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Arcade Infinity - CLOSED
Category: Arts & Entertainment Arcades Arcades [Edit]
1380 Fullerton RdRowland Heights, CA 91748
(626) 581-4361
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
91 reviews for Arcade Infinity
91 reviews in English
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Review from Allison V.
Irvine, CA
Just heard this place closed down-- had to come to Yelp to confirm. *sniff sniff*
RIP Arcade Infinity. Definitely worth the drive and $$$ I spent to beat Typing of the Dead back in the day... -
Review from Josh J.
Santa Clarita, CA
Ah fuck this place closed down? They always had the recent beatmania and was the only reason I came here. BUMMER!
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Review from Christine C.
Los Angeles, CA
Arcade Infinity closed down February 26th, 2011. RIP.
Unfortunately, it ended up that the city would not let Arcade Infinity renew its business license. Sad times for the state of arcades in America. Was one of the, if not best, arcade for bemani games in America. If you wish to find out more about the Japanese rhythm game culture in Southern California, just google "tampopo arcade."1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/10/2011
** update **
Arcade Infinity will not be closing! Due to public outcry over the closing of such an… Read more »
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1/10/2011
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Review from Sean K.
Hacienda Heights, CA
I think now is about the time when I should write this review.
Well to start off Arcade Infinity is legendary for what it contributed to the gaming community during the long time that it's been been open. It's been a big attraction to Street Fighter players such as myself and it also attracted a lot of racing game enthusiast for such games as: Initial D and Midnight Club. The rythm games here were also top notch and kept up to date for those who came for those games.
My experiences here were good for the most part. I got to meet and play with top tournament player Mike Ross here on one of my visits to this arcade, and the many Street Fighter matches that I've had here were a learning experience.
It's really a shame that Arcade Infinity will be closing down soon as of this writing, but will always remain known as one of the BEST arcades that the West Coast will ever have. -
Review from Kenny O.
Just because it's the best in So-Cal doesn't mean it doesn't has its faults.
I used to be a very common face around this arcade back when I was in high school around 5-6 years ago when all the rhythm games still had quite a following. There would be plenty of informal IIDX/DM/GF/PnM/DDR meetups on any given day of the week, depending on the availability of people posting on the forums on bemanistyle at the time. It was fun while it lasted.
Since then, I moved away to go to college and would seldom visit AI. It was for the best as--albeit this was one of my favorite hangouts for years--it was draining on my wallet and my time.
The arcade has just about everything you want that isn't already housed in a Chuck E. Cheese (no ticket games, no real shooters, not many American arcade machines, etc.), and is the mecca of Japanese imports. I came here primarily for rhythm games like Drummania, Guitar Freaks, and Beatmania IIDX, though I played my fair share of Maximum Tune, Street Fighter 3rd Strike, and a bunch of the puzzle games in the back. Prices were fine as you could spend an entire day here with friends and not use more than $10 most of the time if you really wanted to--for a normal person, $20 would last you an eternity.
Ken, the owner, does do his best to keep all of his games up to date with the latest version, and is constantly re-modeling the layout of his games to best suit whatever's most popular. Currently, Street Fighter IV ranks atop all the games featured here, and justly has two tournament-style arcade panels ready for players to compete or to practice in. Come Friday or Saturday night, and you can be sure you're going to wait 15-30 minutes between turns if you're trying to 1-up whomever's winning.
The space can be an issue during its busy hours. Everyone who is any good at one or more of these games seems to always bring a posse or their S.O. to watch them play; even if you remove this entourage, AI barely has any walking room. If you're a border claustrophobic, beware.
As a few other people mentioned, buy tokens here en masse. If you already know you will be coming here again in the future, don't waste your time with $1 (4 tokens) or $5 (24 tokens) buyouts--just go ahead and purchase the $10 (50 tokens) or $20 (100 token) options. Even a few extra tokens go a long way--or maybe I'm just a bit anal after graduating with an economics and math degree. :(
Fans are aplenty. Don't leave your stuff out as it's prone to being swiped by any passerby. Parking is atrocious. Restroom will make you vomit on sight. Be nice to any staffers as they put up with enough BS on a daily basis. Have fun gaming. -
Review from Michael F.
