Game Reviews

Midway Arcade

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iOS
| Midway Arcade
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Midway Arcade
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iOS
| Midway Arcade

Remember the good old arcade days? The clatter of coins and the familiar drone of noisy machines piercing through the thick, smoky air?

Midway Arcade is Warner Bros's attempt at recreating those pocket money-guzzling glory days of electronic entertainment.

Just like Microsoft’s much-maligned Game Room service, and the equally maligned Capcom Arcade on iOS, Midway Arcade lets you loose in a virtual video arcade where each game cabinet holds a fully playable version of a retro classic.

It’s an appropriately nostalgia-tweaking enterprise with each cabinet modeled on its original real-world counterpart.

You actually get quite a lot for your initial 69p outlay, too, with emulated versions of Spy Hunter, Rampage, Joust, Root Beer Tapper, Defender, and Arch Rivals.

And you’ll find a small selection of almost entirely dire recreations of arcade favourites, including Air Hockey, Arcade Basketball, Pool, and Roll Ball.

Insert coin

But the generosity of the package can't disguise the mediocrity of the games, which are virtually unplayable with the virtual controls.

It’s a game that’s crying out for iCade support, but sadly there’s none to be found here.

It’s a shame, as Midway Arcade does sport a few commendable touches - including an extensive array of achievements, Game Center leaderboards for each title, a selection of alternative (if equally useless) control schemes, and a virtual prize counter (where you can redeem your hard-won tickets for Midway tat).

Game over

What’s more, you can purchase additional game packs for the very reasonable asking price of 69p - with NARC, Total Carnage, APB, Gauntlet, Gauntlet II, and Wizard of Wor currently available as in-app downloads.

Sure, attempting to play them might be an exercise in frustration, but they’re still almost all bona fide arcade classics available for pennies.

With more refined controls - and iCade support - Midway Arcade would be on the cusp of offering a great value, pleasantly evocative portable retro experience. Without them, it's best avoided.

Midway Arcade

A decent range of great value arcade classics neutered by poorly implemented controls
Score
Matt Wales
Matt Wales
Following a lifetime of adventure on the high seas, swabbing the editorial decks of the good ship IGN and singing freelance shanties across far-flung corners of the gaming press, Matt hung up his pirate hat and turned his surf-seared gaze toward the murky mysteries of the handheld gaming world. He lives to sound the siren on the best mobile games out there, and he can't wait to get kraken.