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Arcade’s Greatest Hits: The Midway Collection 2 is a compilation title that offers gamers a nostalgic trip to the golden age of arcade gaming. Developed by Digital Eclipse and published by Midway Games, this collection was released in 1997 for platforms such as the PlayStation and Sega Saturn. It follows the success of the first Midway Collection, continuing to celebrate some of the most iconic arcade games from the 1980s. This volume includes six classic games that have each made a significant impact in the gaming world, providing both a historical snapshot and a reminder of the timeless fun of arcade gaming.

Story

Unlike many modern video games, Arcade’s Greatest Hits: The Midway Collection 2 does not adhere to a single overarching narrative. Instead, it is a collection of standalone games, each with its own unique context and gameplay mechanics. The games included in the collection are:

• Blaster
• Bubbles
• Joust 2: Survival of the Fittest
• Moon Patrol
• Root Beer Tapper
• Splat!

Each game tells its own story or premise:

– **Blaster**: Set in a futuristic universe, players navigate through space battling alien creatures. The narrative revolves around a sole survivor attempting to rescue humans while combating extraterrestrial threats.

– **Bubbles**: In this quirky game, players control a soap bubble in a kitchen sink, cleaning up dirt and bugs, with the ultimate goal of reaching the drain. The story is simple but amusing, focused on the mundane task of cleaning with a whimsical twist.

– **Joust 2: Survival of the Fittest**: This sequel to the classic Joust retains its medieval fantasy setting where players ride flying ostriches or storks, engaging in aerial combat. The narrative centers on defeating waves of enemy knights to prove superiority.

– **Moon Patrol**: Players take on the role of a lunar rover driver, navigating the harsh terrain of the moon. The narrative involves overcoming obstacles and enemy attacks in a quest for exploration and survival.

– **Root Beer Tapper**: This game places players in the shoes of a bartender serving root beer to impatient customers. The storyline is a light-hearted take on managing a bustling bar, requiring speed and precision.

– **Splat!**: A game of food fights, where players hurl food at opponents in a playful setting. The narrative is purely for fun, focusing on the chaos and humor of culinary combat.

Gameplay

Arcade’s Greatest Hits: The Midway Collection 2 encapsulates the essence of classic arcade gameplay, characterized by simplicity, high scores, and competitive fun. Here’s an overview of each game’s mechanics:

– **Blaster**: As a shooter game, Blaster requires players to navigate through space while shooting down enemies. The gameplay is fast-paced, with a focus on reflexes and strategic movement to avoid incoming threats.

– **Bubbles**: This game features a unique control mechanism where players guide a soap bubble around a sink, absorbing dirt and avoiding cockroaches and razors. The gameplay is easy to pick up but challenging to master due to its increasing difficulty levels.

– **Joust 2: Survival of the Fittest**: Building on the original Joust, this game introduces new elements like transforming mounts and additional enemy types. The gameplay involves flapping to stay airborne and positioning to knock opponents off their mounts.

– **Moon Patrol**: A side-scrolling shooter, Moon Patrol combines driving and shooting as players navigate craters and enemy attacks. The game requires timing and precision to jump obstacles and shoot at enemies simultaneously.

– **Root Beer Tapper**: As a time-management game, players must serve root beer to customers before they reach the end of the bar. The gameplay involves multitasking, speed, and accuracy to keep patrons satisfied.

– **Splat!**: This game revolves around throwing food at opponents. It’s a comical combat game where players aim to hit targets while avoiding being hit themselves. The gameplay is straightforward but becomes more challenging with multiple opponents and obstacles.

Graphics and Sound

Arcade’s Greatest Hits: The Midway Collection 2 captures the charm of 1980s arcade graphics with pixelated art and vibrant colors that evoke nostalgia. Each game retains its original aesthetic, providing an authentic retro experience. The graphics, though simple by today’s standards, are a testament to the creativity and technical limitations of the era.

– **Blaster**: The game features an array of colorful aliens and spacescapes, with smooth scrolling effects that were cutting-edge at the time.

– **Bubbles**: With its whimsical sink setting, Bubbles uses simple yet effective animations to bring its kitchen environment to life.

– **Joust 2: Survival of the Fittest**: The fantasy-inspired visuals include detailed character sprites and imaginative backgrounds that enhance the medieval theme.

– **Moon Patrol**: Known for its parallax scrolling, Moon Patrol presents a detailed lunar landscape with dynamic foreground and background elements.

– **Root Beer Tapper**: The game features lively animations of bartenders and patrons, with caricatured expressions adding to its humorous appeal.

– **Splat!**: The graphics are playful, with exaggerated food animations and colorful settings that emphasize its comedic nature.

Sound design in the collection remains true to the original arcade versions, featuring classic 8-bit soundtracks and sound effects. The audio complements the visual style, enhancing the immersive experience of each game:

– **Blaster**: Features electronic sound effects that mimic the futuristic theme, with laser sounds and explosion effects.

– **Bubbles**: Includes whimsical sound effects that add to the game’s lighthearted atmosphere.

– **Joust 2: Survival of the Fittest**: Offers medieval-inspired sound effects, including flapping wings and metallic clashing sounds.

– **Moon Patrol**: Known for its catchy electronic soundtrack, which perfectly matches the game’s pace.

– **Root Beer Tapper**: The game’s audio captures the bustling bar atmosphere, with sounds of pouring drinks and clinking glasses.

– **Splat!**: Features comical sound effects that enhance the game’s humorous food-fight theme.

Legacy and Reception

Arcade’s Greatest Hits: The Midway Collection 2 received praise for bringing classic arcade games to home consoles, allowing a new generation of players to experience these timeless titles. The collection is celebrated for its faithful recreation of the original arcade experiences, maintaining the challenging gameplay and unique charm of each game.

Critics lauded the collection for its variety and the inclusion of lesser-known titles like Blaster and Splat!, which provided players with new experiences alongside the more familiar games. The compilation has been acknowledged for its role in preserving gaming history, offering insights into the evolution of video game design and technology.

The collection also contributed to the growing popularity of retro gaming in the late 1990s, sparking interest in arcade classics and prompting the development of similar compilations. Its success highlighted the enduring appeal of arcade games, influencing the creation of modern titles that draw inspiration from this era.

Conclusion

Arcade’s Greatest Hits: The Midway Collection 2 stands as a significant milestone in gaming history, offering a curated experience of some of the most innovative and entertaining arcade games of the 1980s. Its impact is felt not only through the joy it brings to players but also in its contribution to the preservation and appreciation of classic video games. The collection remains a testament to the creativity and ingenuity of early game developers, continuing to inspire and entertain gamers around the world.