Twinworld Game Reviews

Posts Tagged ‘IREM Collection’

Berlin, Germany – 11 October 2023 – ININ and Strictly Limited Games, in partnership with IREM and Tozai Games, are excited to reveal the titles of the IREM Collection Vol. 3 and announce the pre-order start for the exclusive and highly limited boxed editions of IREM Collection Vol. 3. This collection continues to celebrate the gaming legacy of IREM, one of the industry’s most esteemed developers.

This volume is packed with true arcade gems of the shoot ’em up genre: Mr. Heli, Mystic Riders, and Dragon Breed. It’s set to launch in Q2 2024, and if you are a collector, you can already snag exclusive Limited Editions (Playstation & Switch) starting on October 12! The physical edition of Volume 3 will be exclusively available through Strictly Limited Games in the West and through Tozai Games in Japan.

ININ and Tozai will handle the digital versions for the Western and Japanese markets on Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox, scheduled for release in Q2 2024.

Mr Heli

Mr. Heli, also known outside Japan as Battle Chopper, took the Japanese arcades by storm in 1987, when IREM’s creative mojo was in full bloom. This quirky adventure invites you to steer a little-legged orange Chopper named Mr. Heli through a multitude of innovative stages. What goes up, must come down… and walk! The heroic helicopter can soar through the stages, walks across lands, and wields three different weapons, each with two upgrade levels. Along the way, you’ll mine crystals and buy upgrades to help you take on the massive bosses that stand in your way. And don’t forget to keep your eye open for hidden paths, sneaky secrets, and clever puzzles built into the level design – they might just be your ticket to success in this high-flying adventure! The comeback of Mr. Heli offers a fascinating time travel for shoot ’em-up fans. The IREM Collection Volume 3 contains both Battle Chopper in its 1987 Arcade M-92 version and the 1989 PC Engine / Turbo Grafx version. The fascinating gameplay of these games is preserved over time and stands out as a one-of-a-kind masterpiece deserving your love.

Mystic Riders

You’re a wizard, Harry! The 1992 Arcade Shoot ‘em up Mystic Riders takes you on a magical journey that’s a bit different from IREM’s usual dark and challenging shoot ‘em up style. Developed by the same team that gave us the comical Daiku no Gen-san (Hammerin’ Harry), this shmup ventures into a world of fantasy and magic, far from its counterparts’ biomechanical ‘’nightmares’’. Take on the roles of two comical and lighthearted characters, the wizard Mark and the witch Zeal, and start your (possibly co-op) adventure! While riding a broomstick, defeat giant sky turtles, ghosts, grim reapers, dragons, and other mystical creatures. Fling your broom in a boomerang fashion to block projectiles or get a taste of an early version of the dodge roll, a move that’s now common in gaming. Mystic Riders is a true gem in the shoot ‘em genre and a highly entertaining co-op experience, so don’t miss it!

Dragon Breed

Dragon Breed is a thrilling dragon-themed shooter where you hop on a massive dragon named Bahamoot and ride into action! Don’t be fooled by his size, though – only your rider can take damage, while the dragon is a total beast absorbing the damage projectiles of countless opponents. Enemies bounce off its tail harmlessly, making it super satisfying for a player. There’s a bit of run-and-gun action, but the key is sticking close to your dragon buddy, thanks to its tail that blocks bullets and a killer charge shot. Similar to R-Type or X-Multiply, you are diving into a heavy biomechanical theme set in a post-apocalyptic world. So are you ready for an adventure through big levels jam-packed with enemies, surprises, and heart-pounding action? Relive the thrill of Dragon Breed on modern consoles and flaunt your dragon-riding skills to friends and gamers worldwide! Get in on the dragon-fueled fun!

What to expect:

• Three fantastic arcade-era IREM standard shoot ‘em ups.
• A quick save and load feature to guarantee your progress.
• Built-in filters to relive the original game experience.
• New integrated help functions, such as rewind and fast-forward features.
• Worldwide leaderboards to put your score on display.
• Many fantastic stages with bizarre enemies and enormous boss fights.

Source: PR Email

Stuttgart, Germany – 13 July 2023 – ININ and Strictly Limited Games, in partnership with irem and Tozai Games, are delighted to announce the pre-order start for exclusive and highly limited boxed editions of irem Collection Vol. 2.

This exciting release, which includes arcade classics GunForce, GunForce II and Air Duel, is scheduled to launch in Q1 2024 and eager collectors can already pre-order their exclusive Limited Edition, starting on Sunday the 16th of July! The physical edition of Volume 2 will be exclusively available through Strictly Limited Games and will be the sole physical version worldwide.

ININ and Tozai will handle the digital editions for the Western and Japanese markets on Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation, and Microsoft Xbox, scheduled for release on February 20, 2024.

