Arcade Games
Step into the neon-drenched arcades of Kamurocho and Sotenbori to experience a slice of 1980s gaming culture. Beyond being a fun diversion, mastering these classic titles can earn you valuable Completion Points, unlock substories, and even provide unique items. Each arcade, known as a SEGA HI-TECH LAND, features a distinct selection of games.
General Arcade Strategies
- Practice Makes Perfect: Don't be discouraged by initial failures. Many arcade games require a good understanding of their mechanics and enemy patterns.
- Save Before Playing: If you're aiming for high scores or specific achievements, consider saving your game before entering an arcade. This allows you to retry without losing progress or spending too much money.
- Check the Completion List: Refer to your Completion List (accessible via the Pause Menu) to see specific score targets or achievements for each game. This will guide your efforts.
- Look for Substories: Some arcade games are tied to substories. Keep an eye out for NPCs near arcade cabinets who might trigger these events.
Kamurocho Arcade: SEGA HI-TECH LAND (Nakamichi St.)
Located on Nakamichi Street, this arcade is Kiryu's primary haunt for retro gaming. It features two iconic SEGA titles:
Space Harrier
This classic 3D rail shooter puts you in control of a flying hero, Harrier, as you blast through alien landscapes. The goal is to survive and rack up a high score.
- Controls:
- Left Stick/D-Pad: Move Harrier.
- X (PS4)/A (Xbox One): Fire.
- Strategy:
- Stay Mobile: Constant movement is key. Dodge incoming projectiles and enemies by moving left, right, up, and down.
- Prioritize Targets: Focus fire on enemies that pose the most immediate threat. Larger enemies often require more shots.
- Learn Patterns: Enemy attack patterns are often predictable. Pay attention to how they move and shoot to anticipate their actions.
- Bonus Stages: Successfully navigating the bonus stages (where you ride a dragon and collect points) can significantly boost your score.
- Completion Target: Aim for a score of 5,000,000 points to satisfy the Completion List requirement. This will likely take several attempts.
Out Run
A quintessential arcade racing game where you drive a Ferrari Testarossa through scenic routes, trying to reach checkpoints before time runs out.
- Controls:
- Left Stick/D-Pad: Steer.
- X (PS4)/A (Xbox One): Accelerate.
- Square (PS4)/X (Xbox One): Brake.
- Circle (PS4)/B (Xbox One): Shift Gear (High/Low).
- Strategy:
- Master Drifting: Learn to drift around corners by braking slightly and turning. This is crucial for maintaining speed.
- Choose Your Route: At the end of each stage, you'll be presented with two routes. Experiment to find which routes you're most comfortable with. Generally, the easier routes (left options) are better for beginners.
- Avoid Collisions: Hitting other cars or obstacles will drastically reduce your speed and waste precious time.
- Gear Shifting: While not strictly necessary for casual play, manually shifting gears (High for speed, Low for acceleration out of turns) can give you an edge for high scores.
- Completion Target: To complete the game for the Completion List, you need to reach the final destination (Goal A). This requires successfully navigating all five stages within the time limit.
Sotenbori Arcade: SEGA HI-TECH LAND (Sotenbori St.)
Majima can unwind and test his skills at the SEGA HI-TECH LAND located on Sotenbori Street. This arcade offers a different set of retro challenges.
Fantasy Zone
A vibrant and quirky side-scrolling shooter where you control Opa-Opa, a sentient spaceship, through colorful worlds. Your goal is to destroy all enemy bases in each zone.
- Controls:
- Left Stick/D-Pad: Move Opa-Opa.
- X (PS4)/A (Xbox One): Fire.
- Circle (PS4)/B (Xbox One): Drop Bomb.
- Strategy:
- Collect Coins: Destroying enemies and bases drops coins. Collect these to purchase upgrades from shops that appear periodically.
- Essential Upgrades: Prioritize purchasing Twin Shot for increased firepower and Jet Engine for faster movement. The Heavy Bomb is also incredibly useful for clearing out groups of enemies and bases quickly.
- Destroy Bases First: Your primary objective is to destroy all enemy bases in a zone. Once all bases are gone, the zone boss will appear.
- Boss Patterns: Each boss has a distinct attack pattern. Observe and learn them to find openings for attack.
- Completion Target: Aim for a score of 5,000,000 points for the Completion List. This will require reaching later stages and effectively using upgrades.
Super Hang-On
A high-speed motorcycle racing game where you race against the clock and other riders across various continents.
- Controls:
- Left Stick/D-Pad: Steer.
- X (PS4)/A (Xbox One): Accelerate.
- Square (PS4)/X (Xbox One): Brake.
- Circle (PS4)/B (Xbox One): Turbo Boost (once per race).
- Strategy:
- Cornering Technique: Similar to Out Run, mastering cornering is vital. Lean into turns and use the brake sparingly to maintain momentum.
- Utilize Turbo: The Turbo Boost is a powerful tool. Save it for long straightaways or when you need to make up significant time. Don't waste it on short sections or just before a sharp turn.
- Avoid Other Riders: Colliding with other racers will slow you down considerably. Try to weave through them efficiently.
- Choose Your Continent: The game offers different continents with varying difficulties and track lengths. Start with the easier continents (e.g., Africa) to get a feel for the controls.
- Completion Target: To complete the game for the Completion List, you must finish the Africa course. This is the shortest and easiest course, making it a good starting point.