Epic Retro Night: Packages from Japan, 17kg of PS1 Games, and Fighting Game Battles
What could be better than a Saturday night with friends? Only a Saturday night filled with the scent of old plastic, the rustling of Japanese manuals, the flashes of virtual battles on a CRT screen, and a moderate amount of alcohol.
This time, there were six of us, and we chose to play on the PlayStation 1 and Dreamcast—two legendary consoles that brought us a ton of emotions. But the real highlight of the evening was the two giant packages from Japan, which we unboxed with the excitement of archaeologists discovering an ancient artifact.
The Night Begins: Zero Gunner 2 on Dreamcast with an Arcade Stick
We kicked things off with Zero Gunner 2, an incredible arcade shoot ‘em up that had already won our hearts. Last time, we got hooked on it for hours, and now it was time to introduce it to those who hadn’t played it yet.
Playing on the Dreamcast with an original arcade joystick is a whole new level. Smooth controls, precise shooting, and intense combat that makes your heart race. By the end of the session, Zero Gunner 2 was officially added to our “games we’ll always come back to” list.
Packages from Japan: 3 Consoles, 110+ Discs, and 17kg of Pure Joy
After a break, it was time to open the two massive boxes. Unboxing has become a tradition for our gaming nights. Ordering from a Japanese auction is an experience in itself the anticipation is a thrill, but the moment when you tear off the tape and peek inside the box? Pure magic.
• First package – Consoles:
• Sega Saturn (White and Gray). I couldn’t decide between the two colors:
• White – classic and aesthetically pleasing.
• Gray – old-school 90s vibes.
In the end, I ordered a lot that included both. Now, these two Japanese legends sit on my shelf, waiting for their turn with arcade sticks.
• Wii U for… $22. Yeah, this was a total impulse buy. I just saw the listing, the price was ridiculous, and I took a gamble. The console arrived in excellent condition, and with a little modding (softmod + accessories), it’ll open up access to a huge library of Wii U, Wii, GameCube, and even Nintendo 64 games.
• Second package – 110+ PS1 Games (17kg!)
I had always wanted to take a risk on a “blind lot” where you don’t know the exact list of games or the condition of the discs and manuals. You just see a blurry photo, take a chance, and hope for the best.
When we started sorting through the discs, our excitement was through the roof. Some of the highlights included:
• Metal Gear Solid
• Biohazard (Resident Evil)
• Biohazard 2
• Tekken 2
• Crash Bandicoot 3
• Crash Team Racing
• Tomb Raider
• Time Crisis
• Chrono Cross
• Gran Turismo 2
• WWF SmackDown! 2
• FIFA 98
• Speed King
• Final Fantasy
• Dragon Quest
… and many more.
The most insane moment? Finding Resident Evil: Gun Survivor in the box—just an hour earlier, I was telling my friends that this game was missing from my collection. The thrill of the unknown paid off big time!
Condition Report:
• 90+ games – excellent condition, complete with manuals.
• 5-7 discs – no cases, but the discs were fine.
• 12 duplicates – but that’s actually a win, since I can gift them to a friend for his collection.
Ace Combat 2 with a PlayStation Analog Joystick – A Whole New Experience
After unpacking the lot, we spotted Ace Combat 2 among the games. My friend immediately suggested playing it with the PlayStation Analog Joystick SCPH-1110-Sony’s massive flight controller.
It was divine. The flight was smooth, the controls were precise, and after this, a regular gamepad just didn’t feel as good anymore. We took turns playing, totally immersed, and couldn’t stop talking about how fun it was. Ace Combat 2 still holds up and delivers a fantastic experience.
Tekken 3 – A Double Elimination Tournament
Once our pilot instincts cooled down, it was time for some fighting game battles. A Tekken 3 tournament is sacred.
We prepared in advance and decided on a Double Elimination format (where the loser gets a second chance in the lower bracket). ChatGPT helped run the tournament we just entered the winners, and it automatically calculated the bracket.
We played on the Hori Tekken 3 Real Arcade Fightstick a perfect device with a metal panel, responsive buttons, and the right size. The controls felt exactly how Namco intended. And damn, it was the perfect setup.
The fights were intense but friendly-yelling, emotions, fast combos-Tekken 3 refuses to age and remains the gold standard of fighting games.
Thrill Kill – The Canceled Fighting Game
After the tournament, we took a break, grabbed some drinks, and decided to have a 4-player brawl.
We hooked up a MultiTap and a couple of Hori FightingSticks with vibration feedback.
We chose Thrill Kill-the legendary violent game that EA banned before its release.
Blood, brutality, insane characters, and ultraviolence-that’s what makes Thrill Kill unique. This wasn’t just a fighting game; it was pure chaos on screen.
The final match had us screaming with excitement. The hits, finishers, and jumps were so crazy that at times it felt like we were playing some insane horror-action game. And that’s the thrill-banned games are always the most fun.
Break Time with Foosball
Sometimes you need a break from screens, and that’s where foosball comes in.
A few quick matches-2v2 or 1v1-brought out victory shouts, unfortunate own goals, and powerful shots straight into the net. Foosball is the perfect way to catch your breath between intense gaming sessions while keeping the competitive spirit alive.
Final Round: Dead or Alive 2 on Dreamcast
To close out the night, we went back to the Dreamcast and played Dead or Alive 2 in 2v2 mode.
We only had two arcade sticks, so we had to alternate between arcade and original controllers (which, of course, made us want to buy more arcade sticks for Dreamcast).
Dead or Alive 2 isn’t just about mashing buttons like in Tekken-it requires strategy, blocks, timing, and reaction speed. That’s what makes it special.
Final Thoughts: The Magic of Retro Gaming is Alive
This night once again proved that retro gaming isn’t just about playing old games-it’s about the atmosphere.
Modern games are great, but nothing compares to sitting with friends in front of a CRT TV, hearing the sound of a disc loading, and feeling the pure joy of gameplay.
Unfortunately, I can’t fully capture all the emotions of that night in text. But I can say one thing:
Play games. Play together.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you felt the vibe of that night.
Now, tell me-what are your favorite retro games for a group gaming session?
Drop your favorites in the comments, and let’s ruin our eyesight together with retro gaming!
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