Midway Arcade Treasures 2

"Prepare to cry...."

I am basing this review solely on the content of MK 2 and 3, because I feel that this is the main reason most people will buy it, however, I will take into account some other titles.

Fighting

Mortal Kombat II and 3

I remember going to the arcade to play both of these with my friends. I remember watching and how fun it was to watch, but not how fun it was to play. That's probably because I didn't want to play it. And now I know why I didn't want to play it. These versions are the ACTUAL arcade versions that were in the arcade. Look at that sentence really close "The ACTUAL arcade versions". Folks, arcade games are not meant to be played in the home. Without a whole lot of tweaking, the AI does what it is meant to do in the arcade in your home; whip your ass in to oblivion. Does this sound fun? That's right it doesn't, because it's not. In both iterations it's almost as if the AI is meant to eat your quarters, which it is meant to do, in the arcade. But here you've paid 20 dollars to play these games. You've already paid your money, there is no other money to be gained from the computer absolutely tearing you apart. In my opinion I don't think it really would have been that hard to port it instead of emulate it. The hand crafted tweaking would have been much appreciated. You'll see things in these games you thought only impossible until you play them. The computer, without fault, almost always ducks under Scorpion's spear and Sub-Zero's ice blast. The AI has 1 objective only; keep walking toward you. Don't expect anything like a forward or back flip, because these you ain't getting. The computer's objective is to absolutely destroy you as the player, sucking any fun you remember from your old home versions. Unless you really liked the Arcade version that kicked your ass all those years ago, then go for it. But i'm gonna guess anybody buying this remembers playing it in the comfort of their home with all their friends and having a good time.

Pit Fighter

I remember playing this in the Arcade and it pretty much does the same thing as Mortal Kombat without all the hair pulling. You know this game is stupid from the beginning and it doesn't make any attempts to do anything else. The gameplay is lame, you kick, punch, kick, punch and throw. It's good for a laugh and I'll admit I had enough fun playing it to want to go a second time through. It's still not worth recommending the overall package.

Primal Rage

The only thing I remember about Primal Rage is the cool fatalities and they still remain, I didn't get much time with this particular ROM and didn't care. So if you want to buy this for Primal Rage it might be worth it, BUT only if you want this game. In that case i'd just say look up the PSX version. Sure it's not ARCADE perfect, but it still has the fatalities and you don't get that poisonous taste you get from buying this horrible compilation.

Sports

Arch Rivals

This pre-NBA Jam was great back in the day, but chances are you don't remember or don't care about this game. If you've played one NBA Jam game, you've played them all. Chances are you don't really care about reliving this one because you relive it every time you buy an NBA Jam iteration.

Driving

Spy Hunter 2

Spy Hunter was fun in the original compilation, and Spy Hunter 2 is fun in this compilation. The only problem is that it's only fun until you get to the end, after that, you won't care.

Action

Narc

This game makes little to no sense. Although fun, this game is mostly about blowing everything in sight up. Of course with a name like NARC you expect to be busting drug dealers. Instead of doing this you are more like a motorcycle suited terminator out to just blow the entire town up. In NARC you will shoot everything in sight from crackheads, to hookers, to sports cars. Since all you do is shoot, it gets old pretty quick. Yet another one I can't even recommend the compilation to get.

All the other little titles add little to no value to this collection. Rampage is completely outdone because of how many versions there are. You probably haven't even heard of APB if you are a certain age. Total Carnage is like playing Smash TV all over again. What in the crap is Timber? Basically what i'm saying and what I have been saying through this whole review is this; Don't BUY THIS COLLECTION. If you can go rent it, then you can experience the sting without the stinky smell after you realize how much this sucks. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll throw the game disc in the trash. Trust me on this, unless you were alive to play each and every single game on this disc (IN THE ARCADE) don't buy it. After you've paid your 20 dollars you want to have fun, not remember why you didn't want to play the Arcade version to begin with.

I give this game a 4 because it's not good enough to get a high rating and doesn't suck enough to completely ignore. I'd say if you want to try it, rent it. Of course, you are already paying almost part of its worth if you rent it. Best way to go about trying this one out is to go over your poor sap of a friend's house and play it there. Then you both can at least have a good time when you return it for a better game like Pokemon Snap or Superman 64

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 10/18/04