SNES Super Bomberman(s) - 4-player game = fun!

If you like bubble bobble, give Snow Bros 1, 2 & 3 a try!

Super Dodgeball. That game was the best.

Here's an idea, slap your buddy behind the head and tell him to expand on his gaming choices a little; it's your baby!

Quoted from jonny_eh

Super Dodgeball. That game was the best.

YES! I forgot all about that one. Wicked classic!

What about that Super V-ball

It Rocked

Head to head

I can't remember if you have a trackball on that beauty?  If you do, play Shuuz, friggin a laugh riot and fun game of... horseshoes!   Other great trackball games:  the golden tee golf games, there's also a few bowling games that are cool.

for non-trackball, there's a few tetris games that are cool and everyone knows how to play those and it can be very competitive and fun to play as two players (see Tetris Grand Master as an example of fun).  Track and Field is also always fun and it dates back a while so he might like it.  I can't remember the name, but there's also something called Flip Shot which is basically a nice graphic version of Pong (works on the NEoGeo hardware). Great game, I think it had a sequel called Bang Bead. Do check those out, I think your friend will like them because they're obviously so easy to get into.

The list of great arcade non-sports/fighter and competitive based 2 player games is rather short I guess.  However, keep in mind you are not limited to playing arcade games on that thing, lots of SNES/GEnesis games have both an arcade feel and play just great on a cab.  And when we are speaking of consoles, there are great 2 player competitive games (Super Mario Kart is one!).  Granted, these are probably too modern for your friends taste though.

Try Crash, Head on  and Head on 2, they are the same style !! Very old school and lot of fun  

Domination (for all you James Bond fans...)