Arcade Paradise came out in 2022. Developed by Nosebleed Interactive, the management sim allowed players to grow their business from rundown laundromat to popular gaming arcade. Now, we’re set to see Arcade Paradise VR, and we’re going from flatscreen to virtual reality.
Arcade Paradise VR, which I reviewed for the PS VR2, has a fairly straightforward story. You play as a young woman named Ashley, who’s handling the family business, the King Wash laundromat. Discovering arcade cabinets in the storage room, Ashley realizes that the potential earnings are even greater once gamers start flocking to the establishment. While players do undertake countless chores and play various classic games, what makes Arcade Paradise VR a treat is how it immerses you in its quintessential early 90s setting.
Going to the arcade has been a pastime of mine since I was a kid. I still remember cutting classes to hang out with classmates and girlfriends at the mall, everyone eager to see who got the highest score in Dance Dance Revolution. Some of us would try the karaoke machines to belt out ballads or head to a nearby cluster of LAN-connected computers for some competitive action. Naturally, we’d run and hide so we don’t get caught and suspended by any roaming teachers or nosy administrators.
Granted, I live in the Philippines, and entertainment centers and establishments like Timezone and Tom’s World remain popular here. As such, playing Arcade Paradise VR was like being transported back to my younger years, even if the businesses are still around.
“…what makes Arcade Paradise VR a treat is how it immerses you in its quintessential early 90s setting.”
Speaking of businesses, the main goal in Arcade Paradise VR is to earn enough money so you can buy more arcade cabinets and upgrades. Things start out a bit slow. Basically, your tasks consist of putting clothes in washing machines and dryers, taking out the garbage, throwing out bubble gum, and cleaning the toilet. You have to do these for a few days until you’ve earned enough cash to buy additional cabinets.
The first few hours of the game did become a tedious affair–I was just doing chores, after all. However, I settled on a routine where I simply washed and dried 10 baskets of clothing, making sure I dialled the correct options for white or dark fabrics. From there, I collected cash from hoppers (i.e. coin boxes) while cleaning the toilet every now and then. I mostly ignored garbage and bubble gum collection, too. I had to do all of these before a set time in-game so my character could ride the bus before passing out.
Eventually, the game opened up, and I unlocked additional rooms with more space for arcade cabinets. I was also able to tackle daily chores (randomized at the start of each day). These tasks, such as playing a particular game for a few minutes, getting a high score, or amassing enough money from doing laundry, were simple and straightforward enough. The tasks also granted pound sterling, the currency used to acquire upgrades. These perks, like having someone collect coins from hoppers automatically or slightly slowing down the passage of time, complemented my routine.
A few hours after playing and having more cabinets in the building, I found myself enjoying a plethora of classic games in Arcade Paradise VR, some of which have a unique twist. For example, Racer Chaser is Grand Theft Auto x Pac-Man—you drive around collecting cash while avoiding cops, and you can collect power-ups that turn your car into a tank. Vostok 2093, meanwhile, is akin to a bullet hell shoot ‘em up, Barkanoid is Arkanoid with a dog character moving sideways, and Bomb Dudes is pretty much Bomberman.
“I found myself enjoying a plethora of classic games in Arcade Paradise VR, some of which have a unique twist.”
While there are over 30 arcade cabinets to collect and manage—i.e. Increase their difficulty and cost for patrons, subsequently changing how much you can earn per hour—I will admit that some weren’t to my liking. Smoke ‘Em, which is a traditional light gun game with targets, and Stack Overflow, where you move coloured boxes around, were a bit boring. There’s also Blockchain, which is like Tetris and, I guess, Sudoku—I couldn’t understand the mechanics, so I gave up after a couple of matches.
Nevertheless, many of these games brought back fond memories of the Atari, NES, and arcade eras of the 80s and 90s, and I couldn’t help but smile whenever I first tried one. It also helps that Arcade Paradise VR has control and comfort settings, leading to a more relaxing time as I sat down and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon.
Regular movement, teleportation, and snap-turning are all available. Similarly, you can activate tunnel vision (aka. vignetting) for both movement and rotation to alleviate motion sickness.
“It also helps that Arcade Paradise VR has control and comfort settings, leading to a more relaxing time as I sat down and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon.”
Magnetic grab—i.e. holding out your hand to pick up an item on the ground or collect coins—is as easy as a single button press. In fact, should clothing or baskets fall, they’ll respawn after a couple of seconds, making for a hassle-free experience. The only problem I’ve had when it comes to comfort is that the screen would flicker repeatedly if I bump into a structure, which can be downright jarring.
My only other complaint is that the thumbsticks of PS VR2 Sense controllers feel janky for certain arcade games since several only allow for movement in the cardinal directions. Worse, the tablet-like menu interface, which you can click on by tapping with your fingers, doesn’t work well with the PS VR2 Sense due to its design. It’s fine for the Quest 3 or other platforms with ergonomically designed controllers, but the PS VR2 Sense’s circular handles get in the way. In the end, you’re better off just pressing buttons to access the menu, which does ruin the immersion a bit.
All in all, Arcade Paradise VR presents a nostalgia-filled romp, one that takes you back to the 90s during the heyday of entertainment centers and classic titles. With a plethora of games to try out and a business to manage–albeit one with monotonous chores–you’re bound to be engaged for hours.
