Japanese conversion specialist Hamster - famous for its superb line of Neo Geo ports on the Switch eShop - has just revealed that it has gained the licence to bring some of Irem's most beloved coin-op titles to Nintendo's console.
The first game is Arcade Archives Zippy Race, which is due for release this year in Japan. Arcade Archives R-Type is also confirmed, along with Arcade Archives Front Line. There's no word on if or when these games will arrive in the west, but it will be easy enough to download them from the Japanese eShop.
Which other Irem titles would you like to see? In The Hunt? Kung-Fu Master? Image Fight? Undercover Cops? GunForce? Mr. Heli? Let us know with a comment.
[source japanesenintendo.com]
Comments 72
Yes, soon I hope Hamster also bring in some Konami, Capcom, Jaleco, Namco, Taito, and Data East goodness too.
YEEEESSSSS!! ARCADE PERFECT R-TYPE INCOMING!!
Oh man, if they bring In The Hunt, they'll be my publisher of the year!
Virtual Console has officially been renamed Hamster.
And the Switch's transformation into my new portable Shm'up Machine continues!
Still a ways to go before beating my Japanese Vita but with Blazing Star, Strikers 1945 and soon Zero Gunner 2 its already moving forward!
I hope whoever owns the Technosoft IP (Sega I think?) follows soon.
KUNG-FU MASTER!!!
Isn't Front Line a Taito game?
@neufel I think Arcade Archive could be considered the spiritual successor to the Virtual Console Arcade on the Wii
@FX102A I would love to see some classic SEGA games on the Switch. Yes they own Technosoft IP and those come here to.
As a huge fan of R-Type and other shooters from yesteryear, I find myself compelled to say, “Hey SquareEnix.... EINHANDER!!!!”
That is all
@LaytonPuzzle27 You're right! And I would love to see Hamster try to detangle the Popeye and OG Donkey Kong arcade rights
@Yorumi Hamster needs blast processing
Simply the best news in a phenomenal news year for the Switch. R-Type 1, 2, 3 and Leo. Mr Heli, X-miltiply, In The Hunt, Gunforce, Vigilante, and R-Type Final!
OH MAN I LOVE YOU HAMSTER!!! Bring em west please!!! Sega, Capcom, Konami are You PAYING ATTENTION???
I’d like Kung fu master and I’m not sure if it was on the NES or not but I’d like see Tapper and Burger Time released.
@antster1983 I always thought it was. I have the colecovision cart and is says licensed by Taito who by the way in case you weren’t aware, all those Taito classics are owed by Square-Enix.
Gimme that Sly Spy arcade port
Will likely get R-Type. Being from a tiny Midwest town I never got to play most arcade games.
I really wish I could move my VC games from WiiU to Switch.
I wish those arcade games had online multiplayer, like some of the re-releases on other platforms (especially the fighting games).
This is amazing news. I love my portable arcade!
what happened to the Nintendo Arcade ones?
That reminds me, where are all of these first party arcade games? Still jus Mario Bros.
Terrific news! Hope to see many of Irem's hidden gems on the system. And please, please, please: "R-Type Leo"!
Ninja Baseball Bat Man, please
Sigh!, looking to buy R-Type yet again although I have never owned Mr Heli, R-Type 2, 3 or Leo bring them on!
Someone just make a physical arcade collection already.
Hamster >>> Virtual Console
I'm not a shmup fan but I've always loved the artwork of R-Type. There's something so classic about it.
'Virtual Console' is dead, it's now the Nintendo online service where you will be able to download select titles every month.
Arcade Archives is a fresher approach if you ask me, and I'll gladly keep an eye on what Hmster are doing in the future.
I'm hoping for Golden Axe: Revenge of Death Adder.
I'm an arcade junkie and proud
I will be more than happy with R Type!!
great, more old retro nonsense I can play on my iPhone for 2 dollars. Now we can get 15 a week and not just 8.
@Agramonte That's amazing news for me. So shoo!
Friggin unbelievable!! I just got the Hori Switch Arcade Stick and I've been throwing money at Hamster. This is sooo rad!!
Good news for most. I've always felt Gradius was better than R-Type though. To the point of making R-Type not fun. The other games I've never heard of, except the terrible port of Gun Force on SNES. I can only hope the arcade version is more fun and has a better framerate.
@StephenYap3 I'd like that but there's probably licensing to work out on that. I think the guy that created it owns the rights to the game, or maybe it was depending on region. I forget what he said.
I also thought Front Line was a Taito game.
I'd like Undercover Cops as well, and R-Type Leo.
@Alikan From what I had seen, GunForce in the arcade was a better game. The SNES version was by Bits Studio, who made a bunch of license shovelware for LJN and Sony Imagesoft. (though they also made Warlocked for GBC, which was supposedly a pretty decent RTS)
...that company even made a SuperVision game (SV was essentially a poor man's Game Boy, with all the games I can remember seeing looking like ripoffs of GB games as well. An original but very uninspired console.)
The Switch is the legit, portable arcade machine of my dreams.
Imagine TMNT IV on the Switch. Whoever owns those rights...GET ON IT!
Image Fight would be great. My brother and I pumped so many quarters into that one at the arcade down the street from our house. This was about 89' I'd say. Oh how I miss the 80's.
