Review: Japanese Arcades

In which George gets drunk and crawls into some Gundam pods.
Anyone who happens to be in Tokyo right now: I highly recommend checking this place out before they shut down soon: project-ican.com/
UPDATE: Yes, they make you wear those crocs. They're motion-tracked in the game.

[@ShotgunGabe]

Timestamp for the random ramen scenes 1:13 the 1st ramen 3:02 the 2nd ramen 9:52 the 3rd ramen 12:54 the last ramen

[@afivey]

Thank you Shotgun Gabe.

[@ShotgunGabe]

you're welcome A;/

[@DimitriosDenton]

+

[@calska140]

;_;7 bless you

[@MCPOSJ117films]

"There’s no such thing in the world as absolute reality. Most of what they call real is actually fiction. What you think you see is only as real as your brain tells you it is" *cut to george in vr wobbling on a board*

[@playnejaymes]

is that kojima from portable ops!?

[@Tamacat388]

Now George has to choose his own name.

[@Tamacat388]

Oh dear is this a trend?

[@voytek5550]

+SNESLIVE oh hey i have one of those too

[@LuckeeStrikee]

*cut to automated ramen bowl*

[@CodexEntry]

George walking the plank is the best thing I've seen all week.

[@eldritchautomaton]

Me to.

[@AbbreviatedReviews]

The Crocs really add to the experience.

[@MissHeathen]

Crocs are the shit. Fuck what people think.

[@CodexEntry]

You're the true free thinker

[@kinghadbar]

What's that old joke? "Crocs are like getting blown by a guy. It feels great until you look down and realize that you're gay."

[@NakeyJakey]

You're looking good George. Also that Initial D setup is unreal

[@radiationbacon]

Great minds think alike

[@funky35791]

Weird to see a Jakey comment with so little likes

[@HEADSHOTPROLOL]

My man

[@yachidan]

Hey Jake!

[@titanspirit7238]

We have an arcade in Dublin and it's full of Japanese people. I wonder if there are pubs in Japan full of Irish people?

[@BocajFreedman]

Actually, yes. Gaigin bars are alive and well.

[@oo0O08]

There are actually Irish style pubs in Japan. So yes!

[@Yorkieborkie]

Fucking where?!

[@LeodiAstoriaXIII]

Just look for Hub

[@remembertotakeshowerspleas355]

I feel stupid for not realizing that Dublin was in Ireland.

[@thatoneguy2906]

The gundam footage proves that George is a newtype

[@mortman200]

Nah, that footage looked like 0083. He's Kou.

[@brandonevans9342]

so blue and desaturated, is that on purpose for his inner gloom

[@luckluster]

All I see is ramen.

[@adamfrisk956]

Explain?

[@thebritishgeek]

But is he a gundam? *setsuna intensifies*

[@Leadhead]

I didn't realize how much product placement there was in Yakuza, and it just makes me want to go to Japan more

[@ErraticPillow]

he uses that clip of the noodles like 4 times, maybe he wanted to tell us the noodles were the key?

[@Lol10000000000000001]

It's like poetry. They rhyme.

[@JackPorter]

Because it's a funnier clip than we've ever had in any of the videos before.

[@Jcolinsol]

Are noodles replacing G... no... no this ends here.

[@JackPorter]

Beef Chavez noodlesood noodlesoinnoodles for you, now see what happened... this is just noodlesreat

[@YGOstratPlayer]

Rest in spaghetti never forgetti.

[@matman000000]

That ending was the stuff nightmares are made of.

[@zeroabletachograph]

Reminds me of a Kevin Smith movie.

[@matman000000]

Hood OfDefiance Clerks?

[@zeroabletachograph]

Was clerks the one involving some marine mammal? I dunno.

[@matman000000]

Hood OfDefiance No, that was Chasing Amy.

[@thepickles8833]

so... the stuff Japan is made of ?

[@PicaroPariah]

That was one of the best endings to your videos ever. It really put a smile on my face.

[@PicaroPariah]

In ref to the plankwalk.

[@BruceWayne-gv9zs]

I love the depressed george vacation pictures

[@CollectingGames101]

That robotic noodle bowl is the best thing of all time

[@Rpodnee]

I love how you keep cutting to the robotic noodle thing haha.

