Taito Legends 2
Encyclopedia
Taito Legends 2 is the sequel to Taito Legends
and is a follow-up collection of 39 (or 43, see below) Taito
arcade game
s for the PlayStation 2
, Xbox
and PC
.
In Europe
and Australia
, published by Empire Interactive
, all three versions were released in March 2006. In the United States
, published by Destineer
, it was released for the PlayStation 2 on May 16, 2007 and for PC on July 28, 2007, with the Xbox version never being released in North America. However, the European PAL
-based Xbox version works on the North American NTSC
-based Xbox systems, without any modifications .
Somewhat controversially, eight of the 43 games- Balloon Bomber, Bubble Symphony, Cadash, RayForce, RayStorm, G Darius, Pop'n Pop and Syvalion- were split across the platforms due to porting issues, requiring players to buy more than one version to get every game available.
In any event, all of the games seen here were taken directly from the Japanese Taito Memories collections. The only exceptions were Bubble Symphony, Pop 'n Pop, and Rayforce; Bubble Symphony and Rayforce now appear on the Japanese Taito Memories 2 collections ; Pop 'n Pop still has yet to appear. In addition, the North American PS2 version replaces Puzzle Bobble 2 (the original Japanese version) with Bust-a-Move Again, the game's North American equivalent. The only games not included on this collection are the color version of Space Invaders
(not to be confused with "Space Invaders Part II"), PuLiRuLa
, and a baseball game called "Aa Eikou no Koshien", having been replaced by the three "exclusive" games previously mentioned.
copy protection. As such, it will not run on Windows Vista
or Windows 7 without updating the StarForce drivers.
quoting, "There's really nothing legendary about most of the old arcade games found in Taito Legends 2."
), as well as unresponsive, "flipped", and clunky controls. Kristan Reed of Eurogamer
wrote a more positive response saying, "It's all but impossible to make an objective assessment that takes into account everyone's hugely varying tastes. What's definitely unarguable, though, that this particular package has much better presentation than the last one, with all games sorted into chronological order (a small but valuable point), and various useful options that make the experience far better than most retro collections." However, Jason Venter of HonestGamers commented, "Unless you lived in arcades 20 years ago, you probably won't even remember half the stuff you find here. You're thus denied even the value that nostalgia might lend each selection. Taken on their own terms, most titles you'll find here are trumped by the free Flash games you can find all over the Internet." Some reviewers also compared Taito Legends 2 unfavorably with the Sega Genesis Collection
, writing the aforementioned Genesis Collection as superior, and was also criticized for its lack of bonus content, (asides from instructions panels that can be viewed in the main menu and during gameplay).
Taito Legends
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 European release was published by Empire Interactive, who had licensed the games from Taito and developed the compilation...
and is a follow-up collection of 39 (or 43, see below) Taito
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....
arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
s 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...
, 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 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...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, published by Empire Interactive
Empire Interactive
Empire Interactive was a UK based video game developer and publisher founded in 1987. It was closed under administration on 4 May 2009.-About Empire Interactive:...
, all three versions were released in March 2006. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, published by Destineer
Destineer
Destineer is a computer game developer and publisher based in Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 2000 by former Bungie Studios vice-president, Peter Tamte...
, it was released for the PlayStation 2 on May 16, 2007 and for PC on July 28, 2007, with the Xbox version never being released in North America. However, the European PAL
PAL
PAL, short for Phase Alternating Line, is an analogue television colour encoding system used in broadcast television systems in many countries. Other common analogue television systems are NTSC and SECAM. This page primarily discusses the PAL colour encoding system...
-based Xbox version works on the North American NTSC
NTSC
NTSC, named for the National Television System Committee, is the analog television system that is used in most of North America, most of South America , Burma, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and some Pacific island nations and territories .Most countries using the NTSC standard, as...
-based Xbox systems, without any modifications .
Somewhat controversially, eight of the 43 games- Balloon Bomber, Bubble Symphony, Cadash, RayForce, RayStorm, G Darius, Pop'n Pop and Syvalion- were split across the platforms due to porting issues, requiring players to buy more than one version to get every game available.
