April2023
News RayStorm X RayCrisis HD Collection Brings Two Taito Shmup Masterpieces To Switch
Out June
ININ Games is bringing two Taito all-timers to Switch in the form of RayStorm X RayCrisis HD Collection. Confirmed for a western release last year by the publisher, an eShop listing for 30th June 2023 has appeared, suggesting that we won't have to wait too long to get our hands on this classic bundle. RayStorm and RayCrisis (also known as...
March2023
M2's Masanori Yagi talks Assault Suits Valken Declassified
The Assault Suits mecha action games arguably deserve a little more attention than they enjoy here in the West. Back in the 1990s, their distinct blend of platforming and run ‘n’ gun design did indeed see ports from their native Japan to the rest of the world – sometimes in a heavily...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - 3D Sonic The Hedgehog 2
#16 - A sophomore with depth
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be...
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - 3D Gunstar Heroes
#12 - A real treasure
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone for...
July2022
News Taito & M2 Bringing Shmup Collection 'Ray'z Arcade Chronology' To Switch
Update: Localisation & HD Collection confirmed
Update #2 [Sat 30th Jul, 2022 17:15 BST]: ININ Games has confirmed it will release Ray'z Arcade Chronology and also RayStorm x RayCrisis HD Collection on the Switch here in the west. There's no release date just yet and ININ will be handling publishing duties of both games digitally (via Gematsu). The...
March2022
News 'Aleste Collection' Is Getting A 3-Disc Album Of Music
Music to our ears
Shooter series Aleste – which benefitted from a Switch collection not so long ago – is getting a new music collection in Japan, which is based on the aforementioned compendium. The three-disc set launches in April and includes music from Aleste (Sega Mark III, 1988), Aleste (Master System 'overseas version'), Power Strike II...
December2021
News M2 Is Bringing Yet Another Classic Shmup To Switch Next Year
Update: Release date and trailer revealed
Update: M2 has revealed that Toaplan Arcade Garage: Hishou Same! Same! Same! will launch in Japan on April 28th, 2022 (thanks, Gematsu). The collection will come in both digital and physical forms, with the latter shipping with a download code for Sennou Game Teki Paki. Players will also have access
September2021
News Castlevania Advance Collection Gets Updated Rating In Taiwan, Dracula X A Surprise Addition
Update: Official artwork also spotted
Update: As if it wasn't obvious enough already, the listing for Castlevania Advance Collection spotted in Taiwan now has official artwork associated with it (thanks, Gematsu), as well as more details on what games are included. The newly published description confirms that Castlevania: Circle of the Moon...
July2021
Talking Point Which Game Stage Have You Replayed More Than Any Other?
Green Hill Zone Act 1 is my new-old timesink
The ability to devote entire days to nothing but video games is a past luxury unavailable to me right now, or in the foreseeable future, unfortunately. The addition to my life of small humans that look a bit like me has substantially diminished my available free time, and I've recently realised that it's...
News M2 Is Bringing Toaplan's 'Tiger-Heli' And 'Ultimate Tiger' To Nintendo Switch This October
Update: Pre-order now live
Emulation expert M2 has just confirmed that it is bringing Toaplan's 'Ultimate Tiger' series to the Switch later this year as part of its M2 Shot Triggers range. Ultimate Tiger-Heli – which is getting a physical release – will include the original 1985 Tiger-Heli and its 1987 sequel Twin Cobra (AKA Kyukyoku Tiger)...
June2021
News 'Castlevania Advance Collection' Possibly Revealed By Rating In Australia
Update: Second rating appears in South Korea
Update: The Game Rating and Administration Committee of Korea has rated Castlevania Advance Collection for PC (thanks, Gematsu), which is another pretty solid indication that it's coming. Original Story [Fri 18th Jun, 2021 21:00 BST]: 2021 may just be the year of the Metroidvania, and
January2021
News M2 Has Updated Six Sega Ages Titles For Nintendo Switch
Bug fixes, improved network play and more
The emulation experts at M2 might not necessarily be releasing any more Sega Ages titles for the Nintendo Switch, but it's not entirely done with this collection just yet. According to the Japanese company's official Twitter account, it's just released updates for six of its Sega Ages games. These updates...
September2020
News M2 Is Bringing Aleste Collection To Switch And Making A Special Game Gear Micro
Update: An all-new game has been added
Update: Sega has announced that a new Aleste game has been added to its upcoming collection for Switch. The game is Aleste 3 for the Game Gear, an all-new entry. Original story [Wed 16th Sep, 2020 13:30 BST]: Emulation expert M2 has just announced that it is bringing a collection of Aleste titles to the...
