What started as an April fools joke soon became a reality after overwhelming demand. Earlier last year Thinkgeek and Ion released the Ipad Icade. Compatible with both the first generation Ipad as well as the Ipad 2, this might be a dream come true for any owner of the tablet device. But how well does it hold up to an actual arcade cabinet?

Out of the box it is easy enough to build (yes, some assembly is required), though you might run into some difficulties when having to screw the parts together. The buttons and joystick feel like a genuine arcade machine and are well constructed, nothing feels cheap. It even has a red light in the front that simulates an arcade quarter slot. After you have the Icade built it is easy to connect it with your Ipad via bluetooth.

When first released there were only a handful of games available that supported the hardware. Now there are well over two dozen games that are Icade compatible but most of them are new as opposed to the arcade classics like Pac Man or Atari Classics. This is where Imame 4 all comes into play.

If you jailbreak your Ipad and follow some very specific instructions (this is no easy task mind you and will take a lot of online searching), you can download countless arcade classics to play on the Ipad like X-men, Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons, Fatal Fury, 1941,Street Fighter, and Metal Slug. Imame 4 all is what makes the Icade worth having and gives access to countless classic titles, if you are willing to take the moderate risk of installing it.

Not to suggest that none of the new games are not any good, Silverfish is actually one of my personal favorites.There are many that feel like classic games but I enjoy the Icade most while I actually am playing a genuine arcade classic.

Now that the Icade has gained so much software support it is easily the best accessory you could possibly own for your Ipad. Even when you are not playing nostalgic games, it makes a great display/stand. The only downside is the $99 pricetag, which I cannot complain too much about since It is a very well built and very entertaining device to own.

Grade: A-

Purchase the Icade HERE!