Neon Retro Arcade | Geekscape

Arcade Review: Button Mash LA

For great reward, there must be great risk. This is the case for making the journey to Button Mash Arcade & Asian Fusion Restaurant, off Sunset Boulevard. If we haven’t made it universally clear before, being buried alive in an airtight metal coffin is typically always preferable than driving through traffic in LA.

"At least I'm not on Sunset and Echo Park right now." — “At least I’m not on Sunset and Echo Park right now.”

However, loyal readers, in this particular instance the reward is great. We at Geekscape.net have driven across country, and braved many a freeway ventures, but at last dearest readers we have found Geek Valhalla, and it just so happens to be off Sunset Boulevard…

THE PRESENTATION

Like most buildings in downtown LA, you tend to miss them while you focus on not crashing into the idiot texting in front of you. However, if your F-Zero reflexes are quick enough to spot an ordinary green building while driving down Sunset, you just might be able to enter the Button Mash parking lot. The lot is small, cramped, and more than likely full. Don’t be discouraged. Find a meter somewhere and walk. We can’t stress this enough, your patience shall be rewarded.

Upon entering the building, you may experience a brief sensory overload. Calm yourself. That’s just the PTSD from driving in LA contrasting with the bright and inviting atmosphere. There are a number of other clashes too. You are assuredly entering an arcade. You’re also entering a fully functional Asian fusion restaurant. You’re entering a bar. And, tucked away in the back is a rather unique merch shop. More on that later.

"You absolutely want to see what's through door number 0N3." — “You absolutely want to see what’s through door number 0N3.”

Suffice to say, there’s a lot going on with the decor. It definitely has a lived in, and distinctly 80’s vibe. It’s not trying to be the coolest bar or restaurant on the block. What it is trying (and succeeding) to be is your childhood living room. A kaleidoscope of colors, textures, and sounds arranged intentionally to get your brain to tell you, “You’re home.”

"Its also letting you know where you left your action figures." — “And now that you’re home, clean up your action figures. They’re everywhere.” – Your Mom.

But we’re not interior decorators, so let’s get to the real reason you came here…

THE GAMES

Yes, there are games a plenty. Taking up nearly every square inch of floor space in the long room to the right of the bar are arcade cabinets from across nearly thirty years of gaming. Sega, Capcom, Nintendo, Atari, Namco, a collection so vast they can’t all be crammed in the space Button Mash has dedicated to showcase their games. So instead, the cabinets are swapped out for you to have a unique experience almost every time you come back. Believe us, you will come back. We haven’t even got to the pinball machines yet.

"We got to them though, and conquered the shit out of 'em." — “We got to them though, and conquered the shit out of ’em.”

It certainly doesn’t have the quantity of other arcades, but Button Mash has absolutely set a high bar for quality. They’ve even taken to printing their own custom tokens. One token for games. Two for pinball. Don’t have cash? No problem. Just add five or ten dollars to your tab at the bar, lunch, or dinner bill and enjoy. Again, even if they did manage to squeeze more games into their spacious and clean game room there’s still plenty to keep you occupied for the better part of an afternoon, late night, and possibly early morning.

“Or however long it takes to grab the high score.” #humblebrag #iStandWithSpaceHarrier — “Or, however long it takes to grab the high score.” #humblebrag #iStandWithSpaceHarrier

This is a space built for gamers of all ages. It’s also a space built to let the adults have their own chance to wind down after nine. If you’re over twenty one and plan on staying late, be sure to have ID with you.

In the unlikely event that you do happen to play through everything that’s on the floor (at the time) and work up an appetite, Button Mash has you covered.

THE EXTRAS

It may be unfair to classify the full kitchen as an extra, but in our hunt for great arcades the games come first. That being said, your appetite will be satisfied, your thirst quenched, and your need for classic Wrestle Mania matches appeased. The food is delicious, eclectic, and not to hard on the wallet. Also, keeping with Button Mash unique design aesthetic, the checks are delivered inside paperback horror and Sci-Fi novels.

"Threaten you into leaving a tip? No. Why do you ask?" - RL Stein — “Threaten you into leaving a bigger tip? No. Why do you ask?” – RL Stein

So how to commemorate your journey to this godsend of an arcade? How about some unique retro video game art? Or some video game vinyl produced exclusively in house? I’m not saying this arcade has everything you need, but there is certainly something in the PWN Shop you’ll be dying to have. Among the varied list of gamer merchandise was a vinyl copy of the Journey soundtrack, next to a rack of Bullet Bill plushies. So, friendly warning, if you’re a die hard gamer and don’t have a frugal friend with you, there’s a high probability you will go broke.

