Good arcade games for high score competing?

[Don]

What are some of the best arcade games for high score competing? I'm looking for games like Donkey Kong, where it's 1 player at a time and you can only use 1 credit and then it's Game Over.

Competing for high scores in games like Metal Slug for example (as much as I love that game) is pretty difficult seeing as you can just spam credits to keep going.

So what are your suggestions? 

[PL1]

This would be a good place to start.


Scott

[Don]

Thanks! I'll start having a look through those games

[mgb]

Nibbler is a great competition game to see who can get to the highest level and score.

Bubble Bobble is a fun score competition game where both players can play at the same time and fight to see who gets more os the prizes (hence a higher score)

[ark_ader]

Pacland

[HanoiBoi]

This list can be huge.  Think classic 80s, before the quarter pumper games.  A few:  Donkey Kong, Pac Man, Ms Pac Man, Elevator Action, Tempest, Dig Dug, Popeye, Kangaroo, DK Jr., Crazy Climber, Time Pilot, Zaxxon, Track & Field, Berzerk, Krull, Journey, Tron, Defender, Stargate, Toobin, Marble Madness,Bump n Jump, etc.. 

Some games allow many extra men, such as Galaga, Asteroids, Joust, Robotron, Q*Bert, and such.  But even these can be fun competitions if no one is a master.

[jasonbar]

Absolutely any game except Knuckle Joe will do.

-Jason

[Cynicaster]

I agree that the early/mid 80’s is where it’s at for pure score-based, single player, single credit competition. 

I always prefer friendly competitions at games where everybody is a complete noob, because in a game like Pac-man, there will always be somebody who knows the patterns and will dominate. 

There really was a boom in the 80’s where thousands of great walk-up-and-play games got made but nobody ever heard of them because they got lost in the shadows of the Donkey Kongs and Pac-Mans.  Here are some titles outside of the same tired old classics that I’ve enjoyed competing in online and with friends: Tazz Mania, Marvin’s Maze, Anteater, Swimmer, Metro Cross, Solar Fox, Mr. Do!’s Castle, Do! Run Run, Baluba-Louk No Densetsu (awesome game!), Kickle Cubele, Snow Bros., Strikers 1945, Dig Dug 2, Q*Bert’s Qubes, Wacko, Sky Kid, Eyes, Astro Blaster, Pengo, Pooyan, Hopper Robo, Roc N Rope, Rescue, the Glob (aka Beastie Feastie).

If you want a non-fighter multi-player game that actually makes for a fun competition, try Trog.  Up to 4 can play.  Nice looking graphics and animations, simple addictive gameplay.  The players can keep pumping in credits and your score doesn’t reset, so what I’ve done is put no restriction on number of credits used and “race” to a certain score.  You can score big in that game with the powerups, so epic comebacks are possible.  Plus, you can punch each other in the face for no reason—very cool.   

[Don]

I agree that the early/mid 80’s is where it’s at for pure score-based, single player, single credit competition. 

I always prefer friendly competitions at games where everybody is a complete noob, because in a game like Pac-man, there will always be somebody who knows the patterns and will dominate. 

There really was a boom in the 80’s where thousands of great walk-up-and-play games got made but nobody ever heard of them because they got lost in the shadows of the Donkey Kongs and Pac-Mans.  Here are some titles outside of the same tired old classics that I’ve enjoyed competing in online and with friends: Tazz Mania, Marvin’s Maze, Anteater, Swimmer, Metro Cross, Solar Fox, Mr. Do!’s Castle, Do! Run Run, Baluba-Louk No Densetsu (awesome game!), Kickle Cubele, Snow Bros., Strikers 1945, Dig Dug 2, Q*Bert’s Qubes, Wacko, Sky Kid, Eyes, Astro Blaster, Pengo, Pooyan, Hopper Robo, Roc N Rope, Rescue, the Glob (aka Beastie Feastie).

If you want a non-fighter multi-player game that actually makes for a fun competition, try Trog.  Up to 4 can play.  Nice looking graphics and animations, simple addictive gameplay.  The players can keep pumping in credits and your score doesn’t reset, so what I’ve done is put no restriction on number of credits used and “race” to a certain score.  You can score big in that game with the powerups, so epic comebacks are possible.  Plus, you can punch each other in the face for no reason—very cool.   

Thanks Cynicaster, some of those suggestions are great!

From searching around for games like these I actually found that it is possible to turn off continues in a lot of games. By hitting TAB in MAME and going into "Dip Switches" there is often an option for "Allow Continue: ON/OFF". If this option is not present, then try hitting F2 in-game to enter the games setup menu. The option for continues is usually found under "Game setup", or "Configuration" or something similar. For alot of Neo Geo games I found the option in the games setup menu under: "SETTING UP THE SOFT DIP>SLOT1>CONTINUE ON/OFF"

I hope this helps anyone else looking to compete for high scores, or have a bit of a challenge in games where you can usually just pump credits to keep going.

[paigeoliver]

Definitely avoid the well known titles. There won't be an even playing field with them.  Someone will always be GOOD at the title already, and it is no fun playing in a contest against someone who can get ten times your score while drunk and barely trying.

2 player vs. titles are even worse for familiarity. Mortal Kombat isn't much fun when you "sort of remember some of Johnny Cage's moves" and the person you are playing against knows every fighter inside and out. Or the same thing, Money Puzzle Exchanger isn't much fun when your opponent can beat you with one hand held behind his back (while drunk).