[@user00061]

Wait wait wait, George, have you found pachinko machines? More importantly THE one specific machine?

[@minihjalte]

Are they out yet?

[@cordia96]

Seperate video?

[@user00061]

hope so

[@cordia96]

He does it right after the Ramen video, which is way more important.

[@ParasiteEnthusiast]

HIT THE LEVER

[@manganistDIMITRI]

Now I want to go to Japan for sure,at least once in my boring life.

[@cordia96]

Start saving up then...

[@Abel-Alvarez]

Did you go?

[@manganistDIMITRI]

no, but i went to switzerland last week, was pretty great!@@Abel-Alvarez

[@abysswalker2115]

check out the corner arcades in mexico man. the kids will wreck you in KoF

[@floppytokey]

they'll wreck you in KoF AND IRL!

[@abysswalker2115]

You said it man

[@melvinpunymeyer8104]

But then he'd have to play KOF.

[@jelalathelone7249]

FML I can relate to this

[@ViktorKruger99]

George tried to play KOF XIII, but he was terrible.

[@salokin3087]

Hey no mention of Konami's arcade branch? It looks...well it looks bad

[@misterpenguin2144]

HIT THE LEVER!

[@Scroogs]

Hit the lever, Jack!

[@JayOfSpade]

I thought Jubeat was Konami arcade game.

[@theJOYSofANALpenetration]

#FucKonami

[@2Chep]

It's time for Jack to-HIT THE LEVER!

[@gambucino1260]

WHHHHOA THAT INITIAL D MACHINE THO HOLLLLYYYY SHIIIITTTT

[@bryangutierrez6679]

I wanna die in one of those. To eternally drift into the void while getting a sense of "deja vu".

[@NegaBot]

To crash through the pearly gates, sideways, engine screaming, and with "deja vu", "nights on fire" or "together forever" blasting through the car audio. That is a good way to die.

[@-LOTO-]

DEJA VU

[@PoorlyDrawnSmileyFace]

You can now truly be a 「SPEEDY SPEED BOY」

[@UnstopablePatrik]

I'M JUST RUNNING IN THE 90's!

[@WarMomPT]

Not so much a correction as a 'BUT DID YOU KNOW~' but you mention how Japanese arcades have progression mechanics now. This has actually been the case for a good long while. The earliest example *I* can think of is Tekken 5 tracking your rank and customisation options, all the way back in 2004. This was a BIG part of the game's various ports to PS2, PSP and PS3, simulating a rank-up system albeit against AI opponents - which were *allegedly* all based on AI data collected from the arcades.

[@ShiningT1g3R]

let's not forget Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, where bringing a VMU from your Dreamcast to the arcade was the only way to unlock the rest of the characters. Needless to say, they removed this feature for the international release of the game.

[@Abel-Alvarez]

Bruh i deadass thought it was either Initial D or Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune that was the first that used online ranking systems and save states for your progression.

[@Trillykins]

00:50 - rewatching this because nostalgia or something and with this line in particular, along with the one earlier about how the Japanese really love trains, it really strikes me how Americans really don't seem to know what goes on in the rest of the world. I mean, Europe is covered in trains as public infrastructure. If you look at just the high-speed rail network in Europe, it's pretty much covered. And that's just the high-speed rail network. Most, if not all European cities are designed to be walkable. All of the ones I've visited has had good public transport built chiefly around trains/metros and busses. Good video, though. It's nice to see George make an epic return.

[@jedisquidward]

Japan sounds like a dream come true economy, loved those first few minutes especially

[@zainhamid1279]

It's been in a recession for 10 years and has a rapidly aging population.

[@Ipurgepeople]

Entertainment is cheap. Cost of living is absurd. Food is kinda "cup ramen" or "That costs HOW MUCH?" But the typical japanese businessman doesn't have much leisure time - think your hours at work are crazy? Yeah, nope.

[@jedisquidward]

I'm sorry, I forgot this is KZbin and positivity in any form is highly discouraged

[@jedisquidward]

That's living in a large city for you. The long hours of work are contributing to the economy as well

[@TheArchsage74]

They even have a word for work-induced heart attacks because of how often it happens.

