Arcade machines, particularly those from the golden age of gaming, handled dynamic destructible environments through a combination of clever programming tricks and hardware-specific optimizations. Unlike modern systems with abundant resources, these machines relied on pre-defined destruction patterns and tile-based systems. Environments were often constructed from reusable "tiles" that could be swapped when destroyed, creating the illusion of dynamic destruction without complex physics calculations. Games like Rampage and Sunset Riders used memory-efficient state changes where destroyed elements were simply replaced with "broken" versions of sprites. For more complex destruction, developers employed particle systems using low-resolution sprites to simulate debris while maintaining performance. The hardware's limited processing power meant destruction was often scripted rather than truly physics-based, with predetermined collapse animations triggered by player actions. This approach allowed for satisfying destructive gameplay while working within strict technical constraints that defined classic arcade experiences.