Arch Rivals
Two-on-two, no refs, and fists flying.
Coming soon to UsuArcade
Votes to bring it to the arcade: 0
In the meantime, head into the arcade and play the cabinets that are already there
- Year
- 1989
- Manufacturer
- Bally Midway
- Players
- 2 players at once
- Genres
- Sports
- Decade
- '80s arcade games
Arch Rivals was basketball, sure, but schoolyard basketball with no teacher watching. Two-on-two games where, besides dribbling and shooting, you could deck the other guy to take the ball. No whistle, no foul, no problem.
The cabinet had that late-'80s cartoon attitude: big-headed players, angry faces, coaches losing it on the sidelines. And it always ended the same way: whoever lost dropped in another quarter and demanded a rematch.
History
Bally Midway released Arch Rivals in 1989 with the subtitle A Basketbrawl!, mashing up basketball and brawl. It was one of the first arcade hoops games to go for over-the-top fun instead of simulation.
That idea of arcade basketball, two-on-two, fast, and loose with the rules, paved the way for NBA Jam, which Midway brought to arcades a few years later and turned into a phenomenon.
How to play
Each player controls one baller on a two-man team, with a CPU teammate alongside. There are buttons to pass and shoot, and the action button doubles as a punch when you're on defense. Land a good one and your opponent hits the floor while you walk off with the ball.
Games run on a clock, and whoever scores the most wins. Mix in quick passes to your teammate to catch the defense napping, and don't go overboard with the punches; if you stand there admiring your work, someone else will swipe the ball from behind.
Fun facts
- Its subtitle is A Basketbrawl!, a mash-up of basketball and brawl.
- You can punch opponents and never get called for a foul.
- It's seen as a forerunner of the arcade-style hoops that NBA Jam made famous.
In the arcade
Arch Rivals isn't in the arcade yet. It's on the wish list, and you can hit “I Want to Play It” on this page to bump it up. Coming soon to UsuArcade if the votes are there.
Meanwhile, NBA Jam is already in the arcade, with its impossible dunks and two-on-two action to play with friends. For more sports, try Super Sidekicks 2 or Track & Field.
Once Arch Rivals lands in the arcade, you'll be able to play it online two-player, each on your own phone or PC, in the same game.
FAQ
When did Arch Rivals come out?
1989, from Bally Midway.
How many players is Arch Rivals?
Two players at the same time, each with a two-man team.
Can you punch people in Arch Rivals?
Yep. That's the whole hook: you can knock your opponent down to steal the ball without getting called for a foul.
Can I play Arch Rivals on UsuArcade?
Not yet. Vote for it with “I Want to Play It”; meanwhile, you can play NBA Jam in the arcade.
