littleman jack Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 When I first saw the game Tron in the arcades I was awed by the colors and the graphics, and the long lines waiting to play it. But once I got a few goes, I thought it looked great but had terrible game play. What were your first thoughts upon seeing this one in the arcades? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectorGamer Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 I have to admit I've never heard someone say that Tron had terrible game play. I loved it and still do. Definitely on my want list for the home arcade. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 (edited) This was my first reaction when I saw and heard Tron in an arcade: First off, the cabinet is super sexy. Side-art to the 3D MCP image in the rear to the movie-emulating effect of the neon (fluorescent really) to the phosphorescent like glow of the artwork throughout out are all extremely attractive. Then you have the kick-ass combo of the pistol grip joystick and the spinner dial to enhance the gameplay. ...and then there's the in game sounds and soundtrack! Stereo speaker system appropriately integrated and well deserved for all the effort put into it. Not sure if this was the very first time I ever saw the machine, but I do remember there being an extra monitor sitting atop the game at a particular location, so "the crowd" could view gameplay also - it was *that* cool. And popular. Incredible game all around. Definitely one of my favs. And no way would I complain about the gameplay. Hell, even emulated using a Logitech gamepad, game is very playable. I think the arcade game has a great feel to it. Quick response (have to, especially for the light cycle sequence) and the rotary dial was brilliantly put to use in the tank, cone and spider levels. Tron is one of the very few games I can find fault with or complain about. 'Cept for the weight of the cabinet maybe. Edited December 11, 2011 by save2600 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+cmart604 Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 I have to admit I've never heard someone say that Tron had terrible game play. I loved it and still do. Definitely on my want list for the home arcade. What rmaerz said. This is absolutely first on my want list. I loved it as a kid and would love to have one now. Strangely, as I'm typing this, "Derezzed" from Legacy has just come on my ipod. I'm going to take that as a sign that I need to convince my wife that I need to get a Tron cab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleman jack Posted December 11, 2011 Author Share Posted December 11, 2011 For those of you who liked/loved the game play, have you tried the xbox live arcade version? This is what brought it back to my mind. It seemed pretty accurate. And looked pretty cool graphically, like the arcade game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ransom Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 The first time I saw it was after I'd seen the movie (which I loved), so I was pretty excited to play the game. When I got my chance to do so, I loved the sound and graphics (they put me right back in the frame of mind I had while watching the movie), and the fact that it had four different games to play was great. Plus the controls were just absolutely perfect. I moved on before I was able to master the fourth round, though. I don't recall what I moved on to, but I did move on. I only had so many quarters, you know! That was the great thing back then: there was always another awesome coin-op coming to your local arcade. Things were moving so fast back then, with so much innovation. Yeah, there were a lot of crap games, too, but they got weeded out pretty fast, for the most part. But as far as Tron, it was awesome at first, but didn't hold my attention like, say, Defender. But it was always one I was willing to drop a token or two into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectorGamer Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 (edited) I thought it looked great but had terrible game play. What were your first thoughts upon seeing this one in the arcades? For those of you who liked/loved the game play, have you tried the xbox live arcade version? This is what brought it back to my mind. It seemed pretty accurate. And looked pretty cool graphically, like the arcade game. Do you like it or not like it? Edited December 11, 2011 by rmaerz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+thegoldenband Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 I'm going to take that as a sign that I need to convince my wife that I need to get a Tron cab. One of my friends had a Tron cab when I was in middle/high school. Frankly, it was awesome. Still surprising that there isn't a decent port of the game for home consoles -- the only one I know of that exists at all, actually, is "Electron" for Tandy CoCo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetset Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 First thoughts; Cool game, and even better it's a Midway game, so the paper clip trick works for free credits. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleman jack Posted December 11, 2011 Author Share Posted December 11, 2011 I thought it looked great but had terrible game play. What were your first thoughts upon seeing this one in the arcades? For those of you who liked/loved the game play, have you tried the xbox live arcade version? This is what brought it back to my mind. It seemed pretty accurate. And looked pretty cool graphically, like the arcade game. Do you like it or not like it? rmaerz, I'm sorry I'm unclear. I didn't mean to be confusing. I think the game Tron looks amazing. But I'm not a fan of the actual gameplay. I hold this opinion in both the arcade and the xbox live arcade version. But I think if a person likes the arcade game, then he/she will like the xbox live arcade version. It reminded me exactly of the arcade game, minus the amazing looking cabinet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 I don't specifically remember the very first time I ever saw it necessarily, but I do remember always thinking it was the coolest game around, though it was a bit hard for me at first (I was 10). I also remember distinctly there being a 2nd monitor atop Tron (and also Dragon's Lair later) because the visuals were so captivating. This is my #1 want for an arcade cabinet also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulBlazer Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 First thoughts; Cool game, and even better it's a Midway game, so the paper clip trick works for free credits. What trick is that? First time I've heard about this. