Ian Grogan does the 80s

By: Ian Grogan

Posted: 6/6/08

I remember as a kid, whenever I had free time and a handful of quarters, I was at the arcade. The lights, the sounds, the joysticks, the quick mashing of the buttons - they all amused me. Pre-1980 had such games as Pong, Galaxin and Space Invaders, but it wasn't until 1980 that the arcade game took off.

Waca-waca-waca. The highest selling sound in gaming history: Pac-Man. 1980 marked the celebrated year of the little yellow circle. Your objective in Pac-Man is to guide through maps eating all the pac-dots you can. The only problem is Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde were out to stop you. These ghosts move slightly faster than you, so all you could do was avoid them and eventually eat the super pac-dot which would make the ghosts edible.

The first platform game was released in 1981 - you guessed it, it was Donkey Kong. Donkey Kong is Jump Man's (Original name of Mario) pet monkey who stole his girlfriend, and it was up to you to dodge barrels, fire and use lifts, to catch up to the primate. However watch out, Donkey Kong has been hailed as one of the toughest games out there.

One of my favorite games growing up in the 80s was Gauntlet. It was one of the first four-player games of its time utilizing overhead views as you run through dungeons destroying monsters. Your choices as characters are Thor the Warrior, Merlin the Wizard, Thyra the Valkyrie or Questor the Elf - each with their own separate skills and abilities. D&D kids beware, this RPG will keep you entertained for hours.

In 1988, something new was introduced into the gaming industry, blood and gore. NARC was an extreme game that was one of the first to come under fire of parental criticism. You played a cop who was out to arrest and kill drug offenders, confiscate their money and drugs, and ultimately destroy Mr. Big. You could either play as Max Force or Hit Man, who are hunting down junkies, drug dealers and organized crime kingpins, both equipped with machine guns ready to take down the scum of the city.

Here it is - almost 30 years later - we now have home consoles and the arcade games' reign is slowly coming to an end. If you ever want a walk down memory lane, grab some quarters and hit up the arcade; I promise you won't be disappointed.

Ian Grogan

diversions@dailybarometer.com