Latest Reviews of City Connection Games
Review Akai Katana Shin (Switch) - One Of CAVE’s Very Best Horizontal Bullet Hells
Live by the sword
Update: Now that the game is available on North American and European Switch eShops, we're republishing this review of the import version from February 2023. CAVE Co. Ltd, the pioneering, god-tier arcade developer that reignited the shooting game genre in the '90s, has a portfolio to die for. After 17 years of cast-iron quality...
Review Batsugun Saturn Tribute Boosted (Switch) - The Best Home Release Of Toaplan's Final Shmup
The Iceman Cometh
Toaplan, a shooting game developer that flew high in the '80s with titles like Twin Cobra and Truxton, possesses a formidable resume. Batsugun, the company's swan-song shooter, and one of its most historically significant works, spearheaded an evolution of the genre that remains prevalent today. Programmer Tsuneki Ikeda joined...
A locked-on epic
City Connection, now a fairly prolific shoot-em-up publisher, have been hit-and-miss with its quality control. While some games land fine, others feature severe lag issues, leaderboards that don’t properly differentiate full clears (or disallow auto-fire registries), and usually come devoid of original bonuses. While Layer Section...
Review Deathsmiles I & II (Switch) - A Visually Impressive Panoramic Slice Of Bullet Hell
Chips, dips, chains, whips
Originally marketed in Japan with bottles of tea labeled as “Windia’s Delicious Urine” — the ostensible excreta of Deathsmiles’ central protagonist — one has to wonder what exactly Cave’s aspirations were for this entry in their shoot-em-up canon. A 2009 bullet hell shoot-em-up (or ‘shmup’), Deathsmiles...
Review Cotton Guardian Force Saturn Tribute (Switch) - Great Games Let Down By Poor Ports
A slightly troublesome trio of tributes
This trio of retro shmups — Cotton 2, Cotton Boomerang and Guardian Force — have released under the “Saturn Tribute” umbrella (bundled together on a physical cartridge in Japan that's recently been announced for the West, or available individually via your local eShop at the time of wr
Mini Review Game Tengoku CruisinMix Special (Switch) - Jaleco's Answer To Parodius Flies Again
Mix and match
Jaleco might not be as well-known as the likes of Capcom and Konami with today's gamers, but it was big enough company back in the '90s to create its own parody shooter, taking inspiration from the likes of Parodius and Star Parodier. The result was Game Tengoku – or Game Paradise, as it's also known – which hit arcades back in...
Review Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha (Switch) - Great Games Shamed By Horrendous Input Lag
Delayed reaction
At face value, Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha is an excellent proposition – a collection of some of the most beloved shmups and arguably the best titles Psikyo ever produced. At the humble price of $39.99, the new owner of the Psikyo properties, City Connection, is offering four must own shmup titles and two solid STG at an average...
Review Soldam: Drop, Connect, Erase (Switch)
Peachy
The Switch has earned something of a reputation for hosting modern updates of classics from the Japanese gaming canon, with notable reimaginings like Blaster Master Zero and Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap hitting the nostalgia button on Turbo mode. One of the more surprising returnees to take advantage of this trend was Soldam: Blooming...
Latest City Connection Articles
News City Connection Brings Two More 'Saturn Tribute Boosted' Games To Switch This Month
Snarl those Fangs
City Connection's Saturn Tribute Boosted series is expanding this month, as an all-new two-in-one bundle comprising Data East's Wolf Fang and Skull Fang arrives on Switch on 30th October. For Wolf Fang — the mech-based side-scrolling run-and-gun shooter — this will be the first time the game has made its way West after...
News Takaya Imamura's 'Omega 6' Gets Its First English Language Trailer
Title playable at Gamescom
Publisher Clear River Games has revealed a new trailer for Omega 6: The Triangle Stars from developers Happymeal Inc and Pleocene ahead of its playable appearance at this year's Gamescom. The trailer is the first English language showcase for the game, which is currently scheduled to release at some point in 2025...
News Two Classic Jaleco Famicom Games Are Now Available On Switch
Pinball or Yokai?
We love it when classic NES / Famicom games just seem to prance onto the Switch eShop with no prior warning (though we just happened to miss the warning for this one - cheers, Time Extension). This time, two classic Jaleco games have made their way onto the hybrid console courtesy of publisher City Connection: Pinball Quest and...
