Loading ...Website Story: Last Arcade Standing…Playdium Mississauga (Formerly SEGA City) Part 1
May 3rd, 2010 | 
Author: 
Today has been an incredible SEGA adventure, Playdium has been in Toronto for a long time but I never got a chance to go in my youth. Now that I got wheels and paycheck, what better way to spend a day off than checking out one of the last true MEGA arcades I know….
If you are ever in the Toronto you should take the drive down the Gardiner Expressway and check out Playdium Mississauga – it has a whole host of great wild SEGA arcade treasures. The site uses a card based system for credits and you can either purchase an allotted amount or spend $22 bucks for 2 hours of free play.
Not all of the units were in pristine condition but with over 20 SEGA titles, I’ll be definitely heading to Playdium again soon when I get that Arcade hankering – it made me really stoked to see all the potential SEGA could exploit from their Arcade IPs on the home console.
Hit the jump for the overview of the first 9 titles we played and our impressions:
18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker- SEGA AM2/ Naomi / 2000
It has been a while since I’ve played some 18 Wheeler on the Dreamcast and seeing the arcade unit with the full size truck steering wheel added to the experience. It isn’t the first title you want to play but a nice game to get around too especially if you have yet to try it in the arcade.
The 18 Wheeler arcade unit was showing signs of age but once you get playing it is hard to notice the minor amounts of screen burn-in on the projector. The up/down shifter felt a little loose but it was fully functional.
The game and its sequel King of Route 66 are available on home consoles. In terms of the home port, the colors and graphics really pop on the standard CRT screen. I wonder if the Ps2 editions supports force feedback with the GT Wheel…
Final Thoughts: An oldie but a solid niche experience
After Burner Climax – SEGA AM2 / Lindbergh / 2006
Playdium has the Deluxe “Commander” unit of After Burner Climax which tilts side to side in conjunction with the flight stick, you even have to buckle up! Yet, it is not the Super Deluxe unit that also tilts forwards and backwards. That said, the motion in the Deluxe edition is still a fantastic touch.
The unit in Playdium looks brand new and very attractive. Funny story, despite all the hours I spent with title at home – it wasn’t until I played the game in the arcade that I realized that the pilots are from Ghost Squad team.
I did two runs just to fully experience the unit. It is definitely worth a play. However, that said, while I dig the game, I still prefer the HD version off my Xbox 360 with the Hori Flight Stick. It could just because my screen at the bunker is bigger than the one in the arcade.
Final Thoughts: If you can find a Commander or Super Deluxe cabinet, give it a go for sure.
Airline Pilots – SEGA / Naomi / 1999
Airline Pilots isn’t a really a game – it is literally a Boeing 777 flight simulator that was developed with the help of actual pilots in Japan. The Naomi based game is impressive to say the least. The three screens reminded me of the arcade unit of F355 Challenge. The arcade game is pretty intimidating with switches, buttons, and thrusters everywhere.
While I managed to get the plane into the sky, I didn’t get much farther than that. If I wasn’t budgeted for time, I would have loved to spend more time with the game. The unit was a in great condition and the three screens looked great. But this one isn’t for the faint hearted.
This is one title that has never seen play on the console side of things and due to its intense controls and simulation aspects, I doubt a port is ever likely.
Final Thoughts: A simulation in an arcade? Cool…but be prepared to crash and burn
Ghost Squad Evolution – SEGA / Lindbergh / 2007
I love Ghost Squad as it really brings that Virtua Cop and Confidential Mission feeling back into the new age with some nice modern flourishes. First of all, the guns for this title have kickback and feel fantastic in your hands. I love the fact that this game allows you to switch between burst and single shot modes.
The game itself is features some nice action with big graphics. The unit at Playdium was in fantastic shape and is a must play.
Wii owners have the 2003 edition available to them on their consoles and when paired with the Wii Zapper the game does an admirable job of bringing the experience over to homes. It’s just too bad that many of the gun molds for the Wii are not very good (Note to developers: make all the controls mappable for Wii blasters – trust me, some gun molds would work better if you could map the trigger function to the Z button on the nunchuk).
I’m hoping with the advent of the Playstation Move we will see light gun games making it over to the HD space via PSN. An HD port could be fantastic but even if SEGA did another go with the Wii, I’d be happy.
Final Thoughts: Holster up and move out!
House of the Dead 4 – SEGA / Lindbergh / 2006
Ah, House of the Dead 4…the first title to use the Lindbergh Arcade board and loved by many fans all over the world. Not much to say about this one other than it is easily one of the most requested titles to have brought over to the home console – however, SEGA has not announced anything.
