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Top 10 Retro Classics for the iPhone [iPhone, Games]

If you were born in the 70′s, spent hundreds of quarters in your local arcades, the following list of games should not come as a surprise. iPhone is a new platform and it wouldn’t be a platform without some absolute classics. Here we bring you ten hand picked retro arcade games for your iPhone/iPod Touch. Sure, you must have few quarters to spare to own a piece of gaming history!

Top 10 Retro Classics for the iPhone

Space Invaders
This is one of those games that most definitely does not need any introduction. Though simplistic by today’s standards, it was one of the forerunners of modern video gaming and helped expand the video game industry from a novelty to a global industry. Still enjoyed by many, Space Invaders is considered one of the most successful arcade shooting games ever. Designed by Tomohiro Nishikado, and released in 1978, it is now finally available for the iPhone in it’s original version with bonus extras including rare material from the original game’s development. A must for any fan of retro gaming.

Cost: $4.99
Developer: TAITO Corporation

Vector Tanks
Inspited by Battlezone, an arcade game from Atari, Inc released in 1980, Vector Tanks is the remake available for the iPhone. The original game displayed a wireframe view on a horizontal black and white CRT (with green and red sectioned color overlay). Due to its novel gameplay and look, this game was very popular for many years. Vector Tanks continues the game’s tradition bringing the same old school graphics as the original title did. RazorianFly has a great review of the game, well worth a read.

Cost: $2.99
Developer: Chillingo Ltd

Digit Invader
Inspired by Casio Calculator games from the 1980s, Digit Invader is a game of digits, numbers. Simple, yet fun, the game offers fun gameplay of quick taps to match the numbers on the screen. When you first start the game, you are greeted with a standard calculator. To switch to ‘Game’ mode just rotate the device. Also offered are two themes, modern and classic. The developer promises new themes in the future but both that are available are fantastic as they are. If you are fan of vintage calculator games, you should check out Retro Games website. They offer a great selection of 1980s calculators for purchase.

Cost: $0.99
Developer: Dong-Wook Kim

Classic Qong Arcade (Pong)
Pong  is one of the earliest arcade video games, and is a tennis sports game featuring simple two-dimensional graphics. The aim is to defeat an opponent—either computer-controlled or a second player—by earning a higher score. The game was originally manufactured by Atari Incorporated (Atari), who released it in 1972. Classic Qong Arcade brings the classic qualities of Pong with a modern twist – multiplayer. The game includes 2 player mode where you can battle your friends by each player playing on their section of the screen. It is not exactly the multiplayer pong we hoped for in the AppStore, but it is nevertheless a wonderful classic for your iPhone.

Cost: $1.99
Developer: JSeuss Software

Vector Blaster
Inspired by Tempest, an arcade game by Atari Inc, originally designed and programmed by David Theurer and released in October, 1981, Vector Blaster is a modern version of the old school classic. A classic shooter, a must for every classics fan.
Blast through obstacles and overcome insurmountable odds as you, Vector Blaster, fight to save your home planet Zydar from the most evil criminal mastermind of the 32nd century–Ghotran!

Cost: $0.99
Developer: Rude Scotsman

Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man
Do not need much introduction. Brought to you by Namco Networks, both games are the remakes of the original world famous arcade classic, returns in this faithful rendition for your iPhone. If you would like more background behind these apps, Pac-Man Dossier is a place dedicated to providing Pac-Man players of all skill levels with the most complete and detailed study of the game possible. Both games are available for $5.99 each. Slightly more expensive that what you would expect on the iPhone but nevertheless if you love these classics, should be small price to pay for a piece of history on your iPhone.

Cost: $5.99
Developer: Namco Networks

Crystal Quest
Crystal Quest is the mega-selling 80’s retro space shooter. For those that may remember, launched in 1987, Crystal Quest was the very first color game for the Apple Macintosh and it became an instant hit after its release. iPhone release is exactly what you may remember from Crystal Quest. Traditional keyboard type navigation has now been replaced with touch, ie. point where you want your spaceship to go and tap to shoot rather as well as tilt controls like some other games. Being mac fans, we reviewed the game a while back. You can read more and see the video guide here.

Cost: $4.99
Developer: Hands-On Mobile

Frogger
The classic arcade for the iPhone/iPod touch. Point Frogger across the highway, hopping past cars and trucks. After avoiding the perils of traffic, crossing the fast stream awaits. Hop along moving logs and turtles and guide Frogger home. Guide 5 frogs to safety and move to the next level. First introduced in 1981. It was developed by Konami, and licensed for worldwide distribution by Sega/Gremlin. The game is regarded as a classic and was noted for its novel gameplay and theme. Frogger is still very popular and versions can be found on many sites and version available for various devices including xBox 360 arcade section. Frogger for the iPhone includes revamped graphics but we miss the original look.

Cost: $5.99
Developer: Konami Digital

Spheroids
There are a number of games in the AppStore inspired by the original Ateroids but it’s the Sphereoids that draws most from the original, adopting very similar gameplay and graphics. Asteroids was one of the most popular and influential games of the early 80s and still remains to be one of the cornerstones of shooter type gaming.
To read more about Ateroids, see the Wikipedia page. Spheroids is an Asteroids like game played on a spherical game arena. It has the similar retro look and fast gameplay including easy tilt controls and smooth 3D rendering.

Cost: $1.99
Developer: Fabio Policarpo

Retro Game Pack
If you are after a taste of classic gaming and are reluctant to invest in all of these games, maybe Retro Game Pack is for you. Included are four classic games; Alien Hunter (Space Invaders), Tank Wars, Pong and Bricks (Tetris). From multiplayer Pong to a retro/original version of extremely popular iShoot (Tank Wars) there is something for everyone.

Cost: $0.99
Developer: Two Rule

We hope this gives a good overview of some truly fantastic and memorable games from the 80s now available for the iPhone/iPod Touch. Of course, there are few titles missing, especially Robotron and Galaga which we eagerly await. Speaking to Namco, the company behind Galaga, say that the game is not in the next batch of games planed but hopefully soon. We are yet to hear anything about Robotron but we hope the wait is not going to be long.

© 2013 CreativeApplications.Net
Licensed under a Creative Commons License.





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