News Strictly Limited Games Is Releasing A Physical Collector's Edition Of Darius Cozmic Revelation
Pre-orders open this month
Strictly Limited Games has announced that it is partnering with legendary Japanese company Taito to produce a physical collector's edition of the upcoming Darius Cozmic Revelation. The pack contains G-Darius HD (an update of G Darius) and Dariusburst Another Chronicle EX+. The former is being developed by M2, while the...
May2020
News Thunder Force AC Hits North America And Europe At The End Of The Month
That was quick!
Update #2: Sega has confirmed that Thunder Force AC will launch in North America and Europe on May 28th – not long to wait! It will cost $7.99 in America. Will you be downloading it, or have you already purchased the Japanese version? Update #1 [Mon 11th May, 2020 09:00 BST]: Sega has confirmed that Thunder Force AC will launch...
April2020
News M2 Is Making A Stupidly Expensive Shooter More Affordable On Home Consoles
Along with some other amazing Toaplan titles
A while back, emulation expert M2 announced that it had acquired the rights to bring a bunch of classic Toaplan shooters to home consoles. Toaplan – famous for hits such as Hellfire, Zero Wing and Snow Bros. – folded in the mid-'90s but would spawn Cave and Raizing, as well as other shooter companies...
March2020
News Darius Cozmic Collection 2 Confirmed, Existing Collection Getting New Games Today
New content is approaching fast!
Taito has revealed that it is working on Darius Cozmic Collection 2, with a release expected this winter. No games have been confirmed at present (one would assume 1997's excellent G-Darius will make the cut), nor has it been specified which consoles it will be launching on. The company has also revealed that the...
February2020
News We Really, Really Hope M2's New Shooter Comes To Switch
Pretty please?
If you appreciate Japanese retro games, then chances are you're already familiar with the work of Japanese studio M2, which has been the industry leader when it comes to adapting vintage games for modern systems. It worked with Nintendo on the original Wii Virtual Console, and has also been involved with Sega's recent efforts to open...
January2020
News Knuckles The Echidna To Return In Lock-On Form To Sonic The Hedgehog 2 On Switch
& Knuckles
Announced long, long ago, the upcoming SEGA Ages Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for Switch has been confirmed to feature lock-on technology, meaning Knuckles the Echidna will be playable in the game just like in the old days. Like this. The latest issue of Japanese gaming mag Weekly Famitsu (as reported by
News Shinobi And Fantasy Zone Join The Sega Ages Lineup On Switch This Month
Complete with exclusive new features
Sega has announced the release date for the next two games in its Sega Ages range. Shinobi and Fantasy Zone are two arcade classics which earned legions of fans back in the day and established two classic franchises. Both will come with the usual slate of enhancements, such as online leaderboards, replays and...
December2019
News Christmas Comes Early With ESP Ra.De. Psi's Limited Edition Package For Switch
We've been really good, honest
Christmas might be just around the corner but we've been deemed good enough to open one of our presents early – and it's the swanky limited edition package for Cave's legendary shooter ESP Ra.De., which launched in Japan on Switch and PS4 on December 19th. A collaborative effort between emulation masters M2 and the...
News M2 Is Bringing Toaplan's Back Catalogue To Modern Consoles
Arcade lovers, rejoice!
Tiger Heli. Zero Wing. Hellfire. Truxton. Slap Fight. Fire Shark. If those names just sound like the ramblings of a deranged madman, then you'll probably want to navigate away from this page as soon as possible, but if at least one of them has you grinning with nostalgic glee, then the next bit of news is going to make your...
September2019
Review The Genesis / Mega Drive Mini Finally Does Sega's History Justice
Mega Drive me to the store
Miniaturized consoles are nothing new to Sega as it was releasing them long before Nintendo’s Classic NES and SNES consoles took the spotlight. The plug-and-play systems it produced in collaboration with AtGames usually car
August2019
News Cave's Legendary Shmup ESP Ra.De. Is Coming To Switch, Courtesy Of M2
Update: Pre-orders now live, December release expected
Update: Retailer Play-Asia has added pre-order pages for the standard and limited-edition versions of the game, with a release date of 19th December 2019. Original Story: Emulation expert M2 has revealed that it is bringing Cave's 1998 vertical shooter
July2019
News Sega Ages Columns II "Coming Soon" To The Switch eShop In Japan
Includes the original game
Following on from the local release of Wonder Boy: Monster Land and Virtua Racing, Sega has now revealed the next AGES on the way is Columns II: The Voyage Through Time. This classic puzzle game is priced at 999 yen and is "coming soon" to the Japanese Switch eShop. The game features an arcade mode, featuring two game...
