October2021
News Four More Classic Shmups Confirmed For Switch, Including Konami's Cult Hit, Xexex
Shooter shower!
Hamster – the Japanese company behind the excellent Arcade Archives series – has announced at the Tokyo Game Show that it is bringing four classic shmups to Switch, including Konami's Xexex. Released in 1991, Xexex is held in very high regard by fans of the genre, and sadly never got a domestic port at the time of release (it...
September2021
News Taito Beat 'Em Up Typhoon Gal Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives On Switch
Available from the eShop
This week's Arcade Archives release from Hamster is Typhoon Gal / Onna Sanshirou. It was originally an action beat 'em up game released by Taito in 1985. Here's some PR and screenshots: "Players control martial-arts challenger Yuki as she faces off with the toughest opponents at rival martial arts schools. Yuki can use...
News Two Namco Classics Join Hamster's Arcade Archives This Week
A double serve of retro games
Hamster Corporation joined in on the Nintendo Direct celebrations earlier this week, with not one but two Namco game releases on the Switch eShop. First up we've got the original PAC-MAN title, released in arcades in 1980. The same rules apply here - players must clear stages by eating all the dots in each round...
News Jaleco's Original Fairy Puzzle Game Soldam Joins The Arcade Archives
Not to be confused with the updated version
Following on from the release of Pop Flamer last week, Hamster's now made another Jaleco arcade classic available. This one is a puzzle game known as Soldam, which was originally released in 1992. If you feel like you might have already played this on the Nintendo Switch before, then you've likely played
August2021
News Another Taito Game Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives This Week
Be the captain in Space Cruiser
Hamster's Arcade Archives series delivers more retro goodness on the Nintendo Switch eShop this week. The latest release is yet another Taito game. This time it's the 1981 arcade shooter Space Cruiser. As the player, you'll take on the role of a space cruiser captain in 2100 AD - patrolling space to ensure peace on...
News Taito Action Beat 'Em Up Kuri Kinton Joins The Arcade Archives On Switch
Take down some baddies
It's another week, and that means another Arcade Archives game is now available on the Nintendo Switch eShop. This time around it's the 1988 Taito side-scrolling action beat 'em up, KURIKINTON - also known as Kuri Kinton. The game follows the martial artists of Kinton as they engage in "brutal battles" with evil fighters, set...
News Platinum's Retro Sequel 'Sol Cresta' Gets New Trailer (And Yuzo Koshiro)
Out of this world
We heard about Sol Cresta — a sequel to arcade shoot-'em-ups Moon Cresta and Terra Cresta — around April Fool's Day this year, and, honestly, we weren't sure if Platinum Games was pulling our leg (partly because it was their April Fool's joke for 2020). But now, a few months later, they've released
June2021
News Arcade Classic Raiden Is Coming To Nintendo Switch Next Week
As part of HAMSTER's Arcade Archives series
HAMSTER is bringing the classic shmup Raiden to the Nintendo Switch as part of its Arcade Archives range next month, it has been announced. The game arrives on the eShop on July 1st. Originally released by Seibu Kaihatsu to great success in 1990, Raiden spawned a long-running series that continues to this...
May2021
News 'The Astyanax' Is Coming To Arcade Archives On Switch Tomorrow
Or 'The Lord of King', if you prefer
Retro fans may be interested to know that HAMSTER is bringing Jaleco's 1989 side-scrolling action game The Astyanax to the Switch eShop tomorrow as part of its Arcade Archives range. Known as The Lord of King in Japan, this game appears to take inspiration from other fantasy brawlers of the time such as Rastan...
April2021
News Konami's Classic Coin-Op Shooter Thunder Cross II Hits Switch This Week
Bring the thunder
It has been revealed that this week's Arcade Archives release is Konami's 1991 shmup Thunder Cross II, the sequel to the popular 1988 original (which is also available on Switch). While the Gradius series tends to get all of the attention, both Thunder Cross outings are worth a loo
News No Joke, PlatinumGames Is Releasing Sol Cresta On The Nintendo Switch
Update: "It's not an April Fool's joke"
Update [Fri 2nd Apr, 2021 06:35 BST]: Well, if you had any doubts about yesterday's announcement, PlatinumGames has now published another tweet - this time on April 2nd, Japan time. It reconfirms the Sol Cresta will arrive on Switch, PS4 and Steam at some point this year. Here's the official tweet from...
March2021
News The Absolute Worst Castlevania Is Coming To Arcade Archives On Switch
"We would have liked to make it a better game if we had the time"
Konami's Castlevania series is one of video gaming's all-time greats, with some amazing entries under its blood-soaked belt – Castlevania III, Super Castlevania IV, Dracula X and Symphony of the Night being notable
News Thunder Dragon Brings More Shoot 'Em Up Action To The Switch This Week
Hamster's latest release
This week's Arcade Archives release from Hamster is Thunder Dragon. A top-down shoot 'em up released by NMK in 1991. Your mission is to pilot a combat helicopter, known as the "Thunder Dragon", and stop a group of mad scientists who have taken over an automated weapon of destruction. Along the way, you'll utilise four...
