| Ah, the classics. Shakespeare. Beethoven. Space | | | | for Galaga what it did for PAC MAN, but struck |
| Invaders. | | | | out in their own direction as well, updating and |
| The days of pumping quarter after quarter into a | | | | upgrading an alternate version of the game in the |
| bulky console to feel the thrill of fending off | | | | same app. The classic game plays just like the |
| primitively rendered space-monsters are gone, but | | | | original, except that the controls are tougher to |
| the fascination remains. Back then, the consumer | | | | handle, because they're about 1/10th actual size. |
| spent two bits for eight-bit graphics and | | | | Still the best Galaga re-make out there. |
| considered it a bargain. The action had to be | | | | Guardian Missile Commander, Trenton Henry |
| simple and extremely addictive, because it wasn't | | | | (free): For our money, the free Guardian raises |
| going to be realistic or visually lush. That bred | | | | the ante on Atari's $4.99 Missile Command. |
| extremely addictive and playable games. | | | | Guardian only slightly updates the 2-D graphics of |
| We searched for the best versions of arcade | | | | the original, whereas Atari does a full reload (but |
| classics for the iPhone, and here is what we | | | | also offers a "classic mode.") Guardian |
| found: | | | | re-interprets the original's logic, building its features |
| Space Invaders, Taito ($2.99): With classic arcade | | | | level by level. Where it shines is the plot device |
| games, you have to decide whether you are | | | | that puts each level's new features into context |
| looking for the perfect iPhone copy of the original, | | | | through Associated Press and Intelligence reports. |
| or whether you want what the game could have | | | | I found myself believing--and remembering my |
| been, with slightly more memory or processing | | | | classic Missile Command games a whole new way. |
| power. Taito favored nostalgia, producing a | | | | Oh, the humanity....iJoust Classic Arcade, Ecoshop |
| miniature Space Invader console, down to the | | | | Holding LLC ($0.99): Joust involves a number of |
| artwork on the machine itself. Bonus: includes | | | | fanciful improbabilities. The Joust world consists of |
| original "bad guy" pen-and-ink doodles, answering | | | | overhanging rock ledges, and is populated almost |
| the age-old question, "what were they thinking?" | | | | exclusively by knights mounted on flying ostriches. |
| If you're not familiar with the game, wave after | | | | Collect golden eggs for some reason, and use the |
| wave of evil two-dimensional aliens descend upon | | | | "Magic" button to fry the enemy en masse. If |
| earth firing missiles, and eventually always kill you. | | | | you understood the original arcade classic, you'll |
| You know, the Gen-X thing. | | | | get iJoust Classic Arcade. The gameplay and |
| PAC MAN, Namco ($4.99): Before PAC MAN was | | | | graphics are just about identical. Sentimental |
| a misbehaving football player, he was a round guy | | | | favorite; An old girlfriend once opined, when the |
| that ate energy dots in a maze, pursued by | | | | local machine's Magic button broke, "the magic has |
| angry ghosts. Namco's faithful reproduction | | | | gone out of our relationship." |
| recreates 100 levels of the lost youth of | | | | These simple games will evidently be with us for |
| America's middle-aged population. Want a one-level | | | | a long time after their original relevance has |
| sample? Try PAC MAN Lite. Also available: Ms. | | | | expired. Whether you're new to the genre or an |
| PAC MAN. It's different because the hungry | | | | adult survivor of early video-game addiction, |
| pie-chart has a bow and lipstick. | | | | these apps will surprise you with their elegant |
| Galaga Remix, Namco ($4.99): Namco's also done | | | | simplicity. |