Teksette

@RoboCube
As people here more informed than I (thank you @masterLEON ) have said, Hamster is NOT just running a cash grab. They do put in the work to earn their money.

As for the cost, well, it’s a value proposition that varies person-to-person, right. For some, $8 for a meticulously emulated Space Invaders (or $10 for the AkeAka2 version with modest extra features) is absolutely worth it. And that is not for you nor I to criticize.

Personally, I already have the Invincible Collection (the Strictly Limited Games version with the extra games included) and I enjoy Space Invaders on my Taito Egret II Mini, so I’m not buying this AkeAka port. But I sure as hell won’t begrudge people who do!

I didn't notice this game back in May, and after seeing some screenshots later I still wasn't quite sure what to make of it — thanks for letting me know that Pippit isn't a rabbit!
But I've heard lots of positive buzz about the game subsequently, and upon seeing the ricocheting yo-yo mechanic and then the trailer recently, I was sold. I'm just waiting for my physical copy to come in.

I think the last yo-yo wielding game I played was Rygar on the NES. (ok, technically that was a "disc-armor" weapon...)

@RoboCube
I’m afraid you lost me at “not hard work” and “drip feed.” Ripping code from the original boards, emulating the peculiarities and dip switches, often including 2 versions (Jpn and Western) of the game, including mappable controls and save states, rapid fire, yoko/taté screen options, online leaderboards, and other features while optimizing/playtesting for several platforms AND all the while working on several titles simultaneously so that they can maintain a game a week release schedule — that does not sound easy to me. They’re not hobbyists dumping stuff onto MAME at their leisure. Nor do I feel a game EVERY WEEK should be construed as a “drip feed.” I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re the most prolific publisher on the major platforms!

You’re right in that Capcom’s Arcade Stadium and probably some other collections are cheaper per game, but those are 1st party affairs with no middleman, easily discounted at the IP holder’s discretion. Hamster has brought together hundreds of games selected from pretty much every Japanese arcade developer that’s not Sega or Capcom.

You and I may not have the same sense of value when it comes to these ports, but let’s try to give Hamster some due credit at least.

I can understand why some people are critical of the $8 per game pricing — I’ve purchased 39 Ake-Aka titles to date, but the majority of them were on sale. My count would be much higher if the base price was a little less!

But it’s truly miraculous what Hamster Corp is producing - publishing a meticulously emulated arcade game (sourced directly from original PCBs) on multiple platforms (including NSW, S2, PS4, PS5, XB) every Thursday without fail since March 3, 2017. And live-streaming for 2+ hours every Thursday night (JST) about their game of the week. It’s a mind-blowing accomplishment, and I can’t begrudge their asking price. I love supporting this company!

Like @MontyCircus recommended, it’s good to take advantage of Hamster’s sales that they offer on select titles a few times each year.
Also, the physical collections of Ake-Aka games (Taito Milestones Vols 1-4, ACA NEOGEO Selection vols 1-10) usually are more economical if you can find them.

I was guessing a licensed arcade game like Macross II or a late 90s Namco or Taito title, but selecting Space Invaders to commemorate #500 made perfect sense, given it was such a momentous title. I never realized that Hamster hadn’t ported it yet!

I’ve watched the Arcade Archives livestream at least a little bit every Thursday for years now, and this week’s episode was exceptional since they brought Space Invaders director Nishikado-san on as honored guest to talk about the game’s development and success. Did you know he originally wanted to title the game “Space Monsters” and that’s why the cabinets had that black fuzzy humanoid creature on the side panel art? But he went with the “Invaders” title and aliens that look like octopus and crabs instead, as that better fit the times back then.

@Ooyah @Freek
I was only 5 when SI debuted. I think I first played it in 1980 or 1981 - my uncle managed a country club and put an Invaders cabinet in the clubhouse for the members back in the early arcade boom. The bartenders would give me and my cousins a few quarters from the cash register so we could play it when we visited. That machine, or else a random Pac-Man cabinet at a relative’s wedding reception, was the first arcade game I ever played. Atari, Coleco, and Arcade were my holy trinity until the NES came along. Folks our age truly have grown up alongside the games industry!

Sorry, Hino-san, I firmly hold the belief that “AI is evil” and I’ll promote that belief to anybody who’ll listen. It may hamper the type of game creation advancement you’re seeking, but it could save countless jobs and preserve the soul and creativity of the games industry.