Games
Taito Legends 2 consists of the following 44 arcade games, split across Xbox/PC and PS2 (the Xbox/PC and PS2 versions each have four exclusive games, for a total of 39 games on each):All platforms
- Alpine SkiAlpine SkiAlpine Ski is an Alpine skiing arcade game, released by Taito in 1981.- Description :The player controls a skier, who can move left, right, or increase forward speed. The aim is to maneuver a skier through a downhill ski course, a slalom course, and a ski jumping competition in the shortest time...
- Arabian MagicArabian Magicis a horizontally-scrolling hack and slash arcade game, released by Taito in 1992. It was also released on Taito Legends 2 for PC, PlayStation 2 and Xbox.-Plot:...
- Bonze AdventureBonze AdventureBonze Adventure, known in Japan as , is a 1988 platform arcade game that was later ported for the TurboGrafx-16 by Taito. The player controls a Buddhist monk, Bonze Kackremboh. His weapons are Buddhist prayer beads, called "mala" beads, which can be powered up until they become almost as large as...
(Jigoku Meguri in Japan) - CameltryCameltryCameltry is an arcade video game released in 1989 by Taito. The game ran on Taito's F2 system hardware and used the same optical rotary system utilized in Taito's 1986 arcade game Arkanoid. It was later ported in 1992 to the Super NES, and in 1993 to the FM Towns computer...
- Chack'n PopChack'n Popis an arcade game released by Taito in 1983, considered to be an ancestor of Bubble Bobble due to the appearance of many similar enemies and Bubble Bobble's duplication of a Chack'n Pop level. The arcade rom set also contains unused graphics for the mechanical wind-up "Zen-Chan" that later appeared...
- Cleopatra FortuneCleopatra Fortune, released in North America as Cleopatra's Fortune, is a 1996 arcade puzzle game created by Taito Corporation in association with Natsume.-Summary:...
- Crazy BalloonCrazy BalloonCrazy Balloon is an arcade game released by Taito in 1980. Crazy Balloon requires the player to maneuver a balloon through a maze full of thorns in order to reach the goal...
- Darius GaidenDarius Gaidenis a shoot'em up arcade game, developed and released by Taito in 1994. It is the third arcade installment of the Darius series.-Gameplay:...
- Don Doko DonDon Doko DonDon Doko Don is a 1–2 player platform arcade game by Taito made in 1989.The players are bearded dwarves who must defeat various enemies by using a mallet to stun them. Players can pick stunned enemies up and throw them at other enemies to destroy them. Destroyed enemies leave behind fruit...
- Dungeon MagicDungeon MagicDungeon Magic, known in Japan as , is a 1994 arcade game by Taito Corporation Japan and it also included on Taito Legends 2. Unlike most medieval/fantasy beat 'em ups it featured an isometric viewing angle, some platforming , unusually large stylised sprites, and variable blood/gore...
(Light Bringer in Japan) - Elevator Action Returns (Elevator Action II in US)
- The Fairyland Story
- Football ChampFootball ChampFootball Champ is an arcade-style football video game. The game was produced by Team Dogyan developers in Japan, and originally released in the arcades by Taito Corporation in 1990...
(Hat Trick Hero in Japan) - Front LineFront Line (arcade game)Front Line is a military combat-themed arcade game released in 1982 by Taito Corporation.The original arcade version consists of a joystick, a single button , and a rotary dial that can be pushed in like a button, which fires the weapon...
- GekirindanGekirindanis a vertical scrolling shooter developed by Taito where players select one of three different fighters against a destructive army of mechs through different time periods.-Story:In the year 3195 a time machine is created on Earth and is promptly stolen by an unidentified, mechanized...
- Grid Seeker: Project Storm HammerGrid Seeker: Project Storm HammerGrid Seeker: Project Storm Hammer is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game developed by Taito. In it, players control one of three different modern fighter crafts and can collect enemy bullets using shielded guns known as Grids.-Story:...
- GrowlGrowl (video game)Growl, known in Japan as , is a belt-scrolling beat-'em-up originally released for the arcades by Taito in . Set in the early 20th century, the player controls a forest ranger who must protect the local wildlife from a group of evil poachers who are driving the animals to extinction. A home version...
