namco Sannomiya OS — Attraction in Kobe

Can't miss it. It's where all the restaurants are in Sannomiya which is kind of like the downtown of Kobe. Not the biggest arcade I've seen, but they have a decent selection of UFO catchers and some of the hardcore (strategy and multiplayer) games upstairs.

Unlike other arcades, this one for some reason always has security guards walking inside. I'm guessing since it's next to a lot of bars and nightlife they are sometimes needed. I always see couples and solo people playing happily.

This arcade doesn't seem to really give it to you. Meaning, one tip that works at many claw machine places is to ask the worker for help, and they happily move the item so you can easily get it in a try or two. This one, I didn't see the worker doing that at all. I saw a girl spending a lot of money, and when she went to the worker, the worker just gave her pointers and where to aim. She left.

Tip? Stay away from the ball moving machines. There's a ball with crystals inside and you have to keep moving it until it drops. Those seem like you will win eventually, but it will take forever and I have rarely seen someone play until the end including myself. You keep dropping coins until you realize how long it's going to take. It takes even longer as it almost falls. Trust me. Don't start.

The snack dropping ones are pretty simple, but yet those snacks cost like 100-200 yen to buy at the store so the risk/reward...

3.5 stars. Just like every other game station I have visited in Tokyo. Its huge with a great selection of UFO catchers. Watching both boys and girls try their luck in winning super cute plush figures and other nice prizes. You know game center employees test out each station and place prizes in such a way so difficulty to win is like level 100? IMPOSSIBURURU!!! I saw lots of coins going in machines but rarely a prize came out. Still fun to try...

Fun gaming centre. Lots of grabber machines which are evil and too difficult to win (although I witnessed a boy win a big fluffy toy in one try, so perhaps it was just my luck).

Video games are good but not an incredible choice of genre, but then they are limited to all Namco games.

Still a fun...