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GameCube Version

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: July 06, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Interesting what others are commenting about in the XBox and PS2 versions. One would think if a publisher ports something to all 3 platforms, they would work nearly identical. My rating is for the GameCube version only.
To review this set, it would heavily depend upon what games the user is familiar with and will actually play. For example, one reviewer was complaining about some old civil war strategy game, which I have absolutely no idea how to control. Another reviewed an arcade game which originally used a trackball or steering wheel. I tried that one out and it seems to work fine, and I can shoot the other cars diagonally in the other lane unlike what he mentioned.
Overall, all the games here seem to work fine. Good graphics, sound, and speed. No crashing or freezing up. All games seem to run their original playable arcade speed. Loading times are very short.
I bought this set mainly for the Defender games, Gauntlet, and Rampage. To comment, they all look and act exactly like the original arcade versions. Comparable to the PC MAME version. Now you can use the controller instead of the PC keyboard.
One should note that the translation is not 100% accurate from the arcade. For instance, you get muffled voice here and there once in awhile. Even that problem is present in the MAME version, which is the best emulation out there. Put into consideration that an arcade cabinet can have more power than an Intel Pentium 10GHz+. The hardware is so different. Replicating that on some cheap console, it is hard not to appreciate this Cube version.

Disappointing controller use

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: August 31, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I don't know what games others enjoyed that they gave this such high marks, but I couldn't get past the controller issues and other problems. Rampart in the arcade was great because you could play multiplayer vs the invaders. No such option here - you can only compete against each other. Road Blasters has to be the worst, though, since the steering controls are left, right or straight with no in-between settings. So how do you shoot something in the next lane over? You don't. What kind of port only gives you 45-degree steering in a driving game?

The video looks very soft on every game, perhaps to replicate the worn-out tubes of '80s screens.

I found some games I'd never played in the arcades to be fun, but Namco's Museum set such high hopes for me that these games would deliver that I can't agree with the other reviewers. Maybe you can get past the issues I couldn't, or maybe the games you loved have better control options, but this title is no longer in my collection.

A Nostalgic Trip back to the Arcade era 1980's.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: October 18, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Midway has done a great job of bringing 20 classicArcade games to the Gamecube. These games I fondly remember, going down to Golfland Arcade in Stanton,with my brother and friends. You can't go wrong with purchasing this game, for $20.00 you get 20 games and extra dvd features like interviews with the creators and more. If you're like me who grew up playing these timeless gems, go to your nearestvideo game store and buy it right now.

Great selection, interesting extras

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: October 15, 2004
Author: Amazon User

One of the things that really stood out to me about this collection was its inclusion of extras featuring promotional information as well as interviews with the games' creators. There are some real heavy hitters here. Defender is the quintessential "game designer's" game. I've seen numerous programmers from that era site it as one of their personal favorites.
You also get the insane Robotron, Smash TV, Paperboy, Spy Hunter, etc. Its a real great selection. The only rather questionable title (in my opinion) is Toobin. Maybe simply because I never thought much of it in the arcade. But all are welcome in this rather impressive lineup, and not all will meet everyone's tastes.
In all, this game made me realize the art of older games. They emphasized triumphing over chaos. You have to "rise above" the apparent insanity on screen and simply go with the flow. That's the key. You can't play Robotron in a paranoid manner. But this is not about game tips. Just get this and you'll know what I mean.

A great collection of classic games

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: July 16, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Midway sure crammed in alot of great classic games into one package for 20 dollars (do the math - you're talking less then a dollar a game - how can you go wrong?)

Some of the games haven't aged that well and the controlls take a little getting used to but complaints like that are pretty petty considering everything your getting.

If you're not able to enjoy games which aren't graphically cutting edge then obviously look elsewhere. However if you're looking for a great collection of classic games there isn't a better purchase you can make.

My personal favorites are Spy Hunter, Paperboy and Joust but just about every game in this collection is worth playing at least once or twice.

Grab up a copy and have some old school fun. How many games today can you play in 15 minute sessions and still feel satisfied?

Ahh, memories...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: January 24, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This is an awesome collection of classic games, 24 in all. Midway has rounded up some of the best arcade games from the 1980s and packaged them together in this spectacular collection. The great thing about this pack is that there is something that appeals to almost everyone here, and, even if you don't really care about all of the games, the price is low enough to justify gettting the collection for just a few of them!

Some of these games have a great deal of memories for me. I remember playing Rampage, Rampart, and Smash TV at the arcades for hours on end. The games I was most addicted to were probably Gauntlet and Spy Hunter. These 4 games are still a lot of fun, and with the multiplayer capabilities are a blast. I played many of the others as well--720, Toobin', Marble Madness--in the arcades, but these games have lost much of their appeal to me now.

Some of these games aren't really that fun anymore (like the last three I named), but I'm still glad I have them. Every time one of my buddies comes over, we play many of the games, laugh, and reminisce. In fact, I don't know that I'll really be spending hours on end with ANY of these games (even Gauntlet can't hold my attention forever anymore), but they are nevertheless entertaining for a few minutes or even an hour. Again, having 24 games makes it all worth it.