Riverside, CA
This may have been the greatest arcade that I have ever been to in my life. Gone are the days of the American Arcade, they just don't make any money now, everyone has wii/xbox/ps3. The closest thing to an "arcade" these days is Dave and Busters, but I always felt like something was missing. I realize that it was awesome games that were missing.
Arcade Infinity has great games! It is a Japanese style arcade. I had never been to this kind of Arcade but would see them in movies and such. They are worlds different than your tilt or your gameworks. Most of the arcade cabinets are sit down style and many of them make use of a two cabinet head to head style, so that you and your opponent are at separate machines.
If you love fighting games, there is no better place than this. Of course they have Super Street Fighter 4. Thats a given. But they also get the latest games that are popular in Japan such as King of Fighters XIII (not that POS 12) and Blazblue: continuum shift. The people who play there are good, but I was happy to score some wins with Ken in SF4 :) They also have doujin games like Melty Blood, which I enjoyed and recommend to 2D fighter fans. Did they have tekken? I don't remember, but you can play that at any arcade lol. Also, they have an abundance of rhythm games such as DDR and a guitar hero type game, if you are still into things like that.
The place is completely lit by the arcade cabinets, so its as dark as a nightclub, with the appropriate flashes. It can be crowded at times, but I went on a Saturday afternoon and could get on most of the games I wanted to except the newest ones which had lines of about 7-8 people, but games only last about 2-3 minutes. Parking is pretty tough in the Diamond Plaza, but worth it for this place and the shops in the plaza. It does smell like nerd sweat, but you'll get used to it after a few minutes. This is a great place to go with friends and play some classic fighting games as well as the hot new ones. I wouldn't advise taking your girlfriend here as you will completely ignore her due to the hypnotizing effects of several dozen japanese candy cabs, unless your girlfriend is a serious gamer.
This place is semi-famous and has been featured on http://Shoryuken.com several times. Although, one time they were writing about how arcades are going out of business, so hopefully they don't go out of business as that would be a crime against nature. Oh, and if you wanna save money you can get 100 tokens for 20 bucks. You won't need that much, I spent maybe 10 tokens in 2 and half hours of play.
Go there and have fun, you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Jason H.
San Francisco, CA
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
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Review from Jean Mornelle B.
South El Monte, CA
This arcade gets hella packed, especially on the Street Fighter IV and Maximum Tune. I just hated the wait but its one of the best arcade so far.
They got LOTS of old games though, which was awesome btw?! i mean do you see DDR Revolution (the first version of DDR) anywhere else?! Well I've seen like other version but not this one. There's other games there too like those DJ and guitar shit that you play on wii or playstation LOL! So if you're looking for an arcade, this one is worth to try.
One thing I want to add onto this... people can get REALLY into the game and started cussing when they lose, which was funny btw hahaha! Like this one guy, he like lost on Maximum Tune and he started hitting the machine "WTF YOU'RE FULL OF BULLSHIT I HATE YOU" hahaha!!!!!! WOW people can get that serious over a game, I mean don't get me wrong, i cuss when i play Street Fighter, I say "oh shit, stay away from me ass! Stop hitting me too much" you know just to play around and laugh after but DAMN! You would find some people there VERY entertaining =D -
Review from Calvin Y.
Sure, this place can get hot and smelly of BO, but don't let that sway you from entering and trying out arcades imported from Japan and practically not found anywhere else. It's not just DDR here, there are DJ Mixing game, drums set, para para, Initial D racing, etc. The one we played was a 2-player co-op that mixed boxing with Shooting. So you take these gloves and you can hold them up to guard and throw punches and at some instances hold it out and shoot down people. Price? 2 tokens - $.50 cents per game/person. Not bad for a pretty innovative game. Then we played classic Street Fighter Alpha arcade for $0.25 each. We played for about 45 minutes on $2.00 in tokens. Crazy huh?
Tip: Look around on the floor if you're sitting down at the arcades, you might find some dropped tokens. I picked up one just like that. -
Review from Tim Z.
Arcadia, CA
This is the only damn place I can find Maximum Tune near me now ever since Action Arcade closed.
12 AM - Place is still full and packed -
Review from Rain F.
I *heart* this place!
I found it on the http://ddrfreaks.com list of places that have a ddr machine.
