HAMSTER News Articles
Thursday14th May 2020
News Action Shooter Radical Radial Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives Series
Out today
This week's Arcade Archives game is another Nichibutsu release. This time around it's the 1983 title, Radical Radial. It's an action shooter game where you control a tire-shaped vehicle and must make your way to the goal. Along the way, you'll have to speed through dangerous courses filled with aliens and enemy vehicles, while...
Friday8th May 2020
News Hamster's Latest Retro Offering For Switch Is The Horizontal Shooter Magmax
Another blast from the past
This week's Arcade Archives release is the 1985 horizontal shooter, Magmax, by Nichibutsu. Here's a bit about this classic re-release, directly from Hamster's PR: The player can power up by combining with the parts falling on the stage in order to defeat the Strange Mechanism Babylon. With 4 different stages,...
Friday1st May 2020
News Nintendo's 1984 Release VS. Wrecking Crew Joins The Arcade Archives This Week
Level entire buildings as Mario and Luigi
The CERO rating board might be suspended, but Hamster doesn't appear to be showing any signs of slowing down on its weekly retro releases. This week's game might interest more than usual, as it's a Nintendo release. Presenting the 1984 arcade title, VS. Wrecking Crew. If you haven't played the game itself,...
Sunday26th Apr 2020
News Hamster Is Adding A Handful Of Data East Classics To The Arcade Archives
More retro goodness
In recent weeks, Hamster Corporation has experienced some minor setbacks due to the suspension of the CERO (Computer Entertainment Rating Agency) in Japan. Apart from a reshuffle in its development schedule, it appears to be business as usual for the company. In the coming months, it will be adding a handful of Data East...
Thursday23rd Apr 2020
News Hamster Adds A Slice Of Gaming History To The Switch eShop This Week
"the first game circuit board to have a 3D rotation function"
Tube Panic is this week joining Hamster's Arcade Archives collection on the Nintendo Switch eShop. The 1984 arcade shooter was originally released by Nichibutsu (long before Hamster Corporation acquired its entire library in 2014) and is considered to be the first game circuit board to...
Saturday11th Apr 2020
News Hamster's Arcade Archives Release Record Might Be Disrupted By CERO Ratings Suspension
160 weeks and counting
Earlier this week, the Japanese video game rating organisation CERO (Computer Entertainment Rating Agency) announced a temporary closure, which at the time was expected to have a significant impact on the release schedules of many upcoming games – including Nintendo ones. It seems the first company that could be affected by...
Friday10th Apr 2020
News Take To The Skies In Hamster's Latest Arcade Archives Release MX5000
A Konami shmup
Hamster has added another Arcade Archives game to the Switch eShop. This time around, it's Konami's 1987 shoot 'em up, MX5000 (otherwise known as FLAK ATTACK). Like previous releases, this one will set you back $7.99 / £6.29 and supports up to two players. You'll take control of "the latest fighter aircraft" of the Roufanis...
Thursday2nd Apr 2020
News Taito's 1983 Western Shooter The Tin Star Is This Week's Arcade Archives Release
Take out a gang of thugs as the town sheriff
Hamster's retro release this week is The Tin Star. It's an old western-themed shooting originally released by Taito in arcades in 1983. You take control of the town sheriff who must take out a gang of thugs. Here is a description from the PR: Skillfully utilize features in the main stages, such as...
Thursday12th Mar 2020
News Hamster Adds Taito's 1986 Action Shoot 'Em Up KiKi KaiKai To The Arcade Archives
Save the Seven Lucky Gods
This week's Arcade Archives release by Hamster is Kiki KaiKai. This Taito action shoot 'em up title was first released in arcades in 1986 and is all about a young Shinto shine maiden named Sayo who must rescue the Seven Lucky Gods after they're kidnapped by monsters. The game is available now on the Switch eShop, supports...
Thursday5th Mar 2020
News P.O.W. Prisoners Of War Is This Week's Arcade Archives Release On Switch
"Experience an intense jailbreak"
Hamster's Arcade Archives release on the Nintendo Switch eShop this week is P.O.W. Prisoners of War. It's a side-scrolling action beat 'em up by SNK that was originally released in arcades in 1988. It followed with a home console release on the NES a year later. This standalone Switch version will be available on...
