TAITO Milestones 3 has arrived, and with it comes a fresh batch of 10 classic games for the Nintendo Switch, courtesy of ININ Games. If you’re curious about this nostalgic journey, stick around for our detailed review of these timeless gems!
The journey began in 2022 when ININ Games launched the original TAITO Milestones collection, a celebration of TAITO’s extensive arcade history. Building on that success, 2023 saw the release of TAITO Milestones 2, and now, in 2024, we’re excited to dive into the third installment, packed with another set of memorable titles.
What can you expect to find in TAITO Milestones 3? Here are the classics included in this Nintendo Switch bundle:
– Bubble Bobble
– Rainbow Islands
– Rastan Saga
– Dead Connection
– Cadash
– Rastan Saga 2
– Champion Wrestler
– Runark
– Warrior Blade
– Thunder Fox
Bubble Bobble, a delightful 2D platformer from 1986, takes you on a whimsical adventure with Bub and Bob, two dragons on a quest to rescue their damsels in distress from the villainous Baron Von Blubba. You’ll use bubbles as your weapons to capture and eliminate foes, all while racking up points and collecting power-ups. Many remember this gem from its NES version.
A year later, a sequel arrived: Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2. This time, Bub and Bob returned in human form, having been mysteriously transformed into dragons previously. Their new task involves using magical rainbows to tackle enemies across Rainbow Islands, ultimately facing the ominous Dark Shadow. The rainbows also serve as handy platforms to navigate rising water levels in each stage.
Next up is Rastan Saga from 1987, a western fan favorite as simply Rastan. This side-scrolling hack and slash features Rastan, now a king sharing his past exploits. You’ll navigate through six thrilling levels, battling diverse enemies and bosses while picking up temporary weapons and power-ups.
Dead Connection, a 1992 arcade launch, sets its stage in a 1950s city reminiscent of classic films like The Untouchables and The Godfather. It allows up to four players to face off against hordes of foes within confined screens, utilizing collected weapons and power-ups. Keep your distance, dodge, and resort to melee attacks only when necessary.
Cadash combines platforming with RPG elements in a fantasy adventure, ultimately challenging you to rescue Princess Salassa from the clutches of Balrog and his minions. Four heroes embark on this mission, battling monsters to reach and thwart Balrog’s evil scheme.
Rastan Saga 2, known to North American players as Nastar Warrior, continues Rastan’s epic tale. This installment pits you against a malevolent wizard. Only by defeating The Wicked Group can Rastania be saved and claimed as your kingdom.
Champion Wrestler, from 1989, is an aptly named wrestling game where players compete as professional wrestlers aiming for glory. You select from eight characters, each with unique stats and tricks, including Power, Durability, Technique, Speed, and Resilience.
Runark, internationally recognized as Growl, debuted in 1990 as a “beat ‘em up” title. You play as a forest ranger protecting wildlife from armed poachers. Battles can range from simple fists to powerful grenades, spanning across seven stages determined to save endangered creatures.
Warrior Blade, part of the Rastan Saga series released in 1991, feels akin to the Golden Axe franchise. With three playable characters, this installment never made it outside of Japan until now. Large sprite characters and branching pathways make this an engaging experience, offering replayability with varying heroes.
Finally, Thunder Fox, a run ‘n’ gun game from 1990, lets players combat terrorism across land, sea, and air in the year 199X. The duo, Thunder and Fox, must save the world from utter chaos. Though it didn’t originally leave Japan, it’s included in this pack for all to enjoy.
TAITO Milestones 3 delivers diverse entertainment for Nintendo Switch users, both at home and on the go, with classic games like Bubble Bobble, Rainbow Islands, and more. Available from December 10th for $39.99, this compilation promises something for everyone in its array of arcade wonders.
A special thanks to ININ Games for providing a Nintendo Switch copy for this review.
