Battlezone

The number one cause of teenage acne in the early 1980's wasn't chocolate or puberty, it was arcade classic Battlezone. Back in the day, Battlezone was a standup cabinet, tank vs. tank, shooter that gamers played while pressing their faces against a viewfinder. It was a novel concept at the time and because the viewer was shared by teens that produce more oil than the Persian Gulf, it was the reason Clearasil stock shot through the roof. Now, thanks to the miracle of modern gaming, players can experience slow moving tank battles at home.

At first glance Battlezone offers everything a nostalgic gamer could ask for. Original arcade version in pristine condition? Check. New, updated version of original game? Check. Online multi-player to test tank driving prowess? Check. The initial rush of getting back into the tank is a blast and forking over a paltry 400 MS Points to relive childhood memories is a bargain, but Battlezone's original weaknesses still linger, fouling some of that new tank smell.

Tanks aren't exactly known for being nimble but the ones in Battlezone make snails look fast. Gamers will practically break off the left stick of their controller trying to face enemies that frequently come from behind. Tanks are also painfully slow to reload. This is to be expected in the original port but the new version has the same problems, making for some frustrating gameplay.

Despite its faults, for old school gamers this trip down memory lane is worth the low price of admission, but for others it'll get tiresome quick.

PROS: Nostalgic gamers will stay zit free this time around, inexpensive
CONS: Sluggish gameplay still hasn't improved, no co-op