Ah, the 1980s! The decade saw the rise of blockbuster movies aimed at the widest audience possible, concurrent with the rise of video games as a serious competitor in the entertainment business. As it happens, the upcoming X-Men: Apocalypse is set during the 1980s, revolving around the return of the so-called first mutant, known as Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac). He decides that the decade is not to his liking, so he decides to change things dramatically.
While awaiting the arrival of the movie later this month, why not spend some time playing video games? The era was rich with great games like Pac-Man, Centipede, Q*bert, Donkey Kong, Dig Dug, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Frogger, Pole Position, Tetris, Defender and more. Compared to today's games, the graphics are primitive, but if you enjoy playing the game(s), the graphics tend to take a backseat.
In honor of classic video games, you can visit the Retro X: Arcade, which offers three games in the 8-bit, block-graphics style of the 1980s, all related to X-Men: Apocalypse. In Revenge of Hero X, for example, the goal is to save humans, while dodging the merciless evil mutants. It's a game that might remind some of Missile Command, but is mostly about eliminating enemies while avoiding death.
Mutant Conquest is a maze game that requires you to negotiate a maze while avoiding contact with war, death, famine and pestilence, the so-called "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse." In the movie, mutants Storm (Alexandra Shipp), Angel (Ben Hardy), Psylocke (Olivia Munn) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender) have been enlisted in enforced service to Apocalypse as his "Four Horsemen," and they are definitely ones to avoid.
Finally, Mutant All-Stars Track & Field is a gentler game, presenting three challenges: 100-meter dash, high jump and javelin throw. You can play as a human or as your choice of three different mutants.
Sure, the fate of the Earth may hang in the balance, but these are all fun -- and free -- games to while away the hours. X-Men: Apocalypse also stars James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult and Rose Byrne. It opens in theaters on May 27.
