The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Next gen consoles have elevated the video games industry into new heights of technical and artistic achievements; but before we used Agent Booker Dewitt to save Elizabeth in BioShock, or join the epic fight between the Assassins and the Knights Templar in Assassin’s Creed, we grew up saving the princess in Super Mario and competing against each other with Scorpion and Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat.

Bringing back the lost glory of 80s and 90s video games, Arcade Club is a unique venue that caters to gamers of all kind. It’s a time-capsule of a gaming hub that sends you back to simpler times in gaming, boasting a collection of retro SEGA and Nintendo consoles that puts Sonic, Tekken and Teenage Ninja Turtles in the palms of your hands.

From Mario posters on the walls, the retro Atari consoles, to the good old two-buttoned joy sticks, nostalgia will hit as soon as you step inside Arcade Club, which is located by the Shooting Club in Mohandiseen.  

The space is essentially divided into 5 sections, with each housing a different retro console including Atari, SEGA Genesis and Nintendo 64, in addition to newer consoles including PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. Retro games cost 20LE per hour, while PlayStation games cost between 30LE to 40LE. 

We began the gaming ride by giving the Atari a try and with only two games available –Duck Hunt and Mario – the console worked as good as new. The old television connected to the device, however, didn’t have proper sound which the staff promised to fix soon.

Connected to a flat screen, the SEGA Genesis, unlike the other consoles, has a huge variety of games including Rambo and Mortal Kombat 3 amongst a whopping 75 other games. Perhaps the real flashbacks started as we grabbed the SEGA Genesis joysticks and heard the epic Ninja Turtles’ theme song – goosebumps. All that was missing was a retro TV.

Arcade Club provides a VIP room—they call it the Batman Room—for those who are seeking a more private gaming experience. Equipped with an HD projector, sound system and AC, the Batman Room has around 7 bean bags, quirky Batman graffiti on the wall and costs 60LE per hour to rent. The room is perfect for an exclusive gamers’ tournament or a movie night out with friends – which also makes it one a potential, affordable idea for a birthday party for a change.

Arcade Club is a great blast from the past gaming spot and perhaps one of the few –if not the only— video game hub providing both old and new consoles, catering for gamers of different tastes. The venue, even though not very spacious, nonetheless makes a fun outing for those looking for a change of pace. Check out Arcade Club on Facebook right here.

(Photos courtey of Arcade Club on Facebook)