News Takaya Imamura's New Switch Game Is Launching In Japan In July
No English option available, though
Ex-Nintendo employee Takaya Imamura, best known for his work on Star Fox and F-Zero, is just about ready to unleash his new Switch game, with Omega 6: The Triangle Stars heading to Japan on 25th July, 2024 (thanks, VGC). Published by City Connection in Japan and confirmed via a
News Toaplan's Arcade Bullet Hell 'Batsugun' Is Coming To Switch In May
Update: Following rating in Korea last week
Update [Mon 6th Feb, 2023 10:00 GMT]: It's happening — City Connection has announced BATSUGUN Saturn Tribute Boosted for Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Steam, and it's launching worldwide on 25th May 2023. (Thanks Gematsu!) This is following reports last week that the game was rated in Korea. Saturn Tribute...
News Japanese Best-Seller 'Ninja JaJaMaru' Gets Multiple Collections On Switch
Out February
Jaleco's classic Ninja JaJaMaru series makes its grand return in February, bursting onto the Switch with three different collections that will be available on 21st February! Published by ININ Games, all three collections will be available on the Switch eShop, along with some physical releases. Many of the games on these collections...
News Classic Taito Games Get Enhanced Re-Releases On Switch In February
Puzzle Bobble 2 & 3 and Metal Black get the S-Tribute treatment
Days after teasing its 2023 plans, Taito's Puzzle Bobble series and Metal Black are coming to the Switch thanks to City Connection and its S-Tribute series (thanks, Gematsu!).
News City Connection Announces Multiple 'Saturn Tribute X Taito' Releases For Nintendo Switch eShop
Layer Section & Galactic Attack S-Tribute arrives 28th April
Japanese publisher City Connection has announced it will be bringing Layer Section & Galactic Attack S-Tribute to the Nintendo Switch eShop and multiple other platforms on 28th April. It follows on from a rating earlier this year in February. Layer Section is a 1995 home console port...
News Taito's RayForce Is Coming To Switch, According To New Taiwanese Rating
AKA: Layer Section or Galactic Attack
Taito's vertically-scrolling shmup RayForce – known as Layer Section in Japan and Galactic Attack / Gunlock in the west – is coming to Switch, according to a new rating via the Taiwan Digital Game Rating Committee. Released in 1994, the arcade original was created using Taito's F3 arcade hardware and was...
News Cotton Guardian Force Saturn Tribute Is Getting An Update To "Improve Input Delay"
They cottoned on
City Connection has announced that it will be addressing frame lag issues in its shmup collection Cotton Guardian Force Saturn Tribute with an upcoming update scheduled for "late January or early February 2022". As noted on the company's website, the question of excessive input lag was acknowledged back in October across the Cotton...
News Deathsmiles Collection Gets A Western eShop Release At The End Of The Month
The shoot 'em up of gothic horrors is back
Update [Sat 18th Dec, 2021 06:55 GMT]: It's official, Deathsmiles I.II is coming to the Switch eShop here in the West on 30th December 2021. It'll be available for $39.99 USD or your regional equivalent. It'll require 3.5 GB of space and supports up to two players. Our review for the Japanese version of the...
News Cotton Guardian Force Saturn Tribute Announced For Nintendo Switch
Update: Western physical released confirmed
Update: Strictly Limited Games is bringing Cotton Guardian Force Saturn Tribute to the west in physical form, it has been confirmed. Pre-orders for the Switch and PS4 versions start this week, on October 17th, 2021 at 12 AM (midnight) CEST, exclusively at the
News Hackers Have Cracked Open A Sega Saturn Emulator Inside A Commercial Switch Release
And it's surprisingly good
If you're a fan of retro shooters, you'll no doubt be aware that last week saw the arrival of Cotton 2, Cotton Boomerang and Guardian Force on Switch – three games by the Japanese company Success which were originally available on the 32-bit Se
News City Connection CEO Apologises For Delay Of 'Game Paradise' Physical Release On Switch
"We regret that our products have not been delivered on time"
If you're one of the people who ordered the physical edition of The Game Paradise / Tengoku: CruisinMix Special from North American company Dispatch Games, then you're no doubt awaiting some kind of confirmation of when the product is going to arrive. Dispatch Games hasn't got the best...
