Top Games List...

[UFO]

Hey all,

Its a tempation for me to load my cab with 1,000's of mame roms, but I really know that there are only a hand-full I would ever play.

I did a search and found this list: http://www.ranker.com/list/the-most-popular-golden-age-arcade-games/video-games-lists

Below is a text version.

Is there anything massively obvious missing here that you chaps feel there should be, and that ultimately I need on my cab? For example - I love Mr. Do, and that's not on there!

Thanks all,


1
Space Invaders
1978

2
Asteroids
1979

3
Galaxian
1979

4
Lunar Lander

5
Battlezone
1980
 
6
Berzerk
1980

7
Centipede
1980

8
Defender
1980

9
Missile Command
1980

10
Pac-Man
1980

11
Phoenix
1980

12
Rally-X
1980

13
Star Castle
1980

14
Tempest
1980

15
Wizard Of Wor
1980
 
16
Donkey Kong
1981

17
Frogger
1981

18
Scramble
1981

19
Galaga
1981

20
Ms. Pac-Man
1982

21
Qix
1981

22
BurgerTime
1982

23
Dig Dug
1982

24
Donkey Kong Jr.
1982

25
Joust
1982

26
Moon Patrol
1982

27
Pole Position
1982

28
Q*bert
1982

29
Robotron: 2084
1982

30
Time Pilot
1982

31
Tron
1982

32
Xevious
1982

33
Zaxxon
1982

34
Dragon's Lair
1983

35
Gyruss
1983

36
Mappy
1983

37
Mario Bros.

38
Star Wars
1983

39
Spy Hunter
1983

40
Tapper
1983

41
1942
1984

42
Paperboy
1984

43
Punch-Out!!
1984
     

[keilmillerjr]

Metal slug.

[Louis Tully]

.

[UFO]

Yeah, that might help LT!

U360 and six buttons...

BTW keilmillerjr, Metal Slug Rocks! Haven't played it for ages!!

[UFO]

In fact, here is my latest build pic... 3/4 size cab.

[Haze]

interesting layout..

I can't think of any games that are really intended for single player only, but use 6 buttons.  Most 6 button games are Capcom fighters that are very much designed for 2 player vs. play..

the majority of classic games where you took it in turns to play with a single stick only use 1 or 2 buttons..

a decent number (probably 20-30%) of your top list up there aren't going to play on such a layout either, because they require trackballs, spinners, dual joysticks or a variety of other add ons.

[jennifer]

    Jenn could see Tron and Star Warz being kind of being a problem on that, Moon Patrol and High splitter would get my votes for the list however.

[UFO]

interesting layout..

I can't think of any games that are really intended for single player only, but use 6 buttons, most 6 button games are Capcom fighters that are very much designed for 2 player vs. play..

the majority of classic games where you took it in turns to play with a single stick only use 1 or 2 buttons..

a decent number of your top list up there aren't going to play on such a layout either, because they require trackballs, spinners, dual joysticks or a variety of other add ons.

Thanks for that Haze -- I totally get your point about the number of buttons etc., and I guess I was thinking of fighters when I designed this (although I'm not much of a fighter fan!).

Agree with your other comments also about other controllers. Noticed that BattleZone was on there, and although I love it, it aint gonna work for me...

[UFO]

    Jenn could see Tron and Star Warz being kind of being a problem on that, Moon Patrol and High splitter would get my votes for the list however.

Thanks Jenn - Agreed, although I have heard Star Wars IS playable with a U360. Not tried it though, and definitely not authentic!

[Louis Tully]

.

[UFO]

Yeah, that might help LT!

U360 and six buttons...

BTW keilmillerjr, Metal Slug Rocks! Haven't played it for ages!!

Now we're talkin'...

In no particular order

Juno First
Giga Wing
Trog
Blasteroids
Asteroids Deluxe
X-Men
TMNT Turtles in Time
Final Fight
Bubble Bobble
Gauntlet 1 & 2
NBA Jam
Street Fighter 2 CE and 3rd Strike
Killer Instinct
MK 1 - 2 - 3
The Simpsons
Sunset Riders


That's all I can think of right now.

Thanks buddy - great list to add to the final games...

[Nephasth]

No gorf? Pfft...

[EMDB]

Super Pac Man
Popeye
Pengo
Pooyan
Neo DriftOut
In The Hunt
Cosmo Gang
Spin Master
ViewPoint
Metal slug 2, 3, 4, 5 , X
Congo Bongo
New Rally X
Lady Bug
Hammerin' Harry
Mr. Driller
Donkey Kong II
Donkey Kong 3

[DeLuSioNal29]

I usually include both the fast and normal Ms. Pacman games on my cab.  Also can't forget Satan's Hollow.  Bomb Jack is also one of my favs...

If your rig is powerful enough, you may want to get the Ultra Street Fighter IV game.  It's still fun to play alone.  Same goes for Mortal Kombat Komplete edition.  The story mode is awesome.

D

[empardopo]

I haven't seen KungFu Master in your list.
Greetings!

