“Guardian Troopers” is an arcade robot action game. Players board a large, meticulously crafted cabinet, designed to feel just like a cockpit, and battle.

It boasts a clichéd world setting, somewhat uninspired mech designs, and overly complex controls that utilize two button-laden joysticks and even foot pedals. To top it all off, missions of hellish difficulty complete a parade of negative aspects.

While review sites generally gave it low ratings, I found myself completely addicted to this game. A salaryman nearing his thirties, I'm making my arcade comeback to show these young hotshots what an old man can do.

But this game is a bit strange. As I progressed through the national tournament, odd things started happening around me...