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| | Title:
Midway Arcade Treasures 3
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System:
Xbox
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Genre:
Arcade Racing
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Publisher:
Midway
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Developer:
Midway Entertainment
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Release:
9/26/2005
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Online:
Yes
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ESRB:
Everyone (E)
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Nostalgia is something that is hard to come by in the videogame world. Players hardly want to pull out their old systems to play old games even if the games were amazing. Many have turned to emulation but even that can only bring back the classics on the old Nintendo and Sega systems. So it’s nice to see Midway continuing its Arcade Treasures series with the latest being Midway Arcade Treasures 3.
Arcade Treasures 3 has one central theme; racing. Each of the eight games featured in this compilation is one of Midways more popular arcade games from back in the day. I found myself smiling as old titles brought back memories of spending hours on end sticking quarters in the machines. The eight games featured are San Francisco Rush: The Rock Alcatraz Edition, Hydro Thunder, Super off Road, Badlands, Race Drivin’, S.T.U.N. Runner, San Francisco Rush 2049, and Off Road Thunder.
The three biggest gems here are obviously both Rush games and Hydro Thunder. They are the most technologically advanced of the eight in all the important areas. For both Rush games the focus is all on speed and finding those all important shortcuts. The Rush series was one of those titles that utilizing the shortcuts was the only way to come in first. At the beginning of every race players are slapped to dead last and challenged with making it up to first. Only the best will be able to after the first lap. Despite my intimacy with the series is still took me two or three laps to make it into first. The jumps (a signature for the series) are just as over the top as ever and crashing head on will always result in a circular ball of flame. The cars all handle the same and I found myself searching for a boost button even though there wasn’t one. The tracks are wide, devoid of traffic and offer numerous shortcuts. In addition to racing Rush 2049 did offer up a Stunt mode which kept me entertained for a good while. Honestly, though the games feel dated. They should. What gamers will get a kick out of is seeing how some of the ideas laid down by the Rush series eventually make their way into other areas; namely the Burnout series.
Hydro Thunder is a different beast though. Instead of cars gamers will get to pilot a fictionally designed speed boat through large water tracks. Like the Rush series gamers are slapped to the back of the pack and forced to try and make it to the front. Luckily, those looking for a boost button will find it here. Utilizing the boost is the key to victory; not only does it give you an edge with speed but also lets you ram other opponents out of the water. There are three different classes of boats each becoming more difficult to control than the last. There are also three classes of tracks (Easy, Medium, Hard) plus a Bonus track. Memorizing the locations of the boost icons laid out along the track is the only way players are going to be able to win races. The boats thankfully handle better than I remember which made the tight turns and last ditch passes much easier to pull off. It’s too bad that the Hydro Thunder series hasn’t been given a next-gen treatment on the Xbox. This game would be great online and with what can now be done with water the game would look amazing.
Offroad Thunder was not a game I remember seeing in the arcades but it’s dated graphics (even when compared with Rush and Hydro Thunder) made me thankful it wasn’t. The monster trucks handled a little bit too well and the way races were handled was incredibly similar to Hydro Thunder’s. Boost now called Nitro was scattered across the tracks and the more nitro you obtained the longer you can boost (like I said same as Hydro Thunder). The tracks were typical of a monster truck game (mostly made of dirt with a bunch of small hills) but the thing that worried me the most was the sound. The engines of the trucks were incredibly weak sounding. At one point I started actually laughing because it sounded like someone verbally created the sound of the motor. In addition to the Rally mode there is also Demolition and Snag The Flag. For Demolition the object is to smash your opponents while at the same time not taking very much damage yourself; whoever deals out the most damage and receives the least wins. Snag the Flag is a version of CTF, except with monster trucks. Unless you loved this game in the arcades I’d advise avoiding it. The dated graphics, unrealistic control and humorous sound don’t really bring back good memories.
The last four games are purely for those who grew up with them. It is hard to review games like this because of how dated they are. Let me put it this way; if you loved S.T.U.N. Runner, Badlands, Race Drivin’ and Super off Road when you were a kid this trip down memory lane will leave you smiling. If you’ve never heard of or played these games before and are curious about a part of gaming history then fire them up. The rest of you will just feel like what you are playing is so out of date it’s not worth your time. Remember this is a compilation not a new game franchise.
One very nice touch Midway Arcade Treasures 3 gives gamers is an Xbox Live leader board. So if you were that kid in the arcade who owned everyone but never had the permanent proof, here’s your chance to be top dog. This will definitely lure in some diehard hardcore arcade buffs wanting to see their scores online for the entire world to see. This makes the game much more desirable for a pick up.
I’m going to have to recommend this game only to those who recognize half the games in this pack. If you’ve never heard of the San Francisco Rush series, Hydro Thunder or any of the others mentioned; don’t bother with this game. But if you were one of those teenagers who spent hours in the arcades trying to get that high score, welcome home. A 7.0 out of ten.
| The Core Score |
Overall
7.0 |
| Fun |
|
8 |
| Gameplay |
|
8 |
| Graphics |
|
6 |
| Audio |
|
6 |
| Replay |
|
7 |
|
| | | |
