Thanks to Warner Bros. I can reveal the answer: a fantastic way to while away some spare time.
I can tell you this because Warner have revived some of the all-time classic arcade games in Midway Arcade, available now for Apple’s iPad and iPhone.
The app includes Defender and Spy Hunter, two of the games which created the computer game craze.
While those under 40 might not appreciate it from the screenshots, without these games there would be no XBox 360, no PS3, no Wii.
At the arcade these – plus Space Invaders, Namco’s Pacman and Ataris’s Missile Command – were the games everyone queued to play.
Their later availability for the Atari 2600 games console helped it dominate home gaming for a decade. In the 1980’s THESE were the must-play games.
I’ve been a bit naughty focussing on just the two games, the app also includes Rampage, Joust, Root Beer Tapper, Arch Rivals. Air Hockey, Arcade Basketball, Pool, and Roll Ball.
Plus there are two add-on packs available to buy in-app which contain – NARC, Total Carnage and All Points Bulletin (Pack 1) and Gauntlet, Gauntlet II and Wizard of Wor (Pack 2)
The app guides you around the arcade so you can play the game of your choice or, if you’re a bit more boring, you can select from an onscreen list.
You can also play songs from iTunes via a jukebox feature.
Some games offer you the choice between an onscreen joystick or tilting the iPad, this make Spy Hunter almost impossible. Even with the onscreen joystick I initially found some games a bit fiddly,
Each of the classic arcade games is presented in its original form with the familiar 1980’s graphics and sound intact.
Older players will appreciate this trip down memory lane, younger players will be amazed that a 5ft games cabinet produced sound and graphics inferior to their 10” iPad.
For a limited time the app and the add-on packs are available for 69p each, providing excellent value.
Our verdict: 4/5
