Arcade Spirits The New Challengers When Tinder

Dude, have you ever thought about what it would be like if you could combine that nostalgic arcade atmosphere with a bunch of relationship drama worthy of a Mexican soap opera? Well, Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers does exactly that, just with an extra touch of fun and emotion.

Right off the bat, the game “throws you” into a parallel universe where arcades never went out of style. Just imagine, the video game crash of 83 never happened, and arcades are like the new bar on the corner where you can chat, fight with your bros and, as a bonus, find a crush or two. Everything is very cute, full of flashing neon colors and that vibe Blade Runner finds Stranger Things.

The Whole Tape – But So, Who Am I?

This time, you're a PC gamer like the annoying guy from RumbleTech who knows almost nothing about the world of arcades. For a change, you're really excited to stand out in the esports scene with the game Fist of Discomfort 2which for me, is like a Tekken with footprint of League of Legendsmixing strategy and fighting. But, man, you won't achieve anything alone, and that's where the story begins.

Right off the bat, you discover that your rival has already done well, having been recruited by one of the most sinister teams in the competitive scene. And the plot twist? He used the help of an AI, like a gamer Alexa called Iriswho knows everything and even gives some advice that may or may not be good. You, of course, decide to do the same and download your own Iris. But, instead of sending you straight to the top, she throws you into a somewhat strange role called Good Clean Fun – a bizarre mix of a pizzeria, a laundromat and an arcade. It looks like the setting of a movie, but there you meet a group of people who are out of the ordinary, like that squad that no one gives a damn about, but that in the end, surprises you.

Squad of the Unlikely

What follows is that cliché we love: you put together a team of misfits to try to make it big in the competitive scene. In the midst of all this, there are still some big fights and heartwarming moments, like an episode of Friendsonly with less coffee and more control in your hand.

Among the characters you will meet, there is a little bit of everything. Gracefor example, enjoys retro games, while Domino is in a more introspective vibe, enjoying those style games Dark Soulswhere dying is part of the fun (or masochism). And then there's the Jynxwho is crazy about racing, even going so far as to build her own custom case, because yes, she is hardcore like that.

But the best thing is the Locksleywho is like a modern Robin Hood of arcades, dedicated to destroying games that are programmed to screw the player. You know that claw machine scheme that never catches anything? Locksley is here to set fire to this oppressive system!

Romance or Fight?

And like every good visual novel game, Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers gives you the chance to decide whether you want to be friends or love with all these people. And look, it’s not that forced scheme of “oh, I’ll give you some gifts and that’s it”. No, here the game lets you choose the pace of things. Do you want a slow romance? You can. Do you prefer to go with friendship? That’s also valid. And if you want to ignore this whole thing completely? No problem. The game lets you enjoy your journey the way you see fit.

But man, look at the level of customization: you can even choose the pronouns you want to use, your online nickname, your appearance, and even how you're going to deal with your rival. Do you want to fight hard or be the conciliatory brother? It's up to you. Oh, and unlike many other games, here gender and sexuality options are treated in a super natural way. Like, nobody cares, it's just another part of life. Everyone is fine, without any forced behavior.

So, how's the gameplay?

Now let's talk about what matters: the gameplay. Dude, this is a visual novel with minigames, so don't expect something on the level of a Street Fighter or Call of Dutybut the action part is there. The Fist of Discomfort 2 It's a game within a game, with that simple rock, paper, scissors approach, but with a few touches of strategy. You can skip this part, but if you want an extra challenge, it's worth trying.

Oh, and there's also the thing about your choices during conversations influencing who you become. Like, do you want to be the jokester or the cool one? The game will adapt and give you a different experience depending on that. It's cool because you can replay it over and over again and see how things change. And of course, Iris is there to remind you how you're doing in terms of popularity. Basically, it's the Instagram of arcades.

Gamer References: Come On The Pique

If you like gamer references, you're in the right place. The game is almost a tribute to the world of gaming, and not just arcades. It has references to fights that happened in the world of esports, like the Blitzchung thing in Blizzard (remember that whole mess involving politics and esports? Well, the game gives that nudge). And there are some NPCs that are practically the trolls of YouTubethose guys who are just there to annoy people and spread hate. It's a very current portrait of the gaming scene, with its ups and downs.

Visuals and Soundtrack: Neon and Synthwave

Visually, the game is beautiful. It's that visual novel style that we're already familiar with, with characters appearing on the screen and speaking dialogue, but there are some cool animations here and there. The art is really cool, with a cartoonish style that reminds us of the 80s and 90s, but with a futuristic touch. It's like if Blade Runner was done in an arcade.

The soundtrack is full of synthwave, that electronic vibe that takes you straight back to the days of arcades and VHS tapes. It's nothing that will make you rush out to download the OST, but it fits the game's aesthetic very well. The only thing is that the voice acting is sometimes a bit unbalanced. For example, one character sounds like he's shouting and the other one sounds like he's whispering. It's a bit buggy, but nothing that ruins the experience.

To Conclude: Worth It Or Not?

So overall, Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers It's a game that doesn't take itself too seriously, but also gives you space to enjoy some cool stories and create bonds with characters that, in the end, end up being more than just stereotypes. It has a few problems here and there, like the jokes that sometimes go too far and some weird dubbing, but man, if you enjoy a good visual novel with touches of comedy and romance, this game is for you.

Pros:

• Diverse and charismatic characters
• Soundtrack that takes you straight to the 80s
• Very high replayability with several options to choose from

Cons:

• Some jokes are embarrassing, or as people of this generation would say, 'cringe'
• Dubbing with some unbalanced volumes
• Fist of Discomfort 2 is fun, but it's nothing revolutionary

Final Grade: 7/10

If you haven't played the first one Arcade Spiritsit would be a good idea to start there. There are a lot of things that connect the two games, and you will catch a lot more references and easter eggs if you are already familiar with the universe. Now, if you just want a game to relax, laugh at the arguments and maybe start a romance with a charismatic character, it is worth giving this beauty a chance.