[rovingmind]

Asterix, Elevator Action, Joust, anyone of the 1943ish airplane scrolling up shooters, it all depends on how "classic" you want the cabinet to be.  If your not playing all of the VS. fighters  3 buttons opens up a couple of interesting games, but 2 is enough for most. 

[IAmDotorg]

    Jenn could see Tron and Star Warz being kind of being a problem on that, Moon Patrol and High splitter would get my votes for the list however.

Thanks Jenn - Agreed, although I have heard Star Wars IS playable with a U360. Not tried it though, and definitely not authentic!

Its definitely touchy but does work. Playing with the analog sensitivity settings helps. Unfortunately all four of my U360s have a problem where they eventually stop taking new maps until they get power cycled, so its sort of hit or miss. Probably half the times I try to play its in a 8-way mode, which works but makes the game VERY hard.

[Haze]

the single player panel remains a problem for most of the suggested games here tho...

remember, any game that has 2 players with 2 sets of controls is going to break as soon as somebody presses that 2 player start button on there, because an unplayable character will enter the game..

maybe the OP can live with this? or unmap the player 2 inputs including 'start' completely on those games? that wasn't clear in the first response, but considering the nature of most of the game titles being posted I think it's important people keep that in mind.

[DeLuSioNal29]

Oh yes!  Elevator action is a must.     Also, Rolling Thunder and Shinobi are good ones as well!

D

[lamprey]

We can certainly post lists for you, but if you are inclined I suggest you get MAMEUIFX and start working your way through the list of 8100ish "games" and see what you like. I had a list of around 600 and ended up adding another 200 or so by finding stuff I never knew about while working my way through the list.

[BadMouth]

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,129295.msg1327639.html#msg1327639

[Vigo]

My suggestion is keep all the games on that fit your control layout/screen orientation on your cab, then set of a list on your front end of these "Must have" games as your go-to list when you start up your cab. That way, you can always do exploring when you are in the mood by simply switching over to another game list. Half the joy I get out of playing my cabs if finding dusty gems and raw nuggets.

[lamprey]

I was also going to add you can use RomLister to help narrow down games based on controls and such:
http://www.waste.org/~winkles/ROMLister/

[yotsuya]

I load my cab with everything, then when stuff comes up I don't have on any lists, I break out the wireless keyboard and see if it's worth adding. Space isn't an issue anymore. 

[mvolke1]

Baseball Stars
Track and Field
The Glob
Jr. Pac Man
Shinobi
TMNT
Super Pac-Man
Mappy
Frogger

[Saneless]

No gorf? Pfft...

Normally I can see the value of some classic games.  Even if I never played them originally, I can see where people were coming from.

Gorf is terrible though

It's like watching a programmer's limitations play out in front of you in 5 different scenarios. 

[yotsuya]

No gorf? Pfft...

Normally I can see the value of some classic games.  Even if I never played them originally, I can see where people were coming from.

Gorf is terrible though

It's like watching a programmer's limitations play out in front of you in 5 different scenarios.

[pbj]

It's like watching a programmer's limitations play out in front of you in 5 different scenarios.

No, that's Journey.

No, wait, it's both of them.

[IAmDotorg]

It's like watching a programmer's limitations play out in front of you in 5 different scenarios.

That's pretty much my normal day at work -- I must be numb to it. 

[Nephasth]

Mame Gorf blows. Actual Gorf... now that's a life changing experience.

[bulbousbeard]

I HATE lists like this. Space Invaders is NOT the best arcade game. There are hundreds of better shooters. I HATE it when lists put games above others just because of their historical significance.

What a crappy list. Space Invaders at the top, and no Street Fighter 2? Come ON.

[yotsuya]

Street Fighter 2 is the best game on the NES. Well, after Excitebike, and all the Mario brother games.

[jennifer]

     Oh, BOO, HOO, HOO.... Street fighter (whatever) Blows chunks compared to Mario.

[Nephasth]

Street Fighter 2 is the best game on the NES. Well, after Excitebike, and all the Mario brother games.

NES? You sure you don't mean SNES?

[DeLuSioNal29]

I personally love RC Pro Am on the NES. (Only the 1st one - the 2nd blew chunks indeed)

[Vigo]

Festers quest ftw 

[DeLuSioNal29]

I HATE lists like this. Space Invaders is NOT the best arcade game. There are hundreds of better shooters. I HATE it when lists put games above others just because of their historical significance.

What a crappy list. Space Invaders at the top, and no Street Fighter 2? Come ON.

Which is why it's really the OP who should have opinions if he hates it or not. We are merely giving suggestions.

However, of you hate it that much... Don't click reply.  :-)

[yotsuya]

However, of you hate it that much... Don't click reply.  :-)

It's clear this is a list of games before 1984. Thus, SFII wasn't included.

[jennifer]

   I guess it was SNES Jenn was thinking of, Never really cared for the whole system compared to NES.

[yotsuya]

Street Fighter 2 is the best game on the NES. Well, after Excitebike, and all the Mario brother games.

NES? You sure you don't mean SNES?

You're right. Either way, that's clearly a list of golden era games.