They have two machines and one of them is the Supernova 2! It's pretty awesome since it's only one of the few places within 50 miles of me that have that machine.
I also *heart* the Azumanga Daioh themed bubble pop machine YAY ^______^ -
Review from Jonathan K.
Pomona, CA
This arcade is pretty amazing
They have basically a game for everyone
I mean where else are you going to play typing of the dead?
They also have alot of great SSFIV players that go their
It gets pretty packed in there and can smell sometimes but I mean you are their to play games -
Review from John K.
San Diego, CA
Hands down, one of the best arcades in SoCal. It's worth the drive.
They've got lots of Japanese games, old and new. Stuff you can't really find here, like Blazblue Continuum Shift, Guitar Freaks and Drum Mania (connected for multiplay), Battle gear 3&4 (Although I wish they had the deluxe one with the clutch), Maximum Tune Deluxe Plus, and many others. They've even got Typing of the Dead! Only drawback is the place is kind of small, but the awesomeness makes up for it.
So, if you've got nothing to do, grab your friends and roadtrip up to Arcade Infinity (Unless you're local. Lucky you :P) -
Review from Roach D.
Duarte, CA
You can find me here playing Typing of the Undead until my fingers bleed.
I believe this is where I will someday find my soul mate... -
Review from Jen C.
Los Angeles, CA
This was my haven in college.
That said, let me clear up something: I am a female gamer, which means I am a true nerd beyond all reason. Don't get me wrong, I am terribly, terribly ashamed to admit it.
But for the sake of Yelp, I must: This was my haven in college.
I grew up in Japan, from elementary thru high school. No amount of schoolgirls or neon fashion can shock me. Along those same lines, I was thrilled to find that a Japanese-style arcade existed just a few measly miles down the 60.
I haven't been here in a year or so, but I wanted to dispel the myths about the games in Arcade Infinity, to the best of my recollection:
Boxing Mania
- a "real life" boxing game
- hit the pads to "knock out" your opponent
Para Para Paradise
- modeled after parapara dances of kogals in japan, this game rose (and fell) in popularity somewhere around 1999-2000.
- wave your arms to the beat while shuffling your feet from side to side.
- occasionally, people will rave to the music, which gets them points in the game, but, sadly, not in real life.
Dance Dance Revolution
- this game has probably been around long enough that it needs no explanation.
- step on the colored pads in time to the music.
- tip: try not to use only your right foot!
Keyboard Mania
Pop 'n' Music
Beatmania
Beatmania IIDX
Shakatto Tambourine
- these games all have the same basic concept: hit the keys in time to the music
- tip: to save money, play Pop 'n' Music with a few friends...you have less chance of losing (:
Typing of the Dead
Laputa typing game
- you are an undercover detective solving crimes, and the only way to defeat bad guys is to "shoot" them by typing what you see on the screen (yeah, really.)
- warning: unless you know japanese or can speed read, these games get exponentially harder
Initial D
- based on the popular manga and anime genre, you will always see no less than ten fanboys clustered around these "driving" stations.
- race and drift to beat out your opponents
- you can save your game and customized car on a little card that you put into the machine each time you play (not sure if they still have this)
Various arcade games
- all of them are "Japanese-style," which means you can sit down while you play
- King of Fighters (insert year here)
- Street Fighter (insert iteration here)
- Puzzle Fighter (insert number here)
- some form of airplane-shooter-game
- Mobile Suit Gundam (insert random letters here)
- Soccer games
- Mahjong
- Photo Hunt
and...my personal favorite has a control unit shaped like two giant faces. each person takes ahold of two googly eyes while leaning against a big ol mouth on the machine while playing minigames. it's like wario on crack. and if you understood all that, then by all means, you need to try it out!!
minus one star for the hordes of teenyboppers and fanboys that frequent this place on friday and saturday nights. uuugh so crowded!! even though asians aren't supposed to have BO, a whole room of sweaty people should still think about investing in deodorant.Listed in: Not Just Window Shopping
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Review from Marcus S.
Altadena, CA
This place is it. Very few games here cost over a dollar to play (actually i don't think any of them do).
