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Blaze Entertainment continues to its Evercade ecosystem of devices with new cartridges, supplementing the library of licensed retro games with even more weirdness! We’ve been able to check out the 10 latest releases, so we can let you know what’s worth checking out and why!

The heavy hitters: Tomb Raider and Legacy of Kain 6b1v2a

Tomb Raider has served as Blaze’s cornerstone release of the year, with the collection of three PS1 games included in the bundles for both the EXP-R and VS-R hardware revisions. Lara Croft might be the most recognizable mascot character it could hope to license, and even the earliest games in the franchise are more sweeping adventures than have been available in the Evercade’s quick-fun-focused selection. (It also probably didn’t hurt that Tomb Raider began its life at British studio Core Design; Blaze has shown a lot of love for its home.)

Blaze connected with Crystal Dynamics a second time, too, licensing Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver for a dual-pack. Of all five of these games, action-platformer Soul Reaver definitely holds up best for first-time players. The late-’90s theming that tries a bit too hard aside, the traversal and combat controls work totally fine today and it’s worth a play for Evercade owners! These two releases are the start of the “Giga Cart” line for the company. Essentially, these are cartridges with a slight price bump in exchange for higher storage capacity. That seems fine with us! Though we’re sure these games weren’t the cheapest to license either, and maybe that helps bring more publishers to the platform.

Japanese publishers redux: Sunsoft and Data East Collections 1jrh

Sunsoft Collection 2 arguably bests the first release’s lineup, starring NES platformer Ufouria: The Saga and Game Boy Color gem Blaster Master: Enemy Below. It even throws in some Evercade-signature weirdos, like head-to-head fighter Galaxy Fight and surprisingly compelling Game Boy puzzler Pri Pri Primitive Princess!, which in aggregate we think outweighs the first’s Mr. Gimmick.

We spent a lot of time playing Ufouria on this collection — it’s a great game — and were reminded how PAL games can cause some display issues due to their different resolution. As it stands, they’re stretched wider than they should be, and we wish there were a display option to force 4-by-3 and remedy this. Seems doable in a firmware update, right, Blaze?

Data East Arcade 2 offers a handful of fun Tate Mode options, as well as some great co-op beat-’em-ups. Edward Randy is a blast with unlimited credits, and stars an action hero that definitely isn’t Indiana Jones and why would you even bring that up? Trio The Punch brings a different sort of feel to the genre, with lots of super-short levels. Joe & Mac Returns tries a single-screen take on the caveman game, and can be fun to work through with a friend.

We have games at home: Piko Collection 4 1m4x62

Piko Interactive has embraced its niche of picking up licenses for games that feel like store-brand takes on big releases. But on Evercade, where their first-party siblings are likely never going to appear? That’s kind of appealing. Without Mario Kart, you may actually want to play Street Racer. Without a big-name puzzler, it doesn’t hurt to have Mermaids of Atlantis on the menu. Star X may be missing that F and O you’d want in the title, but it’s as close as you’re going to get here.

The centerpiece of this cart is Glover. We have a soft spot for the N64 platformer, and this version got a bit of development attention to make sure it works okay on the Evercade. It’s definitely a game that you want to play on the VS with a third-party controller so you can use an analog stick, but thankfully the system s that through an in-beta menu option.

Tate Mode showcases: Toaplan Arcade 3 and 4 486o2h

One of the coolest features of the Evercade EXP handhelds is the Tate Mode toggle, allowing you to play games vertically on the display. So it’s good to see some more Toaplan collections with a bunch of Tate Mode-friendly options. There are, of course, shooters — Batsugun, Truxton II, Dogyuun and more — but we’re particularly interested in games that use a vertical display and still offer genre variety.

Ghox is a take on the Breakout formula, with the sort of flash and intensity you’d expect from a developer that usually makes shooters. There are tons of collectibles falling at you, and it even starts with two balls to juggle by default! There are also Out Zone and FixEight, which are arguably still vertically scrolling shooters but on foot rather than flying around. This subgenre, perhaps most popularized by Pocky & Rocky or Shock Troopers, offers its own sort of fun and the ability to control the pace a bit more.

Old computer weirdness: Thalamus and Bitmap Brothers Collections 3ad3r

The selection in the Evercade library has always been tinted by the company’s UK origins, and nothing makes that clearer than the wide array of old computer game representation. Thalamus Collection 1 includes 11 Commodore 64 games from the late 1980s and 1990s. In our experience, the C64 library is a sort of “you had to be there” experience, with “there” meaning “Europe in the 1980s,” and it’s not the easiest to encounter for the first time today. Still, we did have some fun with action-shooter Retrograde.

