Legends Ultimate Arcade 1 Year+ Review! 🔥

Summary

This one-year review of the ATGames Legends Ultimate Arcade covers its pros and cons, offering insights for potential buyers. The reviewer praises its arcade-like build quality, large game library (300+ titles), versatile controls (including trackball and spinners), and excellent value for money. Key features like Coinops X and One Sauce provide access to thousands of additional games. However, performance issues with more demanding games and problems caused by recent firmware updates (5.70/5.71) are notable downsides. Despite these drawbacks, the unit is considered an excellent choice for retro gaming enthusiasts looking for a feature-packed, affordable arcade system.

Takeaways

• 😀 The AtGames Legends Ultimate Arcade offers a highly authentic arcade experience, particularly when compared to competitors like Arcade1Up.
• 😀 The build quality of the Legends Ultimate Arcade is solid, with a large screen and responsive controls, making it a great option for home arcade enthusiasts.
• 😀 Priced around $500-$600, the Legends Ultimate Arcade is considered an excellent value, providing more features and games than similar arcade units in this price range.
• 😀 The machine comes with 300 games out of the box, and additional software options like CoinOps X and Awesome Sauce provide access to thousands of games.
• 😀 The system supports a variety of control types, including a six-button layout, trackball, spinners, and pinball buttons, offering versatility for different gaming styles.
• 😀 With the ability to add custom games via CoinOps X and Awesome Sauce, the Legends Ultimate Arcade becomes a powerful platform for retro gaming fans.
• 😀 Expandable features, such as wireless control decks and OTG mode, allow for additional customization and functionality, making the unit even more adaptable.
• 😀 The ArcadeNet feature enables online play and community interactions, and the App Store X provides access to additional content and apps.
• 😀 While the machine handles retro and arcade games well, it struggles with more modern systems like Dreamcast and Naomi, which can impact the experience for players seeking to emulate newer games.
• 😀 Recent firmware updates (5.70 and 5.71) have caused issues with software compatibility, especially with third-party apps like CoinOps X and Awesome Sauce, leading to some user frustration.
• 😀 Despite some limitations, especially related to firmware and modern game performance, the Legends Ultimate Arcade is still a top choice for its price, features, and overall value in the arcade gaming space.

Q & A

What is the main advantage of the Legends Ultimate Arcade over its competitors like Arcade1Up?

The main advantage is its authentic arcade experience, including a full-sized cabinet, high-quality screen, solid controls, and additional features like a trackball and spinners. It offers better build quality and more expandability at a similar price point.

How does the Legends Ultimate Arcade compare in terms of price and value?

At around $500, the Legends Ultimate Arcade offers great value compared to Arcade1Up, as it comes with 300 games out of the box and additional features like wireless controllers and game expansion options, making it a better deal overall.

What is the primary reason the reviewer chose the Legends Ultimate Arcade over other options?

The reviewer chose the Legends Ultimate Arcade because it felt closer to a real arcade machine, offering a more authentic experience than smaller models like those from Arcade1Up, which they felt were too mini-sized.

What games and features are included with the Legends Ultimate Arcade out of the box?

The system comes with 300 games, covering a wide range of classic arcade titles. It also includes ArcadeNet for online multiplayer and access to an app store for additional game downloads.

What additional controls are available on the Legends Ultimate Arcade, making it unique?

In addition to the standard six-button control scheme for fighting games, the Legends Ultimate Arcade includes a trackball, spinners, and, in the Sam's Club version, pinball buttons, which aren't typically found on other machines in the same price range.

What is the significance of the CoinOps X and One Sauce features?

CoinOps X and One Sauce are key features that allow users to add and access a huge library of games beyond those included in the system. CoinOps X offers over 1,000 games, while One Sauce adds even more games, including console titles, with faster performance and better organization.

What are some of the limitations of the Legends Ultimate Arcade regarding modern games?

The system struggles to run more demanding games from modern systems, such as Dreamcast or Naomi board games. Titles like *Marvel vs. Capcom* and *House of the Dead 2* may not perform well on the hardware.

How did recent firmware updates affect the Legends Ultimate Arcade, according to the review?

Recent firmware updates (5.70 and 5.71) caused issues with key features like CoinOps X and One Sauce, breaking functionality for some users. The reviewer suggests avoiding updates to maintain stable performance of these features.

Is the Legends Ultimate Arcade still a good purchase despite the firmware issues?

Yes, the Legends Ultimate Arcade remains a great purchase for those who are not reliant on the latest firmware updates and who enjoy its out-of-the-box features. However, users who heavily depend on CoinOps X or One Sauce may want to wait or explore other options.

What workarounds exist for the performance limitations of the Legends Ultimate Arcade?

Users can plug in external devices like a computer or emulation box via USB or HDMI to expand the system’s capabilities, allowing for the use of more demanding games and external game libraries like CoinOps X or One Sauce.