BE WARNED! This is not an american arcade. Wtf does that mean? well let me tell you. The games here, are almost entirely imported. All of the cabinets are short with seats so that you can play comfortably. The range of games is definetly worth mentioning. Metal Slug 6, Typing of the Dead, Initial D ver. 3 (japanese version so be careful), Maximum tune 2 (75 cents to play, 50 to continue!!), Street Fighter 3 on a big screen, DDR Extreme (50 cents!), IIDX. Really, if you like japanese arcade games at all. Then drive out here and play them. Because finding a better deal is going to be hard.
Oh, in addition, all of their games work. If they don't, they turn them off so you don't waste your money. Rock on. -
Review from faye d.
Beverly Hills, CA
This place is fantastic if you like playing DDR, beat ManiaX, DJ Hero, Guitar hero and the likes. They don't have Pump it up though which is a huge sad face for me. But they do have a lot of Street fighter 4 arcades here. No tekken tho.. another sad face for that.
A lot of Asians play here too. Here is also Cue's which is a japanese photobooth place. Genki living is right below too.
:] -
Review from Casey S.
I like how this place is modeled after a Japanese arcade, but a few things about this place irk me:
- Poor insulation. Seriously, it's so muggy it's ridiculous. All these gamers sweating (and not just the one's playing DDR) make this place feel like a locker room.
- Everybody is so introverted. Sure, strangers'll play you, but they are the type that show no emotion and many of the ones I've seen don't seem to care about their outward appearances or hygiene (well, that explains the smell...)
- Some of their stuff is outdated. DDR is a version behind the last time I was there, and some of the obvious Japanese imports (Border Break, Gundam: Senjou no Kizuna) are absent.
The arcade does have some good prices and the machines here are good, but it's not the "greatest arcade evah!!!1!1" people are making it out to be. -
Review from Jay C.
Hacienda Heights, CA
This place is a guilty pleasure of mine. 75% of the money that I came across in Junior High eventually made its way into a Street Fighter II machine. Thankfully I got pretty good at the game but when the Great Arcade Death of the 1990s occurred thanks to the proliferation of superior homesystems by Sony and the like, I was dejected to think that my hard earned skills at six button fighter games would be moot... forever.
Arcade Infinity reduces my feelings of redundancy with plenty of Japanese import arcade games and even a ginormous big screen Street Fighter machine. The Typing of the Dead game is great, even though it throws these ridiculous phoneticized Japanese phrases at you that for all I know could be gibberish. The only complaint I have is that the volume here is out of control and I always walk out halfway deaf. Maybe I'm just getting too old. But if you're going to blast your eardrums and dance, it's definitely cheaper to do it here than at some uppity Hollywood club. And you even have a screen for guidance. -
Review from Mike L.
Norwalk, CA
Forget Jane Fonda's workout. All I need to do is come here and play some DDR. That will give me some workout.
Located on the 2nd floor of the Diamond Plaza on the deep end, there is an arcade that is filled with imported Japanese games that I have not seen since being in a foreign Asian country in the past.
The place is very very dark. Sort of seem seedy or they figure too much light might lose your concentration in the game. Yes, in the past someone actually complained about too much light ruined his enjoyment and break his concentration on an arcade game. What a goober! Luckily it was at somewhere else.
Like the past reviewers pointed it out, there is a lot of imported machines that are in foreign languages. Meaning the instruction are either in Japanese or Chinese. You're SOL and will have to waste some pretty coins to get use to the game.
They have the DDR (Dance Dance Revolutions). Do not judge me because I only got use to jumping on those color dance pads like Twister. It was fun for me in the past and gave me such a workout. Still does.
The place also have some hand coordinated games similar to the foot coordinated games of DDR. Especially like a drum game where you beat the drum to the note on the screen.
Plenty of racing games and Initial D version 3 is in there. They updated the cars to the present time to reflect some of the recent cars that came out. I mean who is going to believe a Toyota Corolla '86 can beat some of the present race car?
It's fun and get your mind off things while your relatives are down stairs checking out the cosmetic stores. arrrgh *sigh*. Oh well, something to do for everyone.
Oh, the place opens at 1pm so you can't get a pre-lunch fix and will have to wait after lunch for the place to open.Listed in: Places My Mom Do Not Know…, Taiwan Invasion!
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Review from David Y.