@Tempestryke
I just ordered a copy of Pipistrello online from VGP, and it was on sale!
I’ve had multiple orders with them that have gone well, and no tariffs for me in the USA as of yet.
Might be a good option if you can’t find a copy locally. 😁

@Rainz
Thankfully, my snowblower started up for me, too! I shoveled a bit and then got the beast out of the garage to do my driveway and help out the neighbors.
It was actually a Christmas gift from my dad like 10 years ago - a gift that keeps on giving!
Hope you’re enjoying some relaxing and Prime 4 and other good games this evening.

Christmas came and went in a flash of last-minute preparations, friendly visits, and shredded gift wrap. Xmas night and Boxing Day finally I basked in some relaxation time, and though I intended to play something meaty like Metroid Prime 4 or Absolum, all I managed was some Sega Picross and a bit of Namco’s clever platform battler The Outfoxies on Arcade Archives.

Santa left me Octopath Traveler Zero under the tree, but I’m saving that epic for later.

I hope everyone is enjoying the Holidays so far! I’m wishing all NL staff and friends much health, prosperity, and fun gaming in the New Year.

I must be brief as we got 5 inches of snow last night, and the driveway doesn’t shovel itself!
🕹️⛄️❄️

Merry Christmas everybody!
Wishing you all a holly jolly time with friends & family.today.

The gift opening frenzy has subsided here now and I’m ready for a nap! 😴
Santa brought my younger daughter Pokémon ZA and a couple other expensive Switch games, yet right now she’s playing MagiCat, a 99¢ eShop purchase from years ago. 😊🎄

@metaphysician
I’m similar! But for me, I count those that I’ve bought and haven’t played yet.
It’s my guilty conscience shining through. 😅

I keep waiting for Blade Chimera to get a physical release! We had Drainus and Lodoss War: Deedlit on cartridge far sooner. What’s the hold up?

Coincidentally, this list overlaps a lot with this week’s episode of Brian Shea/Game Informer’s “All Things Nintendo” podcast — they covered a list of the top eShop indie gems of 2025. If I already didn’t have too much to play right now, I’d be looking closely at some of the titles corroborated here. 😁

@angtre
Oh wow, no wonder that drawing looked familiar somehow! I used to read X-Men back then.

Imagine if Marvel censored Jim Lee’s art!! 😂

That’s a red flag right there, then. Nintendo marketed the S2 as a more premium product for grown ups. Don’t we deserve our grown up games?
There is a difference between “mature” and “hentai” games. I would hope that Nintendo can discern, and if they must censor, to do so accordingly. Neutering Dispatch while leaving “HOT HENTAI DDD NURSES OF AMBIGUOUS AGE” intact front and center on the eShop is going to enrage people.

Hopefully this is nothing more than ESRB hand-wringing over key art, but I’ll be waiting to hear if they neutered the content of this port before deciding to buy.

I’m one of the killjoys - AI is a plague that will inflict far more harm than good, but tragically, humanity lacks the collective prescience and will needed to pull ourselves out of this death spiral.
Makes me want to burn my smartphone, just thinking about it.
Keep genAI out of games, by all means. I think it should be completely abolished from every aspect of life, were I given the choice.

I got Ice Climber as a Xmas gift from my aunt in like ‘86 or so, and when I unwrapped it I was so disappointed that it was a “boring” black-box game and not a flashy-looking shoot ‘em up or Rush n’Attack or something “cool.”
And then I played it 2-player, and my siblings and I all had a very good cut-throat time with it! It went on to be one of my most memorable NES games.
One of many games from my adolescence that I dearly wish I retained. So thank you, Aunt B!

Needless to say, NA box for me this week!

‘‘Twas the weekend before Christmas,
And my energy’s about spent,
Still wrapping, still shopping,
But at least the Christmas cards are sent!

Meanwhile Sega Picross is in a panic,
Samus Aran’s in a huff,
Wondering why friend Teksette deserted,
Fretting over stockings unstuffed.