Thursday30th Jan 2020
News Tecmo Bowl Brings American Football To Hamster's Arcade Archives Series This Week
More retro goodness
This week sees the release of the retro sports title Tecmo Bowl on the Nintendo Switch eShop. As usual, it supports 1-2 players and will set you back $7.99 / £6.29. Here's the rundown: "TECMO BOWL" is an American football game released by TECMO in 1987. Experience matches as a player of either the WILDCATS or BULLDOGS...
Friday24th Jan 2020
News UPL's Top-Down Shmup XX Mission Is This Week's Arcade Archives Release
More retro goodness
This week Hamster has added the top-down Shmup XX Mission to its Arcade Archives collection on the Switch eShop. The arcade title was originally released by UPL in 1986 and sees you swapping between ground and air attacks to destroy incoming craft and fleets. If you power-up, you'll be able to use different and much stronger...
Thursday16th Jan 2020
News Another One Of Konami's TwinBee Games Joins The Arcade Archives Series
This shmup has all the bells and whistles
Towards the end of last year, Hamster added Konami's vertical side-scrolling shoot 'em up TwinBee to its Arcade Archives collection on the Nintendo Switch. Now, to follow this up, it has decided to release Bells & Whistles. Although the two titles sound like they have nothing in common, Bells &...
Saturday7th Dec 2019
News Get 50% Off The First Three Samurai Shodown Games On The Switch eShop
Slashed prices
If you love old school SNK fighters, there's a sale happening right now on the North American and European Switch eShop that you might want to check out. You can get the Arcade Archives versions of Samurai Shodown, Samurai Shodown II and Samurai Shodown III for 50% off the regular prices. Thanks to the price cut, each one is £3.14 /...
Thursday5th Dec 2019
News TwinBee Is Hamster's Latest Arcade Archives Release
Konami's classic shmup returns
The year might be winding down, but the emulation experts at Hamster sure aren't. To kick off the month of December, the talented team has now released Konami's vertical side-scrolling shoot 'em up TwinBee. This latest entry in the extensive Arcade Archives series was first released in 1985 as a coin-op video game...
Friday22nd Nov 2019
News Hamster Is Bringing Konami's Hyper Sports To The Switch eShop Next Week
On your marks, get set, go!
Hamster is next week releasing Konami's 1984 title Hyper Sports on the Switch eShop for $7.99 / £6.29. The title arrives on 28th November and will allow up to four players to participate in seven events. These sports include swimming, skeet shooting, long horse, archery, triple jump, weight lifting, and pole vaulting...
Sunday17th Nov 2019
Reminder Select ACA Neo Geo Fighting Games On The Switch eShop Are Currently 50% Off
Celebrating the release of Terry Bogard in Smash Ultimate
Original Story Thu 7th Nov, 2019: At the beginning of yesterday's Terry Bogard showcase, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate game director Masahiro Sakurai spoke in detail about the history of the character, including the system he started out on and the series he's featured in over the years. Mr...
Thursday14th Nov 2019
News Metal Slug Forerunner In The Hunt Is Coming To Switch
Thanks, Hamster!
Japanese company Hamster has been doing sterling work of late bringing classic arcade titles to the Switch via its Arcade Archives line, and it's lining up a release for one of Irem's most loved shooters. In The Hunt – known in Japan as Kaitei Daisensō – was originally released in 1993 and was developed by the same core team...
Tuesday12th Nov 2019
News Hamster Corporation Is Now 20 Years Old
Getting better with age
If you love old school video games, you're probably a fan of Hamster Corporation. In recent years, the talented emulation experts at this company have spent their time re-releasing classic titles on modern systems, under the 'Arcade Archives' banner. As of yesterday, the Japanese publisher turned 20 years old. To celebrate...
Friday8th Nov 2019
News SNK's T.N.K III Brings Tank Warfare To The Arcade Archives Series This Week
Destroy everything
This week, it's been a celebration of all-things SNK, with the release of Terry Bogard in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and select fighting games on the eShop currently half price until 20th November. To go out with a bang, Hamster has now added one of the company's top-down vertically scrolling shmup to the Arcade Archives...