San Diego, CA
the last of a dying breed
with today's technology and home entertainment systems its rare to find a video arcade dedicated to gamers of yesteryear
this place is rather small but its jammed packed with a variety of games from fighting games, rhythm games, vertical shooters, puzzle games
i love coming here and using my day playing arcades all day long
theres something about beating your opponent in person than online
i hope you stay open until infinity -
Review from Andy P.
Hacienda Heights, CA
This arcade is small, dark, loud, and can get pretty crowded at night. Every once in a while, you'll get packs of aZns getting angry at each other over initial D. The one bathroom they have is usually not so clean, either.
BUT, this place has a great selection of arcade games you will rarely ever find. Their big draw comes from the DDRs, Beatmania, Street Fighter, and Initial D machines, but they have a good collection of other games on the side.
$1 = 4 tokens, $20 = 100 tokens, and most of the games there are four tokens or less, which is a good value considering American arcades charge something ridiculous like $1.50 for a round of DDR.
Good games, cheap prices. Go! -
Review from Jeremy N.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
It's a sad time in America to be interested in arcade games. Most Americans are not lucky enough to live within a reasonable driving distance to an arcade, and the few that are probably won't be in for much when they arrive at their destination. The few arcades still scattered around the states are typically filthy places full of barely functional cabinets running a handful of dated samey games.
In this depressing arcade post-apocalypse, there is one gem still shining bright in Rowland Heights, CA. Arcade Infinity makes you almost forget the current state of public arcades. It is a happening place loaded with some of the latest and greatest Japanese arcade games. Though the game selection justifiably caters mostly to the fighting game crowd, there is quite a satisfying variety for others: Bemani rhythm games, racing games, Typing of the Dead, Neo-Geo, and, amazingly, even a couple of recent shmup titles.
Arcade Infinity is lovingly kept. The cabinets are clean and in perfect working order. They are equipped with quality Sanwa joysticks and pushbuttons which are always responsive. If one of these parts starts to act up, the owner will fix it right there on the spot. It is this kind of attention and care that makes Arcade Infinity a great arcade irrespective of context or comparison. -
Review from Miel S.
Pleasant Hill, CA
Only place nearby with Blazblue arcade machines. I came by the other day expecting Calamity Trigger and found Continuum Shift instead. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Expect experts here-- I came unprepared because the character I used and the arcade controls were not in my forte and thoroughly got my ass handed to me.
Props to Dustloop forums for discovering this gem of an arcade! Will definitely come back again when I'm in the area :)
I didn't play the other arcade games, but they have a lot of old school games and other fighting games too. A MUST VISIT for arcade fans! -
Review from Tiffany C.
Garden Grove, CA
I'm not really a video game person...because I'm just not that good and fail at any video game I play. I usually play one of the fighting games in the back or whatever...whatever requires the least amount of tokens...cause I go through tokens really really fast.
My friends and I used to venture to the life plaza area all the time...and after eating somewhere near by we would start wandering around and end up here or at the photo place. My boyfriend thinks this place is awesome cause it's a lot more up to date than most arcades. So he would probably give this place a five star. My rating is just a three because I'm just not that into video games. -
Review from Kevin S.
Riverside, CA
Well, I've been here as often as I have and finally am writing a review. To me, there is not much to be said about this arcade. It's one of the better independent arcades left in SoCal, that's for sure. With so many of them closing up shop all thanks to the recession and/or the dying of arcades/gaming in the States. This one may be next, so you best better get your butt there NOW or wish you went when they were still around.
Located in Rowland Heights, inside the Diamond Bar Plaza in the corner where the stairs are. It's a small arcade with most of their arcade cabinets being imported from Japan where the market for gaming is much better than the States. Lots of Asians hang out here!
+Imported Games!!!! Only Beatmania IIDX, yes IIDX you will find will probably be right here!
On a side note, they got DDR Supernova 2, DJ Technika, Pop'n Music, Guitar Freaks, Drummania, and Para Para Paradise. Those who are into dance/music simulation.
+Only place I know that has Maximum Tune 3 Plus!!!!!
+Most of the games are really inexpensive, esp SN2 and MT3+ it's just .50 to play.
+Open late near the weekends like til 1am.
+Variety of games from dance/music simulation, racing, shootem' ups, fighting, etc.
Now the negatives.......
-They do not open til 1-2pm during the week, so you can't come in the morning.