Included in the second volume of the irem Collection are:

• GunForce (SNES, M-92 Arcade)

This Run and Gun gem will include both the SNES and Arcade versions. Whether you played the original on your childhood SNES or prefer the much-improved Arcade version, we’ve got you covered!

• GunForce II (M-92 Arcade)

The official sequel to GunForce never made it out of the arcades, making this release its first official worldwide launch on consoles!

• Air Duel (M-72 Arcade)

Rounding out Volume 2 is another arcade-exclusive game. Air Duel was only ever released in Japanese arcades, and this marks its first official worldwide release on consoles. In this classic shoot ’em up, you can switch your aircraft before every new stage, a feature that was groundbreaking back in the day!

GunForce

Sometimes considered one of the first run ‘n’ gun games, GunForce: Battle Fire Engulfed Terror Island can be seen as the initial steps that paved the way for the highly acclaimed Metal Slug series and its sequel, GunForce II (GeoStorm). GunForce is where it all began, after all!

Originally released on the Super Nintendo in the West and arcades in Japan, GunForce challenges you to run and gun your way through hordes of aliens, aiming to stop a rogue CPU and restore freedom to the world. The game shows no mercy, throwing you into the enemy frontlines from the start as you parachute into action. And if that’s not enough ’90s action for you, how about performing a wheelie on a motorbike while shooting down helicopters? GunForce has got you covered. In keeping with tradition, GunForce introduced different vehicles players can control, including tanks, helicopters, and motorbikes. Make your choice!

GunForce II

GunForce II, known as GeoStorm in Japan, is the sequel to the SNES and Arcade game GunForce. It improves upon GunForce in every way and is considered one of the last arcade games from irem. GunForce II was never released outside of arcades, making its inclusion in the irem Collection Vol. 2 its first-ever worldwide console release.

Featuring enhanced animations, improved gameplay, and a killer soundtrack, GunForce II was created by the same staff that later developed the iconic Metal Slug series. It is considered the spiritual predecessor to the Metal Slug series, with many of its sound effects and designs being reused in the series. It is a must-play for all fans!

Set in a futuristic post-apocalyptic environment, the game allows you to take control of Max or Lei. Your goal is simple: dual blast your way through five different stages and rack up those high scores! Vehicles make a return, as is tradition, including motorbikes, mechs, and tanks, to name a few.

Air Duel

The year is 2004. Earth has been devastated by an unprecedented nuclear war, and a secret organization called D.A.S. is rising to ensure chaos in the world. It is now your job to thwart their mischievous plans and save what remains of the world!

Air Duel is a 2D vertically scrolling shoot ’em up that was exclusively available in Japanese arcades and never made it to the West. Its inclusion in the irem Collection Volume 2 marks its first-ever worldwide console release.

Developed by the same legendary team at irem that brought you GunForce and later the Metal Slug series, Air Duel offers 7 challenging stages that need to be mastered either alone or with a friend in co-op.

Choose your aircraft! Whether you prefer shooting forward only with the Jet Fighter FG-40 or firing crosswise with the Helicopter E-709, your playstyle is key to victory.

Together with GunForce and GunForce II, Air Duel completes the irem Collection Volume 2.

And that’s not all! For all the games, we have included Online Leaderboards & Global Rankings. If you are looking for a real challenge, this is your call!

Limited Editions:

Strictly Limited Games is giving irem Collection Volume 2the boxed legacy it deserves, with two unique limited editions available for pre-order exclusively via the Strictly Limited Games online shop.

The Limited Edition is limited to a maximum of 4000 copies for Nintendo Switch, 1500 for PlayStation 4, and 1500 for PlayStation 5 at a price of 34,99 € , including a colorful game manual.

The Collector’s Edition is limited to a maximum of 2000 copies for Nintendo Switch, 999 for PlayStation 4, and 999 for PlayStation 5 for 89,99 €, including lots of additional collectibles:

• Game for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5
•  Collector’s Edition Box
•  Colorful Game Manual
•  Original Soundtrack on 3 CDs in one jewel case
•  DIY Mini Game Box Reproduction for GunForce
•  Visual Compendium
•  Reversible Posters
•  Arcade Flyer Set
•  Marquee Sticker
•  irem Collection Volume 2 Arcade Coin

Source: PR Email

Kirchheim unter Teck (Germany), 27th of April 2023: Arcade games of legendary Japan game developer irem will be available to modern gaming platforms. Tozai Games and ININ are teaming up to release the irem Collection with several volumes worldwide, with Strictly Limited Games to release the special physical releases on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 for fans and collectors.

Some of the greatest and most requested action arcade games will be available to modern gaming platforms. With iconic action titles such as R-TYPE, Air Duel or Hammerin‘ Harry, irem shaped the games industry since the 1980‘s and was one of the leaders in the arcade era. With very few exceptions many of these titles have never been brought to modern console platforms or remained Japan-exclusive.  Most of them even have never seen a release on physical media up until now. So ININ, Tozai Games and irem are finally joining forces to bring them to modern console gamers. Tozai Games and ININ will be responsible for Japanese as well as worldwide digital releases on Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox.

