behind-the-car perspective on there, and Chase H.Q. and its semi-sequel Super Criminal Investigation are two great, intense racing games that I never get bored of. Hope Hamster Corporation gets a hold of them and makes them available.

[@leroyvisiongames2294]

I’d love to see some of Sega’s more obscure games get released on the eshop, such as Quartet, Ninja Princess, My Hero, etc.

[@monkeyballs512]

Interesting to hear you compare Ikari Warriors to Jackal, but not the more obvious Capcom comparison Commando. Anyway, this video is fantastic. Reminded me of a lot of games I haven’t thought about in decades, and exposed me to some Imports and rare stuff I’ve never played. This is the best kind of content you have to offer. Thanks

[@Capillus]

Rygar arcade was one of the most popular games in my country. Almost every amusements arcade had it.

[@Rob_1776]

As much as I liked it on the NES I was upset when Rygar wasn't like the arcade version! But I have Rygar and Double Dragon on my PS4 from Arcade Archives! And I love it!

[@BlackMoore82]

The NES port of The Legend of Kage was one of the first Nintendo games I played growing up and yes definitely recall pronouncing Kage incorrectly hah.

[@futureskeletons66669]

I've had a carefully curated MAME collection since 2003 and I still have 94 Arcade Archives and 26 ACA NEOGEO games on PS5 and all the ACA Nintendo games on Switch. Hamster do a sterling job of emulating the games, second only to the mighty M2. The games are faithfully emulated and accurate to the original ROM and run much better than in MAME, even offering options to run the games without the niggling issues that game may be known for. This demonstrates a knowledge of the games that many do not share. Their model works because you aren't forced to pay a premium price for a collection of games to get the 5 games you actually want. Arcade Archives is the best effort at preserving these games, so far.

[@dauny08]

The director of Omega Fighter is a legendary creator in Japan who made Bubble Bobble and Rainbow Islands.

[@p.rhapsodyobrien1850]

Picking up the pot with the forearms was the TV show, Kung Fu back in the day.

[@chrisnizer1885]

Good stuff my friend, good stuff. Love playing classic games I never saw or had the opportunity to play back in the arcade era. When I picked up a Super Retrocade I went nuts loading ROM's on that thing. I just downloaded everything I could find that was made in the 70's and 80's. Scrambled Egg, Tricky Doc, Devil Fish, Marvins Maze just to name a few. Thanks for another great review, Semper Fi!

[@pauleckert4321]

In the hunt and Karnovs Revenge are 2 of my favorites on the Arcade archives. So many good games on there. Only down side is they almost never go on sale.

[@ianofliverpool7701]

I was hoping to see games from my arcade memories such as Space Invaders, Galaxian, Defender, Qubert, Phoenix , Pacman and Centipede

[@xchuckd]

Dont tell no one but your my favorite KZbinr John Riggs..love your videos

[@solonsaturngaming3727]

Love B.W.O short you wore man Blue Meanie and his crew was imo the best fun wrestling group 😂

[@wes788411]

The High Score Mode makes these games extra addictive.

[@Bryan-lu4du]

Riggs, if you haven't checked it out yet try Turbo Force. Its an overhead shooter but you are a flying car kind of like Back to the Future 2 style. Great power ups and lots of fun!

[@Ripplin]

Yes, and great soundtrack as well!

[@JohnRiggs]

I haven't. I'll look into it. Thanks!

[@Ripplin]

Used to play it in a hole-in-the-wall arcade at the mall. Flying Lamborghini Diablos? Count me in! ;)

[@bartdunbar5108]

Shout out for Burger Chef! I miss that restaurant so much.

[@JohnRiggs]

It was the best! We had one a couple blocks away from my house growing up. Rarely went there but loved it when we did.

[@LSOK38]

Picking up the burning pot with your forearms to get them branded was from the opening of the TV series Kung Fu starring David Carridine.

[@w.s.mcgallis7731]

Legend of Cage actually reminded of Ninja Spirit, and then BAM! Nice.

[@mikailernendaz6955]

Ninja Spirit on the Turbo is super accurate.

[@glennshoemake4200]

Arabian is another Arcade Archives underrated game. I remember playing this at the arcade in the mid 80s, along with Joust, Defender, Moon Patrol, Kangaroo and Dig Dug.

