Not quite a milestone
In the age of games being widely available across multiple platforms it is no surprise to see classic compilations making the rounds. The latest Taito collection though feels like a weirdly titled conglomerate of games that don’t fit the bill. The package of ten games contains a lot of very early titles from the developer, some of which are already available separately on the Switch via Arcade Archives. For those that don’t own any of the games the collection is a nice compilation at a decent price, but it doesn’t feel like any sort of milestone of the developer.
MSRP: $39.99
Platforms: Switch
Price I’d Pay: $19.99
This collection contains ten games ranging from obscure to a little less obscure. While the names might not be familiar the genres surely will be. If you grew up in an 80s arcade the gamut is truly run here. Everything from simple side scrollers to shooters and everything in between. Games such as Ninja Warriors and Elevator Action are among the better known, but there are also lesser-known titles such as Front Line and Wild Western.
While the selection is nice, it is nothing new. All of these games are available separately on the eShop in various regions with seven of them being available in the US alone. This means fans of most of these games have already had their opportunity to pick them up.
While I always appreciate a condensed collection of games this particular entry puzzles me for several reasons. First up is the collection of games are not necessarily milestones. Sure, poor wording for the title, but outside of a couple games most of these are unknown to even some more seasoned gamers. The package also doesn’t bother to inform anyone about the games. There are no extras or blurbs of text giving context to each of the games. It is a menu-driven selection of games with the same features found in their individual entries.
At least what is here is solid. These games feature the standard options and the emulation is genuinely solid in most cases. I had fun diving into each game, but again only a couple warranted a repeat viewing. This feels more like Taito Obscurities as opposed to Milestones. For the price it ends up cheaper than picking up each game individually, but that is assuming you want all ten games. As a collection this feels more like an afterthought than a solid purchase.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
