HAMSTER Co. has added the legendary Nintendo arcade game Vs. Balloon Fight to their Arcade Archives series on the Nintendo Switch. Most people will probably recognize Balloon fight from it’s 1986 Nintendo Entertainment System version. But it was first released in arcades on the Nintendo VS. System in 1984. It’s one of those classic Nintendo games that everyone my age thinks of when they think of the NES. For those who are unfamiliar with the game, I’ll explain.
In Balloon Fight, you control an unnamed “balloon fighter,” which is a little guy with a pair of balloons attached to his head. By repeatedly mashing a button, you can flap your arms and ascend. It’s a floaty kind of control that you have to play to understand fully. If one of your balloons happens to pop, climbing becomes considerably more difficult. And if you lose both, you fall and die. You can play 1-player vs. enemies or two-player vs. a friend. The home console ports include another mode called Balloon Trip, but this arcade version does not. It’s a fairly straightforward game, but one that can be a ton of fun when playing with the right person.
HAMSTER Co. has made a name for themselves by releasing faithful ports of classic arcade games. Some of their previous titles include Ninja Spirit (one of my favorites), Alpha Mission, and Psycho Soldier. These releases haven’t been confined to the Switch either, but are also available on the PlayStation 4 – which is the console I most frequently play on. If you’re a fan of the original Balloon Fight, Nintendo, or just classic arcade games in general, then you should check this one out.Â
You can find Arcade Archives VS. BALLOON FIGHT on the Nintendo eShop starting today for $7.99. And while you’re there, be sure to check out the remaining Arcade Archives series as well.