Tech: Arcade Paradise review

Arcade Paradise, a game from Newcastle-based developer Nosebleed Interactive, tasks you with running your own '90s arcade: 

You start with a few pitiful arcade cabinets tucked in the back closet of a struggling laundromat. As you earn money from customers doing laundry and playing your games, you can afford to buy more machines, renovations to your game room, and even RPG-like upgrades to maintain and grow your business.

Of course, you can play all the arcade games, too, and doing so is virtually required in order to progress, since the "currency" for permanent upgrades comes mostly from earning achievements in the games. Arcade Paradise features over 30 games, including parodies of titles like Pac-Man, OutRun, and Mr. Driller. They're generally fun, but not as compelling as the original classics, and some of them are a downright slog to get through.

While playing Arcade Paradise, I found myself wishing that the business management sim aspects were more fleshed out. Your arcade never faces any competition or catastrophes, and as far as I could tell, there were no fixed expenses and no way to "fail" and go bankrupt.  Adding more arcade cabinets or demoing the building for more space never had any risk or downside. I suppose it's ironic to want more virtual "work" in a game that's about using games to escape work, but it is what it is.

Rating: 80/100