With hundreds of games available on the Antstream Arcade, there’s almost too much choice
for retro gamers to enjoy. So we’ve put together a helpful guide for anyone who’s
interested in signing up, or has just joined us, and is having trouble deciding what to play
first. Let the classic gaming begin!
"I used to love going to the arcades. What would remind me of wandering into those rooms full of beautiful and glowing arcade machines?"
You should play: Double Dragon
From Jaleco to SNK, Data East and Technos, we’ve got a host of brilliant arcade games
waiting for you on the Antstream Arcade. One of the most famous, and thrilling, is the gritty
tale of the Lee brothers, Jimmy and Billy, and their quest to rescue Billy’s girlfriend, Marian,
from a horde of street thugs and punks.
With both Double Dragon II and 3 also available, there’s plenty of martial arts action for fans
to sink their fists into.
Ant-ernative: Renegade, the spiritual forebear to Double Dragon, is also a good pick if you
enjoy the brawling action.
“HA! I eat videogames for breakfast! Give me something hard-core to get my teeth into,
something that would break your average gamer into a blubbering mess.”
You should play: The Next Space
There are many demanding shoot-‘em-ups available on Antstream Arcade, but few can rival
SNK’s The Next Space in terms of sheer hard-as-nails adversity. With nine different types of
alternate fire you’d think there’d be some respite; well, think again, because The Next Space
is a trip to a space war of extreme bullet hell. The best start to any day.
Ant-ernative: While perhaps not up to Next Space standards, Cybernoid II: The Revenge is
one of the more brutal Spectrum and Amiga shoot-‘em-ups available on Antstream Arcade.
“I used to love playing platform games back in the Eighties. What scratches that Miner Willy
itch on Antstream Arcade?”
You should play: Monty On The Run
There are a plethora of platforming gems from all eras on the Antstream Arcade. But for
that authentic Eighties jumping, collecting items and dodging experience, it’s hard to look
past Gremlin Graphic’s little furry rebel Monty Mole in the marvellous Monty On The Run.
You can play the Commodore 64 version of this classic, complete with its jaunty ditty, right
now.
Ant-ernative: Try Dizzy, the first of the Oliver Twins and Codemasters’ famous egg-shaped
series of platform games.
“Ok, I’m a bit rusty – what’s easy to get into, and not too taxing?”
You should play: Dinosaur Detective Agency
Dinosaur Detective Agency is a gentle and winsome platform game that will help you get to
grips with the controls without being decimated a thousand times over by an alien horde.
Guide the dino sleuth, Sherloch, complete with camera and deerstalker, across various
colourful landscapes in order to apprehend several naughty reptilian criminals. Antstream
and chill.
Ant-ernative: Spectrum budget title Robot Rumpus is a great example of how a simple
design can still be instantly fun decades later.
“Horizontal shoot-‘em-ups are my jam. What have ya got?”
You should play: Prehistoric Isle in 1930
We heartily recommend Prehistoric Isle in 1930, a wonderful and weird shoot-‘em-up from
SNK that pitches the player against an army of dinosaurs and other mysterious critters.
This colourful and frenzied shooter also offers several challenges on Antstream Arcade
including Life Finds A Way – how long can you survive without actually firing? Stick that on
your toast.
Ant-ernative: P47: Phantom Fighter is a sprightly WW2-themed shoot-‘em-up that, while
lacking dinosaurs, is just as much fun as Prehistoric Isle.
“You can keep your fancy consoles and arcade games – I love a bit of strategy and depth.”
You should play: The Humans
Of course it’s not all shootin’ and tootin’ – there’s plenty of thought needed behind many of
the games on Antstream Arcade, and this comical Amiga game is one such example.
The aim is to achieve various stone-age related tasks by banging the noggins of your
primitive humans together to form a team capable of solving every puzzle thrown before
them. Whether it be discovering ancient weapons or hunting for food, the survival of the
human race is down to you! Disclaimer: some tootin’ may be required. Ew.
Ant-ernative: Rotate mirrors and solve devious puzzles in Deflektor, available on
Commodore Amiga and Spectrum.
“I always come to work with a Looney Tunes tie on. Are there any Antstream Arcade games
as bonkers as me?”
You should play: Butasan
It’s hard to look past Jaleco’s barmy pig and bomb throwing game Butasan here. As brisk as
it is whacky, Butasan is an arcade game that doesn’t care that there’s no reason why the
player’s pig is attempting to blow up his fellow porkers with the mass of bombs that have
been thoughtlessly strewn around each playing area.
Also known as Pigs And Bombers, which is the most efficiently self-explanatory title you’ll
hear for a while.
Ant-ernative: Surreal shooters don’t come much weirder than Jeff Minter’s Revenge Of The
Mutant Camels, available on Commodore 64.
“I want to go back in time and save the human race from a despotic demon, travelling
across eras such as Ancient Greece and Viking times, all without changing out of my trusty
blue jeans. Can you help me, Antstream Arcade?”
You should play: Myth: History In The Making
Well, that is a bit specific, but as it happens, yes we can, because you can play the epoch-
hopping Myth: History In The Making on Antstream Arcade right now. This Commodore 64
game from System 3 will soon have you taking on malicious skeletons and Medusa herself in
a battle throughout the ages. Enjoy, and keep rocking that denim.
Ant-ernative: No jeans, but plenty of time-travelling antics in Renegade III, available on the
C64 and ZX Spectrum.