[@leroyvisiongames2294]

My cousin had an old Kangaroo machine at her old house in Texas. Was surprised when I found out that it was originally made by Sunsoft and not Atari themselves

[@CharlesHepburn2]

Picking up the boiling pot with your forearms wasn’t Bruce Lee, it was from Kung Fu with David Carradine.

[@ThunderFist1978]

The thing I think is coolest about Sky Skipper is the fact that they used the board in the cabinet in Nintendo’s warehouse to get the roms for Arcade Archives. Every other Sky Skipper board had been converted to Popeye after Sky Skipper failed its play test, and they used the one board that had never been converted. Super cool!

[@ThunderFist1978]

By the way, the scene where someone lifted a pot and it burned an image into his arms was in Beverly Hills Ninja. I’m sure other movies had a scene like that as well, but I remember Beverly Hills Ninja did for sure, though there is no way Rygar got it from Beverly Hills Ninja since Rygar came more than a decade before Beverly Hills Ninja.

[@VoceCorale]

Exerion is one of my favourite arcade games. I was happy to see it included in your list. Great selection overall. PS the airplane in Flak Attack definitely resembles an F-15 "Eagle".

[@mharris7380]

I remember playing Flak Attack. A convenience store between my house and school would have one or two arcade machines and a pinball machine at any one time. They had Gemini Wing and then Flak Attack. Flak Attack seemed to have a rectangular hitbox so you would die even when the bullets or explosions didn't hit you.

[@theunfungamer7263]

You can never show off enough Frogger

[@0730bcorm]

The picking up the steel pot was actually David Karadeen or however his name is spelt, in the show Kung Fu

[@jessragan6714]

Man, these are some obscure titles. Out of all the games you've shown here, I only own two or three of them. I can definitely recommend Exerion, though! Loved it in arcades, and I still love it now.

[@richardii5989]

Shaolins Road, Time Soldiers and Mr Do Castle... Those are 3 big games I want in Arcade Archives

[@Tigerlord4835]

Shaolin's Road is also known as Kicker from Konami with no modern console release yet. Time soldiers is on the SNK 40th anniversary collection. Mr. Do and other games from Universal haven't released on modern consoles, yet.

[@pika23]

Love your blue meanie shirt!!! What a blast from the past

[@leroyvisiongames2294]

Heroic Episode walked so Legendary Wings could run- err, uhh, fly.

[@tangleshootburrfoot36]

Tube Panic reminds me of my more drunken times 😂 "Please tell the room to stop spinning, it's being so rude!"

[@iraplikeyoubreathe]

how perfect, approximately ten hours before you made this video i just bought $60 worth of these arcade archives. The neogeo selections are stellar

[@JohnRiggs]

Ha! Great timing. They keep coming out with new ones, too.

[@toddmichaeljohnson7139]

Please make more of these! I love discovering this games. About to buy Zero Team now.

[@dustin2dust351]

Jackie Chan in Shaolin Wooden men was the movie.

[@Unquestionable]

Really cool look at titles I was vaguely interested in, lots of stuff shown off that I might check out. Really love the Arcade Archives titles and hope to see more videos like this.

[@SmileyTrilobite]

I remember playing Ninja Gaiden, Joust, Terra Cresta, and vs Super Mario Bros as a kid in daycare. BtW, your pronunciation is good; a = “ah” and i = “ee” as in pizza, so it is indeed Ninja “Guy-Den”.

[@el_puma_real]

In The Hunt is the Arcade Archives game I can't stop playing....even when I beat it

[@reagandow850]

Wow Riggs. I don’t even remember Naughty Boy and I would have been 8 when it came out. You’ve got an incredible memory for these old games. Lol!! 👍 edit: I used to LOVE front line. It had those great joysticks that you could twist to adjust your gun. Oh man!!

[@JohnRiggs]

I've never seen Naughty Boy outside of that old Burger Chef. So many of that generation's Arcade games I've only seen once. Hunchback is another they had at Burger Chef.

[@reagandow850]

@@JohnRiggs - that’s awesome!! You’ll laugh but each week I look forward to checking the eshop for these arcade games that have been released. It’s one of my most exciting days of the week. I love a sad life. (Sigh) ;-)

[@leroyvisiongames2294]

“GAME…. SYSTEM…. OPERATIONAL” ~Hunchback boot screen

[@gamer-fe2xp]

You are infinitely better than LordBBH. Love your vids man.

