Oneness and a Good Laugh

Taito Hey’s been overtalked. Here are its four contradictions.

ONE. It’s the arcade everyone talks and tweets up. Shows how great it is – and how everyone’s already been there. 「Place of legend × no big deal」

TWO. It’s google hit 1 for the “computer games?” tourists. But the depth of its shooter collection will register for nobody but the saddest nerds. 「Mainstream mass-market × dirt-dark underground」

THREE. It’s a bragging brozone for social-slip-up overripe teenage boys born last century. But just post a note, fist the yens, pull a stool: there’s a joystick and buttons – anyone can do it!「The coldest cliques × the warmest welcome」

FOUR. It looms on the Akiba mainstrip with the biggest Sega and Taito Station towers. But I t doesn’t even trade on the Taito brand. 「Bigshot peacocking × lowkey cool」

Showoffs will tell you Hey’s not all that. The fact is that it has its reputation for a reason. You need to go. It’s sombrely transcendental and it’s a laugh.