News 'Game Tengoku' Physical Release In Europe Teased, Despite American Copies Still Being MIA
The Dispatch Games saga rumbles on...
If you've been following the drama surrounding publisher Dispatch Games, you'll be aware that the company doesn't have the best reputation right now. It has offered physical releases of cult Japanese Switch titles like Psyvariar Delta and Game Tengoku, but has failed when it comes to actually delivering the...
News Jaleco's Classic Shmup The Game Paradise Is Blasting Off On Switch This Fall
Think Parodius and you're close
Dispatch Games is bringing Jaleco's classic shooter The Game Paradise to the Nintendo Switch in the west, it has been revealed. The Game Paradise: Crusin Mix Special is based on The Game Paradise / Game Tengoku, which originally hit arcades back in 1995. Like Konami's Parodius, it's a title which playfully lampoons...
News Psyvariar Delta Confirmed For Western Release This Summer
Your shmup prayers have been answered
We've known for some time now that Psyvariar is getting updated for the Switch in the form of Psyvariar Delta, but so far we've only had a Japanese release confirmed. That has now changed thanks to a timely trailer - shown above - which tells us that the title is also coming to the west this summer,...
Video Here's Your First Look At Switch Shooter Psyvariar Delta In Motion
Buzzin'
City Connection is updating Success' classic shooter Psyvariar for the Switch and PS4, and has just released a new trailer which shows the game in action. Psyvariar Delta - which features a "Buzz" system where you power up your ship by flying as close to projectiles as possible without dying - launches in Japan on August 30th. Will you be...
News City Connection Brings Two More 'Saturn Tribute Boosted' Games To Switch This Month
Snarl those Fangs
City Connection's Saturn Tribute Boosted series is expanding this month, as an all-new two-in-one bundle comprising Data East's Wolf Fang and Skull Fang arrives on Switch on 30th October. For Wolf Fang — the mech-based side-scrolling run-and-gun shooter — this will be the first time the game has made its way West after...
News Takaya Imamura's 'Omega 6' Gets Its First English Language Trailer
Title playable at Gamescom
Publisher Clear River Games has revealed a new trailer for Omega 6: The Triangle Stars from developers Happymeal Inc and Pleocene ahead of its playable appearance at this year's Gamescom. The trailer is the first English language showcase for the game, which is currently scheduled to release at some point in 2025...
News Two Classic Jaleco Famicom Games Are Now Available On Switch
Pinball or Yokai?
We love it when classic NES / Famicom games just seem to prance onto the Switch eShop with no prior warning (though we just happened to miss the warning for this one - cheers, Time Extension). This time, two classic Jaleco games have made their way onto the hybrid console courtesy of publisher City Connection: Pinball Quest and...
News Takaya Imamura's New Switch Game Is Launching In Japan In July
No English option available, though
Ex-Nintendo employee Takaya Imamura, best known for his work on Star Fox and F-Zero, is just about ready to unleash his new Switch game, with Omega 6: The Triangle Stars heading to Japan on 25th July, 2024 (thanks, VGC). Published by City Connection in Japan and confirmed via a
News Toaplan's Arcade Bullet Hell 'Batsugun' Is Coming To Switch In May
Update: Following rating in Korea last week
Update [Mon 6th Feb, 2023 10:00 GMT]: It's happening — City Connection has announced BATSUGUN Saturn Tribute Boosted for Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Steam, and it's launching worldwide on 25th May 2023. (Thanks Gematsu!) This is following reports last week that the game was rated in Korea. Saturn Tribute...
News Japanese Best-Seller 'Ninja JaJaMaru' Gets Multiple Collections On Switch
Out February
Jaleco's classic Ninja JaJaMaru series makes its grand return in February, bursting onto the Switch with three different collections that will be available on 21st February! Published by ININ Games, all three collections will be available on the Switch eShop, along with some physical releases. Many of the games on these collections...
News Classic Taito Games Get Enhanced Re-Releases On Switch In February
Puzzle Bobble 2 & 3 and Metal Black get the S-Tribute treatment
Days after teasing its 2023 plans, Taito's Puzzle Bobble series and Metal Black are coming to the Switch thanks to City Connection and its S-Tribute series (thanks, Gematsu!).
