I never used to understand the wave of ‘classic’ retro compilations that came our way, season after season. I thought that I’d pop Taito Legends 2 into the PS2 drive tray and sit back to be bored with playing fifteen-year-old games as I have so many times before, for Namco, Atari, Midway and their like.
However, a strange thing happened. I powered the PS2 up, walked to the kitchen to grab a Diet Coke and as I returned, my TV screen showed something that I never thought I’d see. I quickly progressed through the menus and found that my eyes weren’t deceiving me first time around. No, there in all its glory, was the game that sat right at the back of the dark and musty seaside arcade that I used to frequent. That game was Football Champ. Oh, fine play.
And then I got it. I realised exactly why these retro compilations exist. Sure, you can download an emulator and legally (of course legally, how else would you want them’) obtain the original ROM images from the arcade machines, but unless you have a large, large monitor ‘ it just isn’t the same. With the sound turned right up and the big screen TV in full effect, these games come into their own. In multiplayer mode, a great laugh can be had playing the likes of Arabian Magic and ‘ of course ‘ Puzzle Bobble 2. On top of this, there’s the chance to play some of the more obscure titles that may not have made it all the way to your local arcade. Delicious delicacies such as Elevator Action Returns or Metal Black for example.
This sequel to last year’s original Taito Legends collection contains more games (40 as opposed to the original’s 30) and is more of a package for the gamer who wants something new from his or her purchase. There’s no way that you will have experienced all of the titles contained within Taito Legends 2 at the arcades (or via a home port) ‘ and therefore you aren’t just getting a quality blast from the past, but a little bit of extra schooling in the ways of the arcade. There aren’t a great deal in terms of extras included however, so you’re looking at a professionally created emulator and 40 games to use with it ‘ and that’s your lot.
But we must take the rose-tinted spectacles off for a second and be realistic. I was fully prepared to give Taito Legends 2 top marks after playing Football Champ and G-Darius, but that is simply because I remember pumping pocketfuls of shrapnel into the coin slot in my younger years. I’ll list the titles contained in the package in a second ‘ and if any of them bring a smile to your face, do me a favour and add two marks to the final score that I give the package, will you’
Taito Legends 2 includes: Lunar Rescue, Alpine Ski, The Fairyland Story, KiKi KaiKai, Kuri Kinton, Syvalion, Bonze Adventure, Cameltry, Don Doko Don, Super Space Invaders ‘91, Growl, PuLiRuLa, Metal Black, Grid Seeker: Project Storm Hammer, Space Invaders DX, Darius Gaiden, Dungeon Magic, Elevator Action Returns, Cleopatra Fortune, Puchi Carat, Crazy Balloon, Balloon Bomber, Qix, Wild Western, Chack ‘n’ Pop, Frontline, Legend of Kage, Rastan 2, Raimais, Insector X, Violence Fight, Gun Frontier, Football Champ (Hat-Trick Hero), Liquid Kids, Arabian Magic, Space Invaders ‘95, Gekirindan, Puzzle Bobble 2, Ray Storm, and G-Darius.
Smiling’ Job done. If not, then it doesn’t surprise me massively. Taito have a rich history when it comes to the arcade, but the majority of their more popular (and therefore most recognised) titles were included on the first collection.
Regardless, buying both packages won’t cost you the price of a full-price title, so it isn’t any major tragedy. The games are all exactly as you’ll remember them, being the exact same code that was running in the arcade ‘ the only difference being that instead of inserting real money to play; you press your ‘Select’ button to ‘buy’ a credit. The frontend of the package is as functional as you’d expect ‘ and includes move lists and the ability to bookmark your favourite games so that there is no need to run through that huge list each time.