February2021
News Hamster Confirms Two More Coin-Op Classics For Its Arcade Archives Range On Switch
Both involve rescuing hapless females (hey, it was the '80s)
Hamster's Arcade Archives series has given us many coin-op classics to enjoy on Switch, and the Japanese company has just revealed that two more are heading to Nintendo's machine soon. First up is Jaleco's 1988 action platformer Legend of Makai (Makai Densetsu in Japan), which was never...
News SNK's Guerrilla War Is This Week's Switch eShop Arcade Archives Release
Out now
As we near the end of February, this week's Arcade Archives release from Hamster is Guerrilla War. It's an SNK top-down "survival shooting" game dating back to 1987 (and following with a Famicom release in 1988) that requires you to take control of a rebel leader who must reclaim your country from a dictatorship. Along the way, you'll use...
News Jaleco's Cybattler Is This Week's Arcade Archives Title On Nintendo Switch
A little-known 1993 blaster
This week's Arcade Archives release has been announced, and it's taking us back to 1993 with the little-known Jaleco shmup Cybattler. Boasting loads of mechs and a rather unique control system, Cybattler was released in arcades at a time when most coin-ops were trying to imitate Capcom's Street Fighter II and therefore...
News Konami Shmup Thunder Cross Joins The Arcade Archives This Week
Take to the skies
This week's Arcade Archives release is the 1988 Konami side-scrolling shoot 'em up, Thunder Cross. As the player, you'll take control of the "Blue Thunder M-45" and fight against the Mechanikon hordes. Multiple versions of the game are in this release - including the "Old Japanese Version" and the "New Japanese Version" - both...
News Select Arcade Archives Games Are Currently On Sale On The Switch eShop
Get 'em while you can
If you feel like some retro gaming action this weekend, there's currently a sale taking place on the Switch eShop (in both North America and Europe) that features a number of Hamster's Arcade Archives releases. There are SNK Neo Geo games along with some standard Arcade Archive classics. Each one will set you back $3.99 /...
News Jaleco's Ninja Kazan Is This Week's Arcade Archives Release
Become a "master of the ninja arts"
Hamster is bringing some old-school ninja action to the Switch eShop this week, with its Arcade Archives release Ninja Kazan. This side-scrolling action game was originally released by Jaleco in 1988 and requires the player to set out on a journey across the world and reclaim the 5 lost secrets, in order to...
January2021
News Scrolling Shooter Halley's Comet Is Hamster's Latest Arcade Archives Release
Save the solar system
Hamster's latest Arcade Archives release on the Switch eShop this week is Halley's Comet. This vertically scrolling shooter was originally released in arcades in 1986 by Taito. The Switch eShop release will set you back $7.99 or your regional equivalent. Here's a bit about the game along with some screenshots: "HALLEY'S...
News Konami's Puzzle Shooter Block Hole Is This Week's Arcade Archives Release
Better known as Quarth
This week's arcade archives release is the puzzle shoot 'em up Block Hole by Konami. It's available now on the Switch eShop. Block Hole was originally launched in Japanese arcades in 1989 and was sold in this region as Quarth. Home version releases, like the 1990 Game Boy title, went with the name Quarth globally. Here's...
News Select Neo Geo Games On The Switch eShop Are Currently 50% Off
Along with a number of other Arcade Archive releases
If you're a fan of the Hamster's Arcade Archive games - in particular, the Neo Geo ones, there's currently a 50% off sale taking place on Nintendo's Switch eShop. This sale is live in both North America and Europe, and will run until 13th January. The regular price of these games is $7.99 /...
News Jaleco's Rod Land Is Your Next Arcade Archives Release On Switch
Join Tam and Rit on a magical adventure this week
Hamster has revealed that the next entry in its long-running Arcade Archives series is going to be Jaleco's Rod Land. Known in Japan as Yousei Monogatari Rod Land, this 1990 release shares similarities with Taito's Bubble Bobble. Lead characters Tam and Rit (player 1 and 2 respectively) zap enemies...
December2020
News Another Taito Game Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives Collection This Week
"Welcome to the Fairyland"
This week sees "The Fairyland Story" join Hamster's Arcade Archives collection on the Nintendo Switch. The Fairyland Story is a Taito action game that made its debut in 1985. You take control of a young witch and battle against monsters deep within a castle. If you want to make it out alive, you'll need to master various...
November2020
News Don Your Green Beret, Konami's Rush'n Attack Hits The Switch Today
Always in a rush
Hamster is releasing Konami's 1985 run-and-gun shooter Rush'n Attack ("Russian Attack" - get it?) on the Switch eShop today. The title – which was released under the alternative name Green Beret in Japan and Europe – is part of Hamster's superb Arcade Archives range. You're tasked with going behind enemy lines to rescue POWs...
