Review: ‘Arcade Kings’ #3 Showcases The Series’ Super Moves

Welcome to the table,

The tone of issue #3 of Arcade Kings shifts slightly from the first two issues in a really nice way.

Up to this point, Arcade Kings has felt like a blend of small cut scenes and beautiful bursts of button-mashing battles. Issue #3 slows it downs and shifts perspective from the player one protagonist Joe, to the player two “plot point” Ken.

Ken’s tone and general vibe is way more calm and subdued than his brother Joe’s. Where Joe is quick to battle and brawl, Ken takes every avenue available to avoid conflict. This creates an even deeper divide between the pair’s personalities. In this issue we are treated with some more backstory, giving insight on why Joe and Ken are seemingly important to their adoptive crime lord, by way of super-villain, by way of I don’t actually know what the end game is for this guy, but he is clearly the final boss father.

Arcade Kings keeps surprising me in delightful ways as it continues to be that story I want to drop my quarters into. It’s bright, flashy, and has a plot that feels perfectly juggled between the quick and quirky storytelling and the S-ranked super-move sequential sequences.

Until next time, don’t sleep on player two. The kid’s got moves!