8 Best Sega Model 3 Arcade Games

Sega's long, storied history in video games is truly fascinating. They have been a major player in each and every era of video games since their entry into the market in the 1970s. They dominated the arcades, went head-to-head with Nintendo in the home console space, then evolved into one of the most prolific software developers in the industry.

It's their time in the arcade market, however, that has always proven to be the most interesting. Their war with Nintendo made for a compelling drama, but their arcade expertise isn't just for show. Their arcade boards have consistently been the most advanced hardware that the market has ever seen.

When it comes to Sega's arcade boards, the Model 3 still stands leaps and bounds over anything they've ever done. It powered some of the most incredible games that have ever graced arcades, from iconic fighters to expansive, interactive movie experiences.

In this list, I've compiled the best Model 3 games for you to take a look at. These games were dominant forces in the arcades, and they are all worth finding and experiencing today.

8 Fighting Vipers 2

Fight Night

Among the numerous fighting game franchises that permeated the 1990s, it was rather sad to see Fighting Vipers get lost among titans like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter. The first game was brought to life through Sega's Model 2 board, but Fighting Vipers 2 took full advantage of the next piece of hardware in Sega's line.

Fighting Vipers 2 feels so sharp and tactile. That wasn't uncommon for Sega's fighting game exploits in the 1990s, but Fighting Vipers 2 just has such a nice, snappy feel to it.

Punches and kicks have so much marvelous weight and impact. It follows all the principles needed for a great fighting game, and is one of the best arcade fighters of the decade.

7 Ski Champ

Downhill Domination

One thing I love about 90s arcade games was their tendency to find an extremely specific activity, then focus on that and fine-tune it into something special. Skiing is something I have very limited experience with, but I'll play Ski Champ until the end of time.

This insanely addictive, perfectly polished skiing simulation is an unbelievably enjoyable game. The velocity and speed at which you scream down these mountains feels remarkable even today.

It also has some amazing physics and particle systems that the Model 3 board excels at. You can really feel the wind and rippling speed of the snow shredding behind you. The Model 3 board was amazing at simulating the presence of real, piercing speed, and Ski Champ is a perfect representation of that.

6 Daytona USA 2: Battle on the Edge

Rolling Start!

The original Daytona USA was a holy grail for home console owners for years. Having a faithful port of that classic Model 2 game was something of an ongoing quest. The same could be said for Daytona USA 2, which was a massive improvement over the original and took full advantage of the new Model 3 boards.

If you've never played it, it is blazing fast. If the original game was a fighter jet, then Daytona USA 2 could best be described as a rampaging nuclear missile. The raw, unfiltered speed at which Daytona USA 2 unfolds is mesmerizing.

There may not be a more addictive, finely tuned arcade racer than Daytona USA 2. If any classic Sega arcade games were going to get ported to some sort of collection, Daytona USA 2 would be one of the first ones you'd need to start with.

5 Emergency Call Ambulance

911? Yes, I Need a Crazy Taxi!

In what can only be described as Crazy Taxi with ambulances, this offbeat, wholly unusual little game is still one of the most fascinating arcade games I've ever played. Emergency Call Ambulance taps into a very interesting time for Sega, as it seemed like no idea was off-limits.

Emergency Call Ambulance is ultimately a simulation of one of the world's most important jobs, that of a first responder. The game puts you behind the wheel of an ambulance, sending you on an adventure to get several people to the hospital. It is altogether bizarre, but so much fun.

It's a bit more restrictive than Crazy Taxi, relying more on a scripted series of events, but that doesn't hurt the game at all. Its tone is also far different from not only Crazy Taxi, but also other Sega arcade games at the time. It has a sort of unusual realism about it that makes it so unique and well worth playing today.

4 Sega Bass Fishing

Reel It In

Fishing is often described as a calm, soothing activity. It's where people go to escape the everyday troubles of life, enjoying the quiet nature and serene vistas. In that sense, Sega Bass Fishing may not capture that spirit, but it is certainly one of the most fabulous arcade games ever made.

Every part of Sega Bass Fishing is designed to capture a more bombastic, almost rock-and-roll vision of fishing. It has bright, flashy colors and funky music, while each catch is punctuated with an announcer telling you how well you did with a score right next to your catch.

It's not at all representative of the vibe that real-life fishing creates, but it's also not trying to do that. And if you manage to play this classic in a real arcade, you'll be able to experience one of the most outstanding controllers ever with the fishing rod peripheral.

3 L.A. Machineguns

Everything Must Explode

Among the many different genres of arcade game, the 'shoot everything on screen until they all explode' is one of my personal favorites. And while the Model 3 boards didn't have as many of that type of game as you might expect, it did produce a delightful little game in that genre known as L.A. Machineguns.

The chaotic, explosive madness that this game creates is second to none. The environments are bright, colorful, and vibrant, and the same can be said for the beautiful particle effects and explosions.

Shooting feels flawless, and if you're playing this in an actual arcade, the gun controller that you use has such superb feedback. The death of arcades was tragic, but the loss of games like this is even more upsetting.

2 The Lost World: Jurassic Park

Light Finds a Way

Light gun games used to absolutely dominate the industry back in the day, and while they are experiencing something of a revival, they are not at all what they used to be. Sega's experience with the genre is well documented, but the combination of the AM3 team and Jurassic Park was a match made in heaven.

Roaming around the dangerous parks, popping off rounds and incoming dinosaurs, it's one of those games that you will finish, then immediately want to jump into it again. It's a fairly bite-sized experience, and can be completed rather quickly, which is absolutely to its benefit. The shooting feels amazing.

It also has one of the best cabinets of all time, as it's actually modeled after the jeeps from the classic film series. It's as close as we've gotten to the movies being brought to life in real-time.

1 Star Wars Trilogy Arcade

I Have a Good Feeling About This

The Star Wars prequel trilogy was roughly four months away when the Star Wars Trilogy Arcade launched in 1999. The return of George Lucas' fabled space opera to the big screen meant that the IP was back in the spotlight, and this dazzling arcade game presented iconic moments from the first three films of the original trilogy in a beautiful celebration.

It allows you to experience three major conflicts, including the assault on the Death Star, escaping the ice planet Hoth, and the speeder bike chase. The variety on display is remarkable, as you'll go from shooting down Tie Fighters to piloting a speeder, then taking the fight to the Empire by destroying the Death Star.

Star Wars Trilogy Arcade also has some fantastic bonus stages. Using the joystick to use a lightsaber feels fabulous, and being able to deflect laser blasts from Boba Fett or duel Darth Vader made every kid's dream come true back in the late 1990s.