We tried Newport's new High Score Arcade in the city centre
The site, located in Chartist Tower, was once home to retail units and restaurant spaces before being converted to cinema pods and arriving at its final destination of arcade.
We arrived on the second morning of their opening weekend and after being greeted by Super Mario at the doors, we are given our wristbands and a quick briefing on the rules. Its pretty simple: play on whatever you want during your time slot.
High Score boasts a wide selection of games of all genres and skill levels (Image: NQ) You don't need a pocket full of change or to worry about budgeting for a quick trip inside, as all sessions are pre-paid and timed. For the remainder of the summer, visitors can play for 90 minutes as opposed to the regular hour slot. This is the most budget-friendly way to play and, with the option to pre-book slots, you won't be left disappointed upon arrival.
There are more than 80 arcade games to choose from inside, with something to suit any taste. From retro classics like Pong to modern titles like Time Crisis, there is guaranteed to be something for the novices and pros alike.
There are pint-sized games for younger customers to enjoy (Image: NQ) These games are regularly swapped out, so the venue is kept fresh between visits.
Aside from carrying titles from throughout the years, there is a good range of genre. A large portion of the venue seems to be taken up by various driving and shooting games, but there are options to play VR and modern gaming experiences, rather than the standard button pushers that more seasoned arcade-goers may be used to.
There is also a section dedicated to child friendly games so that any younger visitors can get involved too.
Someone took Time Crisis a little bit too seriously (Image: NQ) It doesn't take long for our competitive streaks to show and we're going head-to-head. Whether its digital bowling, a racing game, or Doodle Jump, there is an opportunity to beat your companions and hit the high score – not a challenge that I take lightly.
Time flies when you're having fun and our slot is over before we know it, but not before we can finish our spirited game of air hockey.
It's a completely different experience than most visitors may be used to but its one that is sure to leave paying customers safe in the knowledge that they've chosen the most budget-friendly option for a lively afternoon out at the arcade.
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South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- South Wales Argus
We tried Newport's new High Score Arcade in the city centre
As the latest business to open in the city centre, High Score Arcade has understandably caused some buzz around those travelling through Upper Dock Street. Its eye-catching bright purple exterior makes it a hard place to miss. The site, located in Chartist Tower, was once home to retail units and restaurant spaces before being converted to cinema pods and arriving at its final destination of arcade. We arrived on the second morning of their opening weekend and after being greeted by Super Mario at the doors, we are given our wristbands and a quick briefing on the rules. Its pretty simple: play on whatever you want during your time slot. High Score boasts a wide selection of games of all genres and skill levels (Image: NQ) You don't need a pocket full of change or to worry about budgeting for a quick trip inside, as all sessions are pre-paid and timed. For the remainder of the summer, visitors can play for 90 minutes as opposed to the regular hour slot. This is the most budget-friendly way to play and, with the option to pre-book slots, you won't be left disappointed upon arrival. There are more than 80 arcade games to choose from inside, with something to suit any taste. From retro classics like Pong to modern titles like Time Crisis, there is guaranteed to be something for the novices and pros alike. There are pint-sized games for younger customers to enjoy (Image: NQ) These games are regularly swapped out, so the venue is kept fresh between visits. Aside from carrying titles from throughout the years, there is a good range of genre. A large portion of the venue seems to be taken up by various driving and shooting games, but there are options to play VR and modern gaming experiences, rather than the standard button pushers that more seasoned arcade-goers may be used to. There is also a section dedicated to child friendly games so that any younger visitors can get involved too. Someone took Time Crisis a little bit too seriously (Image: NQ) It doesn't take long for our competitive streaks to show and we're going head-to-head. Whether its digital bowling, a racing game, or Doodle Jump, there is an opportunity to beat your companions and hit the high score – not a challenge that I take lightly. Time flies when you're having fun and our slot is over before we know it, but not before we can finish our spirited game of air hockey. It's a completely different experience than most visitors may be used to but its one that is sure to leave paying customers safe in the knowledge that they've chosen the most budget-friendly option for a lively afternoon out at the arcade.
