Taito Legends 2

[dave4shmups]

Microsoft in the US is actually quite open to this sort of compilation as opposed to SCEA.

SCEA doesn't mind these collections since at a value $20 package, nobody would confuse this for top-of-the-line PS2 software.

I love how they had to start selling all their new games at the $40 MSRP to move units. They also had to lower the greatest hits criteria so that Killzone and Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain could quality.

$40 MRSP?! When the heck did this start happening? AFIK, all new PS2 games, unless they're Greatest Hits, are still $49.99.

Is the Saturn Chase HQ/SCI double-pack really THAT bad?? From the screens I've seen, they both look like perfect ports-at least graphically speaking.

[Shatterhand]

What Atari has to do with Arkanoid ?

[Devil REI]

What Atari has to do with Arkanoid ?

I think it being such an INCREDIBLY BLATANT Breakout knockoff might have something to do with it.

[The Coop]

I sincerely hope this gets a release in the US. Can't really say how the sales were for the first "Legends", but considering the games that are on this second compilation, and the sheer number of them, hopefully someone will pick up.

[Shapermc]

Did the Euro version have a 60hz option for the first legends? Also, not releasing this in the US would just be stupid. I am still waiting for Rainbow Islands DS.

It also looks like I will be getting both the PS2 and Xboxen versions. I am pretty disapointed in the first Legends. It seemed like they left some of the best games out, and only put in a few of the better ones. The amount of crap on the first one is overwhelming.

[dave4shmups]

What Atari has to do with Arkanoid ?

I think it being such an INCREDIBLY BLATANT Breakout knockoff might have something to do with it.

Except that Arkanoid is actually fun, whereas Breakout should be prescribed to people with insomnia.

Seriously, though, Atari had their chance to sue Arkanoid out of existence when it was first released in arcades. They didn't, and I hardly think they'd do it now, considering that they're selling off most of their developement studios just to stay alive.

So there are no excuses, legal or otherwise, for Taito not putting at least Arkanoid I and II, if not also Returns, in any compilation.

That having been said, I enjoy Taito Legends at least as much, probably more, then I do Sega Classics Collection. Sega had more crap in that collection then Taito did in Legends, IMO-a butchered revision of Golden Axe, plus Tant-R and Bonanza Bros. (as if either of those games warranted a revision) and no After Burner. Maybe we'll see another Sega Ages Comp. over here, but I highly doubt it.

[Turrican]

Did the Euro version have a 60hz option for the first legends? Also, not releasing this in the US would just be stupid. I am still waiting for Rainbow Islands DS.

Yes, 60hz is there.

It also looks like I will be getting both the PS2 and Xboxen versions. I am pretty disapointed in the first Legends. It seemed like they left some of the best games out, and only put in a few of the better ones. The amount of crap on the first one is overwhelming.

I disagree. Just for reference, again:

TAITO MEMORIES VOL.1 JOUKAN

1- Space Invaders Color
2- Lunar Rescue
3- Alpine Ski 1982
4- Fairyland Story
5- *Kiki Kai Kai
6- *Bubble Bobble
7- Rastan Saga
8- Kuri Kinton
9- *Syvalion
10- Jigoku Meguri (bonze Adventure)
11- *Cameltry
12- Don Doko Don
13- Flipull (Plotting)
14- Aa Eikou no Koushien
15- Majestic Twelve (SuperSpaceInvaders'91)
16- Runark (Growl)
17- PuLiRuLa
18- *Metal Black
19- Grid Seeker
20- Space Invaders DX
21- Darius Gaiden
22- Light Bringer (Dungeon Magic)
23- Elevator Action Returns
24- Cleopatra Fortune
25- Puchi Carat

TAITO MEMORIES VOL.1 GEKAN

1- Space Invaders
2- Space Invaders Part 2
3- Crazy Balloon
4- Balloon Bomber
5- Qix
6- Wild Western
7- Elevator Action
8- Chack'n Pop
9- Front Line
10- Legend of Kage
11- The New Zealand Story
12- Rastan Saga II
13- Raimais
14- Insector X
15- Cadash
16- Violence Fight
17- Gun Frontier
18- Hat Trick Hero (football Champ)
19- Mizubaku Daibouken (liquid Kids)
20- Arabian Magic
21- Akkanvader (Space Invaders '95)
22- Gekirindan
23- Puzzle Bobble 2
24- Raystorm
25- G-Darius