[@DeadEye935]

"I wasn't convinced I was on top of a skyscraper" "aaahhhh, oooohhh, why am I doing this, uughhhh"

[@yuchungman]

Jeez how many noodle cuts are there in this video?! That's so memorizing!

[@mrbitbot]

what's with the constant fake noodles

[@agrashh]

I was waiting for an answer/comment for that as well :/

[@ZachCG]

he probably didn't have enough footage to fill the gaps

[@johnedwarddowney]

Used as filler footage because he didn't have the foresight to record the things he'd be talking about later.

[@ZachCG]

called it

[@Aetohatir]

In Japan they show you what your food looks like by displaying fake food.

[@OverTonesOfLevi]

I think we're ignoring the real question.. did you buy any japanese porn comics?

[@Knoloaify]

Actually porn comics is right, not all porn comic in japan are doujinshi (amateur comics) a lot of them are published in magazines just like manga. That's why they're just called ero-manga or ero-doujinshi, wich litterally means porn comics and porn amateur comics.

[@DanoLefourbe]

And anyway, what's wrong with translating things in your own language?

[@teddielolnada]

oh yeah, I knew that it's just that most people just say doujinshi when referring to ero-manga and ero-doujinshi, I like to think of that word as kind of internet slang

[@teddielolnada]

Dano C'est la vie

[@DanoLefourbe]

Teddie Lolnada touché :p

[@mangocoal0132]

+Super Bunnyhop Wow. That was a very interesting video. Thank you, George, and whoever else works on recording and editing for making these videos. Your channel produces some of my favorite content on KZbin. The hard work the SuperBunnyhop team puts into the content does not go unnoticed.

[@ripoutyourprejudice]

Is that Seaman 2 at the end ? Complete nightmare fuel =))

[@aiaunlimited2672]

yes... yes it is

[@IRMacGuyver]

There are VR arcades in America. Game companies either refuse to sell commercial licenses or make them prohibitivly expensive. This means you're better off hiring your own team to make your own games. But even that is expensive and you end up charging so much the only way anyone can afford your prices is team building outings for corporate clients. Other than that they're the same as internet cafes where eventually your clients realize they can buy a home unit cheaper than coming into your location every week.

[@TheKrzysiek]

*cough* MGS 3 pachinko *cough*

[@uristboatmurdered6051]

"A weapon to surpass Metal Gear..."

[@lincolnnoronha4128]

with zombies!

[@omgcandy16Kimicari0]

Pachinko is an entirely different subject than traditional arcades. Maybe that's the subject of the next video? Probably not, considering most pachinko places ban cameras.

[@thepickles8833]

but will he "Survive" ?

[@yamihitori]

he already covered survive in a stream

[@Futilizer]

Also mobile suite Gundam was epic. Getting inside that pod with the controls.

[@sonicmaster987]

QUICK! Cut to the bowl of ramen!

[@mitchelldalton1527]

gotta say i always see your videos thinking their going to be solid and to the point, especially with your oblique titles but their so much more, love your videos, so much life out of a voice of a man that sounds like he is on his last dying breath

[@Dowent]

Would you consider doing a whole episode on Japanese economy? The bit at the start of the video was really great.

[@amsaa91]

Jesus that footage of you walking on the plank is priceless; I seriously could not have expected this video to be so good.

[@MrTBSC]

george seriously loves those floating noodles ...

[@Meloncarty]

Joyopolis is fun. I played everything there(outside the little arcades they had) Storm G was definitely the most memorable thing there. During the entire time I just had Big Blue's theme playing in my head. When I went they also had Anime things fro Psycho-pass and haunted house for Parasite. Also they collaborated with Capcom to do a Pheonix Wright event where there were electronic kiosk scattered around where you interrogate suspects and ultimately solve the case by going to court.

[@DavidJung03]

Why did I see the floating noodles like 10 times in this video? lol

[@SuperArppis]

Your videos are still awesome after watching so many of them. Keep up the good work George!

[@SpartanWolf222]

The ending threw me off because it played the ad about the "ghost boy" in the car talking to the adult. I thought it was George and that he took a sudden dark turn. It was great.

[@CherryScent]

I know exactly the ad you're talking about, that's so good.

