# What is the best Pre 1985 Video Arcade game? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 23, 2005, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730 "2005-04-23T04:39:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/21 "2005-04-23T12:23:41Z")
Cyrus? You don’t mean **Gyruss**? That game _ruled_, and I ruled that game - the only coin-op I was ever _really_ good at. And, of course, it had Bach’s Toccata And Fugue as the soundtrack. Diddle-ee! Diddle-iddle-ee-deee! Diddle-ee! Dee dee dee deee! {Dum dum dum dum dum dum dum dum…} ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/22 "2005-04-23T12:25:42Z")
Galaga ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/23 "2005-04-23T12:28:08Z")
[Qbert](http://www.tripletsandus.com/80s/80s_games/qbert.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/24 "2005-04-23T13:08:29Z")
I loved [I, Robot](http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=8172), but I know I was in the minority. The game was tough to find, but the shimmery, holographic polyhedrons were cool. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/25 "2005-04-23T13:12:07Z")
Oh we’ve got a duplicate thread going on. I’ll report it. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/26 "2005-04-23T13:32:24Z")
Elevator Action was probably post-1985, right? ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/27 "2005-04-23T13:35:11Z")
Oh wait, I see that link is an IMDB for Video Games. Elevator Action is 1983. That is my choice. Spy Hunter is also a good choice (1983). Dragon’s Lair was revolutionary (1983). ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/28 "2005-04-23T13:46:30Z")
**Meeko** , you seem to have started two identical threads. I’ve therefore merged them, hence the double opener. ---
**Author:** ![bradministrator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a698b9/32.png) [@bradministrator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bradministrator)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/29 "2005-04-23T14:26:31Z")
Burger Time ---
**Author:** ![Redsland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de0a6/32.png) [@Redsland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redsland)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/30 "2005-04-23T14:29:30Z")
Tempest ---
**Author:** ![guinnog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@guinnog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guinnog)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/31 "2005-04-23T14:30:09Z")
Space Invaders. Galaxians. Defender. John ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/32 "2005-04-23T14:33:06Z")
Two games from that era that pushed the technology forward are ZAXXON and SUBROC 3D. My favourite game from that period is BATTLEZONE. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/33 "2005-04-23T14:35:43Z")
Centipede. Especially good after listening to **The Wall** a few times. Before that it was Space Invaders. ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/34 "2005-04-23T14:49:04Z")
I had completely forgotten about [Tron](http://www.csh.rit.edu/~jerry/arcade/tron/) until I saw this thread. As I recall it was a lot more fun if one’s mind were somewhat altered in ways that cannot and will not be discussed. Now that I’m old, though, I just play The Sims 2 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/35 "2005-04-23T15:16:10Z")
I’d have to nominate _Crazy Climber_ as deserving of special mention. However, for the best game – it’d have to be [Marble Madness](http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/p-29.html). Challenging, entertaining, and unique in its aesthetics and gameplay. Man, did I spend a lot of money on it and it never got old. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/36 "2005-04-23T15:21:29Z")
“Beware! I live!” still scares the crap out of me. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/37 "2005-04-23T15:38:50Z")
While it wasn’t necessarily the best, I was always partial to [The Wizard of Wor](http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=W&game_id=10459). As you’d play, the Wizard would taunt you. When he finally appeared, he was an old geezer in a cloak who shot lightning bolts out of his fingertips. ---
**Author:** ![Leviosaurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Leviosaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leviosaurus)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/38 "2005-04-23T17:22:56Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > “Beware! I live!” still scares the crap out of me. You’re thinking of [Sinistar](http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=S&game_id=9553). Once I figured out how to kill Sinistar, I loved that game. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/39 "2005-04-23T18:10:23Z")
Star Wars. The original one with vector graphics. That was a great game, and one of the only two I could get my name on the best scores list, the other being Centipede. It’s too bad the C64 version of it sucked. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730/40 "2005-04-23T20:07:59Z")
[Marble Madness](http://www.bodenstaendig.de/marble/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-pre-1985-video-arcade-game/300730.md?page=3)