My Trip to Blaster's: Arcade Heaven

[WiseSalesman]

Well, two friends, my girlfriend, and I went and visited heaven (http://www.ddrfreak.com/locations/locations.php?action=displayLocation&locationID=546)this weekend. We left at about 11:30 on Friday morning, arriving at Blaster's at approximately 3:00pm. We then proceded to enter the arcade, and each cash a $20 bill.

Upon entering the arcade, the first thing that caught my eye was the left wall. This was what we were there for, and where we spent all of our time. The first thing we saw was that the entire WALL was lined with side to side DDR machines. X_x They had two MAX2s, one MAX, and three 5th Mixes. Then came the real stars of the show: a Para Para Paradise 2nd Mix, a Gutiar Freaks 2nd Mix, a DrumMania 2nd Mix, and a BeatMania 6th Mix. I had never played Para Para, Guitar Freaks, or DrumMania before, and I soon became hopelessly addicted to all three. Overall, my favorite of those three is DrumMania, followed CLOSELY by Para Para, followed somewhat distantly by Guitar Freaks.

They also had a Martial Beat machine, which i had never heard of. Basically, you stand on this pad, and watch someone perform martial arts on the screen on beat to a song. Then, you must mimic the moves on beat, otherwise, you "take a hit". Take too many hits and the game ends. This was, without doubt, the oddest Bemani machine I have ever seen.

We stayed over night, and I spent $30 in the arcade that day. Before we could leave this morning, we all had to go back and get one more fix.

Besides the Bemani machines, the rest of the arcade was, for the most part, a wash. Just the requisite assortment of racing and shooting games, plus a Soul Calibur 2. I know they really don't make too many good arcade games anymore, but, this place having so many Japanese imports, I was hoping I might find some hidden gem. But, damn! What a great arcade for Bemani. It's lucky I don't live closer, or I'd definitely be spending too much money there every single day.

If anyone has any questions about any of the Bemani machines (for instance, if you don't know what they are), simply ask and I'll be happy to reply. I would've have posted this in the DDR/Bemani usergroup, but it still doesn't exist. In any case, if anyone here is a fan of Bemani and can make the trip to Blaster's, I highly reccomend it. Hell, give me a ring, and maybe I'll drive you. LOL

[NE146]

Sounds a lot like Illusionz (http://www.ddrfreak.com/locations/locations.php?action=displayLocation&locationID=451) in Issaquah WA, but at least Illusionz has a couple of classic games as well so old fogeys like me can get in a game of Stargate, Joust, or Donkey Kong after a round of Para Para Paradise ;)

[GENESISNES]

Ive always wanted to play a DDR game, but would look like a fool for trying.

[WiseSalesman]

@NE146: Well, they did have a Galaga, and also a Ms. Pacman, but those are everywhere. They're actually about the only classic games I see in arcades anymore. I almost screamed when I saw a Metal Slug/Bust-a-Move/Samurai Showdown cabinet in Toledo....I spent a lot of tokens in that one.

@GENESISNES: You would look like a fool, and so did I when I started. Nowadays, I know what I'm doing on a DDR machine, and I'm accustomed to drawing crowds while playing. But, really, you're already a gamer, what do you care if people think you look like a fool, as long as you're enjoying yourself? I stopped worrying what people thought about me a long time ago. Seriously, even if you have to go to an arcade where you don't know anyone, and you'll never see any of the people there again, you owe it to yourself to at least try out a game that has such a huge fan following.