[@exmerion]

I used to live in one of those old steelmill towns in PA and it's layout had a mainstreet which basically felt like a city. I could walk out my door and go a block and be on mainstreet and be able to walk to all the shopping/food places I wanted. They even had an arcade. Now I live in a modern house in my sectioned off suburb with a 10 min drive to my nearest strip mall.

[@Owlpunk]

I'm loving that Seaman sequel at the end.

[@magicswordz]

Hey George! Great video, you touched on many things that I've noticed in my short time living here. A few things I've noticed: You are very much expected to have a member card for many of the games that track progress. It would have been best if you had got one up front instead of playing through the Ubeat tutorial each time. You can register the card online but you are not required to to start out. So recommend anyone who is visiting to get one. Gundam Vs cabinets are huge, and everywhere, and think they should have got more attention because of that. But you really skipped on a lot of what else is in the generic arcades. There are your fighting games, but there is also a bunch of different card based games which is something I found very interesting when I first came here. They take more of a time commitment to get into though, and are based on you having a card tracking your stats. These are games that would be hard to recreate for home. Going to make sure to check out that VR Project now, thank you for the heads up on it.

[@waltherstolzing9719]

I remember George dissing Adam Sessler for using the word 'lionize' (said it was a 'thesaurus word'). ... and now he uses 'reify' himself. :P

[@mikaelamonsterland]

Being able to experience falling from a skyscraper without actually dying sounds wonderfully terrifying

[@chrisg2043]

WHAT IS WITH THE NOODLES

[@valenar5178]

Man, I'm really digging the slight change of tone in this one. Nice video, George. You da bes

[@reirei_tk]

my inner weeaboo is screaming

[@cordia96]

It's not over until he makes the Ramen Video.

[@1324Potato]

weaboos were so obnoxious when i went to Japan

[@cordia96]

Gino Diggserino You could spot them at GamesCom easily. They were crowding around body pillows...

[@EximiusDux]

i am a huge fan of japanese anime and games, but i would never stoop so low as to use the word weeabo for anything related to it.

[@RollingExistence]

Coming back and watching this video during covid makes me sad. I watched this video, then went to Japan and experienced the arcades for myself. I'd love to go back but it's just impossible right now.

[@ThePandorasCartridge]

Gee, I don't know what to put here. I guess I'll just play that noodle sign thing again.

[@arizona_iced_out_boy]

I'm in Hiroshima for a month, pretty much can confirm everything. Even did the whole drinking 150 yen tall boys on the way to the arcade. That stratos game was crazy. Only thing you forgot to mention, you can smoke on a lot of the floors and of course..."gambling" floor. Also the games are pretty pricey in retrospect. 100 yen is almost a buck to play any game.

[@kingrobert2621]

It's really cool to see this in depth video of modern Japanese arcades. I finally made it to Japan this year after wanting to go since I was a kid. We were there for about a week and surprisingly, I only spent like a few hours one night at an arcade. Mostly because there was so much more to see, but I was surprised at Japanese arcades with all these new, modern games in that Dissidia or Pokken style gameplay being all the rage. Funny you mention arcades being cheap because I didn't think so. I basically stuck to the old NeoGeo games, other sit down shmups, older Capcom games and such, and those games were like 50 yen or less. Most every other game was 100 yen, so basically a dollar a play for a majority of machines. That's pretty goddamn high if you're trying to spend a night there. I can only imagine if you play that shit on the regular like they do.

[@graywhit9710]

I love that George reuses that footage of the ramen noodle robot almost any time he talks about Japan. It's my favorite thing.

[@Upsetkiller456]

These arcades look fucking sick. I'd love to go to one of these.

[@riftenguard2233]

You balancing on that board at the end is hands down one of the funniest things I've ever seen on this channel.

[@ToxicAtom]

if that Initial D machine didn't blast Running in the 90's, I'd say I'm disappointed without actually being disappointed because HOLY SHIT IT'S LIKE ACTUALLY BEING IN INITIAL D HOW CAN YOU STAY MAD AT THAT?

[@guamson8946]

Toxic Atom Oh that's easy - it's because the game's steering is totally NOT like how you'd drive a car in real life. I had a chance to try it, and it's as if every large turn you take is automatically translated into a power-steer. It's so sensitive to the point that you find yourself having to make your turns much more slight and brief than a real car, and the leeway given to prevent you from "spinning out" is very generous.

