Taito Legends
Encyclopedia
Taito Legends is a compilation of 29 arcade games released for the PlayStation 2
, Xbox
, and PC
in October 2005. The games were originally developed by Taito Corporation
. The Europe
an release was published by Empire Interactive, who had licensed the games from Taito and developed the compilation. The North America
n and South America
n releases were published by Sega
, even though it is not mentioned anywhere in the actual CD-ROM. Similar compilations had been released earlier by Taito in its home market of Japan
, under the names of Taito Memories Vol. 1 and Taito Memories Vol. 2.
The games on this compilation are emulations of their respective arcade originals; however, the software lacks light gun
support for Operation Wolf, Operation Thunderbolt, and Space Gun. These games place a gun cursor on the screen, which the player can move around with the analog stick (console versions), or mouse (PC version).
Extra features include interviews with some of the game designers, original sales flyers, and arcade cabinet
art.
Two follow-up compilations were issued; Taito Legends 2
for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC and the PlayStation Portable
exclusive Taito Legends Power-Up
.
(Note: The seven games listed above have also appeared on the Japanese Taito Memories collections. The games listed below were previously exclusive to this collection, but with the exception of all games except Jungle Hunt, Colony 7, Electric YoYo, Zoo Keeper, and Tube It are now featured in the Japanese Taito Memories 1 collections.)
version, 71.68% for the PlayStation 2
version, and 75.17% for the Windows version on GameRankings. IGN
praised the collection for a superb presentation, as well as the large amount of bonus material, but criticized that some titles in the collection as "worthless filler". Other criticisms are the lack of online leaderboards, the omission of Arkanoid
and Chase H.Q.
, the lack of light gun support for Operation Wolf, Operation Thunderbolt, and Space Gun, the lack of control configuration, and for the controls being "flipped", making it potentially uncomfortable and unnatural to many, less-adaptable players. Only the Windows version fixes the error regarding the collection's control scheme.
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
, and PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
in October 2005. The games were originally developed by Taito Corporation
Taito Corporation
The is a Japanese publisher of video game software and arcade hardware wholly owned by publisher Square Enix. Taito has their headquarters in the Shinjuku Bunka Quint Building in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo, sharing the facility with its parent company....
. The Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an release was published by Empire Interactive, who had licensed the games from Taito and developed the compilation. The North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n releases were published by Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
, even though it is not mentioned anywhere in the actual CD-ROM. Similar compilations had been released earlier by Taito in its home market of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, under the names of Taito Memories Vol. 1 and Taito Memories Vol. 2.
The games on this compilation are emulations of their respective arcade originals; however, the software lacks light gun
Light gun
A light gun is a pointing device for computers and a control device for arcade and video games.Modern screen-based light guns work by building a sensor into the gun itself, and the on-screen target emit light rather than the gun...
support for Operation Wolf, Operation Thunderbolt, and Space Gun. These games place a gun cursor on the screen, which the player can move around with the analog stick (console versions), or mouse (PC version).
Extra features include interviews with some of the game designers, original sales flyers, and arcade cabinet
Arcade cabinet
A video game arcade cabinet, also known as a video arcade machine or video coin-op, is the housing within which a video arcade game's hardware resides. Most cabinets designed since the mid-1980s conform to the JAMMA wiring standard...
art.
Two follow-up compilations were issued; Taito Legends 2
Taito Legends 2
Taito Legends 2 is the sequel to Taito Legends and is a follow-up collection of 39 Taito arcade games for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC....
for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC and the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
exclusive Taito Legends Power-Up
Taito Legends Power-Up
Taito Legends Power-Up is a compilation of classic Taito video games released for the PlayStation Portable system. Patterned after the Taito Legends series for video game consoles, Power-Up marks the first release of the franchise on a portable gaming system.-Games:Taito Legends Power-Up features...
.
Games
Taito Legends consists of the following 29 arcade games:- Space InvadersSpace Invadersis an arcade video game designed by Tomohiro Nishikado, and released in 1978. It was originally manufactured and sold by Taito in Japan, and was later licensed for production in the United States by the Midway division of Bally. Space Invaders is one of the earliest shooting games and the aim is to...
(1978) - Space Invaders Part II (1980) (initially released as Deluxe Space Invaders in the U.S.)
- Bubble BobbleBubble Bobbleis an arcade game by Taito, first released in 1986 and later ported to numerous home computers and game consoles. The game, starring the twin Bubble Dragons and , is an action-platform game in which players travel through one hundred different stages, blowing and bursting bubbles, avoiding...
(1986) - Elevator ActionElevator Actionis a 1983 arcade game by Taito. It debuted during the "Golden Age of Arcade Games". Innovative in gameplay, this game was very popular for many years, with game music created by musician Yoshino Imamura...
(1983) - Rastan (1987) (aka Rastan Saga in Japan and the PAL regions)
- The New Zealand Story (1988)
- Plotting (1989) (aka Flipull)
(Note: The seven games listed above have also appeared on the Japanese Taito Memories collections. The games listed below were previously exclusive to this collection, but with the exception of all games except Jungle Hunt, Colony 7, Electric YoYo, Zoo Keeper, and Tube It are now featured in the Japanese Taito Memories 1 collections.)
- PuLiRuLaPuLiRuLaPuLiRuLa is a 1991 arcade game released by Taito. The game was later ported to the FM Towns Marty, Sega Saturn, PlayStation, and PlayStation 2 in Japan. The PS1 and Saturn versions are known as Pu-Li-Ru-La Arcade Gears. The PS2 version is part of a compilation called Taito Memories , but omitted...
