Quazar’s Pop Up Arcade at The Bay Centre
6-1701 Douglas St, Victoria, BC V8W 0C1, Canada
Space Invaders Frenzy
Taito, 2016
Space Invaders Frenzy is a fixed shooter arcade game which was developed by Raw Thrills, Inc. for Taito Corporation, and released in 2016; it is the 13th (and 12th official) game in their Space Invaders series, in addition to the sixth since Akkanvader in 1995.
Arkanoid
Taito, 1986
Arkanoid is a 1986 block breaker arcade game developed and published by Taito. In North America, it was published by Romstar. Controlling a paddle-like craft known as the Vaus, the player is tasked with clearing a formation of colorful blocks by deflecting a ball towards it without letting the ball leave the bottom edge of the playfield. Some blocks contain power-ups that have various effects, such as increasing the length of the Vaus, creating several additional balls, or equipping the Vaus with cannons. Other blocks may be indestructible or require multiple hits to break.
Ms. Pac-Man
Midway, 1982
Ms. Pac-Man is a 1982 maze arcade game developed by General Computer Corporation and published by Midway. It is the sequel to Pac-Man (1980), and the first entry in the series to not be made by Namco. Controlling the titular character, the player is tasked with eating all of the pellets in an enclosed maze while avoiding four colored ghosts. Eating large flashing “Power Pellets” will cause the ghosts to turn blue and flee, which can be consumed for bonus points.
Bubble Bobble
Taito, 1986
Bubble Bobble is a 1986 platform game developed and published by Taito for arcades. It was distributed in the United States by Romstar, and in Europe by Electrocoin. Players control Bub and Bob, two dragons that set out to save their girlfriends from a world known as the Cave of Monsters. In each level, Bub and Bob must defeat each enemy present by trapping them in bubbles and popping, who turn into bonus items when they hit the ground. There are 100 levels total, each becoming progressively more difficult.
Galaga
Namco / Midway, 1981
Galaga is a 1981 fixed shooter arcade game developed and published by Namco. In North America, it was released by Midway Games. Controlling a starship, the player is tasked with destroying the Galaga forces in each stage while avoiding enemies and projectiles. Some enemies can capture a player’s ship via a tractor beam, which can be rescued to transform the player into a “dual fighter” with additional firepower. It is the sequel to Galaxian (1979), Namco’s first major hit in arcades.
Dr. Mario
Nintendo, 1990
Dr. Mario is a 1990 action puzzle video game produced by Gunpei Yokoi, designed by Takahiro Harada, and features a soundtrack composed by Hirokazu Tanaka.
A falling block puzzle game, the player’s objective is to destroy the viruses populating the on-screen playing field by using coloured vitamin capsules that are tossed into the field by Mario, who assumes the role of a doctor. The player manipulates the capsules as they fall, with the goal being to align similar colours which removes the viruses. The player progresses through the game by eliminating all the viruses on the screen in each level.
Soul Calibur 2
Namco, 2002
SoulCalibur II is a 2002 fighting game developed by Project Soul and published by Namco and the third installment in the Soulcalibur series of weapon-based fighting games. The game’s plot revolves around the legendary weapon Soul Edge having been shattered into pieces, with different characters seeking to collect all the pieces to gain possession of the complete weapon or to destroy it once and for all. Compared to Soulcalibur, Soulcalibur II had improvements in graphics and the game system and introduced several new and guest characters. This is the first Soul game depicting the 1591 A.D. trilogy, which ends in Soulcalibur IV.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Konami, 1989
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, is a 1989 beat ’em up arcade game released by Konami. It is based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, including the first animated series that began airing two years earlier. In the game, up to four players control the titular Ninja Turtles, fighting through various levels to defeat the turtles’ enemies, including the Shredder, Krang and the Foot Clan.
Karate Champ
Data East, 1984
Karate Champ, known in Japan as Karate Dō (“The Way of the Empty Hand”), is a 1984 arcade fighting game developed by Technōs Japan for Data East. Karate Champ established and popularized the one-on-one fighting genre. A variety of moves can be performed using the dual-joystick controls using a best-of-three matches format like later fighting games.
A separate arcade game that allows two players the option to compete against each other was released in 1984 under the title Karate Champ — Player vs Player (“The Competitive Way of the Empty Hand: Pretty Maiden Edition”), a distinct video game featuring a multiplayer mode and more varied gameplay. It was released for the arcades shortly after the original during the same year, also published by Data East. This version would serve as the basis for the home ports of Karate Champ.
18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker
Sega, 2000
18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker, known in Japan as 18 Wheeler (エイティーン・ホイーラー, Eitīn Hoīrā), is an arcade game developed by Sega AM2, distributed by Sega, and released to arcades in 2000.
Captain America
Data East, 1991
Captain America and the Avengers is a beat ’em up arcade game developed and released by Data East in 1991. It features the Avengers team of Marvel Comics characters in a side-scrolling brawling and shooting adventure to defeat the evil Red Skull.
Final Fight
Capcom, 1989
Final Fight is a side-scrolling beat-’em-up video game produced by Capcom. Originally released as an arcade game in 1989, it was the seventh title released for the CP System hardware. Set in the fictional Metro City, the game lets the player control one of three street fighters: former pro wrestler and city mayor Mike Haggar, expert brawler Cody Travers, and modern-day ninja Guy. The trio set out to rescue Jessica (Haggar’s daughter and Cody’s girlfriend) when she is kidnapped by the Mad Gear Gang.