VERTICAL ARCADE
These overlays (sometimes known as bezels) display art on top of the game you're playing. To use them, you need a PC or Raspberry Pi (or other compatible system) running some version of MAME and the associated game software, as well as a widescreen (16x9) monitor mounted vertically. To display the overlay while playing a game, download the artwork file for that game overlay (it must have the same filename as the game), place it in the Artwork folder within your MAME directory and launch the game. (For instance, the software for the game Magic Sword is called msword.zip, so it requires a file in the Artwork directory also called msword.zip.)
All overlays are 4K resolution (2160 x 3840), and listed dimensions are for the game screen, relative to a 4K vertical monitor. The actual game screen size will depend on the resolution of your monitor.
Most of the overlays include multiple presets that let you choose the size of the game screen, access a "dark" version designed to look more like a dark arcade, and sometimes other options. To choose a preset, press Tab while running the game to bring up the MAME menu, select Video Options, and select a preset from the list.
Some overlays include Curved presets designed with a curved screen port, to better simulate the look of a CRT monitor. These presets work best if you are using a geometry shader that adds a curved look to the game screen. For an optimal experience, you may need to adjust your shaders to match the curvature of the screen shape in the overlay. If you are not using a geometry shader, you are using a shader that adds a curved bezel, or if you prefer a rectangular screen port, choose a Straight preset where applicable.
Feeling a bit like a Greenpeace revenge fantasy, Gemini Wing takes place in a far-flung future where the plants and insects of Earth have mutated into fearsome enemies threatening humanity's very existence, and the last two Gemini Wing fighters must push back against Mother Nature. Gemini Wing departs from standard shoot-em-up fare in numerous ways beyond its premise and visual style, most notably in its weapon systems — certain defeated enemies drop orbs known as Gunballs, which unleash a particular power on command, but not always in the way you expect. The Gunballs trail along beyond your ship and deploy in the order you grabbed them, which means you may or may not get the weapon you're looking for (but you can always pick up new ones). The game's fanciful style, lush natural environments and quirky enemies and bosses make it a pleasant departure from the usual shoot-em-up.
In addition to games like the Bomb Jack series, Rygar and Ninja Gaiden, Tecmo was known for having the chutzpah to name numerous games after itself, including a wide range of sports games and this beat-em-up gem from 1989. Tecmo Knight features surprisingly bloody violence and numerous decapitations, but its primary distinction is the fact that the protagonist is actually a tiny human riding on top of another character, either the brutish Smokeman or a large tiger, which you can switch between at will to adjust your tactics. Picking up the skulls of fallen enemies grants you health, points or occasionally the ability to ride a flying dragon, which empowers you with temporary invulnerability and upgraded attacks. Though not one of the best known beat-em-ups of the 80s, Tecmo Knight is a unique, if somewhat unsettling, action game worth a few virtual quarters.