(only in the Japanese version of Taito Legends) - Jungle HuntJungle HuntJungle Hunt is a one- or two-player side-scrolling arcade platform game produced by Taito in 1982.The player controls a jungle explorer who sports a pith helmet and a safari suit. The player must rescue his girl from a tribe of hungry cannibals...
(1982) - Operation WolfOperation WolfOperation Wolf is a one-player shooter arcade game made by Taito in 1987. It spawned three sequels: Operation Thunderbolt , Operation Wolf 3 and Operation Tiger .-Description:...
(1987) (Note: lacks light gunLight gunA light gun is a pointing device for computers and a control device for arcade and video games.Modern screen-based light guns work by building a sensor into the gun itself, and the on-screen target emit light rather than the gun...
support) - Operation Thunderbolt (1988) (Note: lacks light gun support)
- Rainbow Islands (1987) (music altered in both international and Japanese versions due to licensing issues)
- Phoenix (1980)
- Colony 7Colony 7Colony 7 is a shooter game by Taito Corporation released in 1981 that is in many ways a combination of the two most popular shooter games of the time. Containing both elements of Taito's own Space Invaders and Atari's Missile Command. This game has recently been re-released by Sega on their game...
(1981) - Electric YoYo (1982)
- Zoo KeeperZoo Keeper (arcade game)Zoo Keeper is an arcade game created by Taito Corporation and released in 1982. In the game's storyline, the player's character, named Zeke, is a zookeeper whose girlfriend, Zelda, has been kidnapped by a malicious monkey. To distract Zeke, the monkey has unlocked the cages in the zoo, allowing...
(1982) - Great SwordsmanGreat Swordsmanis a fighting arcade game developed by SETA and published by Taito. In , it was later included in Taito Legends.-Gameplay:In Great Swordsman, one or two players can play while taking turns. Players control with two-way joystick and three buttons with different hit levels. Each for creating...
(1984) - GladiatorGladiator (arcade game)Gladiator, known in Japan as , was a arcade game developed by Allumer and published by Taito. It was followed by a sequel titled Blandia.-Gameplay:...
(1986) (edited version of Ougon no Shiro [Golden Castle]) - ExzisusExzisusExzisus is a 1987 Horizontal scrolling shooter arcade game released by Taito Corporation which was only available in Japan until it was later included in a compilation of Taito arcade games Taito Legends volume 1 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Windows...
(1987) - Plump Pop (1987)
- Super Qix (1987)
- Battle SharkBattle SharkBattle Shark is a first person shoot 'em up arcade game released in 1989 by Taito. The player looks through a submarine periscope in order to destroy enemies, featuring simulated damage whenever the player gets hit by either an enemy torpedo or a missile.The player starts off with a limited amount...
(1989) - Continental CircusContinental CircusContinental Circus is an arcade racing game created and manufactured by Taito in 1987. It was then republished in 1989 along with a home version of the game, which was available on various platforms including the Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore 64, MSX and ZX Spectrum.The arcade version of...
(1989) - VolfiedVolfiedis an arcade game released by Taito in 1989.A port for MS-DOS has been developed by Empire Interactive and published by Taito in 1991....
(1989) - Ninja Kids (1990)
- Space GunSpace Gun (video game)is a first-person, shoot 'em up arcade game released by Taito in 1990. It was later distributed for various home games consoles in 1992, and in 2005, it was included as part of the compilation Taito Legends on the PlayStation 2, PC and Xbox...
(1990) (Note: lacks light gun support) - ThunderFoxThunderFoxThunderFox is an arcade game created by Taito. It was released in arcades in 1990 and for the Sega Genesis in 1991.It was later released on various consoles such as the Xbox and PlayStation 2 in a compilation of Taito classics. The title of the compilation is Taito Legends.-Story:In 199X, the...
(1990) - Tube It (1993) (known as Cachat in Japan)
- Return of the Invaders (1985)
- TokioTokio (arcade game)Tokio is a vertical scrolling shooter game released by Taito in 1986. In the game, the player controls a red propeller-driven airplane, flying over the city of Tokyo. He's able to shot and capture other red, smaller planes, which then will follow the player in formation...
(1986) (Scramble Formation in Japan)
Reception
Taito Legends received slightly positive reviews with a score of 74.06% for the XboxXbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
version, 71.68% for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
version, and 75.17% for the Windows version on GameRankings. IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
praised the collection for a superb presentation, as well as the large amount of bonus material, but criticized that some titles in the collection as "worthless filler". Other criticisms are the lack of online leaderboards, the omission of Arkanoid
Arkanoid
is an arcade game developed by Taito in 1986. It is based upon Atari's Breakout games of the 1970s. The title refers to a doomed "mothership" from which the player's ship, the Vaus, escapes.-Overview:...
and Chase H.Q.
Chase H.Q.
is an arcade racing game, released in 1988 by Taito. The player assumes the role of a police officer named Tony Gibson, member of the "Chase Special Investigation Department." Along with his partner, Raymond Broady, he must stop fleeing criminals in high-speed pursuits.The game was well received in...
, the lack of light gun support for Operation Wolf, Operation Thunderbolt, and Space Gun, the lack of control configuration, and for the controls being "flipped", making it potentially uncomfortable and unnatural to many, less-adaptable players. Only the Windows version fixes the error regarding the collection's control scheme.
External links
- Xplosiv pages: PS2,
- Empire support pages: PC (xplosiv red), PC xplosiv, PS2 Xplosiv, Xbox Empire
- XPLOSIV UNVEILS TAITO LEGENDS LINE-UP
- Empire Interactive announces the much-anticipated Taito Legends