Arcade Fire: The Best Arcade Video Games of the 2000s

The last days of disco.

Sep 27, 2013
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As the 21st century opened, brick and mortar, coin operated arcades began their final curtain call.

With the the introduction of faster and more powerful home consoles and PC games, trekking to the arcade became less and less of a priority as Xbox, PS2, and GameCube owners realized they no longer had to burn gas and quarters to get time in. As attendance dropped off, and more arcades began to shutter their doors nationally, one last push was made to get bodies on the game floor. Cabinets became far more elaborate, more interactive peripherals were integrated, and the price of a single game increased. Sure the plastic guitars, multiple screens, light guns, and hydraulic platforms were all impressive, but the cost of a play spiked from anywhere between fifty cents to two dollars. 

Companies like Namco, Sega, and Nintendo focused on releasing arcade games in their native Japan, where the format of the arcade, as most think of it, is still a vital component to their culture. It should come as no surprise that Japan's arcades put our dometic equivalents, Dave and Busters and Chuck E. Cheese's, to well-earned shame. 

The first decade of the new century saw drastic innovation taken on the part of publishers and developers, but it was a Pyrrhic victory. The industry never recovered from the prevelance of home consoles. Not that it's a bad thing, it's just evolution. From the years of 2000-2009, here is our list of The Best Arcade Video Games of the 2000s

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Aliens: Extermination

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Publisher: Global VR
Developer: Play Mechanix
Year Of Release: 2006


This game still rules. Like for real rules. An on-rails, light gun shooter that places players as a space marine on Hadley's Hope two years after the events of Aliens 3. The shooting mechanic is satisfyingly tactile and dense. The kickback on the pulse rifle has a heft and weight that made blasting xenmorphs even more enjoyable. The only drawbacks to the game are the countdown timer and the steep price for a single play.

GHOST Squad Evolution

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Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Year Of Release: 2007


Massive light gun cabinets were the hallmark of Sega arcade titles. House of the Dead, Rambo: First Blood, Virtua Cop, and more were all tethered with light guns and Ghost Squad was no different. A pretty generic military shooter that devoured quarters at the rate of four at a time and skated by on the plastic MP-5 the game used. 

Progear

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Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Cave
Year Of Release: 2001


We know that, occasionally, the plots of some Japanese titles can be..unwieldy. This is the description for Japanese SHMUP Progear,


"Sometime in the past, the people of the country of Parts had found a way to become immortal, but only with elderly nobles. Five of these elders—Ballossum Pench, Gabriel Hammer, Jimchuck Spanner, Olsorro Slasher, and Leonard Drill—obtained immortality, and became known as the Motoruin sages."


Really? I just thougt I was a guy in a plane.

Big Buck Hunter: Call of the Wild

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Publisher: Raw Thrills
Developer: Play Mechanix, Inc
Year Of Release: 2006


Chances are, you were drunk the last time you pumped quarters into this cabinet. The Buck Hunter series released a steady stream of titles in the aughts, but it was the introduction of hunting bears, lions, and coyotes that set Call of the Wild apart. The light gun series has spawned a Wii port and a national championship that continues to this day. 

18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker

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Publisher: Acclaim
Developer: Sega
Year Of Release: 2000


What better way to celebrate 'Murica than by piloting a tractor trailer like lab rat with perfume in its eyes. Hauling cargo against the timer, players were tasked with making it to the checkpoint befor the time runs out. Time isn't your only enemy in 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker, a rival, evil trucker, Lizard Tail will be racing you the entire time. 


Makes total sense.

Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova

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Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Year Of Release: 2006


You had to know at least one Dance Dance Revolution title was going to make it on this list, right? SuperNova added 300 more songs to the game and is the ninth entry in the DDR series. SuperNova got a home release on the PS2 and allowed for fans of the series to continue just barely avoiding an epileptic seizure in the comfort of their own homes.

Guitar Hero Arcade

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Publisher: Activision
Developer: Konami
Year Of Release: 2009


That's right, thanks to Activision and Konami you were given the chance to look like an uncoordinated guitar tech in the a very public forum. One of the few instances of a home console title being popular enough to be ported to the arcade first, as opposed to the other way around. You know how this fad ended and there are millions of homes around the world with closets crammed with useless plastic peripherals.

10. Virtua Cop 3

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Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Year Of Release: 2003


Sega's last installment of the Virtua Cop series, it started biting Time Crisis' steeze towards the end of its run. The on-rails shooter may seem dated now, but was considered to be a massive influence on Goldeneye.