But dreary years need festive times,
The fuss worth it in the end,
And so I wish everyone the Happiest of Holidays,
Filled with loved ones, and good games, and good friends!
🕹️🎄👾

@FrenchVaniIIuxe
Oh come now, you mustn’t think that Hollywood box office results are the sole determinant for good/bad superhero year. The FF and Superman movies were entertaining enough, there’s good games that released, and there’s still plenty of comics in circulation.

As a matter of fact, Dynamite Comics announced they are starting a Thundarr the Barbarian series next year — that alone makes this a good superhero year for me! 😁

I feel you! I loved the Superman and Fantastic Four movies this year, and I cannot wait to play Cosmic Invasion. I’m stubbornly holding off until I can pick up my physical edition of the game in March, but from what I’ve heard, and especially after hearing what you’ve shared in this editorial, I’m know I’m going to play the heck out of it!

The excitement even got me to seek out the Annihilation comics for some reading to whet my appetite. 🤓

@Nintoz
Better than getting GKC (Game Key Coal) for Xmas!
Thank you, Santa!!

I got as far as the colosseum boss before I drifted off to attend other new games that came in late this year. I was really loving it, though, and looking forward to going back to it this winter! The tweaks and little bit of extra content can only help.

There are so many factors at work here - tariffs, inflation, STAGflation, government shutdown and overall chaos, AI resource-gobbling, a middle class being strangled, and American consumers' lack of confidence all come to mind - but also Sony has been offering pretty aggressive discounts on the different PS5 models. They've been $100-$150 off at different retailers since before Black Friday. I saw PS5 Slim systems with a disc drive and extra controller priced at $450, equivalent to a discounted S2 + MKW bundle.

I've been basically Nintendo-only since the PS3 days, but even I was tempted to buy one of those enormous white Sony monoliths at those prices.

Hopefully the rumors are true - despite this new AI demand for our memory storage media (and electricity, and water, and arable land, just sayin...), having more S2 cart sizes available could help mitigate this GKC plague, even if only a little.

I don't often play titles that skew towards visual novels, but this looks like a fun superhero homage! I'll watchlist this for sure and hope we eventually get a physical version.

It really is a short list! But some decent games for sure.

I’m really looking forward to Cosmic Invasion, when the physical edition arrives in March. Just the fact that we’ve got Silver Surfer and Beta Ray Bill in a beat em up is enough to excite me!

I put a lot of time into Ultimate Alliance 3 and would snap up a sequel to that.

@Zeeba
Yes you nailed it! Games have always been a good escape for me. I tend to enjoy creative fantasy and sci-fi titles, and steer away from more realistic, cinematic fare. Although I do appreciate a decent simulation, too - I played Silent Service on the NES as much as I played Blaster Master or SMB 2.
Lego Voyagers piqued my interest a little, but I don’t think I’d want to solo it and my kiddos probably wouldn’t be interested.

I’ve settled into playing Prime 4 and Sega Picross, but every moment spent gaming is tinged with guilt as there is so much Christmas prep or other year-end matters to attend to. It’s hard being an incurable procrastinator! C’est la vie.

Wishing all NL friends plenty of leisure time and an enjoyable weekend with your fave games! 🕹️👾

@SpecialT @Chlocean
This Pragmata trailer was pretty much my first exposure to “sad dad” games, too. I guess Nintendo players will be introduced to the genre finally in the S2 generation. So yay for some people?

The trailer didn’t appeal to me, though - the little (robot?) girl’s design is weird and would probably creep out my daughters irl. And why is daddy wearing the grotesque power armor and fighting fascist metal gear mechs? It doesn’t seem like the kind of uplifting experience I’d want after living through 2025 America. 😓

Thanks Tom, for another insightful review! A "7" is no problemo in my book and I'll look forward to going on a few old-fashioned runs in the game when my calendar clears up a bit (there's too many games right now!).

Looks cute! It reminds me of 80s space anime like Dirty Pair.
Like everyone else, though, I’ve got no-one to co-op with! My daughters are probably not going to want to spend time with it.

Maybe it’s just my nostalgia for the late eighties, but Jaws, to this day, remains one of my favorite NES games. Right up there with Friday the 13th.
An LJN licensed game had no right being as fun as it was back then!

I’m happy they left the original version of the game intact and I most definitely will be preordering this. This is the type of physical release I’m willing to wait for!

