The King of Dragons, Mondays at 10:30/9:30 central

Capcom brought us Megaman, Street Fighter, and Resident Evil; all really good games in their own right.  If there was anything else I did remember Capcom for, it was for bringing us side-scrolling brawlers that you and your friends could play together, such as Final Fight and Knights of the Round.  One of these brawlers other than the latter is a medieval fantasy-themed game called The King of Dragons.

No Animals Were Hurt During the Making of Primal Rage

Our Starcade promo for this game could go as follows:

In a not too distant future, human civilization on Earth came to ruin and brought about the new age of godly beasts, each with their own special moves, fighting style, and plan for the world.  Select the beast you want to control and battle the many challengers around the new Urth. With each battle where you are successful, you will be one step closer ruling the new Urth.  Let the era of Primal Rage begin.

Point Blank: Finally, a Parlor-style Shooting Game

The Swap Shop in Fort Lauderdale holds several memories for me, from the time our family bought a Nintendo 64 to the time I bought a Stitch plush for myself.  However, in spite of those recent activities, the arcade was one of the most memorable things about the Swap Shop.  When the circus was not performing, my brothers and I would often hang out in the video arcade that occupied the second and third levels of the main building.  Of the many games they had throughout the years, Point Blank caught my eye.

Starcade Game Cues, For Your Amusement

In the spirit of the video arcade game show, Starcade, I have put together some game cues similar to those on the show.

For the real effect of this post, you have to have this video play in the background.

Brave Fire Fighters

Fire is one of the most destructive forces in the universe, claiming anyone and anything in its path.  You are among the brave firefighters who keep it from destroying us all.  Armed with only your water hoses, you must work fast to douse the blazes and rescue the civilians trapped inside the burning building before time runs out.  It's time to get moving.  Open all hoses, brave firefighters.  You are our only hope right now.

The House of the Dead
As Agent G and Agent Rogan, you have been sent to investigate the zombie situation at Curien Mansion, otherwise known as the House of the Dead.  The zombies and other creatures are all out to cause trouble for you, but you have to use your pistols to stop them from hurting you or to rescue the innocent civilians for big bonuses and extra routes.  Don't go in the house alone.  This is the House of the Dead.

Area 51
The military compound, Area 51, has encountered an alien force with a plan to take over the earth.  As a member of the STAAR Team, your mission is to stop the aliens and their human hosts.  Power up your guns and ammunition to help you fight more effectively.  Shoot the explosive containers and barrels for big points and big damage.  You should also avoid shooting your colleagues or risk losing your health.  You are our only hope for Earth, starting with Area 51.





Space Harrier
You are the Space Harrier, a flying hyper-soldier trying to escape the strange world of the Fantasy Zone, full of monsters and machines gunning for you.  Your only armament is a special cannon that can blast through just about all of them.  While you are not flying, you will have to run and shoot or avoid any strange structures that can trip you up.  There are also larger specimens of the world that are much harder to bring down.  Welcome to the Fantasy Zone, Space Harrier!


KLAX
This is Klax, and in the nineties, puzzles are not so simple.  In each wave, catch the tumbling tiles with your pad and lay them down on the floor below.  Line up the tiles in groups of at least three to get a Klax.  Lay them down in diagonal or horizontal klaxes for more points, but don't let the tiles fall off the belt or they will soon be the death of you.  It's the nineties, and it's time for Klax.

Punch-Out!!!
Ladies and gentlemen, this is Punch-Out!  introducing in the blue corner is you as the challenger, working your way up to become the champion of the world.  Come out fighting with your opponents, throwing head punches and body blows while swaying and blocking other punches.  Charge up enough power and use power punches to knock them out.  Fight greatly enough and you will advance to the next opponent.  Now let's keep it clean and come out boxing.

Virtua Cop
You are Virtua Cops, the finest police officers Virtua City has to offer.  You are about to go on your most dangerous beat of your lives: Take down the EVL organization once and for all.  Use your standard issue-Guardian class pistols to immobilize the gangsters before they shoot you down.  You may also find some power weapons to your advantage, but remember that you have to protect and serve the innocent people by not shooting them.  You have to have what it takes to be a Virtua Cop.

Trog
Once upon a time in a land of Og, there lived a being called the Trog.  The Trog would feed on four dino friends: Rex, Bloop, Spike, and Gwen.  The dinos find eggs all over the place and return to their homes while the trogs give chase. The dinos can fight the trogs with their hands, or grow supersized and eat them when they can.  Around here, there are no bumps on a log, they just might get eaten by a one-eyed trog.

Double Dragon
A mad gang has captured an important lady.  As martial artists Billy and Jimmy Lee, you are punching, kicking, and throwing your way through the slums of the city, the abandoned factories, the dark forests, and the castle of the gang's fearless leader to bring peace to the city and rescue the important lady.  You are the Double Dragon.



Final Fight
The Mad Gear gang has overrun Metro City, and have captured the Mayor's daughter to show their power.  As the mayor and his close friends, you are taking the fight to the streets, moving from area to area taking out the gang bosses and the other soldiers that get in your way.  You and the gangsters may also use weapons to deal more damage than with their bare hands.  After all, this is the Final Fight

Rampage: World Tour

Scumlabs, the world's largest distributor of toxic chemicals, has had an accident, and you are one of three test subjects that have escaped.  Your means of revenge is to wreak havoc on the cities of the world, from smashing the buildings to eating food and people who may try to stop you.  Ultimately, your world tour will have you rid Scumlabs from the face of the earth.  This is the rampage world tour.

Revolution X

Aerosmith has been captured by the New Order Nation, and it is up to you now to lead the revolution against them around the world.  Bring down the New Order with your submachine guns and deadly music CDs as you rescue Aerosmith from where they are being held.  You are also free to do damage wherever its convenient for big points.  Revolution X has begun, and music is the weapon.

Paperboy
Extra!  Extra!  Read all about it!  The Daily Sun has hired you as their next paperboy.  Your job will be to bring the paper to the local subscribers by either throwing them at their doors or in their mailboxes.  Just watch the hazards in the neighborhood or you'll be living a life of danger.  There's even some training and window breaking for big bonuses.  Remember, as the paperboy, you can make the news by just delivering it.

Smash TV: Fridays on CBS?

About fourteen years ago, my mother's friends threw birthday parties for their children at Discovery Zone locations in Miami.  Among the many video games available there, I came across an interesting one.  It involved guns, it involved death, it involved big money, and it involved big prizes.  It involved everything a second-grader in the mid 1990s cannot get today.  I loved it. 

Cheap at Chuck E. Cheese's: Let's Go Jungle

Image Courtesy of Birmingham Vending Company

When I was not studying at the campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee, I would be either too young or too cash-strapped to go into the bars.  Not far away from Tallahassee Mall, A family amusement center, Fun Station, was right across the street.  However, a discount movie theater, an ice cream parlor, and a Chuck E. Cheese's was at a strip mall.
The thing is that when people think of Chuck E. Cheese's, people expect to bring their children so they can eat the mass-produced pizza, watch the animatronic shows, and play the video games, many of which have cabinets refit for an average six year-old.  However, given their one-token policy on games and/or rides, I only went in to play the video games and nothing more, especially when I was waiting for my movie to start right down the way.  Among the good value of the games, I came across this late Sega game: Let's Go Jungle: Lost on the Island of Spice.