-The arcade is small, yes SMALL! So if you go on a busy night like Fri or Sat night it will be crowded!
-Some games are out of date, sorry to say. Especially Supernova 2! Maybe the owner prefers Imported games, I don't know. But DDR X and X2 are the latest mixes out for DDR!
-Parking can be a pain, depending when you decide to come. Cause it's sometimes hard to find a parking spot near or on the weekends.Listed in: Places to go for FUN!
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Review from Chris C.
Covina, CA
Ever since I started going here during my high school years, which is long ago, it is still one of the best places to hang out with friends. Of course, I would not take a girl here unless they like to play video games with me. Nonetheless, the scenery, the people, and the games make Arcade Infinity what it is today.
There are a number of games for everyone for all ages. Street Fighter 4 is currently the most popular game in the arcade, they recently got Maximum Tune 3 DX+ which is another popular game as well, and then there are games like Beatmania, Drummania, Guitar Freaks, Blazblue, Street Fighter 3rd Strike, Battle Gear 4, Pop 'n Music, and featured last year at Anime Expo, DJ Max Technika.
Like other people here said about this place, it gets way busy during Friday and Saturday nights, so plan accordingly! Though, it would be nice if they expanded the place and put more games, maybe some old school arcade games like The Simpsons or maybe X-Men; but of course, don't fix what's not broken. Nothing will come as close to an arcade as Arcade Infinity, so if you have friends that have not been here, bring them and show them the experience of Arcade Infinity! -
Review from Daniel T.
Chino Hills, CA
I haven't been here in a while but I used to go all the time in the early 2000's. They were the first ones that had guitar hero, DJ hero years before it came out for the home consoles. They're up to date or ahead of the trend. Then again, they're really the only arcade in the area.
I walk by it once in a while and want to play again but my bones and muscles aren't as they used to be. Mainly for DDR or other motion style games. -
Review from Sharon T.
Hacienda Heights, CA
So I am reviewing an arcade...but this isn't just ANY arcade. This is Arcade Infinity! - "To Infinity, and Beyond!" Sorry, just had to throw that in, love Toy Story! :)
This place can be easily missed because it is located all the way in the back on the 2nd floor of Life Plaza. Parking can be a pain here especially on weekends. Anyway, you walk in there, and you feel like you're in a different world; a world of serious gamers, battling off each other on Street Fighter IV or DDR to perfect their already perfect scores. The newest, hippest Japanese games can be found at this place. I haven't really played anything here, mainly because I suck.
But I will be back Arcade Infinity, I will be back. I am secretly training to become a better SF4 player at home, so just you wait... -
Review from alex v.
Fullerton, CA
For you arcade junkies, those of you who can't let the arcade go and don't want the dissatisfaction of going to Boomers to play on broken cabinets... This is your place. Most all of the cabinets are in working order. Tons of imports from Japan. Lots of fighting games! I'll say that if you're a fighting game connoisseur then this is the spot for you. Top notch competition, so good that you'll get combo'd right out the door.
Most all of the cabinets are low, so you gotta sit to play, unless you're Vern Troyer...
Oh and people are serious about the DDR here... For serious! -
Review from Droid X.
Fullerton, CA
There was a guy that I used to have a crush on, I actually met him before at Cal Poly Pomona because I went with my friend to school. When I found out by coincidence that he worked at this arcade, I was surprised. But then shortly after he told me he got fired because the boss caught him playing games while he's suppose to be working, since then I haven't talked to him or seen him ever again, QQ..
Anyway, I used to craze over the ddr machine (high school fab...perhaps I should get into it again even though it's been years), and Initial D hahah. Sooner or later I crazed over maximum tune, but not so much anymore, I get bored too easily zzz... -
Review from Mark A.
Great arcade that will have arcade machine RARELY found in most arcades out there, especially imported machines!!!
Arcade fanatics should have a visit here. -
Review from Ian M.
Davis, CA
This place has more Bemani games than any place else I can think of. The selection is amazing and the prices are unbeatable. I think I barely spent any money at all ($10 or so) and was there for several hours. It's a lot of fun with friends, too!
Plus, it's surrounded by amazing food, so you can gorge yourself, all the while forgetting that it might just come back up once you hit the arcade. -
Review from Haet Y.