THE VERDICT

The only day you should not be at this arcade is when they’re closed on Mondays. If you’re reading this today (Tuesday) and you’re not currently on your way to Button Mash, what are you doing with your life? School? Working? Yeah, well, I guess you have to get cash to play all those sweet video games somehow.

Other than the dire parking situation, which can be easily overcome by arriving before they open, this place is a near perfect nerd trifecta; great games, good food, and unique merch. Arriving early will also mostly guarantee you get enough game time. This place gets crowded quick and rightfully so. All in all, if you want to make it through the work week, or need something to look forward to come Friday, look no further than Button Mash Arcade.

Our journey into the heart of Pasadena hit us hard with the nostalgia hammer where we explored the Neon Retro Arcade.

If anything can be said about this place, Neon Retro is indeed an arcade. It’s not a bar. It’s not lounge. It’s not an urban fusion hipster joint meant to be ironic for millennials who pretend to know what Joust is, but really don’t.

(There is no irony here. At Geekscape, our Joust game is strong.) — There is no irony here. At Geekscape, our Joust game is strong.

Neon Retro is an Arcade. Period. It never tries to be anything more or less than a single story, one room building crammed full of classic cabinets, and a handful of pinball machines.

There’s also a couch in the back sitting in front of a pair of huge flat screens for some console gaming. That’s it. Despite it’s simplicity, a great deal of this place’s charm is tied to the location.

If you brave the ubiquitous traffic on a Saturday night headed for Neon Retro, prepare to do some light time-traveling. If you’re not already a part of it, you’ll notice a retro feel long before you even enter the arcade: having found yourself surrounded by the early 1920’s neo-art-deco buildings. It’s a part of the city that has recaptured that fictional golden age Americana vibe. As you walk over towards 28 South Raymond from any of the nearby parking garages, your mindset should already be well in tune with the past.

Neon Retro’s facade appears like any other store front window. Only the bright neon title suggests that the contents within are of a different era than any of the other shop on the street.

Then you enter.

80’s music is pumping through the air. Familiar theme songs play; Street Fighter II to your left, The Simpsons in front of you, Tetris somewhere in the distance. Before frolicking through the rows of cabinets with all your past favorites, you’ll need to line up for your sticker. What sticker you ask? After only a ten dollar entry fee, the employee will slap (or kindly hand you) a name tag with a time stamp.

For the next hour, you’ll be playing all the games you want for free. FREE.

Or until you get your ass handed to you in Street Fighter and walk away covered in the shame of your failure.

Again, it doesn’t get much more simple than that. There’s games, games, and more games. After an hour, you can either go home or wait in line to buy more time. Be forewarned that if it’s a busy night, there can be a line. The few times this field report checked in on the property however, there wasn’t, but don’t say we didn’t warn you.

We'll let you put together the visual pun yourself, we've already been reprimanded for making it too obvious. — “For the last time, no, End of Line does not start here.”

One of the special touches that this place has can actually be found on its website: the High Score chart. It’s an invitation not just to return to the property, but to consider yourself part of the Neon Retro community: “Here’s my score, come to my place and try to best me.” It draws you in, and invites others to come down to see what you’re made of. OR, you can simply use it to brag about how you’re hot shit. Either way, there’s an overwhelming sense that the management who cares for this arcade, cares about the community they’ve cultivated around gaming.

The space is clean, there’s a restroom on sight, and the front desk has snacks. This place is definitely rated ‘E’ for everyone so bring the kids. If you really forgot to feed yourself, or need a drink, there are more than enough local pubs and coffee shops in the area to satisfy.

If there was any real criticism about the place, it could be argued that it is on the small side. It doesn’t boast the spacious rooms of Eighty Two, or the sheer quantity of games jammed into the hallway of the One Up. However, with a rotating selection of arcade cabinets, and a guarantee of an hour worth of FREE games, this place sits in the Goldilocks Zone of Arcades in the greater LA area.

It’s not too big, nor too small, Neon Retro is just right.

Tag: Neon Retro Arcade

Arcade Review: Button Mash, LA

Arcade Review: Neon Retro Arcade