@Fake-news
I have to give credit where it’s due, though.
Just a few hours after posting my SLG grumble above, I get home to find a SLG-branded package on my front step!
It was Dezatopia & Mecha Ritz, another preorder I’ve waited 3+ years for, immaculately packaged in an oversized box and bubble wrap.
Even better, they included a coupon apologizing for the long wait and giving me a 10 euro coupon code to use on a future order. (And no tariffs charged to me, either.)

So that was a nice gesture! It seems like they’re sincerely trying to dig out of the hole they’re in.

Now just send my Ray’z Chronology, Steel Empire Chronicles, and Eschatos, and all will be forgiven!

I’ll be preordering this, R-Type Tactics 1&2 Cosmos, and Taito Milestones 4 from Japan. They all release around the same time in March 2026.

Strictly Limited Games is also offering preorders for this R-Type III renewal, but my patience has about run out with them.
I’ve been waiting for my copy of Ray’z Arcade Chronology from them since July 2022. ☹️

Isn't the world of corporate mergers and acquisitions wonderful?? Now businesses and IP built on the blood, sweat, and tears of hundreds, if not thousands, of people (thinking specifically of the works of Midway / Atari Games) is dumped again, into the portfolio of media conglomerate corpos who don't give a damn, except for the dividends they'll pocket from the deal.

I’ve had a Switch 1 Skyrim cart sitting on the shelf for years, unplayed. I can’t handle any more huge games at the moment, but when I finally give Skyrim a shot, I will have to go with this upgrade.

I’ve never played this game, but I’m going with Japan on this one, as it shows the playfield in more color and detail. As a pinball fan, that’s what I want to see! Plus it has a couple of metroids floating about, and I dig what looks like the ballsave electric field.

The NA/Europe cover isn’t bad, but the table is washed out, and Samus is placed on the opposite side of those chunky flippers from us, making her look like a target to bash!

Either way, I should seek this game out sometime. My DS still works. I just always thought MPP was a GBA title, and I’ve never owned that handheld. And I didn’t know rumble packs for the DS were a thing!

@Nambit
That rots that Wally’s screwed you over like that!
FWIW, my local GameStop had at least 20 extra copies of the S2 physical Prime 4 on Thursday night.

I’m glad at least you can take solace in Pinball FX. I totally agree that STTNG is one of the best pins ever, and fun to play on Switch or the deuce.

I jumped off all my other games to start playing Metroid Prime 4 and wow! I’m not used to games looking so good! Basically I’m a Nintendo-and retro-only player, so the S2 and titles like Cyberpunk, SW: Outlaws, Kirby Air Riders, TOK S2 Edition, and now especially Prime 4 have been really eye-opening for me! With this new taste for gorgeous games I was sorely tempted by Black Friday deals on PS5s this week, but I restrained myself. I’ve already got too much to play!!

Speaking of which, I’d be playing Marvel Cosmic Invasion too, this weekend, but I’m holding out for the physical edition in March. I’m with the Merry Marvel Faithful in spirit, though. 😁

So Link and the Absolum crew will have to be patient for a bit while I roll around and scan things with Samus. But even she can’t protect me from my addiction to Sega Picross! I’ll keep trying to solve a puzzle a day all winter long, probably.

Wishing everyone a fun weekend! Excelsior!!
🕹️💥👾

@Ooyah
My siblings and I called them “thousand-legged bugs.” They are nightmarish and they move like greased lightning!

Their one redeeming quality is that they hunt roaches, which goes a long way in my book!

What a disgrace to see WB plummet like this - no good ever comes of these mega-acquisitions.

Hold onto your Batman games everyone!

I'm afraid this means the Midway Games IP will stay locked up in license purgatory for years to come.
Hey WB, why not split off and sell your Midway IP to the reborn Atari company (someone who can appreciate it)!

@Ooyah
There were too many centipedes around my childhood home, so I must still bear a grudge.

Come to think of it, Centipede was always one of my favorite Atari games!

Looks fun, though it would probably just make me want to play E! D! F!!!!!!

The Earth Defense Force games have always filled my bug blasting urges over the years.

Oh so fun! And the squishy Metroid amiibo!! I’ve been seeking one of those all year! I’m hoping it’s restocked in the NA store. too.

The S2 physical and the set of amiibos was a Christmas prezzie to myself. ^_^

I tend to drift off of first-person games but hopefully this one grabs me, whether I jump right in tomorrow or save it till I finish TOK this winter.

