Aqua., Brandish, Cobra.
This week marks not only the return of another early-3D Namco game but also the kickoff of an initiative to attract non-arcade fans to some of Namco’s more unique control games—gamepad compatibility notwithstanding. Prop Cycle, your moment is coming!
ARCADE ARCHIVES / ARCADE ARCHIVES 2
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X (worldwide, ACA2) / Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 (worldwide, ACA)
- Price: $17.99 / €14.99 / £11.99 (ACA2), $14.99 / €14.99 / £11.99 (ACA), $2.99 / €2.99 / £2.49 (ACA-to-ACA2 upgrade)
- Publisher: Hamster / Bandai-Namco
What is this? A first-person jet-ski racing game, originally released in arcades by Namco in 1996 and now making its debut on home platforms. Players navigate either the 550CC Novice or 1100CC Expert course using a life-size jet-ski replica, with this release trying to replicate that experience through various input methods, including gyro controls and preset configurations for regular pads, arcade sticks, and racing wheels.
Why should you care? If you appreciate the effort that went into simulating the feel of a large arcade cabinet on a home controller, you’ll value this adaptation—despite the game being a bit lacking outside its original intended experience.
Helpful Tips: Always check the manual for instructions on entering mirror mode and cheat codes. If you plan to use a flight-style analog throttle stick, visit the advanced settings and set “Control Integration” to Left or Right based on your setup.
EGG CONSOLE
Brandish Renewal (PC-9801)
- Platform: Nintendo Switch (worldwide)
- Price: $7.19 / ¥990
- Publisher: D4 Enterprise / Nihon Falcom
What is this? A revamped version of Falcom’s overhead action RPG, Brandish, which debuted on the PC-9801 in 1991 and received several adaptations. The “Renewal” edition offers a director’s cut with balanced gameplay tweaks, additional music, and new enemies, although it’s primarily designed for mouse control rather than conventional gamepads.
Why should you care? If you enjoy Japanese takes on Western RPGs like Wizardry and Ultima, or are curious about Brandish, this could be an interesting experience for you.
Language barrier? Most essential text, including dialog and status updates, is in Japanese, aside from some simple UI elements.
OTHER
Toaplan Arcade Collection Vol.1 & Toaplan Arcade Collection Vol.2
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox (worldwide)
- Price: $34.99 or equivalent each
- Publisher: City Connection / Clear River Games
What are these? Two eight-game collections sourced from Toaplan’s esteemed arcade library, prominent in the mid-’80s to mid-’90s. These compilations offer a modern take on classic titles, complete with save states, customizable settings, and various gameplay assists.
Included Games: Vol.1 features titles like Flying Shark, Fire Shark, and Twin Cobra, while Vol.2 includes Zero Wing, Hell Fire, and Grind Stormer.
Why should you care? These collections focus on Toaplan’s renowned shooting games, offering an easy way to enjoy or revisit these influential classics, provided you’re interested in that genre.
Helpful tip: If you’re not up-to-date on M2’s Toaplan Arcade Garage series, note that they’ve released three volumes focused on titles such as Tiger Heli and Flying Shark, with the first being the only one available internationally.
Original article by retronauts.com