TAITO MEMORIES 2 (Vol.1) out in January '07

1- Scramble Formation
2- Super Qix
3- Operation Thunderbolt
4- Darius II
5- Fighting Hawk
6- Bubble Memories
7- Return of the Invaders
8- Rainbow Islands
9- Kick and Run
10- Continental Circus
11- Chuuka Taisen
12- Rayforce
13- Space Chaser
14- Grand Champion
15- Time Tunnel
16- The Undoukai
17- Ben Bero Bee
18- Exzisus
19- Asuka & Asuka
20- S.C.I.
21- Champion Wrestler
22-Space Gun
23- Ninja Kids
24- Dino Rex
25- Ougon no Shiro (Gladiator)

TAITO MEMORIES 2 (Vol.2) out in March '07

1- Operation Wolf
2- Night Striker
3- Metal Soldier Isaac 2
4- Gyrodine
5- Warrior Blade
6- TT Field Goal
7- Phoenix
8- Great Swordman
9- Polaris
10- Riku Kai Kuu Saizensen
11- Halley Comet
12- Plump Pop
13- Sea Fighter Poseidon
14- Onna Sanshirou
15- Full Throttle
16- Rainbow Islands Extra
17- Chase HQ
18- Buggy Challenge
19- Master of Weapon
20- Mega Blast
21- Battle Shark
22- Final Blow
23- Volfied
24- Thunder Fox
25- Bubble Symphony

TAITO LEGENDS

1 Battle Shark
2 Bubble Bobble (1986)
3 Colony 7 (1981)
4 Continental Circus /circuit (1987)
5 Electric Yo-Yo (1982)
6 Elevator Action (1983)
7 Exzisus (1987)
8 Gladiator (1986)
9 Great Swordsman (1984)
10 Jungle Hunt (1982)
11 Ninja Kids (1990)
12 New Zealand Story (1988)
13 Operation Thunderbolt (1988)
14 Operation Wolf (1987)
15 Phoenix (1980)
16 Plotting (1989)
17 Plump Pop (1987)
18 Rainbow Islands (1987)
19 Rastan (1987)
20 Return of the Invaders (1985)
21 Space Gun (1990)
22 Space Invaders
23 Space Invaders part 2 (1978-1980)
24 Super Qix (1987)
25 Thunderfox (1990)
26 Tokio (1986 aka Scramble Formation)
27 Tube It (1993)
28 Volfied (1989)
29 Zoo Keeper (1982)

TAITO LEGENDS 2

1 Lunar Rescue
2 Alpine Ski
3 The Fairyland Story
4 KiKi KaiKai
5 Kuri Kinton
6 Syvalion PS2 / Cadash XBOX
7 Bonze Adventure
8 Cameltry
9 Don Doko Don
10 Super Space Invaders 91
11 Growl
12 Metal Black
13 Grid Seeker: Project Storm Hammer
14 Space Invaders DX
15 Darius Gaiden
16 Dungeon Magic
17 Elevator Action Returns
18 Cleopatra Fortune
19 Puchi Carat
20 Crazy Balloon
21 Balloon Bomber PS2 / Pop 'n Pop XBOX
22 Qix
23 Wild Western
24 Chack'n' Pop
25 Frontline
26 Legend of Kage
27 Rastan 2
28 Raimais
29 Insector X
30 Violence Fight
31 Gun Frontier
32 Football Champ (Hat-Trick Hero)
33 Liquid Kids
34 Arabian Magic
35 Space Invaders 95
36 Gekirindan
37 Puzzle Bobble 2
38 Ray Storm PS2 / Bubble Symphony XBOX
39 G-Darius PS2 / Rayforce XBOX
40 PuLiRuLa (apparently taken out from the west due to censorship mentality)

East VS West:

East: 50 games
West: 72 games

Games West doesn't get: PuLiRuLa, Space Invaders Color, Aa Eikou no Koushien.

