X-Men Arcade

When we revisit the media of our youth, we never know if our warped perspective will make us forget how horrible the last two seasons of SeaQuest DSV were or deliver intense happiness at the “woo-woo” of Ducktales. The Xbox Live Arcade port of the X-Men stand-up arcade machine from 1992 embodies both possibilities, a mixture of undersea wreckage and mystery-solving ducks. Six players take on the roll of mutants, such as Wolverine, Storm and Nightcrawler, in an attempt to stop world domination by Magneto. If you didn’t catch on as a kid, you’ll notice there is no plot, the graphics are passable, and it’s filled with laughable quotes, including the infamous proclamation, “I am Magneto, Master of Magnet.” With unlimited “continues,” you don’t have to worry about running out of quarters, so you’ll blaze through levels using mutant powers that drain your health in an endless spawn-and-die routine. However, the addition of the online co-op mode to the local option is a lifesaver. Whether with strangers or the same people you played with almost two decades ago, getting a group together to mindlessly mash buttons has rarely been more fun. The price point, $10, is high but save your quarters and grab this flawed gem when it goes on sale.