The Video Game Critic

[QUOTE=riftt]
Well I did get my "new" copy at EB for $10...I would say for Hydro and Off Road Thunder and Rush 2049 it is worth it
[/QUOTE]

I also got a "new" copy of the game about hmmmm... I guess about a year ago now. From EB. It wasn't shrinkwrapped, and it was scratched. *Sigh* At least the instruction manual was in mint condition and the games mostly rock.

BTW, I've caught them red-handed in their seedy practice of selling used as new. I bought FIVE supposedly new N64 games back when I still had my N64 (It broke in 2002, and I haven't gotten to replace it yet). Now I bought a lot more of both new and used N64 games, too, but these particular 5 all had saves on the cartridges already. D'oh! Well, there you have it.

I might get around to replacing it and getting more old games and systems soon, as I recently gained the ability to shop online. (Mom limits the money, though, since it's her credit card.)

I recant!  The FBI screen is still there.  I'd swear it stayed on the screen longer in the arcades, though. 

However, I'm still bugged by the sound anomolies.  In addition to the aforementioned oddities in Narc, there's also an occasional sudden level end, at least one missing sound effect in APB (ding-dang-dong chiming when you get extra time at the donut shop), and screwy physics in Hard Drivin' (yes, I know, it's hardly worth playing without the force-feedback controls and custom cabinet, but even so, playing through it revealed that the car seems to just hover above the road surface, screeching tires anytime you nudge the steering wheel, and sometimes the car falls through the road surface!  And there was another sound-effect oddity, this time a starter sound that was kind of scrambled sometimes when you turned the key).

It seems to be like this with almost every arcade compilation: something's always a little off or a little wrong.  My Playstation Williams disc has an extremely subdued sound effect for the tire shredders in Spy Hunter, and the Atari Collection 2 with Road Blasters alternates between playing the correct theme music during the "attract" sequence and playing some music from one of the other games on the disc.

The exception seems to be the Namco discs.  Although Pole Position lacks the "Prepare to Qualify!" lady, this was explained by someone as being because Namco is Japanese (but their games were marketed here by other companies) and so their version had a lady saying it in Japanese, and this sound sample is accessible on the disc.

I like the arcade compilation discs.  I like being able to play the games on my TV in my bedroom or living room on my inexpensive consoles using my controllers rather than sitting upright in front of my expensive PC and using the keyboard (or a less-than-console-quality controller).  I also like knowing that the disc is a guilt-free, sanctioned way for me to enjoy the games and still support the companies responsible for making them.  But if they're going to offer an imperfect product for sale when I can have the exact, perfect program for free, why should I keep spending my money?

[QUOTE=BigOldCar]screwy physics in Hard Drivin' (yes, I know, it's hardly worth playing without the force-feedback controls and custom cabinet, but even so, playing through it revealed that the car seems to just hover above the road surface, screeching tires anytime you nudge the steering wheel, and sometimes the car falls through the road surface!  And there was another sound-effect oddity, this time a starter sound that was kind of scrambled sometimes when you turned the key).
[/QUOTE]

Funny you've perfectly described why I've never liked that game in the arcade.  Good for you.

Sounds like an arcade perfect port to me...

[QUOTE=Koopa W.][QUOTE=riftt]
Well I did get my "new" copy at EB for $10...I would say for Hydro and Off Road Thunder and Rush 2049 it is worth it
[/QUOTE]

I also got a "new" copy of the game about hmmmm... I guess about a year ago now. From EB. It wasn't shrinkwrapped, and it was scratched. *Sigh* At least the instruction manual was in mint condition and the games mostly rock.

BTW, I've caught them red-handed in their seedy practice of selling used as new. I bought FIVE supposedly new N64 games back when I still had my N64 (It broke in 2002, and I haven't gotten to replace it yet). Now I bought a lot more of both new and used N64 games, too, but these particular 5 all had saves on the cartridges already. D'oh! Well, there you have it.

I might get around to replacing it and getting more old games and systems soon, as I recently gained the ability to shop online. (Mom limits the money, though, since it's her credit card.)
[/QUOTE] No kidding, I even called the guy on it and he gave me some bs about it being the "display copy".  I took it home and the disc was scratched up and even had a hair on it!

No question about it - I ALWAYS insist on a brand new, shrinkwrapped copy of a game at EB or Gamestop.  They might give you a hard time, but you're the one paying full price!  I like to announce loudly how the store is known for reselling used games as new - that usually shuts them up.  It's absolutely true by the way!