Games East doesn't get: Rainbow Islands, Phoenix, Operation Wolf, Space Gun, Return of the Invaders, Bubble Symphony... And more.

West wins. (edit: East wins )

[genetik]

Shouldn't Rayforce XBOX be green?

It wasn't on gekan.

[Turrican]

Shouldn't Rayforce XBOX be green?

It wasn't on gekan.

You're so right

[Danny]

The only excuse other than Tatio wanting to make more money is I think Tatio are going to use the PSX port of G Darius for the PS2 version thus a straight conversion can be assured. Would be a little tricky doing that on the old Xbox but this is speculation not fact.

If it is the PSX version under emulation with no slowdown (yes if I can do that on my PC then it is possible) then we'll get Boss Attack mode and that funky intro! But perhaps it's just a synical marketing ploy to get people to buy both versions of the same retro collection disc...

[Shapermc]

It also looks like I will be getting both the PS2 and Xboxen versions. I am pretty disapointed in the first Legends. It seemed like they left some of the best games out, and only put in a few of the better ones. The amount of crap on the first one is overwhelming.

I disagree. Just for reference, again:

See, and I disagree with you. Touche! This is all opinion, but I am going to color the ones that I prefer.

1 Battle Shark
2 Bubble Bobble (1986)
3 Colony 7 (1981)
4 Continental Circus /circuit (1987)
5 Electric Yo-Yo (1982)
6 Elevator Action (1983)
7 Exzisus (1987)
8 Gladiator (1986)
9 Great Swordsman (1984)
10 Jungle Hunt (1982)
11 Ninja Kids (1990)
12 New Zealand Story (1988)
13 Operation Thunderbolt (1988)
14 Operation Wolf (1987)
15 Phoenix (1980)
16 Plotting (1989)
17 Plump Pop (1987)
18 Rainbow Islands (1987)
19 Rastan (1987)
20 Return of the Invaders (1985)
21 Space Gun (1990)
22 Space Invaders
23 Space Invaders part 2 (1978-1980)
24 Super Qix (1987)
25 Thunderfox (1990)
26 Tokio (1986 aka Scramble Formation)
27 Tube It (1993)
28 Volfied (1989)
29 Zoo Keeper (1982)

Nothing else was anything more than a curosity to me. Also, Space Invaders gets released at least a dozen times on every system ever. At least they tossed in some of the more rare, yet still unsatisfying Space Invaders. I was really hoping for Majestic 12.

Also note that I much prefer the gameplay of the NES Rainbow Islands to the arcade version, so I hardly touch that one anyways.

[Twiddle]

where's On the Ball and Galactic Storm

[doctorx0079]

where's On the Ball and Galactic Storm

On The Ball = Cameltry

[Skyknight]

I can't say that the Atari of today is similar to that of yesterday. 1984 Atari probably decided that there was no point to going after Arkanoid (besides, weren't the power capsules an innovation in and of themselves?). I'm not sure what present-day Atari is worried about...

As for Galactic Storm...That's Rayforce, right? It's on the Xbox compilation.

[gameoverDude]

I can't say that the Atari of today is similar to that of yesterday. 1984 Atari probably decided that there was no point to going after Arkanoid (besides, weren't the power capsules an innovation in and of themselves?). I'm not sure what present-day Atari is worried about...

As for Galactic Storm...That's Rayforce, right? It's on the Xbox compilation.

Galactic Storm is a different game from 1992, with a chase view similar to Galaxy Force. http://www.arcadeflyers.net/?page=flyer ... mbs&id=423
http://www.arcadeflyers.net/?page=flyer ... bs&id=4784

OGR did the soundtrack for Galactic Storm and the Zuntata History 2nd CD has "Dennou Koutei" and "Protmind".

[BulletMagnet]

As for Galactic Storm...That's Rayforce, right?