[@capitalknockers666]

Heroic Episode is cool, it's also worth pointing out that when you get far enough in stages you get wings and it switches from a vertical push-scrolling Ikari Warriors style game to a constant vertical scrolling SHMUP.

[@leroyvisiongames2294]

The game is a lot like a combination of Commando and Legendary Wings. It could really use a continue feature though; even on a good day I can seldom clear the third level (according to the Internet the game has 7 levels that alternate back and forth between on-foot and flying stages). Those teleporting wizard enemies are tough!!

[@paxhumana2015]

Terra Force is one of the last games in the Terra Cresta anthology, which is Moon Cresta/Eagle/Super Moon Cresta, Moon Quasar, Terra Cresta, UFO Robo Dangar, Terra Force, Terra Force II: Mandler no Gyakushu, and, finally, Terra Cresta 3D.

[@leroyvisiongames2294]

You can actually hear sound effects from Moon Cresta in the 1987 film “The Lost Boys” during one of the comic book store scenes. A Paragon pinball machine can also be seen briefly in another shot

[@fresnokila3]

Rygar was a game I kept coming back to as a kid. It was a single arcade that was in a store close to school unti they got Street Fighter 2 which then got all our attention.

[@alexkanavos6470]

I bought "Ninja Gaiden" and "Contra". I also bought "ACA NEOGEO 2020 Super Baseball". They're all on PS4. I've never owned or played a NEOGEO. They've always been too rich for my blood! I did play "2020 Super Baseball" on Super Nintendo as a kid though. You should check it out, Riggs! :)

[@walcodebruyn2135]

Perfect video to watch, while feeling sick...really appreciate all the effort you put into these John.

[@Raphael_De_La_Ghetto]

JR whats up, nice vid👍🏽

[@CDiArcade]

I'm super behind on this video but the martial arts thing you talked about where the guy picks up the pot with their arms an the heat from the pot sears the logos into their arms is from the TV series Kung Fu.

[@alexmiller7173]

Burger Chef has not been around since the late 80's or early 90's. It was bought by Hardee's/Carl's Jr.

[@Bloodreign1]

The game at 6:37 is also known as Booby Kids, plays pretty much like 2979's Heinyako Alien. This game did get ports to the Faicom, and the TG-16 is pretty much the same thing. X-Multiply was bundled with Image Fight on the PS1, and the Saturn, the PS1 version is the one I own a copy of.

[@rayzaramon6598]

Ikari Warriors? Forget that!😅 It's like a mix of Rambo 2 and The Ninja on the SMS.😁

[@radiofreedom947]

Daisakusen is pronounced like (dice ku sen) and it means something like, great tactic, or major strategy.

[@eloratings]

Ninja Gaiden (arcade) is awesome!! I remember playing that co-op arcade game with my classmate after school

[@04StartyCornRainbowOnline88]

Great review. 👍 I'm a huge fans of the Arcades nowadays specially Ninja Spirit, Ninja Gaiden, Rygar, X Multiply, P 47, Terra Force, Omega Fighter and MX 5000 or Flak Attack, i did never hear many of these games until ealy 2010s when i had the MAME emulator.

[@donjuansantos2439]

@9:14 that tire reminds me of the GiJoe vehicle Cobra Buzz Boar

[@funkyflights]

Hamster does a great job on these games …

[@punkydudester3]

A list in the description would really help instead of constantly rewinding the video 👍Great video thank you.

[@zackschilling4376]

Speaking of R-Type, we need a R-Type collection. Especially cuz some of the games are very expensive. R-Type Delta is one that comes to mind, and there no reissue you can buy like R-Type III. I think R-Type Final is still cheap(er) for PS2. I bought it for a few bucks CIB years back (2013-2014). Even R-Types for PS1 is climbing in price ($50+). I was lucky to pick up the PS1 games for relatively cheap

[@fandabidozi3191]

I can highly recommend Butasan - great on 2 player especially. Still holding out hope for Operation Wolf and Mysterious Stones: Dr. Kick In Adventure.

[@conorl1894]

Great video John, added most of these to my wish list there

[@WilliamTheMovieFan]

I loved the game Front Line! Lot's of fun and frustration playing that game.

[@infernonine]

I used to love front line in the arcades.