The one complaint--Joust. I absolutely loved the two player "deathmatches" in the original Nintendo release, but I can't get that to work on this version. What a shame. Despite this, though, this is a great collection of games which, though it may not be the smash hit of 2003, is nevertheless very enjoyable.

Arcade Freaks Rejoice!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: January 17, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Midway Arcade Treasures
Rated T: Blood and gore, Violence
Price: $19.95

Just Listen! In Midway Arcade Treasures, play all your favorites including:

720 Degrees
(Root) Beer Tapper
Joust I & II
Defender I & II
SpyHunter
Klax
Toobin
The PaperBoy
Satan's Hollow
Smash TV

and over 10 more!

How did Midway get all this crammed into 1 package? Developer Digtal Eclipse has a technology called Arcade Eclipse that makes arcade games come in a package. Oh, I love the DVD content
and I love to see top-secret documents, including sell sheets and operation manuals (Atari gaames only). This is your piece of arcade in your own room. You will still have room for furniture, and you won't spend megabucks on arcade machines.
Oh, and with the price on this baby, you will be saving quarters by the millions.

(That T rating? It comes from the gore in Smash TV only.)

Finally Arcade Classics done in the right way

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 12, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Arcade games have been done though out all the game systems. Though Nintendo, Sega, and Sony have done them though out their history of old systems but really have not done them well. Most don't have many good games on one game pack or disc. like five at a time then two games are good and one really sucks. Then comes Midway Arcade Treasures for all three next generation systems. I am writting this for the Nintendo Gamecube version. I have not had more fun on a Arcade Games at home since I was a kid playing Roadblasters in the Arcades. All of these games are done great. frame rate are good. sound is good and the gameplay of the controller lay out is a little different but still does great on a gamecube controller. 24 games on one disc means less than a dollar a game (I bet you spent more than that on one game playing it in the arcades going at Defender or Gauntlet). Then they put in some of the great classic Arcade Games like Defender, Joust, Gauntlet and Root Beer Tapper. They put in some challenge games in like Paperboy, Marble Madness and Klax. My all time favorite is Roadblasters made in the middle 80's. it smashes Spy Hunter (which is in this game) and a old game on the NES called Rad Racer together. If you remember the good old days of games that had good game play and great replay value. Then it is a must. If you are a new gamer that wonders what was it like back in the past. You then need to find out. All of you will be tired and fingers will be sore. Best of all won't have to wait in line for to play these games and play out in ALOT in quarters to get far in the games. Enjoy this one you dont find these games very often.

Some of my Favorite Midway Games!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: January 07, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I remember going to the local 7-11 Store and playing Root-Beer Tapper(Which was named Beer Tapper at the time)! I even bought the home version for the old ColecoVision when it came out.
It's great to be able to play some of these old school games again like:
Root Beer Tapper
Toobin'
PaperBoy
Marble Madness
Defender 1 & II

And many more!
I also liked the little video interviews with the games creators.
They tell how they created the games for the arcades... How they had to rush to get a game ready for the video game arcade shows (Which was kind of like the E3 video game conventions they have now). The only thing I found a little disappointing was the low volume sound for the games. I had to turn the volume way up on my home theater system just to hear the sound properly, but other than that the games are GREAT!

So if you are old enough to remember going into the arcades as a teen in the 80's and spending a ton of quarters on these games... Then you will LOVE this game! and for the price it's being offered at... How can you not want to add this to your collection of classic old school games?

Grab a copy today!

Great value

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: January 02, 2004
Author: Amazon User

First, a confession: I think I am a little too young for this game. The only game on this collection that I played extensively in the arcades is Smash TV, which is the newest game featured. Most of these games, like Defender, Joust and Klax, I know only from the Atari or Nintendo home versions, and a few I've never played.

That said, this is still an amazing collection, even if you don't remember any of them. I think the cream of the crop is probably Klax, a Tetris-based puzzle game with interesting sound effects and changing goals. Marble Madness is also great. Even though it's extremely short (you could finish the whole game in about five minutes), it will take you a long time to become good enough to do it, since you can't continue.

I couldn't get into some of the admittedly important "classics" on this disc, however. Robotron 2084 must have been great in 1984, but with the nearly identical and much better Smash TV right here, what's the point? Similarly, I don't think I'll be playing Defender too much when I've got games like Gradius IV in my collection.

There are a couple of stinkers on here, too. Does anyone really enjoy Toobin' or 720? And while Super Sprint is fun in the arcades, it's impossible to control with a joystick.

The thing that struck me most about this collection is how these older games are not for wussies like new games are. If you don't know what you're doing, you'll lose all your lives in a matter of seconds. Contrast that to newer arcade games, which usually let you play for a certain amount of time no matter how much you stink.

At any rate, I probably would be willing to pay the $19.99 cost of this game for Klax alone (I remember paying more for the Atari Lynx version of Klax and Nintendo's Marble Madness), so this was a no-brainer purchase. However, what I really, really want is a collection of old NES games for GameCube... Metroid, Contra, Life Force, Mega Man, RC Pro-Am, Double Dribble, etc. Nintendo, Capcom, Konami, are you listening?

NOTE: In case you're curious, the "T" rating comes solely from the gore in Smash TV. All the other games are perfectly fine for kids (and even Smash TV is tame compared to most modern action games).

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