10 Ways Gaming Was Infinitely Better In The '90s
8. Arcades Had Variety & Consoles Got The Ports
Outside of SEGA's brilliance, not all arcade titles from the '90s were created equal. The Crusin' USA to Nintendo 64 port was hideous. It was produced so far ahead of the N64 that the splash screens still said Ultra 64 on them. But at least '90s arcades weren't full of prize and ticket machines, light gun games and racing games only.
You could stroll into an arcade during the last part of last century and feast on the buffet of games out. Modern wonders like Time Crisis and Crazy Taxi, massive cabinets mimicking sports equipment like Downhill Bikers, Top Skater and Alpine Racer. You might even while away the hours playing The Simpsons Arcade with three other buddies by your side. Tournaments were to be had in Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat and NBA Jam. Arcades were where the innovation happened.
Having a crowd gather to watch you pull of fatalities in amazement or peek into your cockpit for a fighter jet in After Burner was a euphoric feeling that is rare nowadays. Certain versions of Ridge Racer let you sit in a full-sized Mazda MX-5!
It's a tragedy that arcades of the 1990s are now a distant memory for most gamers.