Beverly Hills, CA
Arcade Infinity is shutting their doors for good on February 26th. Play while you still can.
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Review from Sophie H.
Los Angeles, CA
Despite the fact that I no longer play games, it is comforting to know that AI will always be as epicly awesome as it was back in the day. There will be new upgrades and new machines, fresh out of Japan, but there's an overwhelming sense of nostalgia for me when I see the same niche gamers -- the Maximum Tune ricers, the Bemani fans, top-tier fighting gamers -- coming back to this small, dark arcade for the simple sake of gaming.
It gets kinda crowded here at night. Respect the token line. And wear deoderant if you play DDR! -
Review from Steven Y.
West Covina, CA
I like the place because it has variety of games...I love 3s, but there are hardly any players now...sniff.
Best place to relax yourself. -
Review from Dann M.
Orange, CA
The gaming mecca.
Fighting games, dancing games, music games, puzzle games, racing games, and even punching games, this place has it all.
Better than your ordinary Dave & Busters/GameWorks, but without the alcohol (ok, well sorta better, I wouldn't mind drunk Initial D)
Found in the heart of Diamond Plaza, it is where you see people of all walks of life. From Anime cosplayers, to 80's glam rockers, this place is a go to for the eccentric.
Competitive play is very common here. If you need to hone up on your skills, or just want to wail on noobies, it's all done here.
Newest, and latest japanese/asian video games are abundant here.
Just make sure to bring plenty of quarters ;) ... just in case you get your ass beat... which is common too :PListed in: The Places I Go Out, Must go to Arcades
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Review from Josh K.
Cool little place that my girlfriend took me too while visiting her 'hood in the LA suburbs. Bought $5 of tokens and had a good time. Since very few Yelp reviews about arcades fail to mention a list of notable games, I'll list the ones I played:
- Azumanga Daioh themed Bust-a-Move/Puzzle Bobble
- Puzzle Fighter
- DDR (two machines, don't remember the variants, but see below)
- Typing of the Dead (YES!!!)
Some of the other ones I didn't play, but remember:
- Street Fighter IV
- Metal Slug VI
- A couple of shmups
- All the Bemani games - Guitar Freaks, Beatmania, etc.
By no means is the list comprehensive. Anyway, the place is nice because it's got some good games in it and it's pretty cheap (50c to play DDR, 25c to play most of the arcade cabinets), but it is kinda dark and stinky. But that means it's full of greasy nerds who know where it's at.
Note: As of the writing of this review, the DDR machines are kind of broken, and if you try to do VS play you'll just end up wasting tokens.
-1 star for broken DDR.
...and.. -1 star for NO TAIKO NO TATSUJIN! ARGH!! -
Review from Randall T.
Orange, CA
I played here for the first time in two years yesterday. I played for three hours on just $20 worth of tokens.
If this place was closer to me, I'd be there almost everyday. There's no other place in SoCal where you can play the latest edition of Pop'n Music, DrumMania, and beatmania iiDX.
Best arcade in SoCal. Definitely worth the 30 minute ride from Orange. -
Review from Bryant S.
Brea, CA
Ah this place is like a strip club for video game addicts. Imagine walking in with your buddies, it's pitch black, kinda seedy a little dirty on the inside, but you don't care. Your eyes adjust to the light sources of monitors and flat screens and having your head spin on a swivel to oogle over Japanese game cabinets as if it were a 5'11" blond in clear acrylic heels and a g-string...
Uh, where was I? Oh yeah, ok back to the review. This place has got almost every crazy niche game that you would find in your friendly neighborhood arcade, if you live in freaking Tokyo. I thought I was pretty up on my Asian arcade games, but my goodness, there's games I can't even explain. There's your DDR, Guitar Freaks, & Drum Maniacs, ok seen that. But to see a kid full on raving in front of a cabinet with sensors for his feet & hands, that's a first. Pushed behind these wonders of time consumption are your classic arcade games from about 1997 and up. Good ol' reliable stand-bys.
And oh yeah one more thing to end this review if you've gone through the trouble of reading the whole thing. That 5'11" blond in the g-string and stripper heels I mentioned earlier, yea her name is STREET FIGHTER IV!!! Fellas, get in line, because there is a wait to get her.
