FYI: This review applies only to the American Classic Arcade Museum.
I make at least one or two visits up to Funspot every year and always walk away amazed. The third floor hosts what has to be the greatest attraction for fans of retro video and pinball games. Rows and rows of familiar favorites and obscure titles greet you with their marquees and assorted sounds and music. Although the ACAM does not have every classic video and pinball game, they do have all the biggies. Plus, it's always fun to check out the really rare games that you might have seen once back in the day, or have never heard of until seeing them at Funspot. The number of classics is overwhelming, so don't be surpised if you can't make time to play all the games.
The games are kept in tip-top shape and work just fine. Last time I went, there was an attendant checking some of the machines and fixing them. I've never experienced any major problems here. Some games might not be working, but you can be sure that there'll be "out of order" signs tacked on them. The commitment which the staff of Funspot pays to these games is admirable. Many arcades are poorly run and staffed with people who couldn't care less whether the games are working or not. Not so with Funspot.
Funspot has tickets which you can redeem at the bowling alley counter to get 50 extra tokens for using a $20 bill. Just hand the worker your bill and your tokens will come out of either machine beside the counter. These coupons come in handy if you are spending a weekend in the area and/or come with a group.
I also like how there are speakers in the ACAM that play 70s and 80s tunes in the background. Although they're not really a selling point, they do complement the theme and atmosphere. After all, what's more appropriate than playing Centipede while listening to Pat Benatar's "You Better Run" playing in the background? And you don't have to worry about the speakers drowning out the music of the games.
What's that? You want to know what games they have? Here's just a sampling to give you an impression of the number and diversity: Pac-Man, After Burner, Congo Bongo, Mario Bros, Arkanoid, Joust, Tempest, Tapper, Defender, Karate Champ, Spy Hunter, Chiller, Dragon's Lair, Mappy, Bosconian, Crystal Castles, Crazy Climber. Space does not permit me the chance to list all the games, but I'm sure this brief listing will whet your appetite.
I plan on doing a more comprehensive review of Funspot in the near-future. I will be going up here again for a couple days and plan on checking out some of the other attractions, especially the bowling alley. One more tip: make sure you bring a camera to snap some pics at the ACAM. You'll have some great memories of your trip to preserve. read more