By Todd Russell
On Tuesdays currently at PGM we’re trying to look back at games, which could me to yesterday for more modern game(s) or way back to classic arcades. This week, we’re focusing on a type of controls that are both challenging and fun.
Dual joystick controls.
Fellow fans of twin stick controls rejoice, because this week we’re score chasing (Season 3 Week 27: Crazy Climber + Robotron: 2084 – How to Join Us, Play, Beat Your Personal Best) two twin stick control games that stand the test of arcade time: Robotron: 2084 by the incomparable, mega talented Eugene Jarvis and a lesser-known climbing game called Crazy Climber. Can you climb to the top?
Robotron
Robotron: 2084 is all about getting in the zone. A brutal robotic assault fest where you just shoot your way out of every corner you’re jammed in. Arcade92 out of McKinney, Texas (https://www.arcade92.com/mckinney), closely located to where the Texas Pinbal Festival (We will be at Texas Pinball Festival on Saturday March 22, 2025, Are you Attending?) is happening the weekend of March 22, 2025 has an awesome write-up on Robotron: 2084.
“Beyond its immediate success in arcades, Robotron: 2084 had a lasting influence on the gaming industry. The twin-stick control scheme pioneered by the game became a template for many future shooters, both in arcades and on home consoles. The game’s impact can be seen in the design of subsequent titles, with developers recognizing the effectiveness of the dual-joystick setup in providing players with greater control and a more engaging experience.” The Rise of Robotron 2084: A Journey Through this Retro Arcade Game’s Fascinating History
If you haven’t played Robotron, it’s time to give the frenetic gameplay a chance. The graphics might seem simplistic, but the gameplay will quickly overwhelm the faint of arcade gaming heart.
“I will never master this game, but three decades later, I’m still discovering new things. I figured out that on one particularly tough level, where the robot horde initially descends on the boy in the baseball cap, not the player. So if I manage to keep the boy unharmed throughout the level, no harm will come to me.” ‘Robotron: 2084:’ Tribute to the greatest video game of all time
Robotron is waiting, out there somewhere, in some arcade or barcade or online. You can play it in the Midway Arcade Origins collection on the Xbox — an amazing collection of games, btw: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/Midway-Arcade-Origins/BS97KVXLT9LK
Personally, I can see owning a Robotron in our gameroom someday. It’s a game that I’ve literally been playing since I first saw it in the 80s and continue to enjoy playing 40+ years later.
Crazy Climber is … CRAZY!
The first time I played Crazy Climber, also in the 80s in an arcade, it’s one of those games you just don’t forget playing. Again, using dual joysticks in a very unique way. You get the sense you’re literally climbing up a building using the twin sticks as your hands. Along the way these guys try and drop stuff and cause you to fall to your death. There’s a King Kong like ape towards the top, birds dropping well, you know. Yeah, it’s not the kind of building you would ever want to climb up in a hurry — and yet you do.
Just like Robotron, fortunately, you can find this game for console systems. It’s part of the Arcade Archives series for $7.99 USD as of this writing and is on both Nintendo and Sony PS4/PS5.
There are certainly some that appreciate this game, like Retrogame Construction Zone, that scored it an 8 out of 10.
“With patience, however, the elegance and uniqueness of Crazy Climber really comes out. There’s a distinct satisfaction from learning to quickly manipulate the climber’s movements. The fact that you’re directly controlling his arms provides an extra level of immersion that you won’t get from the more abstract directional controls of most video games. If something is about to hit me while I’m hanging from a skyscraper, it’s not enough to just will my body in a particular direction, I have to perform a distinct set of movements with my arms to properly adjust my weight. This complexity, in turn, underscores the precariousness of your situation when you’re gripping desperately to the side of a building, dodging falling objects.” Crazy Climber Review: Underappreciated Innovator
So, here you are, friendly readers: at the precipice this week of games that require dual joysticks to get the most out of play. Sure, you can use a modern controller with two thumbsticks, but if you can find these games to play in arcade form or have a multicade that’s configured for twin sticks, that’s your gaming homework assignment. It gives me immense gaming pleasure recommending both of these games, not just for this week, but for any arcade gaming week. Yes, be prepared for some frustration, but also recognize when you get past that intense wave or reach the top of a building, there’s a feeling of intense gaming exhilaration.
Those were the days … and still are. Happy gaming to you!