SpringDivorce

I despair. I really do.

I can't think of anything I'd rather play less. Although the Tron bits in whichever were kind of cool.

@Jamie_R

It's an arcade racer, it's not supposed to be deep. It's also the absolute best at what it does.

Way, way too much hating on Dracula X here. It's a solid entry with some pretty fiendish level layouts. Yes it's more old-school than SNES IV, it's also not completely without challenge and tedious for two thirds of its running time.

Not played the GBA games in 20+ years, I'll be having this.

@ogo79

Why would we want the NES versions - I never played one other than maybe Contra that wasn't inferior to the original.

I'll probably pass on this - video on the JPN shop doesn't look great if I'm honest. Gives me time to pick up a few of the previous weeks releases I haven't gotten around to yet.

Looks nice. I've a bit of a backlog with FPS's though - Doom 64, Quake, Ion Fury, Metro Exodus, barely touched Immortal Redneck or Ziggurat...

@masterLEON

That was my only issue with it. I might pick it up on PS5 unless it's still present there.

Wow that looks brilliant. I managed to platinum the original career, so will be picking this up for sure.
Super Monaco GP vibes anyone?

JESUS, Dracula X is NOT a remake of Rondo. It's a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT GAME.

Cracking on the PS5, but it was already pretty rough on my base PS4, so not sure what it's going to look like here.

Still, X360 Flatout Ultimate Carnage is still a pretty nice looking game - if they can get it to look like that and run at 30fps it should be passable.

No Arcade Archives title is a bummer.

Anything based on/around Chernobyl intrigues me. I'll take a look at it when I get home.

@Zeldafan79

It could do with a little more speed, otherwise it's a decent entry. I think these days I probably prefer it to IV.

I REALLY wish people would stop with the 'Dracula X is a SNES conversion of the PC Engine's Rondo of Blood' nonsense. It isn't.

I'm really glad for Arkane that Deathloop has done so well. It's on my list for sure once I'm done with Returnal.

Yeah I like the look of that. Interested.

I actually have no idea what sort of numbers you're selling at no. 37? Hopefully, enough to make a Trilogy compilation viable.

@Poodlestargenerica

Yeah I always preferred the Japanese artwork.

It's really nice IRL. Until you unwittingly slot in a UK memory card, and it formats it. Without warning.

Prefer the look of the original over the remake. I'll give it a spin.

Do they still have the octagonal gate around the analogue? If not, no-go.

Brilliant, and no frame drops here - though I patched it before I started it. Hope it sells well enough to make a Trilogy cart viable. Maybe with California Speed on there as well. Be nice if we could get a San Fran/Hydro Thunder Pack as well.

@CharlieGirl

Eew, two weakest for me by far. I thought first and foremost, they were great arcade racing games, and the original two were by far the best for that.

ShopTo appear to be sending me two copies for some odd reason, so I'll definitely be playing it!

Eventually. Cruisin' has taken my full price gaming money for this month.

Was going to pick up Galuda 2. But, I've hardly played Rolling Gunner, Devil Engine, Raiden IV, Mishihimesama or R-Type Final 2. Plus, I spy Boulder Dash, which I've loved ever since my C-64 days. Might have to snaffle that and grab Galuda after payday.

@Clyde_Radcliffe

Liquid Kids is due at some point, so I would hope we'll get both New Zealand Story and Rainbow Islands. Maybe after they've sold their stock of the mini Egret next year?

@NinChocolate I almost agree.... except Rodland and Cybattler were both genuinely brilliant.

I'll grab it eventually, but I've just realised I never picked up Tehkan's 'Guzzler', and if it's an unknown Tehkan game vs an unknown Jaleco game....

Bit torn on this one actually. It's definitely a very good shmup, but there is so much visual clutter at times it's untrue. I have a similar issue with Cotton Reboot when the multiplier is activated.

Some devs need to remember that one thing that EVERY shmups needs is visual clarity.

@Tanithgaunt

Saturn version, best? Umm.... No.

For neither Spelunky title to be in that top three is a crime against gaming.

@Funneefox

Yep, US/Euro version of the original coin-op.

@Bolt_Strike

Couldn't disagree more. Coicidentall enough I've just bought Unleashed for my GF and kids, and the Were-thing sections are some of the most dreadful crap I've ever played. Button-mashing followed by bosses that need to be finished off with QTE's? Rubbish. The less said about the on-rails QTE sections the better.

@Amadude

Eew, if it isn't better than those, no-buy. They sucked.

@robr

Yeah, apparently we get the two main games for the £25.00, the DLC is home ports (I presume NES, maybe PC Engine?) and extra arcade titles.

@Toshiro_Baloney
It was indeed. As the person above mentioned, the SNES version had a fake '3D' effect that was supposed to be for the bundled cardboard glasses. Apparently it was quite sick-inducing without them.

I'd just like a new Renegade. Still one of the best beat-em ups ever released.

And of course Arcade Archives USAAF Mustang.....
There's something about NMK's shooters so far I don't quite get along with, but who am I kidding - I'll end up picking this up.

Too much stuff. I want Wario Ware, Cruisin' Blast, Sonic Colours (for my kids), and Monkey Ball. That should see me through to Elden Ring next year.

Wait, I thought someone mentioned 'classics'?
Jim Power was passable as part of one of my Evercade carts, but as a stand-alone release? Nah.

@robr

Japanese prices are confirmed I think, and will translate to roughly £25.00 for the base game with another £10.00 for DLC. Still pricy.

At £40.00 I'd want a physical, but if so I'm in.

Used to be a collector, was forced to sell of the lot some 18 years ago after a bad break-up. 4 x SNES and 80+ boxed games, 4 x DC and 80+ PAL, 30+ USA, 40+ JPN. PC Engine with CD Rom and 90+ games. 3 x Saturn with 80+. Neo Geo and 25+ boxed amongst loads of other stuff.

There are times when I miss some of it - Neo in particular, just something about owning that one machine - but for the most part it's all been made relatively available in far more convenient formats.

I've dipped my toe back in with the Evercade and my Switch collection is decent, but for the most part I'm happier with digital these days.

Certainly don't miss the clutter - took up a full back bedroom.

@robr

Yeah I'm a bit bummed out over the whole Toaplan situation. I was hoping for either a comp, or some more slightly bog-standard ports Arcade Archives-style, I'm not sure how well some of the older titles will sell outside the hardcore at £25.00 a pop. I mean, to someone not already heavily invested they're going to see Arcade Archives Raiden, then Tiger Heli at probably double the price.....

@Darkyoshi98

I'm using mine to play Mario Kart Arcade and F-Zero AX - games never made available for a home system. If you'd like to explain who is losing out here, I'm all ears.....

@BloodNinja I've got AX running on my Wii alongside Mario Kart Arcade. It's cool, more of the same, but good.

Great review. Spot on. If you've never played before, I envy you - enjoy!

@DK-Fan

They really aren't.

@victordamazio

They were still a mile behind the best Japanese platformers of the era. They don't hold a candle to Mario / Sonic / Sparkster / Rocket Knight / Castle of Illusion / Quackshot.....