[@SirCrest]

Thank you for showing the whole clip at the end. That was great.

[@demi-moo]

Those spaghettis are fascinating

[@GuilhermeAlbani]

Awesome, George! Keep them videos coming! I'll try to translate your videos for the folks here in Brazil someday.

[@LiteralmenteFadul]

You really liked that noodle display eh?

[@duncanbug]

GUYS! Round One is an arcade bringing lots of these previously japan only games to the US right now! Give them a search! They have many rhythm games and Gunslinger Stratos!

[@ilikeboom100]

WHY DO YOU KEEP SHOWING THE MOVING RAMEN SIGN?!?!?! WHAT DOES IT MEAN!?!?!?! WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL US!?!?!

[@helenastenvislavskovic]

Ramen is tasty.

[@lincolnnoronha4128]

WHAT IS THIS WITCHCRAFT! WHY IS IT THERE? WHY RAMEN?!

[@mazimadu]

He is highlighting the absurdity of the (in-moment) concept. Why would someone make a lovingly detailed moving ramen sign? Exactly!

[@xbb1024]

I think George is getting closer to the truth about the flying spaghetti god

[@clray123]

Illuminati confirmed. 9/11 was an inside job. Triggered. The end is nigh.

[@AskalonGaming]

Crocs and Socks, George? Why? Great video btw, probably one of the best ones that you've made in years. It's great seeing progress being made towards bridging the gap between the Eastern and Western video game worlds.

[@Ultranist]

God damnit George!!! Now I need to eat some nodels.

[@jkih0021]

What's with the ramen stock footage? I don't get it :/

[@SummerSnowzy]

Strangely hilarious everytime I saw it.

[@raikohzx4323]

It's for when he lacked footage of something, or just needed a metaphor for how Japan is.. _different._

[@Desi-qw9fc]

Only glorious Nippon has shop displays of noodles getting dunked.

[@braintrope4736]

It's not stock footage.

[@PinkArmFlexer]

I dunno, man. They often make ramen from a stock.

[@CastleBallad]

George, you look great. Glad to see you enjoyed the trip to japan. Love, mom.

[@vicjake8730]

This video was very educational in multiple ways, thank you very much

[@Pallid85]

Brett Keane in the end of the video.

[@cordia96]

I startled for a moment. Could he have been following me the entire time?

[@Rexcarsalot]

Oh my god, you're right.

[@feldspar1000]

I never expected to see that individual mentioned on this channel situation.

[@Pallid85]

No one expects the individual Brett Keane situation.

[@interjectrobot]

George, I like your journalism. You go do stuff. you are reporting on things. thank you. never change.

[@TheBirdThatWhistles]

Did George just invent video game tourism?

[@ZontarDow]

It's long already been a thing.

[@TheBirdThatWhistles]

Dave from Work but... but... but... it's not on wikipedia... so it got to be a new thing.

[@tylermeanbirdwilbanks2023]

Awesome , man! I wish you uploaded more, but, none the less, great freaking video!

[@STBill]

I want to eat spaghetti now.

[@Overdrive-19]

gay luigi? ;)

[@Nazrat84]

"You got a double jump, you can chain in and out of an air dash, and you can occasional wall run" Call of Duty confirmed for Japanese waifu shooter

[@Urtistic]

I've missed you , George.

[@samuelgreen546]

Wonderful video, George. Thanks for filming that skyrise plank game, it made my day :)

[@RemnantCult]

Japan is an expensive trip, but I still yearn to adventure through those grand urbanscapes one day. Can someone wire me 10k please?

[@tommapar]

I remember as a kid in Argentina, there used to be an arcade flight sim in the top floor of the Abasto mall which still exists to this day. It (still) has a small indoor rollercoaster as well, but I digress. The thing with the flight sim is, you strapped on and you flew a jet and did like barrel rolls and shit and it would turn you around inside a chamber with the screen on it. It was amazing, you got the controls explained, and then you had to land the jet in a carrier, and if you did that you'd get more gameplay.