[@markplotkin1166]

I like ur bwo shirt every time I see that shirt I think of the blue meanie🙌

[@Tony-1971]

All i want is Aliens arcade (1990), and Kung-fu Master (1984). There are some awesome old arcade games but HAMSTER seem to keep bringing out quite a lot of the not so great ones.

[@Tony-1971]

@@mastersproutgamer9327 Yeah, thats why i dont buy that much that they have released.

[@nashvillan4lif]

I have never heard of Flak Attack, but the gameplay footage I definitely recognize as MX-5000. Probably one of those regional naming things. Another shmup you might want to try would be Ajax.

[@davidtremayne4963]

Hi John, a bit late to the party😂 but I too am a fan of old school martial art movies. So concerning Rygar with the pot burning the forearms, I think you might be thinking of the movie Shaolin Wooden men with Jackie Chan....👍

[@lukehinkle9614]

I played Legend of Kage a lot on the NES. It was my go to since we didn't have Shinobi at first on the NES. Very difficult on the NES, but never played the game in the arcade. I might have to buy this on the Switch.

[@bestudesu4833]

Never get tired of your vids john. Hope you and your family are staying healthy through this pandemic.

[@JohnRiggs]

We're hanging in there. A little stir crazy, but still.

[@bestudesu4833]

@@JohnRiggs I heard on the news that classic gaming actually protects you from the virus, so you're good dude. 😉

[@rayforceaddict]

OMG Omega Fighter! I was hoping that one would come up. Such an awesome game. Huh I know some of these as home ports like Cratermaze on TG16 and didn’t realize they had arcade versions.

[@derictorres8548]

You should give Terra Force another try, at certain point you can enter some passages using your bombs that will enter caves in a vertical style sections, kinda like Thunderforce 2.

[@JohnRiggs]

Oh, I will. I mean, I already have it so I may as well get my money's worth out of it.

[@RJayMrsReach007]

I remember playing exerion on the NES playing noneston stage after stage because it feels like an endless cycle. But never knew it was an arcade game. Arcade style looks way more impressive then that.

[@jimobrien84]

This must be what the Lynx ninja gaiden was ported from. It was just like that

[@otakuking10]

I hope Hamster will create new Sega and capcom arcade archives games including pitfall 2, F1 Dream, pengo, after burner 2, and more..

[@GXSCChater]

Awesome video! There is nes/famicom ports of ikki, pooyan, front line and exerion!

[@VdrummerStixx777]

Wiz looks like the character from He-Man was it Orco

[@xanderskullion]

Between arcade archives and sega ages I have no idea why folks complain about virtual console. My switch is stacked with retro goodness

[@samos8367]

For Flak Attack the aircraft you use is a "MX5000" which is a made up modified version of an F-15E Strike Eagle.

[@MetalJody1990]

Cool. I added 7 of these to my list of games to fetch for MAME, since that's the only way I can play them on my preferred handheld.

[@jasonblalock4429]

If you're a fan of classic arcade games, don't overlook the Data East games released (for some reason) under the "Johnny Turbo's Arcade" label on Switch. They've got classics like Bad Dudes and Heavy Barrel, but also some hidden gems like Sly Spy and Wizard Fire. If you want something a little different, Wizard Fire is it. It's an isometric ARPG, kind of halfway between Gauntlet and Capcom's great Dungeons & Dragons beat-em-ups. It's fun and replayable. Plus, the terrible cutscene voice acting is absolutely AMAZING. (Also, they go on sale all the freaking time. Sometimes for just a couple bucks.)

[@JohnRiggs]

I did a video showing off all those games, too :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZ_OqXmApbaUqpY

[@mattcaine9938]

3:57. That was Kung Fu, Grasshopper

[@paxhumana2015]

I remember The Legend of Kage and there actually is a decent NES port that, yes, also made it to the NTSB-U region as well, so if you have an NES, then it is a good game to play for that system as well.

[@Ravenwing888]

I remember picking up Shusse Ozumo. I'm a sumo fan and I wanted to see what an arcade version of sumo wrestling looked like. And honestly, it's one of my favourite hidden gems now

[@figment1988]

It's one of two sumo wrestling games in existence. I know Data East made one as well

[@biscariot1074]

I got alot of them on the PS4 and used to play them regularly. They're my feel good games. Sucks that they don't work on the PS5

[@Albert8044]

Arcade archives series library on Xbox One is almost the entire Neo Geo MVS library.

[@fireproofneo]

What a great idea for a video! Thanks John!