February2021
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...
News Belt-Scrolling Brawler Zero Team Joins The Arcade Archives Range Tomorrow
Zero to hero
Hamster has confirmed that the next game in its popular Arcade Archives series is Seibu Kaihatsu's Zero Team, a side-scrolling fighter from 1993 which, until very recently, was considered something of a lost classic, due to the fact that it was never ported to consoles and only became playable in MAME in 2016. Seibu Kaihatsu is most...
News Konami's Gradius II Blasts Its Way Onto The Switch eShop This Week
A classic returns
The year might be slowing down, but Hamster's weekly Arcade Archives releases are still going strong. Today sees the arrival of Konami's 1988 shooter, Gradius II. This includes three Japanese versions and two overseas versions (also known as Vulcan Venture). Here's a little bit of backstory, straight from the PR: "Players will...
October2020
News Old-School Brawler 64th Street: A Detective Story Is Coming To The Switch eShop Tomorrow
Worth investigating
If you're a fan of side-scrolling fighters like Final Fight and Streets of Rage, then you'll be pleased to learn that the Jalceo-published 64th Street: A Detective Story is joining Hamster's Arcade Archives range tomorrow. Originally re
News Step Aside FIFA, Soccer Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives This Week
Meet the "father" of all football games
Before EA's annual FIFA releases, there was a Nintendo title known as Soccer. It didn't include card packs, online play, or even in-game ads - instead it was a simple but "exciting" take on the beautiful game starring a bunch of international teams. This week the classic football game joins Hamster Corp's...
News Another Sunsoft Game Joins The Arcade Archives On Nintendo Switch
Embark on the grand adventure
Sunsoft's 1983 platform action game Arabian is the latest retro title to join Hamster's Arcade Archives on the Switch eShop. Here's the back story, along with some screenshots: Set in ancient Persia, a young Arabian boy embarks on a journey to rescue a captured princess. On ships, in caves, and in palaces... Make full...
News Taito's 1984 Action Platform Game Ben Bero Beh Joins The Arcade Archives
Save the day
Hamster's latest Arcade Archives release is Taito's 1984 game, Ben Bero Beh. It's filled with plenty of unique characters such as the enemy from Elevator Action and Chack'n from Chack'n Pop (another Taito game). This action platform arcade title requires you (a superhero) to avoid obstacles and put out fires to rescue NAO-Chan (your...
September2020
News Hamster Announces More Than 15 Games For The Arcade Archives Series On Switch
Gradius III and much more
Hamster Corporation is arguably the biggest support of the Nintendo Switch (outside of Nintendo), so far releasing hundreds of retro titles with additional modern enhancements on the hybrid system. There is no sign of it stopping production of these releases, either - with the Japanese publisher announcing another 18 games...
News Earth Defense Force Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives Collection This Week
Save the day
Hamster's weekly Arcade Archives release is Jaleco's 1991 scrolling shooter, Earth Defense Force. This original version of the game allows you to take control of an XA-1 space fighter as you fight to save the earth. Here's the backstory along with some information about the gameplay and some screenshots: Control your XA-1 space...
News Arcade Archives Contra Runs And Guns Its Way Onto Switch Tomorrow
Bill and Lance are back!
If you are still recovering from the dumpster fire that was Contra: Rogue Corps, then it might be time to go back to basics and enjoy Bill and Lance's first arcade outing in Arcade Archives Contra. Konami's arcade classic is coming to Switch tomorrow, thanks to good old retro publisher HAMSTER. Here's an overview of the...
August2020
News Hamster's Arcade Archives Brings A Konami "Masterpiece" To Switch This Week
Get ready to shoot 'em up
The shoot 'em up library on the Nintendo Switch continues to expand - with Hamster Corporation this week adding Konami's 1990 "masterpiece" Lightning Fighters (known as Trigon in Japan) to the Arcade Archives library on the eShop. Here's a bit about it from the official press release, along with some screenshots: "SUPER...
July2020
News Kangaroo Hops Onto Hamster's Arcade Archives Collection This Week
Hop on
This week Sun Electronics' 1982 action arcade release, Kangaroo, joins Hamster's Arcade Archives collection on the Switch eShop. Here's a description from the official PR: A mama kangaroo must pummel her way through enemy monkeys to save her baby kangaroo. Jump and use ladders to make your way up. Punch enemy monkeys to defeat them, and...
News Konami's Seminal Shooter Gradius Blasts Off On Switch Today
Shoot the core!
Alongside the likes of Space Invaders and R-Type, Konami's Gradius is considered to be one of the most influential shmups of all time. Released in arcades in 1985, it introduced the world to the notion of the 'weapon bar', a feature which allowed players to tactically upgrade their Vic Viper ship. Gradius has since inspired multiple...
News Jaleco's P-47: Thunderbolt Joins The Arcade Archives Roster Today
Take down enemies on land, sea and in the air!
Hamster has announced that NMK and Jaleco's side-scrolling shmup P-47 Thunderbolt is joining its Arcade Archives range today. Originally released on Jaleco's Mega System 1 arcade system back in 1988, P-47 Thunderbolt (also known as "P-47: The Freedom Fighter" and "P-47: The Phantom Fighter" elsewhere...
June2020
News Seibu Kaihatsu's Raiden Is Joining The Arcade Archives Series
Along with Wiz and Zero Team
During the same livestream which announced Super Punch-Out!! and VS. Baseball, it was also revealed that three Seibu Kaihatsu titles are also joining Hamster's Arcade Archives range. The first titles to come to the series –
