I'm planning on taking a trip to Japan either in Spring or Summer and I'm a huge fan of coin-op games. I'll likely be in the Osake / Tokyo area...any really good game centers in particular that people can recommend me?
Well, you know Club Sega in Akihabara right? If you don't, it's not easy to miss. Anyhow, don't go there, walk a few meters down the street instead and go to the Taito center. They have lots of shmups :-D
Well, the best way to find Club Sega is to walk around Akihabara for a few minutes and it stares you in the face Club Sega in itself is alright but has too much common stuff I thought - the only Ikaruga and RSG cabs I found were in the Taito thingie down the block. Oh and also, if you find yourself in Harajuku with some time to kill, cross the street opposite the station, and on the right corner where the BIG shopping avenue intersects with the road you have to cross is a little 50 yen arcade if I'm not mistaken
There's one in one of the main small street near Shibuya, where most games are 50/100 yens instead of 100/200. Eg: Taiko was 100 yens there, while it's 200 yens practically everywhere (that was last year). Second floor they have (had?) a Hokutonoken with the 6 punching ball thing. Top floor some old games, all 50 yens. I played Fantasy Zone and Wonder Boy in Monster Land for hours there. Of course I don't know the street name. Who does?
Found a 4-5 story alleyway arcade in Shibuya with a floor w/ ~20 Guity Gear machines in all & GG tournys!
All over Japan you'll find the following Club Sega - Great arcade with all the latest stuff from all major companies oh and Sammy Sega World - Same as above Sega Hi-Tech Land - Same as above but with more of an interest on network gaming or atleast in Shimonoseki (we have 2 Sega Worlds, 1 Hi-Tech land and 1 Club Sega) Sega Joyopolis - Most of the new games are there as well as big attraction rides/games. More of a family place really. Taito World - Nice arcades mostly filled with more cheaper games and plenty of shooters. Namco World - Shite ! Mostly cheap crap or namco's own games. hardly any Sega stuff what so ever. Capcom Arcade - I don't know if the one in Tokyo is still there but 5 years ago I visited there. Bloody wonderful place with every Capcom game under the sun plus Sega, Konami, Namco etc. Don't forget the many indie arcades that sometimes have wonderful Retro Sections. Yakumo
LOL, a Capcom joint has Konami/Namco games?! I guess it's not that strange, back home a Namco arcade had competitors games too. I went to Joyopolis in Odaiba but it was shitty. Don't go there people
True but it`s directly opposite the HMV in Shibuya so easy to find. They have Daytona USA for 50Yen too, result. Try amusements in Akihabara is also good.
Shibuya: On Meiji Doori you have Hitech Shibuya (highest level VF play in Shibuya... other than that, it's okay) and Taito Station across the street. Taito Station is a bit better I'd say. The 50 yen game center across from HMV on Center-gai is worth going to, although really smokey. They have some great old school games, and some newer stuff as well. Club Sega and Shibuya Gigo are worth a pop-in. Sega has done location tests for VF4 Evolution, Final Tuned, their soccer game, Avalaon no Kagi, and Quest of D at their Shibuya game centers, so there's always a chance their testing out something else there. Shinjuku: Any of the sportslands are good. Friday nights at Nishiguchi Sportsland (Nishispo) is when the best players in Tokyo meet and play VF4 until close. If you're into VF4, this is a must see --- it's the highest ranked play you'll see in one room outside of a scheduled tournament. Akiba: HEY! is the best of the Akiba arcades in that it's shooter floor will make you want to touch yourself. They have ALL Cave shmups there... from Donpachi, to Dangun, to Guwange, to Mushihime-sama. There's a newer arcade across the street which is nice, and has a decent selection, but Hey is where you want to be. if you like 2D fighters that were cool like 10 years ago, go to Club Sega, as they've got a floor devoted to these damn things that won't die. Other than that, there's generally arcades all over town. Just about anyone can probably cycle to an arcade in some form within 30 minutes from their home, if not walk to one.
That's the one I meant in my posts, I think (I thought it was Taito's, ah well). Isn't that that arcade that we walked in and found that beta Cave shooter with 65346436 people queing for it?
Yep, that's the one. Taito might own it... not sure. That shooter was a beta test of Mushihime-sama, btw.
