Taito Memories PS2

[Sir Arthur ahf]

Hello everyone,

Just a quick question

Are therea any differences between the Taito Memories (NTSC/J) and the Taito Generations (NTSC/U & PAL) on PS2?

Same developer?

I have read that the xbox developer was a different one, but not sure if the PS2 one was the same.

I already have Taito generations 1 & 2 on PS2, so not sure if I should get the JP versions...

[Fudoh]

It's mostly about the additional titles included in the four japanese volumes, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taito_Memories

The PS2 version only runs at 480i, while the XBox version runs at 480p. This can make quite a difference depending on your display or video processor.

[Nana]

I believe that TATE is also only included in the Japanese versions of the series. And for what it's worth, the US version has the botched localized version of Puzzle Bobble 2.

[BulletMagnet]

I believe that TATE is also only included in the Japanese versions of the series.

This only applies to the latter two Japanese releases (Taito Memories 2 Joukan and 2 Gekan) - the first two don't offer tate mode. Neither of the Western "Legends" releases do.

In addition, while only two "Legends" discs were released versus four "Memories" ones, the former have more games per disc on them, including a handful of titles that weren't on any of the "Memories" collections - however, a couple of games on the Legends discs have some technical issues (off the top of my head, the laser in Metal Black doesn't work correctly). I attempted to list all of the shooters on each disc in this article, hopefully I didn't overlook too much.

[Sir Arthur ahf]

Thanks a lot

So, If you have both Taito Legends you would only need Joukan II and Gekan II

I read something about Empire moaning about Taito not giving them the proper source of the games for the Xbox conversion, but not sure if the ones we got for PS2 were developed by Taito internally (the games included in Taito Legends 1 & 2)

[BulletMagnet]

So, If you have both Taito Legends you would only need Joukan II and Gekan II

It's not a perfect equivalency, but IIRC the stuff on Legends is mostly from the first two Memories - I'd still recommend having a quick look at the full game list for each (I think GameFAQs ought to have 'em) just to make sure you're getting all the individual games you want most.

[Sir Arthur ahf]

So, If you have both Taito Legends you would only need Joukan II and Gekan II

It's not a perfect equivalency, but IIRC the stuff on Legends is mostly from the first two Memories - I'd still recommend having a quick look at the full game list for each (I think GameFAQs ought to have 'em) just to make sure you're getting all the individual games you want most.

It is also in the wiki

Thanks Bullet!

[lawnspic]

IIRC the western release had the emu coded by another dev. as Taito would not release the source code. Got to check one of my old threads, its been a while.

[Chacranajxy]

The emulation was pretty shoddy in the US release, and I think it was actually supposed to be a lot more accurate in the JP compilations. Elevator Action Returns had a ton of slowdown in the US.

[Sir Arthur ahf]

Are you both talking about the PS2 version?

[Obiwanshinobi]

Taito Memories comes with the most accurate (if upscaled/interlaced) RayForce port around (where tate makes the difference indeed).

[GrantWindsor]

Classic game collections are always problematic. Besides emulation problems from time to time, there is no way you can please everyone, as certain titles will be left out, even non-licensed titles. Compounding that, I sometimes wonder what some companies are thinking when they choose the titles they do (except for inclusion of major, known titles) or, in the case of Namco Museum, why they keep regurgitating pretty much the same crap over and over again. The title Namco Museum hasn't meant anything since the PS1 days. That said, when the Taito Memories collections were announced, I figured the series would put to shame other similar Japanese retro game compilations, and, to a point, it does. I'm used to no Tate option in western collections, but I can't fathom why the vertical games had no Tate options in the first two volumes. Even more baffling to me is how Taito managed to put together a collection of 100 arcade games focused on the Japanese market and still left out the original Darius, Ninja Warriors and Arkanoid.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Just collections of PSX/Namco System games playable on PS2, but Gunvari Collection + Time Crisis and NamCollection are pretty decent. Not to mention the arcade versions of the first 3 Tekken games unlockable in Tekken 5.
They still deserve some nit-picking (no analogue stick support in Ridge Racer is just mean), but at least what wasn't fixed hasn't got broken any more.
Didn't hear anything bad about Konami Arcade Game Collection for the GBA. Green Beret has got a button for jump at last, whereas climbing the ladders remains mapped onto up. Can't be easily done in MAME, can it?

[Ghegs]

Just collections of PSX/Namco System games playable on PS2, but Gunvari Collection + Time Crisis and NamCollection are pretty decent. Not to mention the arcade versions of the first 3 Tekken games unlockable in Tekken 5.
They still deserve some nit-picking (no analogue stick support in Ridge Racer is just mean)

That's actually accurate, that's how it was back in the day since analog sticks weren't available for PS1 when the game originally came out. The only way to play Ridge Racer with analog controls was with a neGcon, and the controller works just as well on the PS2 collection.

[BrianC]

I read something about Empire moaning about Taito not giving them the proper source of the games for the Xbox conversion, but not sure if the ones we got for PS2 were developed by Taito internally (the games included in Taito Legends 1 & 2)

I'm not completely sure, but my guess is that Atomic Planet was given the Taito Memories PS2 source code for Taito Legends 2 PS2 and that they tweaked the games themselvels without Taito's input. I think this is why some games were broken in the process. I remember early reports of the first two Taito Memories mentioning slowdown in games like Elevator Action 2 and Darius Gaiden, and at least one poster mentioning input lag in the JP version. Not sure how accurate this is since I only played the US Legends collections, though.

One thing that is especially disappointing with Taito Legends 2 US is that it came out awhile after the EU version and actually broke another game (Puzzle Bobble 2) rather than fixing the odd input issues of the EU version.

[VRC-7]

I was doing some research about a week or so ago, and apparently Taito Memories was done by a Chinese company, Mine Loader Software.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Just collections of PSX/Namco System games playable on PS2, but Gunvari Collection + Time Crisis and NamCollection are pretty decent. Not to mention the arcade versions of the first 3 Tekken games unlockable in Tekken 5.
They still deserve some nit-picking (no analogue stick support in Ridge Racer is just mean)

That's actually accurate, that's how it was back in the day since analog sticks weren't available for PS1 when the game originally came out. The only way to play Ridge Racer with analog controls was with a neGcon, and the controller works just as well on the PS2 collection.

It's just as mean as Ridge Racer Turbo, where the option literally called "DualShock" in the menus only adds vibration feedback. The PS2 collection saves on a PS2 memory card that also didn't exist in 1994. If this could be inaccurate, why aren't controls enhanced?

[BrianC]

I'm guessing only RR4 supports the Jogcon?

[Ghegs]

I'm guessing only RR4 supports the Jogcon?

AFAIK, only three games support the Jogcon. RR4, RR5 and V-Rally 2. The controller's really not worth it, I'd say.

[amdiggywhut]

No tate, no buy.

[nosorrow]

I got it only for RayStorm and G Darius and it is well worth it. Both ports are quite playable.