I passed by this place over and over again and they were always closed. Then recently my friend told me they're opening evenings and to come check out some tournaments with him.
Stepping inside did feel surreal--like I was stepping back in time to high school/college days and also back to a small neighborhood arcade in Japan (or of niche arcades you'd only find in the SGV).
The games are a mix of fighters, shmups, and other head to head games as well as a music rhythm game in the corner where players slap or swipe various parts of a ring in accordance to on screen instructions (and the machine was never empty). There's also a mix of Gatchapon machines.
The machines seem in decent condition though I never know if it's me or the machine when I struggle with left and right controls. I think decade of using a d-pad and not a joystick have left my arcade skills wanting. Regardless, your can tell the owner takes pride in creating an environment that caters to gamers who love and are nostalgic for game of yesterday.
You pay for games on a card which disguises the fact that games cost roughly a dollar per play (as opposed to a quarter), but that's inflation. Plus if you want to play in an arcade vs home, that's the price of admission and the games at D&B or Round 1 aren't a quarter either and this place is much closer to home.
Combine the fact that it's surround by good food, 2nd loop makes for an easy choice for dropping in for quick games and grub. Parking in this plaza used to be easy (a decade ago when SSG Yakitori was the only thing happening here) but it seems that over the last few years, newer business have helped to fill the parking lot such that street parking may be required.
Now that I know this place exists, I'll be dropping by more. :) read more