Gimmick! exAct☆Mix & Super Hydorah AC Now Available To Pre-Order

arcadehero March 6, 2020 1
Gimmick! exAct☆Mix & Super Hydorah AC Now Available To Pre-Order

The hits just keep on coming thanks to the Exa-Arcadia platform, as more games are now available to purchase for owners of the coin-op platform.

Before we get into those however, I want to point out another piece of news that isn’t in the headline – FK Digital’s Chaos Code has received a new name: Chaos Code ExactXenoAttack (or Chaos Code EXA). This will serve as the definitive version of the Chaos Code game with some EXA exclusive features:

Chaos Code EXAAll right, let’s take a look at the other titles.

Gimmick! exAct☆Mix

The first title that is 100% exclusive to the platform (as in no other versions of this exist out there, apart from the rare NES original from 27 years ago) is also the first real platformer that arcades have seen in a very long time. While platformers got started in arcades with the likes of Space Panic & Donkey Kong, the genre usually took a back seat to other genres in the coin-op space, although I suppose that you could make an argument that run’n gun titles are platformers mixed in with shoot ’em ups.

Anyways, Gimmick! exAct☆Mix has been developed by TEAM EXA1-AM1 with Sunsoft’s blessing, looking to faithfully recreate the NES original, while adding new features. From the updated product page:

Gimmick! exAct☆Mix delivers smooth and detailed new graphics, an arranged soundtrack, and emphasized scoring mechanics to the original cult classic. A new Time Attack mode has been added, allowing for both new players to practice later stages, and for experienced players to compete for the best completion time. Stages may also be played in an alternate order with the Stage Edit function, keeping players of all skill levels coming back for more.

Let me stress again that this has been developed as an exclusive to the Exa-Arcadia platform, with no console/Steam release in Exa’s plans at this time. That’s also where the price of the Pre-Order is reflected – with it being a little over $1,200 for the cartridge. When you look at pricing within the arcade universe (dedicated cabs costing $7500 avg; full software kits generally costing $3000~), that really is a great deal. As to why so high when compared to free mobile games or cheap Steam games – keep in mind that arcade titles never see quantities sold that home console sales do. The best selling arcade games in history are Pac-Man & Ms. Pac-Man, which each sold 100,000 units. That would be considered a spectacular flop on the home side, while in arcades, a company is happy if they manage to sell 1,000 units. Indie titles are lucky to reach 100 in sales.

Here’s the trailer:

Super Hydorah AC

Edit: Somehow I missed that Super Hydorah AC was up for pre-order from the initial wave of pre-orders. My apologies for the error, but the video below is relatively new.

This shoot ’em up was among the first titles that was announced for the Exa-Arcadia a couple of years ago. Originally released in 2010 under the name Hydorah (and as a freeware title), Super Hydorah came along in 2017 to provide a more complete version of the creator’s original vision. As with Chaos Code, SHAC will serve as the definitive edition of the game, with changes that include: “…arcade optimizations for maximum operator revenue such as instant player spawning after dying, increased difficulty and brand new enemy patterns that will make the most seasoned players sweat their coins.” Here’s a recently uploaded trailer for it as well, where you can get the feel for the Gradius meets Darius vibe:

SHAC is available to pre-order on the Exa store for the same price as Gimmick!EM, which likely means that both titles will ship out sometime this month.

What are your thoughts on these editions to arcades?

One Comment »

  1. JBRPG March 7, 2020 at 8:11 am - Reply

    I am glad for more Exa Arcadia updates.

    I tried convincing them to get the Exa Arcadia in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, but most of them are not interested in kits only.

    Also, I can imagine that the corona virus panic may have forced Exa Arcadia to change some plans and stay safe with more Japanese events until the panic subsides.

    Looking forward to the spring event and hope they do “Nintendo Direct” Style for the spring festival.

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