So Hallmark made the incredibly poor decision of not releasing a new arcade cabinet keepsake ornament for the 2010 Christmas season. As a result, they received a lot of complaints from ornament and arcade enthusiasts alike, and will hopefully release a new one for the holidays in 2011. But what about this year?
Well, back in 2008, I reviewed Hallmark's Pac-Man Christmas tree ornament and showed you all the classic bleeps 'n bloops it made. In 2009, however, I somehow completely forgot to feature their Galaga arcade ornament. So let's take a look at it now, shall we?
Unlike with Pac-Man, they reproduced the original Galaga arcade cabinet artwork perfectly this time, right down to the bezel and the control panel layouts. The joystick still doesn't move, so I can't help but wonder how many kids have tried to play the game and snap it off. Of course, the real beauty of this ornament is when you press the fire button and it lights up the entire cabinet while playing a variety of sound effects from Galaga. I gotta say, as good as the Pac-Man one was, this Galaga one makes noise for even longer and it's LOUD, so that's a big thumbs up right there. Here's a look at the Galaga keepsake ornament in action:
Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, this is simply one ornament that everybody should own. Hallmark, we'll give you a pass just this one year in the spirit of Christmas, but you had better not let us down in 2011. I have plans to have a full arcade on my Christmas tree by the year 2020, so if you want my quarters, you've got some work to do.
Survey: What classic arcade cabinets would you like to see made into a Christmas tree ornament?
Erin H. (Guest) on 12/01/2010 5:46 pm
They should've released a "Tron" cabinet since the new movie is coming out.
-RoG- on 12/01/2010 5:59 pm
I know, talk about a missed opportunity. They released a Tron light cycle ornament instead. It's just not the same as having the classic cabinet as an ornament...
monster_movie_night on 12/01/2010 6:08 pm
I say Dragon's Lair the artwork would look fine
Jaimas on 12/01/2010 6:36 pm
Dig Dug. Definitely.
Dsinder on 12/01/2010 9:13 pm
Defender.
Drow on 12/01/2010 10:13 pm
How about Abobo's big adventure?
Copper on 12/02/2010 1:35 am
I'm going to have to look for this one as well. I about begged the madre to get me the Pac-Man one when we saw it in the store before. Gotta have a matching set!
Pentegarn on 12/02/2010 7:26 am
Donkey Kong cabinet
Dimnos on 12/02/2010 10:34 am
Actually Galaga would be the one I would want. Seeing as they have it here I would have to fall back on Smash TV.
Leo (Guest) on 12/02/2010 3:36 pm
Rastan
Thanos on 12/02/2010 6:33 pm
My favorite classic arcade game? That's easy - Gyruss. I dumped massive amounts of quarters into that one.
Of note, they should produce ornaments of classic pinball games as well!
ColdFusion (Guest) on 12/02/2010 7:23 pm
P.. Primal Rage. ... What? I'm not quite as old as you guys. XD I'm still old!
Oh, or Turtles in Time.
monster_movie_night on 12/02/2010 8:03 pm
@ColdFusion Primal Rage is a awful awful forgettable game that no one cares about.How could you even brought such garbage up to us?!
Julio on 12/02/2010 11:43 pm
I don't picture it, but my brain would be blown away if I were to listen to a cabinet decoration capable of playing songs and special effects from the Metal Slug series.
HowardC on 12/03/2010 1:20 am
Gorf and Baddudes. Not so much because they are ultimate classics, but they both have synthesized speech and those ornaments only do sound effects.
baronterror on 12/03/2010 3:23 am
Moon Patrol, Xenephobe
Robodie III on 12/03/2010 1:05 pm
It would be pretty large, but "Lucky & Wild."
monster_movie_night on 12/03/2010 7:01 pm
oh hell yeah lucky and wild
Shadowdancer21b on 12/03/2010 8:57 pm
Final Fight
Julio on 12/04/2010 7:41 pm
What about Sunset Riders?
Dsinder on 12/04/2010 11:23 pm
Battlezone.
That would be cool.
lumpisan on 12/05/2010 12:46 am
smash tv... what other game starts out with a quot so synonomus with chrithmas?
Biiiiiig Money!
Biiiiiig Prizes!
I Love It!
-RoG- on 12/05/2010 1:02 am
Lumpisan - Haha, I think we have a winner! I'd buy that for a dollar!
Jaimas on 12/05/2010 3:07 am
I'm amazed they haven't made one of these with a playable mini-LCD game on the console. It's been done for games like Frogger, and I think we all remember the Legend of Zelda and Mario Bros. Gamewatches, so it's definitely possible.
Danny 4 Eyes on 12/05/2010 11:19 am
I'd like to see a Gauntlet one.
Heattokun (Guest) on 12/05/2010 5:52 pm
I'd have to say Marvel VS Capcom. I'd like to hit a button and hear the announcer say things like "HYPER COMBO FINISH" and crap.
That'd be cool.
Electric (Guest) on 12/06/2010 6:44 pm
Punch-Out. It would be awesome to hear my tree say "Body Blow!!!!" "Bald Bull!" I just love Punch Out!
Starscream on 12/06/2010 7:38 pm
With out a doubt Crystal Castles. The artwork on the side of that cabinet is still memorizing to me to this day.
There also also parts of me that would like to also see Q*bert like this too.
A-wel Cruiz (Guest) on 12/07/2010 1:52 am
SiniStar.
"BEWARE COWARD! RUN RUN RUN! I AM SINISTAR!"
:D
RedCometXIII on 12/08/2010 11:04 am
@monster_movie_night I liked Primal Rage, this coming from a hardcore fighting game fan. Yeah it's wonky but it was fun.
As for my cabinet choice I gotta go with Street Fighter II - The New Challengers. Hadoukens, Shoryukens, Spinning Bird Kicks and Psycho Crushers blasting from your tree would make it the ultimate badass Christmas paraphernalia.
Enderikari (Guest) on 12/09/2010 10:16 am
Go big or Go home. How about the huge T-Mek set?
Jigby Huggletinks on 12/14/2010 10:53 am
Mortal Kombat, The Simpsons, or something ridiculous with a big giant peripheral like a motorcycle or a driver's seat, just because nobody could ever hang that shit on a tree so it would make me laugh.
And now that we mention sound effects, I want an ornament of the vending machine from Bioshock, so that you can press a button and it goes "WELCOME TO THE CIRCUS OF VALUES"
Previous post: This Thanksgiving, I Feast On Gumballs!
Next post: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 8-Bit MP3! Download And Be Jolly!