You might be thinking of "Galactic Attack," which was the name that Acclaim slapped on Rayforce when they brought it to the US Saturn.

[Turrican]

play.com has it in stock - maybe someone among you is getting it in the mail and I'm waiting for feedback and precious 60hz info...

[theevilfunkster]

play.com has it in stock - maybe someone among you is getting it in the mail and I'm waiting for feedback and precious 60hz info...

My Xbox version just shipped from play.com, feedback in a few days. I'll probably get the PS2 one if I go into town at the weekend.

[dave4shmups]

The fact that both the US PS2 and XBOX ports are still listed as "TBA 2006" is hardly encouraging right now.

I really don't understand the delay. Empire has an office here in the states, do they not?

[Specineff]

I already got Rayforce on the Saturn, and don't care about the other 3 exclusive games for the Xbox. So it's PS2 for me, just for G-Darius.

[Neon]

I already got Rayforce on the Saturn, and don't care about the other 3 exclusive games for the Xbox. So it's PS2 for me, just for G-Darius.

Bubble Symphony and Pop 'n Pop are fucking great, though G. Darius alone is certainly worth more than the price.

[Turrican]

there's already a review at eurogamer:

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=63679

But why does it mention 39 games instead of 40??? What's missing?

[Ghegs]

I'm guessing Legends 2 has 60hz since the first one did as well, but how's the digital controls? In the first Legends you had to use a controller with analog input (or so I've heard) which instantly ruled out most arcade sticks and my beloved Saturn-style pad.

Though I have both Memories, it would be convenient to have all the shmups on one disc, but if I can't use my pad of choice then I'll stick to the JPN releases.

[Masamune]

Yes hopefully they fixed the issue of not being able to use joysticks or digital only pads which taito legends 1 had.


sonic mega collection also had this problem.

it makes no sense because none of the games support the analog anyway.

[Blade]

Seriously, though, Atari had their chance to sue Arkanoid out of existence when it was first released in arcades. They didn't, and I hardly think they'd do it now, considering that they're selling off most of their developement studios just to stay alive.

I believe it was the whole Tetris Copyright debacle that did them in. That was literally an international incident, wasn't it?

[theevilfunkster]

My Xbox version hasn't arrived yet so I went and got the PS2 version today. It has 50/60htz mode, the same screen modes as in the first version (original and stretched) and......it works just fine with my Street Fighter anniversary pad and my X-Arcade stick.

[Danny]

My Xbox version hasn't arrived yet so I went and got the PS2 version today. It has 50/60htz mode, the same screen modes as in the first version (original and stretched) and......it works just fine with my Street Fighter anniversary pad and my X-Arcade stick.

Yeah I can confrim that the Xbox version has 50/60 hrz mode but you have to set it VIA the xbox's video setting in the xbox "dashboard" screen. Please note if you play these games on the PAL's xbox defualt setting then the music and everything else will be a little slower and crazy glitches can happen while in 60hrz none of this is a problem.

While this collection dose not have TATE mode it does have the option to turn those annoying purple boarders in to just plain black ones which is good.

Saying that I love all the games on this collection so I must leave you now to go and play on them more heh.

Saying that it's intresting that the Xbox versioncosts £5 more than the PS2 one in GAME. This was the same for the first one to, I wonder why that is?

[Turrican]

My Xbox version hasn't arrived yet so I went and got the PS2 version today. It has 50/60htz mode, the same screen modes as in the first version (original and stretched) and......it works just fine with my Street Fighter anniversary pad and my X-Arcade stick.

Thanks! it's awesome to see Japanese did put digital pad support. Eurogamer says Taito Legends 2 has 39 games while we thought (via Play.com listing) that it had 40... Could you check what's missing?

[gameoverDude]

I believe it was the whole Tetris Copyright debacle that did them in. That was literally an international incident, wasn't it?

Actually it was Tengen AKA Atari Games (having been spun off from Atari and later known as Midway Games West) who caught the shit over Tetris. Tengen bought the rights from an incorrect source.

[Danny]

Oh the xbox version has 40... just counted them on the back of the box!