ARCADE MILESTONE FOR COLLECTORS

The outstanding quality of these games often even used as a benchmark for others in the genre make the upcoming releases an exciting experience for both (modern) retro enthusiasts and casual players looking for new -or so far unknown- gaming adventures around the globe. With the outstanding history of irem as a studio and their iconic games shaping an entire industry, the collection is particularly interesting to collectors of video games and players interested in video game history and culture. To process the rich story of irem games, Strictly Limited Games will publish several Limited and Collector’s Editions for the upcoming volumes of the irem Collection.

READY VOLUME 1

The first volume of the irem Collection is an updated homage to the Japanese-exclusive ‘Arcade Gears‘ series (released in the 1990s on Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation) and comprises three legendary shoot ‘em up games Image Fight, Image Fight II and X-Multiply.

Image Fight first appeared in 1988 as a vertical scrolling Shoot ‘em Up. It became one of the most successful table arcade games at that time in Japan and is still being regarded by many fans as one of the best shmups ever made. In addition to this arcade version, the upcoming volume will also include the PC Engine/TurboGrafx version as well as the NES version from 1990. The game is set in the year 20XX, the moon collapses after an explosion caused by aliens which proceed their offensive against mankind. To settle the situation, the player must go through an eponymous training process called “Image Fight”, before they are allowed to join the combat to fend off the invaders and earn everlasting glory.

Image Fight II was released in Japan in 1992, after the success of the first part. Unfortunately, the game never made it to the west (except for a Wii Virtual Console release, that is).   It is set in the year 2051, the alien forces try once again to exterminate humanity. The player must take over the role of pilot Sho, the main character in the story, switching to a new generation of ships. The story is really outstanding in this game, the introduction of visual scenes reminiscent of animes especially intended for the PC-Engine SUPER CD-ROM version strengthen the story and add depth and a second dimension to this game, shaping Sho as a real hero in this unequaled approach to building a SHMUP storyline.

X-Multiply is a side-scrolling shooter originally released in 1989 for arcade (M72). The combination of science fiction and biological elements makes X-Multiply extraordinary even though it flew under the radar of many gamers: The player is controlling a miniaturized ship getting ‘injected’ in an evidently humanoid body and is using tentacles attached to his ship to fight alien parasites killing humans in detailed as sinister designed stages located inside that corpse.

LIMITED PHYSICAL EDITIONS OF irem GAMES

The hardly rivaled quality of these games will be cumulated in outstanding Limited and Collector‘s Editions exclusively published by Strictly Limited Games.

The Limited Editions of the irem Collection Vol.1 include Image Fight, Image Fight II and X-Multiply, an exclusive titlesheet design and an English manual and are limited to 4,000 individually numbered copies for Nintendo Switch and 1,500 each for PS4 and PS5, at a price of 34.99€ / $34.99.

The Collector‘s Edition will frame the games and complete them with their matchless Original Soundtracks as well as physical collectibles to deep dive even further:

• The premium Collector Box will be realized in format 4:3 as an homage to the screen ratio at that time. The print quality and the magnetic closure collect all the items in a suitably exclusive way.
• The Original Soundtracks will be realized on 3 CDs sitting in a Digifile. The format gives room to every game and its unparalleled music.
• A Visual Compendium will include backgrounds on the games, their history, feature unique insights and lay out level and character designs, from pixel sprites to context art.
• A Collector Coin in a separate box will make another nice link between the different volumes of the irem collection. The design is inspired by classic arcade coins and includes not just both logos and key elements from the games‘ visuals.
• A package of Retro Print material will complete the collection. Next to reprints of flyers from back then which are now getting localized the first time into English, there will be mini-DIY reproductions in the style of the NES game box, a marquee sticker, a foil catching the vibe of arcade light panel designs and posters showing the key visual in impressive size.

They will be limited to 2,000 individually numbered copies for Nintendo Switch and 999 each for PS4 and PS5, at a price of 89.99€ / $89.99.

In time with Volume 1, Strictly Limited Games will offer bundles of both Limited and Collector‘s Editions including the upcoming volumes 1 to 5 of the irem Collection in an exclusively designed slip case. The Limited Edition bundle will be limited to 3,000 individually numbered copies for Nintendo Switch and 1,000 each for PS4 and PS5, at a price of 159.99€ / $159.99 and the Collector’s Edition bundle to 1,000 individually for Nintendo Switch and 500 each for PS4 and PS5, at a price of 429.99€ / $429.99.

The limited physical editions of irem Collection‘s Volume 1 will be available for Pre Order from 30th of April 2023 exclusively on StrictlyLimitedGames.com.

Source: PR Email