Wow, Go Hampster! I was lucky enough to have a chance to play the original Nintendo published R-Type arcade machine a few years ago at an event.
Sooooo much harder than I remember, but also amazing sprite art! I will absolutely pick this up! Just give us some dates for all these games please??
@Alikan In most cases, especially for 80's and 90's era games, the arcade version of a game performs better than the home port since those games were developed for the arcade first. There were exceptions, though. Gradius III is ridiculously hard in it's arcade form, to the point it was actually unfair. The SNES version was far more playable and enjoyable, where the game didn't try to trap you every chance it could get.
You should be fine when it comes out on ACA.
@Agramonte The touch controls on that version are trash.
Sweet! Has this been confirmed for all systems or did Switch get lucky again?
Also, wonder where the next Nintendo Arcade game has gotten to?
Nice, I could use some arcade Capcom game. Hopefully that will happen someday.
Keep 'em coming!
Yes....looks like hamster will be running the VC on switch!
It's a good thing Hamster tends to include both Japanese and US versions of arcade games in their releases, because games like Undercover Cops and Perfect Soldiers deserve the best versions for modern re-releases.
@masterLEON R-Type 1 and 2 have MFI controller support on iOS.
They also updated it so you can use MFI with Remote Play (PS4) and Nvidia (HomeCast) so having one if you have an iPhone/iPad is a no-brainer
Tons of them, and usually at a fraction of the Switch version - with gamecenter support for save backups.
https://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/iphone/best-ipad-iphone-games-for-mfi-bluetooth-controllers-3652526/
I loved r-type on my amiga.
That is all.
R-type what a brilliant game that was, had it on the gameboy and loved it might just pick up the arcade version 😋
@Yorumi but this is all under the Arcade Archives so is basically Arcade VC.
Loved R-Type. Hopefully they'll delve into Toaplan's back catalogue as well at some point, I'd be all over that.
@Agramonte Hm, while that is interesting, I haven't bit the bullet yet on a compatible Steelseries controller I had my eye on. At this point, though, I'm not as mobile gaming focused as I was about 5-6 years ago. So it might be a bit of a waste to get one right now, and my PC and Mac gaming is mainly keyboard and mouse or my 360 fight stick.
I'm so glad to see people appreciating HAMSTER's ports here for once! I'm so used to people complaining about them and treating them like shovelware. Their emulation quality is top notch!
@SaKo Where have you been! We have ourselves a fine retro appreciating community here.
YES! R-TYPE FOR THE WIN.
Plenty of Giger inspiration in that one it seems.
I am hoping for the coin op Ninja Spirit (one of my fave games)
@GrailUK There's usually a few grumpy people who complain about the NEOGEO ports, so I was surprised to see none of that here!
@SaKo Ahh Oh, I just ignore them. They are just folk who haven't twigged that sometimes it's easier to not post about something if you don't like it and let those that do have fun ^^. What Irem game is top of your Switchlist?
Hamster=heaven!
@masterLEON yeah, I hear you. Wow, 360 flight stick - Good times back in the day. Was actually wondering if Valkyrie Eve supported them a few days back.
Happy !
Kung fu master please....
Also i want Double Dragon Trilogy from dotemu/technos, shinobi from Sega and Donkey Kong from Nintendo
@Jimgamer8 If they bring Rtype final I'll buy a switch yesterday. I still have my ps2 especially for Shmups. Rtype final and Gradius V are amazing. Props to Hamster for their work on some great ports. Now if Nintendo can get some Treasure games ported that would make it a guaranteed purchase from me. Radiant silver gun, Ikaruga, Sin and Punishment HD ( C'mon Nintendo it deserves it).
Original Spy Hunter arcade please.
@antster1983 Yes, but it's coming to Switch though.
This is the biggest nostalgia blast I've had in ages. I love R-Type. I still fire up the GBA version of R-Type 3 on my DS every once in a while. Will definitely buy this.
@Farmboy74 I've bought R-type at least 3 times over the years, first on the Spectrum 128k +2,then a year or 2 later on the Master System then 20 odd year later I bought the Turbografx version on Wii VC. Each time getting closer to the arcade original but never actually getting there.30 years after it released I'll finally get to own the arcade original. This was the game that got me into shoot-em-ups.
(throws money at screen)
When? Where is my arcade perfect R-Type?!
@Oorwullie, i first came accross R-Type as a kid waiting to go in holliday at Birmingham airport around 1986. Since then I have brought it on Spectrum 48k, Gameboy (imported Japanese copy) and like you the Wii VC version. It's a rock hard game but it reminds me of a time when arcade games were king.
First played R-Type on my Speccy a long time ago.
I've still got it. I'm that guy that keeps everything.
Undercover Cop would be great considering that it has never been part of any compilation discs. Plus the game is just so over the top.
We got any news on the other Nintendo arcarde archives? I thought we had a whole list of stuff coming and we just got the one in september.
Hamster are doing a tremendous job. Though we got too many of the same genre arcade ports right now, if they can open up to new companies like this I will be more than happy to drop money on them.
@PAppleyard FYI burger time is Data East and Tapper is owned by Warner Bros. Would love to see them both on Switch as well! 👍
I love R-Type. I got as far as the 6th stage when it was at the arcades back in my youth. We need a new current gen R-Type.
Would love Dragon Breed.
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