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keilbaca Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 First thoughts; Cool game, and even better it's a Midway game, so the paper clip trick works for free credits. What trick is that? First time I've heard about this. I too am interested in this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 (edited) First thoughts; Cool game, and even better it's a Midway game, so the paper clip trick works for free credits. What trick is that? First time I've heard about this. Probably talking about strategically bending a paper clip so that it fits though the coin mech in such a way that it trips the coin acceptor. People used to also flatten out breakout box slugs and use them as quarters too. Lots of other tricks abound I'm sure. Edited December 12, 2011 by save2600 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulBlazer Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Huh, never heard about it back in the day. Of course, even if I was inclined to cheat, it would have been impossible. Every arcade I went to as a kid/teen was either so busy or the operators watched you like a hawk, or both. If I had tried anything I would have gotten tossed out on my ass so fast my head would spin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 (edited) Huh, never heard about it back in the day. Of course, even if I was inclined to cheat, it would have been impossible. Every arcade I went to as a kid/teen was either so busy or the operators watched you like a hawk, or both. If I had tried anything I would have gotten tossed out on my ass so fast my head would spin. No kidding! Can't say I ever tried or was ever prone to do anything like that, but there was this time once at Showbiz Pizza Place, where there was an issue with the coin box/door of a kiddie ride. It was either broken, coming apart, overflowing or something like that. I remember grabbing a handful of tokens or quarters and using them to play other games. Edited December 12, 2011 by save2600 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acelkin Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I remember our local ice cream shop always had 7-8 games on hand at all times. I remember the day they got Tron, I was mesmerized by it. Loved the fluorescent blue trigger & the way the whole cabinet looked hi-tech. I was a huge fan of the movie as well. I liked the variety of the 4 screens. Still one of my all-time favorites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schuwalker Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 I remember seeing it at some dive arcade bitd. I seem to recall a *bunch* of people huddled around this particular cab. At one point I managed to get close enough to see the cab. WHOA!!!! I was awe-struck! This is one cab I still need in my vid collection. Come across a couple of projects - just holding out for a nice one! I have to admit this is one *classic* I still suck at today..... I really never tried to better myself at it either. The gameplay isn't bad, but I don't think it's great. It wasn't till i saw a EDOT that I really fell in love w/ a cab! Still one of the best (if not the best) cab evar! Whil the upright is good standalone unit.. it doesn't do the game justice unless you experienced playing this in a enviromental unit.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetset Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 First thoughts; Cool game, and even better it's a Midway game, so the paper clip trick works for free credits. What trick is that? First time I've heard about this. Probably talking about strategically bending a paper clip so that it fits though the coin mech in such a way that it trips the coin acceptor. People used to also flatten out breakout box slugs and use them as quarters too. Lots of other tricks abound I'm sure. Yep, PacMan, Rally-X, Galaga, Ms PacMan...all the Bally/Midway games. You'd bend the paper clip open and stick it in the coin return and jiggle. We'd play free or rack up 99 credits and sell them for a buck or two to play the games we couldn't rig. the Nintendo games (donkey Kong, DK Jr, etc...)also had a trick, you'd take a straw and stick it in the door hinge and if you pulled it out juuuuuust right it's rack up about 10 credits at a time. There was a place we used to go to called Vibrations (record store) with an arcade at the back. The Exidy games also had a trick (but ONLY at that one place). You'd rub your feet on the carpet and touch the coin door with a nickel (had to be a nickel...tokens or other coins didn't work) and that would give you credits. We got thrown out of many places with the paper clip trick. Good times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 I never liked the game because it was too hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariLeaf Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 I only half like it. That is to say I love the Tanks and Light Cycle parts of the game - the other two not so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegamezmaster Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 The arcade game is playable on the gba cart Tron 2.0 Killer app. Not bad, pretty fun IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 Tron-what was your first reaction? Well, when I first saw it I felt a new era of sophisticated gaming was upon us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Helmet Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 Probably my favorite arcade game. Beautiful cabinet, and awesome sound. Sadly the gameplay is lacking if you can't play it on the actual cabinet due to the spinner. That said I still play it all the time on XBLA. It's also my single most desired 2600 homebrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Dart Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 I thought the cabinet design looked really cool, but the ninja game next to it (Shinobi) looked way better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
AtariAge on Instagram
Watch us on YouTube
Chat on Discord
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.