The Bitmap Brothers Collection 2 offers a selection of Amiga games, which are certainly also quirky but a bit more palatable to modern sensibilities. The Cadaver games are isometric adventure games that take a bit of time to learn to control, but they’re charming. The Chaos Engine 2 is the top of the bunch for us, a top-down action game designed for co-op. And platformer Gods is worth it for the title screen music alone. Added to the collection, perhaps confusingly given the cart’s blue-line categorization, is a console game! The PlayStation port of real-time strategy game Z also makes the cut after missing out on the first, red-line compilation.

New-retro showpieces: Metal Dragon / Life on Mars 18682d

We’re on record saying that the greatest value of the Evercade is in giving modern retrogames accessible cartridge releases, so we’re happy to see that continue with the latest dual-pack. Metal Dragon is an ‘80s-inspired run-and-gun game that unfortunately makes the number-one mistake in games: falsely thinking it’s extremely funny. We wanted to enjoy its action levels and modern approach to controls, but its writing — a Metal Gear spoof seemingly penned by an “edgy” teen boy in detention — is pretty much insufferable.

Life on Mars fares significantly better, thankfully. It’s a Metroid-style exploration platformer, set on a Martian base where all the robots are attacking you as you land to re-establish communications and find out what happened. We wish the controls were a bit tighter — jumping in tight spaces can be particularly irritating — but there’s enjoyment to be found here.

Most of these Evercade cartridges are available now. The Metal Dragon/Life on Mars dual pack and Toaplan Arcade 4 are slated for release in December 2024. For more of Siliconera’s Evercade coverage, check out our archive.

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The Evercade 2nd Anniversary Show appeared on May 31, 2022, and it featured the reveal of an Evercade EXP handheld and new Irem Arcade 1 and Toaplan Arcade 1 cartridges. The new game compilations will appear in November 2022. Pre-orders for the standard version of the system and both collections will open in September 2022. A limited edition version of the system that includes both cartridges will be able to pre-order from Funstock starting on June 1, 2022.

The Evercade EXP will feature a number of updates. For example, it will have built-in WiFi. There are L2 and R2 triggers. You get 4GB of memory built into it. A 1.5Ghz processor is also there. It can output 720p via mini-HDMI. It has a 4.3” 800x480 IPS screen. You can also play it vertically for TATE mode games. The standard model is white, comes with Irem Arcade 1, and will cost  £129.99/$149.99/€149.99.

The Funstock version is limited to 5,000 units and is black. It will cost  £179.99 when its pre-orders open at 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CET on June 1, 2022. That extra money gets people the Toaplan Arcade 1 cart as well as the first Irem collection. People will also get a matching carrying case, a certificate of authenticity, a poster, and an Evercade cartridge keychain.

Here’s the full Evercade 2nd Anniversary Show.

Here’s an Evercade trailer for Toaplan Arcade 1, which will include Guardian, Snow Bros, Teki Paki, Tiger-Heli, Alcon, Flying Shark, Truxton, and Zero Wing.

And this is the Irem Arcade 1 Evercade trailer. This cartridge features 1—Yard Fight, Moon Patrol, R-Type, Battle Chopper, In the Hunt, and Lightning Swords.

Finally, here’s the trailer for the new Evercade handheld.

The Evercade EXP will be out in Winter 2022.

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Earlier this week, Limited Run Games announced that they are working together with SNK and Retro-Bit Gaming to bring back Metal Slug Anthology and four different Toaplan-developed shooters, including the infamous Zero Wing. More specifically, Limited Run Games is creating a physical version of the Metal Slug Anthology and Toaplan games for the PS4.

Metal Slug Anthology PS4 6d5j6w

Originally released on PS2, PSP, PC, and Wii, Metal Slug Anthology is a collection of the run-and-gun shooter series that contains Metal Slug, 2, X, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Apart from the games, Anthology also includes a collection of concept art for games across the series, a jukebox to listen to in-game tracks, and more. Limited Run Games is releasing a physical version for the Metal Slug Anthology for the PS4, which originally released in 2016. While you can get the collection physically as a normal edition, there is also a Limited Collector's Edition that includes a mini NEOGEO cartridge, art cards, a poster, and special box.