News City Connection Announces Multiple 'Saturn Tribute X Taito' Releases For Nintendo Switch eShop
Layer Section & Galactic Attack S-Tribute arrives 28th April
Japanese publisher City Connection has announced it will be bringing Layer Section & Galactic Attack S-Tribute to the Nintendo Switch eShop and multiple other platforms on 28th April. It follows on from a rating earlier this year in February. Layer Section is a 1995 home console port...
News Taito's RayForce Is Coming To Switch, According To New Taiwanese Rating
AKA: Layer Section or Galactic Attack
Taito's vertically-scrolling shmup RayForce – known as Layer Section in Japan and Galactic Attack / Gunlock in the west – is coming to Switch, according to a new rating via the Taiwan Digital Game Rating Committee. Released in 1994, the arcade original was created using Taito's F3 arcade hardware and was...
News Cotton Guardian Force Saturn Tribute Is Getting An Update To "Improve Input Delay"
They cottoned on
City Connection has announced that it will be addressing frame lag issues in its shmup collection Cotton Guardian Force Saturn Tribute with an upcoming update scheduled for "late January or early February 2022". As noted on the company's website, the question of excessive input lag was acknowledged back in October across the Cotton...
News Deathsmiles Collection Gets A Western eShop Release At The End Of The Month
The shoot 'em up of gothic horrors is back
Update [Sat 18th Dec, 2021 06:55 GMT]: It's official, Deathsmiles I.II is coming to the Switch eShop here in the West on 30th December 2021. It'll be available for $39.99 USD or your regional equivalent. It'll require 3.5 GB of space and supports up to two players. Our review for the Japanese version of the...
News Cotton Guardian Force Saturn Tribute Announced For Nintendo Switch
Update: Western physical released confirmed
Update: Strictly Limited Games is bringing Cotton Guardian Force Saturn Tribute to the west in physical form, it has been confirmed. Pre-orders for the Switch and PS4 versions start this week, on October 17th, 2021 at 12 AM (midnight) CEST, exclusively at the
News Hackers Have Cracked Open A Sega Saturn Emulator Inside A Commercial Switch Release
And it's surprisingly good
If you're a fan of retro shooters, you'll no doubt be aware that last week saw the arrival of Cotton 2, Cotton Boomerang and Guardian Force on Switch – three games by the Japanese company Success which were originally available on the 32-bit Se
News City Connection CEO Apologises For Delay Of 'Game Paradise' Physical Release On Switch
"We regret that our products have not been delivered on time"
If you're one of the people who ordered the physical edition of The Game Paradise / Tengoku: CruisinMix Special from North American company Dispatch Games, then you're no doubt awaiting some kind of confirmation of when the product is going to arrive. Dispatch Games hasn't got the best...
News 'Game Tengoku' Physical Release In Europe Teased, Despite American Copies Still Being MIA
The Dispatch Games saga rumbles on...
If you've been following the drama surrounding publisher Dispatch Games, you'll be aware that the company doesn't have the best reputation right now. It has offered physical releases of cult Japanese Switch titles like Psyvariar Delta and Game Tengoku, but has failed when it comes to actually delivering the...
News Jaleco's Classic Shmup The Game Paradise Is Blasting Off On Switch This Fall
Think Parodius and you're close
Dispatch Games is bringing Jaleco's classic shooter The Game Paradise to the Nintendo Switch in the west, it has been revealed. The Game Paradise: Crusin Mix Special is based on The Game Paradise / Game Tengoku, which originally hit arcades back in 1995. Like Konami's Parodius, it's a title which playfully lampoons...
News Psyvariar Delta Confirmed For Western Release This Summer
Your shmup prayers have been answered
We've known for some time now that Psyvariar is getting updated for the Switch in the form of Psyvariar Delta, but so far we've only had a Japanese release confirmed. That has now changed thanks to a timely trailer - shown above - which tells us that the title is also coming to the west this summer,...
Video Here's Your First Look At Switch Shooter Psyvariar Delta In Motion
Buzzin'
City Connection is updating Success' classic shooter Psyvariar for the Switch and PS4, and has just released a new trailer which shows the game in action. Psyvariar Delta - which features a "Buzz" system where you power up your ship by flying as close to projectiles as possible without dying - launches in Japan on August 30th. Will you be...