''Arcade Party Pak'' is a

PlayStation is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a divisi ...

compilation of six

Atari Atari () is a brand name that has been owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by French publisher Atari SA through a subsidiary named Atari Interactive. The original Atari, Inc. (1972–1992), Atari, Inc., ...

and Midway games: ''

720° ''720°'' is a skateboarding video game released in arcades by Atari Games in 1986, in which the player controls a skateboarder skating around a middle-class neighborhood. By doing jumps and tricks, the player can eventually acquire enough point ...

'', '' Klax'', '' Rampage'', ''

Smash TV ''Smash TV'' is a 1990 arcade video game created by Eugene Jarvis and Mark Turmell for Williams Electronics Games. It is a dual-stick shooter (one for moving and the other for firing) in the same vein as 1982's '' Robotron: 2084'' (co-created b ...

'', ''

Super Sprint Super may refer to: Computing * SUPER (computer program), or Simplified Universal Player Encoder & Renderer, a video converter / player * Super (computer science), a keyword in object-oriented programming languages * Super key (keyboard butt ...

'', and ''

Toobin' ''Toobin is an Atari Games and Midway Games video game originally released as an arcade game in 1988 and is based on the recreational sport tubing. It was later ported to systems such as NES, Amiga, Commodore 64, MSX, and Game Boy Color. In ...

''. It was the first compilation game for the system. All games are presented in their original arcade formats as individually launchable games from the main menu.

Gameplay

The player is presented with a main menu where they can select from the 6 arcade titles. For each game they can select various settings such as skill level, number of lives and if they want high scores automatically saved to the

memory card A memory card is an electronic data storage device used for storing digital information, typically using flash memory. These are commonly used in digital portable electronic devices. They allow adding memory to such devices using a card in a so ...

. In addition to the games themselves, there are also behind the scenes interviews on the making of the games presented as an FMV. The compilation features the following games:

''720°''

A skateboarding game where the player must complete tricks to increase their score.

''Klax''

puzzle video game Puzzle video games make up a broad genre of video games that emphasize puzzle solving. The types of puzzles can test problem-solving skills, including logic, pattern recognition, sequence solving, spatial recognition, and word completion. H ...

where blocks roll towards the player who can catch them on a panel and drop them into the playing area below to get color matches to score points.

''Rampage''

The player takes control of gigantic creatures with the main goal being to destroy the city and the military forces trying to stop you.

''Smash TV''

The setting is a futuristic ultra violent

game show A game show is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment (radio, television, internet, stage or other) where contestants compete for a reward. These programs can either be participatory or Let's Play, demonstrative and are typically directed b ...

where the player must defeat hordes of oncoming enemies in each room to progress.

''Super Sprint''

A quick paced overhead 3 player car racing game.

''Toobin''

A river race in an inflatable tube while avoiding obstacles and crashing into competitors.

Faithfulness to the original games

Skill levels and number of lives can be set before starting the game, making it less harsh in terms of difficulty. On the negative side there are

frame rate Frame rate (expressed in or FPS) is the frequency (rate) at which consecutive images (frames) are captured or displayed. The term applies equally to film and video cameras, computer graphics, and motion capture systems. Frame rate may also be ca ...

drops in ''Rampage'', and a darker colour palette in ''720°'' and ''Toobin'.''

Peripherals

Most games are either compatible with a certain peripheral or they're not, but due to ''Arcade Party Pak's'' multiple game set-up, compatibility is on a game by game basis. Rampage is compatible with the

multitap :''Multi-tap also refers to a text-entry system for mobile phones.'' A multitap is a video game console peripheral that increases the number of controller ports available to the player, allowing additional controllers to be used in play, similar t ...

, allowing up to 3 players, ''720°'' can take advantage of the

PlayStation Mouse The PlayStation Mouse (US/UK: SCPH-1090, JP: SCPH-1030) is an input device for the PlayStation that allows the player to use a mouse as a method of control in compatible games. The mouse was released in Japan on December 3, 1994, the launch date ...

but for player 2 only and ''Super Sprint'' is compatible with the mouse for any player. Although not mentioned in the game's manual, ''Super Sprint'' can be played with the PlayStation steering wheel. ''Smash TV'' benefits from analog stick compatibility, effectively turning it into a true

Twin-stick shooter A twin-stick shooter is a subgenre of shoot 'em up video games. It is a multidirectional shooter in which the player character is controlled using two joysticks: one for movement on a flat plane, and one to aim and fire shots at enemies, Usually ...

Compatibility

Whereas most PS1 games are compatible with the ''

PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...

, Arcade Party Pak'' is a PlayStation game partially incompatible with PlayStation 2.

Reception

Digital Press magazine gave the game a 33/40,

PlayStation Official Magazine – UK ''PlayStation Official Magazine – UK'', generally abbreviated as ''OPM'', was a magazine based in the United Kingdom that covered PlayStation news created in 2006. Although the first issue was distributed in three-month intervals, from Issue 2 ...

gave the game a 5/10 and Gamers' Republic gave the game a B rating.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arcade Party Pak 1999 video games PlayStation (console) games PlayStation (console)-only games Midway video game compilations Video games developed in the United States Multiplayer and single-player video games Digital Eclipse games