Toaplan Shoot-em-ups PS4 666l3r

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Four different Toaplan shoot-em-ups are receiving new physical editions: the Sega Genesis versions of Fireshark, Hellfire, Truxton, and Zero Wing. Out of all of these, you might recognize Zero Wing for being the source of the infamous 'All your base are belong to us' meme. In fact, this time the PAL version intro is being kept, and the game's 35 different endings are also being translated into English in a way that reflects the game's original translation. All four games are coming in their own Collector's Editions with a case, art card, an interview with one of the game's developers, and more.

Finally, getting all four games will get you an extra slipcover and thank you card from one of the game's original developers.

The Metal Slug Anthology physical edition will be available for pre-order on September 18, 2020. Meanwhile, the Toaplan games will open for pre-order on September 15, 2020. In related news, M2 announced the first four Toaplan games they are bringing to modern platforms.

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Last year, developer M2 announced that they had acquired the licensing to release almost all of defunct game developer Toaplan's IPs, and would be bringing as many of them as possible onto modern platforms, and yesterday they announced the first four games to get the rerelease treatment on livestream. The first four titles are Flying Shark (also known as Hishouzame and Sky Shark), Twin Cobra (Kyuukyoku Tiger), Truxton II (Tatsujin Ou), and Out Zone.

Check out in-development gameplay of the four game rereleases below:

Here are details on the four games below from M2:

Twin Cobra: A true evolution to Tiger-Heli, and the game that put Toaplan on the map as a vertical scrolling shoot 'em up developer with its great game balance.

Truxton II: "Well, we've got to make it easier..." (referring to Super Easy Mode)

Flying Shark: Another classic that helped set up the shot + ground bomb combination. The first Toaplan game to utilize the feature where the screen would scroll slowly left or right if you're flying towards the side.

Out Zone: A "push-up" run and gun shmup where the players advance the screen by moving the character upward. Features lots of hidden elements, including cameos of characters from other Toaplan games.

M2 ended the segment by saying that these are just four of the Toaplan games that are being worked on currently, and platforms and release dates will be announced later on.

Twin Cobra, Flying Shark, Truxton II, and Out Zone are in development.

The post Toaplan’s Flying Shark, Twin Cobra, Truxton II, and Out Zone Coming to Modern Platforms appeared first on Siliconera.

mobirix announced today that the classic Toaplan arcade title Snow Bros. will hit smartphones on January 22, 2020 as Snow Bros. Classic. You can check out the trailer above. [Thanks, 4Gamer!]

For those unfamiliar with this title, it's a stage-based game similar to Bubble Bobble where you play as two snowmen, Nick and Tom. You shoot out snowballs at enemies in order to turn them into a giant snowball that you can then kick to take out the enemy. Any enemies caught in the way of the giant snowball are also defeated.

The title is being brought to modern platforms as part of M2's acquisition of Toaplan licenses. They announced the news back in December, and revealed that they plan on bringing nearly all Toaplan titles to modern platforms, with Snow Bros. being the first announced game. While Toaplan is known for its arcade titles and shoot 'em ups, some games from other genres like Wardner and Guardian have been announced as well.

Snow Bros. Classic will release for iOS and Android on January 22, 2020.

The post Toaplan Classic Arcade Game Snow Bros. Rolls Onto Smartphones On January 22 appeared first on Siliconera.

During the M2 Shmups Thanksgiving Festival today, M2 president Naoki Horii announced that M2 has acquired the licensing to release (nearly) all Toaplan games onto modern platforms. [Thanks, Yosuke Okunari!]

For those unfamiliar with Toaplan, they were a famous arcade game and shoot 'em up developer in the 1980's which sadly ended up declaring bankruptcy in 1994. Some of the developers would go on to create their own companies like Cave.

While he was unsure how long this plan would take, Horii said that M2 will work towards releasing all of them, barring the risque game like Mahjong Sisters, and Enma Daio. Aside from Toaplan's shoot 'em up games, other genre titles like Wardner and Guardian are also planned to be part of this lineup. The Toaplan games are set to be brought to modern platforms beginning in 2020.

Toaplan games Twin Cobra and Truxton are currently available on smartphones, and it was announced that the issues those ports have with aspect ratios will be fixed.

Finally, it was announced that the Toaplan title Snow Bros. is coming to smartphones in the near future.

The Toaplan game revivals will begin in 2020. The game lineup will be announced at a later date.

The post M2 To Bring Nearly All Toaplan Games To Modern Home Consoles appeared first on Siliconera.