Arcade Classic No. 1: Asteroids / Missile Command

Want to travel in time machines? These fun Super Game Boy games warp you back to the simple days of the late 70s.

Kick Some Asteroids

This cart offers two primitive shooters, Asteroids and Missile Command. The games have the same premise: Nail incoming targets. Asteroids can be played either with Atari's original wire-frame graphics, or with an updated look that gives texture to your ship and the drifting asteroids. Missile Command is what you old-timers played in 1981.

The uncomplicated controls are so straightforward you won't need a manual. Asteroids has its familiar thrust/hyper/fire abilities, while Missile Command enables you to fire from either corner. Everything's very efficient, but the limited firepower will seem slow and archaic compared to the multiple weapons found in today's best handheld games.

Arcade True

Like the gameplay, the sounds and graphics are throwbacks. If you're feeling nostalgic, you'll smile at the pings and zaps from the old arcade games.

The graphics receive special borders for the Super Game Boy, but nothing else has improved with age. Asteroids' shots are still the size of atoms, and Missile Command cities have few details.

Most players won't care about the minimalist style of these two classic games. They'll only care about the pure fun and the great value. Two time machines for $30? Now that's entertainment.