Sega Strike Fighter

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Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Year Of Release: 2000


Sega Strike Fighter was the spirtual successor to the Sega Afterburner series. Strike Fighter came in both a standard cabinet, one screen, and a deluxe cabinet that incorporated three massive screens. A flight simulator with a massive pilot's chairs and Sega's hallmark over the top sound direction.

Gauntlet Dark Legacy

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Publisher: Midway Games
Developer: Midway Games
Year Of Release: 2000


An updated, four player co-op of the classic NES/arcade title, Gauntlet Dark Legacy was another notorious devourer of quarters. The game came with a save/password function that saved your progress and allowed you log in on multiple machines in different aracades. 

Silent Scope 2: Dark Silhouette

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Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Year Of Release: 2000


No fronting. This game was fucking lightyears ahead of other arcade shooters. A rail shooter tha incorporated a secondary, smaller screen in the scoped of the mounted sniper rifle. A third entry was released for the PS2, but c'mon, we all know the plastic sniper rifle was the selling point of this Konami shooter.

Virtua Fighter 5

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Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Year Of Release: 2007


The red-headed stepchild of the fighting genre, Virtua Fighter was once held up as impressive due to its 3D animation. That was a long time ago and since then was eclipsed by titles like Tekken and Mortal Kombat. The title may have been overshadowed, but the game was still a mainstay in arcades that deserves a spot on this list. 

Power Stone 2

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Publisher: Eidos
Developer: Capcom
Year Of Release: 2000


Capcom has a history of releasing some of the most dominant fighters in the history of the game. But, you already know that. What you may not know is that Power Stone 1 and 2 were bith bizarre, even for Capcom's standards. A 3D fighter that is remembered for its vibrant colors and destructible environments. A simple button interface also appealed to casual gamers thay may have been intimidated by Street Fighter's six button setup.

Half-Life 2: Survivor

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Publisher: Taito
Developer: Valve
Year Of Release: 2006


Yes. A Half-Life 2 cabinet arcade game was a real thing. A crazy rare Japanese game that was a first-person shooter that had players sit in an open-air cockpit. Your games controlled with a modified mouse wheel for your left hand and a joystick for your right hand. I was lucky enough to play it abroad and it was a phenomenal addition to the Half-Life franchise. You were even issued a small plastic user ID card that logged your stats and experience points for future upgrades. A few made it stateside, but by the time they did most of us were too busy playing deathmatch in the comfort of our own homes. 

Mario Kart Arcade GP

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Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Namco
Year Of Release: 2005


A rare Japanese import, Mario Kart Arcade GP makes the list because Mario Kart rules and this was one of the only time you'll see Pac-Man outside of gobbling power pellets. A built-in camera mounted above the dashboard would snap a photo of you to be used in-game. The racing game came in either a four or eight man cabinet and was one of the best racers to come out of the aughts. Good luck finding one that doesn't cost $15 to play at your local Dave and Busters.

Soulcalibur III

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Publisher: Namco
Developer: Project Sould
Year Of Release: 2006


Soul Calibur III is actually the fourth installment of the series and the arcade version of the game tweaked some balance and glitch issues for the final arcade installment of the Namco fighter. The series was last seen in a 2012 port as an iOS game.

House of the Dead 4

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Publisher: Sega
Developer: WOW Entertainment
Year Of Release: 2006


Another Sega joint with a ludicrous plot and a light gun, House of the Dead 4 was an updated version of the previous three entries in the series. Zombies and funhouse horror meet broken English, but the title still inhaled more quarters than I care to count.

Tekken 5

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Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Year Of Release: 2004


Widely considered to be a return to form for the Tekken series, Tekken 5 sought to fix some of the balance issues with the series. Character juggling was revamped to make it less prone to abuse and democratize it for players of all skill levels. A more leveled and fluid mechanic was applied which made the fighting seem smoother and less jarring compared to other entries into the series. The title was soon followed by the final arcade release of the series, Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection

Time Crisis 4

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Publisher: Namco Bandai
Developer: Nex Entertainment
Year Of Release: 2007


Granted, a massively heroic suspension of disbelief has to go into the game's plot, but who plays arcade shooters for plot? The fourth installment in the series capitalized on the series light gun peripheral and cartoon/kinetic action. TC4 is the latest, and last, entry for a standup arcade cabinet.

Marvel vs Capcom 2

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Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Year Of Release: 2000


No other title can even come close to touching Marvel vs Capcom 2 in terms of longevity, playability, and influence. The Dreamcast port was one of the most loyal translations of an arcade title to a home console and the title is still played by EVO champs around the world. A monstrous roster and a college chemistry textbook sized combo list to memorize, MvC2 is undeniably the boss of the arcade scene in the 2000s. 


Magneto, Psylocke, and Venom for life. 

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