SEGA Astro City Mini V (2022) review

You put the controller down, exhausted. You’ve just finished another 120-hour RPG. That last trophy/achievement has popped (ding!). You’re at the end of a marathon online multiplayer session that has frankly left you beaten, bruised, and wiped. Are you at risk of burning out? Maybe. That’s where something like the good ol’ shmup and the Astro City Mini V come in…

What place does the lovingly brief, classic, coin-op arcade romp have in modern gaming? Palate cleansing!

That’s the utility of something like the Astro City Mini V. Sometimes you want to game but without the physical, emotional, and temporal demands that gaming can lay on you thicker than butter. Raiden? No trophies to worry about. Batsungun? No preteen screaming obscenities into your headset. Zaxxon? It’s not gonna take you a month and a half to finish the thing.

This is why I enjoy games like these and collections of them. I need a break sometimes! I don’t know how some folk can only play one genre for their entire lives!

The main concern should be addressed: how does it feel actually playing these vertical-scrolling shoot ’em ups on a tabletop micro arcade machine? It’s not bad. Some of the hardest games you may feel it more and something like Zaxxon was making my brain hurt, but I played a few of my favorite titles and had no problem dodging bullets and nabbing power-ups for my ship of choice.

However, it’s not ideal.

The machine itself is light and getting into the heat of the gameplay, a jerk on the joystick can tip the whole micro cabinet if you’re not weighing it down with your hands. Also, I wear glasses–too many hours spent reading novels by lantern light growing up. It’s not easy for me to see everything on the screen, especially for the more complicated games. The screen is just under 5 inches and the cabinet is a 1/6 size reproduction.

That’s likely why they produced this micro cabinet with an HDMI port on the back so you can connect it to your TV. It also has two USB slots marked for player 1 and player 2 where you can plug in some USB controllers. If you ask me, this is the ideal setup for the older gamer, plus you get the collectibility shtick. For kids, though? Mine ate up the bright LCD screen, vivid colors, shiny controls, and polish.

Most of us who grew up with the games included on this mini have kids of our own now and I have to reiterate that this device is perfect for the young ‘uns. It feels sturdy enough to withstand their enthusiasm and there are few things better than connecting young enthusiasts with the rich heritage of games from the past.

Complete list of games

• Moon Cresta
• Zaxxon
• Super Zaxxon
• Terra Cresta
• Cosmo Police Galivan
• Action Fighter
• Truxton
• Wrestle War
• Fire Shark
• Raiden
• Out Zone
• Sonic Wings
• Truxton II
• Dogyuun
• Desert Breaker
• Batsugun
• Grind Stormer
• Samurai Aces
• Kingdom Grandprix
• Gunbird
• Strikers 1945
• Armed Police Batrider
• Battle Bakraid Unlimited Ver.

If you’re looking for recommendations, it doesn’t get much more iconic and straightforward than Raiden. Also check out Sonic Wings, Batsugun, and Gunbird. So far, each of the games I’ve played has felt authentic to the original arcade experience, albeit at a 1/6 scale. Sure, the overall appearance of the cabinet can make it look like a toy but they did not skimp on ensuring these classics are well-preserved, fully armed, and operational. Maybe it’s time for a palate cleanse.

You can find the full product listing here.

Special thanks to SEGA and Limited Run for sending me an Astro City Mini V for the purposes of this review.

PIXEL PERFECT

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Red formerly ran The Well-Red Mage and now serves The Pixels as founder, writer, editor, and podcaster. He has undertaken a seemingly endless crusade to talk about the games themselves in the midst of a culture obsessed with the latest controversy, scandal, and news cycle about harassment, toxicity, and negativity. Pick out his feathered cap on Twitter @thewellredmage or Mage Cast.