See ya on Viewros!

@Mommar
They are Marvel crossovers with extraterrestrial characters and events, are they not? That’s all I’m saying.

I am hereby forewarned about Conquest.

If you’ve vented all your negativity now, I’d suggest you go watch some Macross and enjoy some Minmei songs and cheer up a bit!

Great review! Ollie's enthusiasm for the game really shines through - reading excerpts like "best Nintendo graphics in history" and "this is an all-time great that people will be returning to 10 or 20 years from now" has me even more hyped to pick up my preorder this Thursday. I just have to decide if I'm going to drop everything to play this right away, or risk putting it in the backlog black hole.

A little radio chatter from NPC's won't bother me (if it's within reason). Rather, I'll probably enjoy having some "damsels" to rescue and extra story to read, if the writing is decent and there are proper poignant moments of solitude to balance everything.

I bought a Vi-O-La amiibo for my shelf, but I'll join everyone in hoping that any amiibo perks are eventually unlockable just by playing the base game.

@Mommar
Well fortunately, the bundle I bought included the Conquest books, and an “Annihilators” series, too. I understand the game is really a mishmash of different Marvel books and 90s cartoons. I think I was just looking for an excuse to read some grand Marvel crossover event, mainly. 😁

I remember back in college I kept seeing “Operation: Galactic Storm” branded issues, which I was always curious about but never picked up. That unscratched itch probably led to my buying this more recent cosmic storyline.
Either way, it’ll be fun to read some comics after so long!

I'm so impatient to play this game! I have such a soft spot for beat 'em ups and I loved Shredder's Revenge, SoR4, and other greats on Switch. It's good to hear our faithful reviewers Tom and Jim enjoyed the Cosmic Invasion chaos!

I am a lapsed comic geek. I was intrigued by MCI right away, given its pedigree, and insta-bought it in my mind as soon as they announced Beta Ray Bill and Silver Surfer for the lineup.

It's going to be a long wait until March for the physical S2 edition. But I have Absolum to finish before then, and also my hype for MCI inspired me to pick up Marvel's Annihilation collected editions for required reading before I play. I don't even know who Phylla-Vell is, and I haven't read anything about Nova since his mullet hair was still in fashion, so I expect it'll be fun and enlightening "homework!"

I'm fervently hoping we get the Fantastic Four or some other surprises for DLC later, though that will mean I'll have to buy the physical a second time.

BC on the NES (NA) was one of those 3rd-party games that I really imprinted on back then, in 1987(?). What a great adventure, swinging around on your grappling arm and blasting through the game.

How surprised I was, a few months after I beat the game, to see a Bionic Commando cabinet (or was it called Top Secret?) in a local arcade! It was an arcade rendition through and through - such nice graphics, but so brutally difficult. My quarters were gone in an instant.
(Anyone curious can find Top Secret playable in Capcom Arcade Stadium 1, which frequently goes on sale on Switch.)

Later, while living in Japan and chatting with a friend about our fave NES/Famicom games, I learned my beloved BC on the NES was a sanitized version of the Famicom title “Top Secret: Hitler’s Return,” where you’re fighting the nazi lord himself! (And there he is, looming on that JPN box art!)

I voted NA just because I loved that game so much (one of many I wish I never sold off) and I like the Ame-comi style cover. That Famicom boxart is quite notorious though, and may win today’s battle.

It’s a Thanksgiving 4-day holiday weekend for me here in the ‘States, so you’d think I’d have ample time for games, but between attending the local football game, meal prep, hosting, making a big batch of turkey soup, and now decorating the house & the yard for the Yuletide, couch time with my S2 hasn’t been as plentiful as I’d like! That bodes ill for the backlog, as I didn’t even make good on my promise last weekend to do better juggling my games. Instead of playing balanced amounts of Absolum, Hades II, Kirby Air Riders, and LOZ: Tears of the Kingdom like I promised, I up and buy Picross S: Sega Genesis & Master System Edition on sale and played that all week! Ugh, those horrible, addictive little grids just begging to be filled in!! But, I at least got the paraglider for Link in TOK yesterday. 😅

Wishing everyone a relaxing weekend, and plenty for which to be thankful!! 🕹️🦃