Daily Mirror
11-08-2025
- Daily Mirror
Final Boss meaning explained as Ibiza raver Jack Kay returns to party island
Jack Kay has become an internet sensation after a video of him dancing in a club in Ibiza went viral - with many dubbing him the Ibiza Final Boss. But where does the term come from? Unless you've been living under a rock for the past week, you're likely aware of the 'Ibiza Final Boss' - or Jack Kay - who has become an internet sensation. The 26-year-old Brit was recently caught on camera raving at an open-air club on the White Isle, and the video quickly went viral thanks to his 'Battle of Hastings' bob-style haircut. After the video was shared on TikTok, Jack quickly became the latest addition to the internet hall of fame, attracted the attention of brands and even swapping budget airlines for a private jet. It comes after the now infamous Ibiza Final Boss Jack Kay's girlfriend speaks out after his incredible haircut goes viral. But what exactly is a 'Final Boss' and where does the phrase originate from? we explain everything you need to know as the 'Ibiza Bob' legend returns to the party island to dance the night away with his pals. What is a Final Boss? If you're familiar with the world of gaming, then you'll recognise the term 'Final Boss'. The term typically refers to the ultimate boss - or villain - that you have to fight at the end of a level or game, reports the Daily Star. Think Bowser in Super Mario, or Doctor Eggman in Sonic. They're the 'Final Boss' - the toughest to defeat, the best of their kind, they hold the power and no one can surpass them. So how does that relate to the Ibiza Final Boss? Well, Jack simply embodies 'Final Boss' energy - he is the epitome of what an Ibiza party lad is according to the internet. He's got the gear, the flashy gold sunglasses, the dazzling white teeth, the muscles, the dance moves, the gift of the gab and the questionable hairdo. Where did the term 'Final Boss' originate? Now that we've established that, let's delve deeper into where the term 'final boss' originated. Surprisingly, it might not have been born from Super Mario's Bowser - despite the evil turtle being the most recognisable. We have to look all the way back to 1974, when fantasy tabletop roleplaying games started to become a massive hit for young lads in basements. Amongst gaming-related forums on Reddit, many computer buffs believe that Dungeons and Dragons has the original 'Final Boss'. Throughout the campaign of chaotic evil and neutral good characters making their way around the map, the game would feature a main enemy acting as the 'boss' to the minions that players would have to battle. Others have speculated that video game Galaga, of 1981, was the first to have a 'final' boss. The arcade shooter game includes the ultimate bad guy called 'Boss Galaga'. Then there's the Nintendo super fans who believe that Bowser is actually the first final boss, making the style of character popular from his initiation in 1985. Perhaps someone needs to create an Ibiza Final Boss game - we'd love to see it.
Metro
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90s Amiga mascot is coming back with a sequel his original creator hates
In a surprisingly frank interview, the creator of James Pond slams the latest attempt at a sequel – as well as its developer. There were several attempts to create a mascot character for the Amiga, who could rival the likes of Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog, back in the day. None of them succeeded, but the most fondly remembered of the lot is probably James Pond. They still couldn't compete with the best from Nintendo or Sega (none of them made our top 20 Amiga games list), but their graphics were definitely impressive for the time. The second game, 1991's James Pond 2 – Codename: RoboCod was the best and popular enough to keep getting ported, even securing a Nintendo Switch version in 2019. That we admit we've never heard of till now. Now, we've learned that no less than two new James Pond games are in the works, but only because the series creator, Chris Sorrell, has publicly slammed the new developer and distanced himself from the IP entirely. The two games in question – entitled James Pond: Rogue AI and James Pond: A Bit Of A Stretch – are being made for mobile devices and, according to developer Gameware Europe, are slated to launch later this year. If you've never heard of Gameware Europe, we don't blame you. Neither had we until now and a quick glance at its website shows that while it has a history of releasing mobile games, none of them are recognisable, with a good chunk of them being generic looking puzzle games. What's far more noticeable, though, is that Gameware Europe's website is filled with AI generated art and videos to promote their games. The art it uses for the two James Pond titles don't even feature the title character, just some bespectacled human children. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. A teaser trailer for James Pond: Rogue AI went up last month, and while there's no clear use of AI art in the game itself, it is only a teaser. Sorell has an unambiguously sour opinion of Gameware, telling Time Extension, 'I hate almost everything they do with a passion.' He also laments how he allowed the studio to attach his name to a 'shambolic' Kickstarter campaign for a new James Pond game back in 2013; one that failed to even raise a fifth of its goal: 'I stupidly allowed my name to become associated with their bottom-feeding enterprise.' Sorell does admit the aforementioned gameplay teaser looks like it could be fun, if it's 'in the hands of a capable level designer,' but that's where the positives end. 'Everything else they've shown seems far more expected: yet another warmed over rehash of a 34-year-old game that somehow makes it look like 30 years of tech progress never happened,' Sorell continues. More Trending 'And of course, the fact that they're promoting it with lazy, AI-generated bulls*** – well, what could be more on brand?!' Sorell thinks the James Pond name has become so 'degraded' that he doesn't want to be associated with it anymore, admitting he's been turning down James Pond related interviews for years. General fan reactions on YouTube aren't any better. Aside from the fact that there's only a small handful of comments, they're unanimously negative and judging by the date of their posting, have all been written after Sorell drew attention to the new game. 'I was a big fan of James Pond 2 and 3 growing [up], sad to see the series reduced to a lame cash in using crap generated AI assets,' reads one, while another bluntly drops this obvious pun: 'This is cod awful.' Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: PS6 console will be all about AI but not in a bad way, reveals AMD MORE: Xbox is using AI to make games in a disturbing vision of next gen gaming MORE: Candy Crush developers replaced by the AI tools they helped make
