It was an era before the Internet was widespread, and information was transmitted mainly by word of mouth. The arcade hall became a favorite gathering place for teenagers of that era. As soon as the school bell rang, students poured out of the school gates and rushed to the electronic battlefield full of buttons and joysticks, enjoying a rare time of relaxation.
In the arcade hall of the 90s, the most popular was "Three Kingdoms War". When that roar with a thick Canton accent rings in their ears, all players know that a fierce battle is about to begin. "War of the Three Kingdoms" is not just a game, it is the common memory of a generation. In that era when there was no strategy to follow, everything relied on actual combat experience and peer exchanges, whoever could lead the team to find the four legendary swords would have the supreme honor.
Equally haunting are the Street Fighter series, which is set in Chinese kung fu. From Takashi and Ken's Ascending Dragon Fist in Street Fighter 2, to Honda's Hundred Split Hands, to Chun Li's Thousand Split Legs, each character's signature moves have become a "peerless martial art" in the hearts of players. Even a novice can dominate the arcade with the help of these tricks. Arcade owners, on the other hand, love and hate Street Fighter, and the cost of fixing the joystick almost makes them unable to make ends meet.
Of course, in addition to action and fighting games, shooters are also an integral part of arcades. "Metal Slug" has become a classic in the hearts of many players with its simple and crude gameplay and rich level design. The bullet hell shooter in the Caijing series tests the player's reaction speed and strategic choice, and every successful dodge makes the player's heart beat faster.
It must be mentioned that those various revisions based on the original game, such as "Three Swordsman", have an interesting interpretation of "Devouring Heaven and Earth 2", making the sword visible everywhere, so that every player can experience the thrill of a sword 999. Although this adaptation is somewhat unconventional, it brings a novel experience and fun to players.
Looking back at those years, every bit in the arcade is a valuable asset. There we not only learned the skills of the game, but also learned how to get along with people and how to have fun in the competition. Although the arcade may no longer exist with the passage of time, those moments of enthusiasm and excitement are still deeply imprinted in everyone's memory.