One thing I like about reviewing games is that sometimes I get code for a game that I know absolutely nothing about. It’s a bit like going to an opening act for a gig; you could literally end up with anything. Arcadegeddon is one such example, and at first glance I didn’t quite understand what I was getting.
To set the tone, Arcadegeddon puts you in the rather stylish sneakers of a young hero visiting his local arcade, which is sadly in an endangered format. This is not only because it is the only one, but the sinister and seemingly soulless Fun Fun Co wants to stage a very hostile takeover. The reason? Arcadegeddon.
That’s right, the title refers to the jewel in the crown of Gilly’s arcade. The fully immersive game Arcadegeddon falls victim to a cyber attack from the folks at Fun Fun Co, and the only way to save it is to literally get into the game and clean things up, byte by byte.
An easy way to imagine Arcadegeddon is a neon-clad pumping beats back-cross between Jetset radio and Fortnite. This combination of style and gameplay fits really well. The dazzling colors make the characters, enemies and environments look fantastic, especially thanks to the support for ray tracing. Despite perhaps being an acquired taste, the collection of futuristic hip-hop beats makes for a truly fantastic soundtrack. I love it.
As you may have guessed, Arcadegeddon is a third person shooter. The main mode (or adventure mode) consists of “runs”, which is a fancy name for every time you play it. You are randomly thrown into different biomes (of which there are six) and given certain objectives to help solve the game, such as solving data leaks and destroying power siphons. All the while, the virus goes to work spawning all sorts of robotic enemies trying to end you.
As with any such game, loot crates are scattered that yield different types of weapons and stat boosts ranging from the common to the legendary. The weapon variety is really interesting, with some really unique and wacky weapons up for grabs like the Party Favor. Not all of them are offensive either, with examples like “The Good Doctor” healing your teammates when you shoot them with it.
As you progress through each stage, the difficulty increases and players can choose to speed up the process at mid-level checkpoints, if they wish. Of course, there is a tradeoff here in that the harder the level, the greater the rewards will be. Arcadegeddon calls this a selling point, as the player has control over the pace at which his run unfolds. You can even start with higher difficulty levels after unlocking the ability to do so. During gameplay, you fill boss meters that unlock bigger encounters with a randomly generated elite enemy. Again, it’s up to the players to decide when and whether to take on these battles, but the potential rewards are huge.
Playing runs also rewards you with tickets, power tokens and more. This will allow you to purchase new abilities for your character, along with upgrade stats such as health and shield bars. But perhaps most predictably, there are many customization options to unlock. Gloves, jackets and even hairstyles are all available to help shape your character. Like I said, Arcadegeddon is a cool looking game anyway, so there aren’t really bad options in my opinion, welcome as they are.
You can play Arcadegeddon alone or online with others. Playing offline is still a lot of fun, thanks in part to the fast, high-octane action. There are also gang members scattered around the arcade, offering you additional challenges during your run. What wasn’t too obvious and surprised me for a while was the need to go back and “turn in” your quest for rewards to the quest giver, rather than the game handing them out automatically. Unless it was me who was crazy, which is a strong possibility. These quests also gradually propel the story as you complete them. However, it’s the multiplayer where Arcadegeddon really shines.
By playing with others, you can progress in your run and earn more rewards. You can emote and drop waypoints if voice chat isn’t your thing either. If you do it really well, runs can take hours and Arcadegeddon can be really hard to put down if you’re doing it right. What also helps is the constantly changing setting and objectives that keep a fairly standard shooter fresh and fun. Then there are high scores to chase, with online leaderboards offering something to aim for and brag about if you’re skilled enough.
However, after a few runs you’ve seen what Arcadegeddon has to offer, and this lack of novelty may disappoint some players. The core of the game is fast and light, and most importantly, solidly designed, keeping it accessible and enjoyable. The action feels balanced and the weapons, as well as your character’s movement, control very comfortably indeed.
For those who play online, the Battle Mode is also available for those who want something different. These are short PvP rounds where players fight for survival in different arenas. For example, one sees players blasting platforms to eliminate the others and emerge as the last man standing (quite literally).
I did run into a small problem with matchmaking, as the servers seemed very quiet. On a few late nights I couldn’t find any other players at all. However, at more reasonable times of the day, I was successfully paired after an average wait of three to five minutes. This may be concerning given that crossplay is enabled and I’m reviewing the game a bit after the full release. I guess time will tell, but Arcadegeddon feels like an ideal candidate for Xbox Game Pass.
Unfortunately, there are also some minor glitches that I encountered while playing. After completing a run, exiting and going back to the game, Arcadegeddon would get stuck in a loading screen. You can also link your Epic account from the main menu, but when I tried, every time I tried, I got stuck in a loading screen again. As I said, minor issues but certainly notable.
In terms of longevity, it all depends on what you’re looking for in Arcadegeddon. Personally, the solid gameplay kept me playing for hours, despite the content being on the lighter side. Considering that you have to pay £24.99 to enter, there may be a lot of free-to-play alternatives that prevent some people from checking them out.
There are also options to purchase in-game cash for real money, which will unlock premium outfits. This is not necessary to enjoy the game, which is good news, but an optional extra.
As you can probably tell from my words, I really enjoyed my time at Arcadegeddon and I really hope it will be a success. It’s an incredibly playable game that exudes a style to absolutely love. Objectively, that may not be enough for some.
Despite legitimate longevity questions, Arcadegeddon is an absolute stunner that takes place on a lush, digital battlefield. With the right support, the future should look bright.
Arcadegeddon is available at the Xbox store
One thing I like about reviewing games is that sometimes I get code for a game that I know absolutely nothing about. It’s a bit like going to an opening act for a gig; you could literally end up with anything. Arcadegeddon is one such example, and at first glance I didn’t quite understand what I was getting. To set the tone, Arcadegeddon puts you in the rather stylish sneakers of a young hero visiting his local arcade, which is sadly in an endangered format. This is not only because it is the only one, but the sinister and…
Arcadegeddon Review
Arcadegeddon Review
2022-09-08
Darren Edwards
Advantages:
- Balanced, enjoyable gameplay
- Looks and sounds stylish
- Tons of customization options
- Smooth, precise control
cons:
- Fairly satisfied light and slow matchmaking
- Quite expensive compared to competitors
Information:
- Huge thanks for the free copy of the game go to – Illfonic
- Formats – Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC
- Version Reviewed – Xbox Series X
- Release Date – July 5, 2022
- Introductory price from – £24.99
TXH score
3.5/5
Advantages:
- Balanced, enjoyable gameplay
- Looks and sounds stylish
- Tons of customization options
- Smooth, precise control
cons:
- Fairly satisfied light and slow matchmaking
- Quite expensive compared to competitors
Information:
- Thank you very much for the free copy of the game go to – Illfonic
- Formats – Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC
- Version Reviewed – Xbox Series X
- Release Date – July 5, 2022
- Introductory price from – £24.99
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