[@Hanbei]

George becomes a newtype 2016

[@WestPictures]

Those arcades are incredible! A place called Round One just opened up near me, it has a lot of the cool rhythm games seen here and even Gunslinger Stratos

[@bl4ckw1ngz64]

I have Round 1 near me, a 30 minute busride. That's a moneysink but boy is it worth it.

[@TheBlackCloakedMan]

Nah, the best part of Joypolis was the Ace Attorney Investigations game, they have a real life recreation of Miles Edgeworth's office!

[@WideEyedGuy]

This Katamari Damacy soundtrack hit right home Bunnyhop. Also great to see you loved Japan.

[@Gastoly]

Those fucking noodles!

[@Moostar95]

never stop being awesome japan. I want to so go there one day.

[@JayOfSpade]

George is the next level of Seaman.

[@rey-o]

I'm still watching this but I'm loving the abundance of ghost noodle footage

[@6t411]

That noodle thing is great

[@corpsepartywalkthroughs9477]

This sold me into learning Japanese and taking a trip there next year.

[@TheTrueChuster]

Muffled drunk George bumping around and doing drifts is my spirit animal...

[@depresseddoggo7308]

I understand *why* they've almost completely disappeared(in the west at least) but....damn I miss arcades, they had a atmosphere to them that home consoles or PCs just can't replicate. Oh and the excitement of finding out that theres a new cabinet was amazing

[@msgtvarela]

Will you make a video about the metal gear franchise and how it has been driven to the ground?

[@jayfolk]

his shot to fame when konami blocked and returned his video while traveling

[@Tamacat388]

But Peace Walker is so great. Not as good as the golden trilogy of 1-3 but its still an amazing game.

[@lovepepsi7477]

+Thanatos388 peace walker is garbage. Mediocre story, worst villain in the franchise, missions so short it removes any incentives to play stealthily, bosses that take way too long with way too much health with literally no other strategy than "avoid attacks and shoot 5000 rockets" annoying QTE sequences, horrible button mashing sequence, horrible characters, base management gimmick that's really nothing but an overcomplicated system for weapon unlocking the game is horribly designed and the story is really not great. Just because something has kojima's name on it doesn't make it great automatically.

[@ajnagz]

damn

[@stevenverleye6062]

MGS 4 is a video...

[@Virus16th]

Holy shit that Gunslinger Stratos game looked awesome. Good to have you back, George senpai!

[@MrAncop]

Those Initial D arcades are amazing, holy mother of jesus

[@tamerthelame]

LITERALLY GOING TO JAPAN TOMORROW Perfect timing George! Thanks!

[@OhManTFE]

13:27 I own VR and I do actually get that sickness of using WASD for movement. It's kinda like motion sickness from a roller coaster. If you don't get it lucky you - but don't doubt for a moment that it isn't a real thing that people experience.

[@Aimela136]

Well, there are also people who experience motion sickness when playing games normally on a monitor/TV. The question is not "Do people get motion sickness?" but "How many people get motion sickness?" WASD/joystick movement should at least be an option for certain games, for the people who don't get motion sickness as easily.

[@OhManTFE]

Aimela I think there are a lot more people who get motion sickness in VR than in regular video games. Regular games have never made me sick.

[@marlonbosch2717]

Regular games don't make you sick, but don't doubt for a moment that it isn't a real thing that people experience.

[@tylocook]

Almost everyone experiences vr motion sickness.

[@Chezne]

Came here from LGR. Was not disappointed. Excellent work, sir.

[@j.m.mitchell6226]

OMG I love initial D so much. I really want to go play that game.

[@agent42q]

So crazy to see machines I was on just a few month prior. Cool breakdown mang.

[@JamesQPurcell]

Seriously, just give me a controller, VR. I just want the sense of space and head tracking. I don't need to be tripping over my coffee table. Or worse, bolted in one spot like I'm playing Fruit Ninja.

[@jesse3625]

At first I thought the noodles clip reoccurred as an accident. Then I realized it's just worth seeing again and again.

[@kei_nishimaru]

Well, the Japanese do know how to use technology that well, especially with games and transportation, I gotta go to Japan.

[@kei_nishimaru]

And now I think that Sega's Joypolis is the Pinnacle of arcades worldwide.

[@tawmifm]

There's a Sega Joyopolis in the United Arab Emirates as well. No Left 4 Dead arcade when I was in the country though.