The Playdium arcade unit feels good and shake reloading feels really natural. The unit and screen is in great condition but the triggers on the Machine gun felt a little mushy. While the arcade game is a ton of fun and picks up right where House of the Dead 3 ends off – but personally, I’d rather play House of the Dead 4 at home.
C’mon, SEGA – this game should be on the Wii…pack it in with a remastered version of House of the Dead and you’ll have fans tripping over themselves to pick it up. Or put it as unlockable on the sequel to House of the Dead: Overkill. Oh wait, I get it you are going to wait until you can make it on the HD consoles and package all the HOTD titles together as a Collector’s pack, right?
Final Thoughts: It’s already classic!
Hummer - SEGA / Lindbergh / 2009
To be honest, I almost missed this SEGA title completely as I usually don’t associate the Japanese company with the now retired giant, gas-guzzling GM brand.
The title however is a good spot of arcade racing fun and I’m glad I tried it out. The unit isn’t motorized like SEGA Rally 3 or Outrun but the game features a nice force feedback wheel and solid control. It featured 4 courses and the racer also has a simple and subtle gameplay system in place where you can gain boost by breaking objects and landing jumps in your Hummer.
Once you gain boost you can use it to shoot forward and knock out other racers – it kind of reminded me of Cruisn’ USA – in a good way. No word if any console edition is coming but this would be a natural fit on PSN and XBLA with online play – as playing someone increases the competitive fun.
Final Thoughts: Dirty, dirty fun.
Indy 500 - SEGA AM 1 / Model 2 / 1995
I’m not a big graphics whore and thank goodness because if I was, I might’ve overlooked this classic Model 2 title. Playing Indy 500 in the cabinet cockpit with a giant screen was awesome especially when the unit rocked and swayed with the game.
It is an 8 player linked system with large screens in front of complete cockpits including additional virtual spectator displays. It typically run as an attraction, as opposed to regular arcade units. If you go with a group – you should all race each other.
The title features 3 tracks and unless SEGA decides to go ahead with a Model 2 Arcade Collection pack, I fear this title will be lost in time.
Final Thoughts: If you like racing games and can handle retro graphics – this is a must play.
Initial D, Stage 4 - SEGA ROSSO / Lindbergh/ 2007
I have never watched the anime series but I love SEGA ROSSO’s arcade racer. The tracks are very refined and the arcade control is pitch perfect. I love the one-on-one style and with the Card reader (the cards actually look pretty cool) it takes continuity to new heights.
The unit at Playdium is solid but there is minor burn-in of the “insert credit” icon. The screen runs very close to high definition. The PS3 received Initial D Extreme Stage as an import title but it bothers me that so many of the arcade titles have been sourced in English and yet they never get a home console release.
Sure, it is a simple game but are you telling me that there are not enough Intial D fans in the West to make it a moderate success as a DLC title? Everyone needs to play this as it comes from the minds that gave us the original SEGA RALLY, Crazy Taxi, and Virtua ON.
Final Thoughts: The card can be expensive but there is a reason that this games has so many sequels.
L.A. Machine Guns - SEGA / Model 3/ 1999
LA Machineguns is a simple but wild blaster. The unit in Playdium is starting to show its age but the game itself is eye blistering fun. The gun unit itself rumbles in such a satisfying manner that it is hard not to smile during the gameplay.
The flat shaded graphics of Model 2/3 arcade boards have managed to age rather decently due to their simplicity and solid art design. One problem with this particular unit was that the aiming reticule did not seem to track the sight of the light gun. It didn’t really matter as I could track the gun with the cursor on screen but in a strange way it confirmed that the game could work on the Wii with the Zapper, even if the aiming is not 1:1.
SEGA needs to craft their own home console blaster for this title.
Final Thoughts: Still a solid blaster despite the years, worth a play if you are looking forward to the Wii release.
________________________________________________________________________
I got to say, the older I get the more I understand the beauty of a short, in-your-face arcade game. The cumulative hours I’ve put into Outrun probably outweigh the hours I’ve spent with some long-winded RPGs. That is classic gaming.
With that thought, here ends Part 1 of the SEGA Arcade Overview at Playdium. In the next edition of “Last Arcade Standing…Playdium Edition” we will cover the list of movie-related titles that SEGA fans would love to see come home.
Posted in
Nice =] Makes me wish I had an arcade I could get to…
I love those cards you get with Initial D. Totally forgot to get one the last time I played it.
dude,that was really,really good.