Friday25th Oct 2019
News Nintendo's Golf Joins The Arcade Archives Series On Switch eShop
Fancy a round?
There's no stopping Hamster – with the talented developer this week releasing the Nintendo classic Golf on the Switch eShop. This latest Arcade Archives release first arrived in 1984 and allows you to play across 18 holes, as you aim for the lowest score possible while factoring in the wind direction and speed. You can even take on...
Thursday3rd Oct 2019
News Train Up And Compete In Hamster's Latest Arcade Archives Release Karate Champ
Or wrestle cows on the beach
After being announced much earlier this year, Karate Champ is now finally being added to Hamster's Arcade Archives series this week on the Nintendo Switch. This is an action game that was originally released by Data East in 1984. Here's some additional information about it, courtesy of the official press release:...
Thursday19th Sep 2019
News Taito's Action Game Time Tunnel Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives Series
All aboard!
That was quick! After teasing a number of upcoming Arcade Archives games last weekend at the 2019 Tokyo Game Show, Hamster has already released one of them: Taito's 1982 title, Time Tunnel. This is an action game that requires players to pass each stage and then pass through the time tunnel! You'll have to connect train carriages,...
Thursday12th Sep 2019
News Konami's Track & Field Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives This Week
On your marks, get set, GO!
If you've been craving some more classic video game experiences on your Switch, Hamster has got you covered. This week's Arcade Archives release is Konami's 1983 sports game, Track & Field. It's a game that's easy to control and can be played by up to 4 people at once! Use the RUN button and JUMP button to aim for...
Friday6th Sep 2019
News Irem's Vigilante Joins The Arcade Archives Downloadable Series This Week
Take the law into your own hands
If River City Girls is beyond your budget, and you still want some beat 'em up action on Switch this week, then it might be worth taking a look at Hamster's latest Arcade Archives game, Vigilante. It was originally released by the Japanese developer Irem (best known for R-Type) in 1988 and is designed for 1-2...
Friday30th Aug 2019
News Pinball Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives Series This Week
Featuring a bonus Mario stage
Later today, Hamster will add Pinball to the Arcade Archives collection on the Switch eShop. This game was originally released by Nintendo in 1984. The modern version is priced at $7.99 / £6.29 and supports 1 - 2 players. The basis of this virtual game is just like the real thing – gain as many points as you can...
Thursday15th Aug 2019
News VS. Gradius Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives Series On Switch eShop
Destroy an invading force and save the planet
Hamster's Arcade Archives series on the Nintendo Switch continues to grow in size. This week, the slightly enhanced retro game is Konami's horizontal scrolling shoot 'em up, VS. Gradius. This title was first released in 1986 and requires you to take control of Vic Viper, who must destroy an invading...
Sunday4th Aug 2019
News Irem's Classic Shoot 'Em Up X Multiply Is Coming To Arcade Archives On Switch
Blast some aliens
The classic side-scrolling shoot 'em up XMultiply is expected to make a comeback on the Switch thanks to Hamster's glorious retro line, Arcade Archives. If you're not familiar with this title, you might at least know the Japanese developer behind it. Irem was best known for R-Type back in the day. XMultiply - released in 1989 - is...
Thursday1st Aug 2019
News SNK's Action Game Victory Road Is The Latest Arcade Archives Release
And it's out today
Hamster's latest Arcade Archives release for the Switch eShop is this time the 1986 SNK action game, Victory Road. It's a sequel to Ikari Warriors, which was released on the Switch eShop earlier this year. This story continues on from the first game. After Ralf and Clark finish their mission, they suddenly find themselves dragged...
Thursday6th Jun 2019
News Solomon's Key Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives Series On The Nintendo Switch
Magical
Hamster is adding Tecmo's 1986 release Solomon's Key to its Arcade Archives line on the Nintendo Switch. The title supports 1-2 players and will set you back $7.99 / €6.99 / £6.29. From June 6th, 2019, Arcade Archives Solomon's Key will be available digitally for Arcade Archives, the downloadable series by HAMSTER for Nintendo Switch...