(Runark in Japan) - Gun FrontierGun Frontier (arcade game)Gun Frontier is a vertical scrolling shooter developed by Taito for the arcade and released in 1990.-Story:...
- Insector XInsector Xis a side-scrolling shooter by Taito, released in 1989.-Summary:The player controls an insect-sized warrior named "Kai", who takes on a vast army of cyborg insects to free the insect world from the dark ruler queen. The game uses two buttons: a main shot and an upgradable secondary weapon. This...
- KiKi KaiKaiKiKi KaiKaiis a multi-directional shooter developed and published by Taito Corporation originally for Japanese arcades in 1986. Since then, the game has received a number of console and home computer ports in and outside of Japan, both as a stand-alone title and as part of compilations...
- Kuri KintonKuri KintonKuri Kinton is a side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game published by Taito. Players control a Chinese policeman who must dispatch numerous enemies while progressing through the game's levels...
- The Legend of Kage
- Liquid KidsLiquid Kidsis an arcade video game released by Taito in 1990.-Gameplay:Liquid Kids is a single player platform game that features Hipopo, a platypus who must fight his way through a large number of enemy-packed levels in search of his missing girlfriend - rescuing other hippopotamus-like creatures along the way...
(Mizubaku Adventure in Japan) - Lunar RescueLunar RescueLunar Rescue is an arcade game released by Taito in 1979. It contains elements that resemble both Taito's own Space Invaders as well as Atari's Lunar Lander released that same year....
- Metal BlackMetal Black (video game)Metal Black is an arcade shoot 'em up released by Taito. It is the end result of "Project Gun Frontier 2," being made by the same development staff, though it bears little resemblance to the original Gun Frontier. It is more similar to another Taito shooter, Darius.Players control the Black Fly on...
(Gun Frontier 2) - Nastar WarriorRastan Saga II, known in Europe as Nastar and in North America as Nastar Warrior is a hack and slash platform arcade game developed and released by Taito in 1988...
(Rastan Saga 2 in Japan, Nastar in other countries) - Puchi CaratPuchi CaratPuchi Carat is a 1997 arcade game by Taito.- Gameplay :The general objective of Puchi Carat is to destroy gem-like blocks using a ball and paddle. Gems "fall in" from the top of the play area one line at a time and are connected to each other either horizontally or vertically...
- Puzzle Bobble 2Puzzle Bobble 2Puzzle Bobble 2 is the first sequel to "Puzzle Bobble" , It was entitled in Europe and North America as Bust-A-Move Again on the arcarde and Bust-A-Move 2 on the home consoles. Released into the arcades in 1995, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Nintendo 64 and PC conversions followed...
(Bust-a-Move Again in North America; this version appears on the PS2 release) - QixQixQix is an arcade game, released by Taito America Corporation in 1981.-Gameplay:The objective of Qix is to fence off, or “claim”, a supermajority of the playfield...
- Raimais
- Space Invaders '95 (Akkan-vaders in Japan)
- Space Invaders DX
- Super Space Invaders '91 (Majestic Twelve: The Space Invaders Part IV in Japan)
- Violence FightViolence Fight, is a 1989 fighting arcade game developed and published by Taito.Violence Fight was later added to Taito Memories Vol. 2 for the PlayStation 2, and Taito Legends 2 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Windows-operated PCs...
- Wild Western
Xbox/PC exclusives
- Bubble SymphonyBubble SymphonyBubble Symphony is an arcade video game in the Bubble Bobble series. While being a new Bubble Bobble for a new generation, in actuality it takes place after Parasol Stars....
(Bubble Bobble 2 in other countries) - CadashCadashis a sword and sorcery video game which combines elements of both the RPG genre of games and the platform genre of games. The game was originally an arcade game released by Taito in 1989, later ported to home video game consoles such as the TurboGrafx-16 in 1991, and the Sega Genesis/Sega Mega...
- Pop'n PopPop'n PopPop'n Pop is an arcade and console puzzle game by Taito Corporation. It has been ported to the PlayStation and Game Boy Color formats.-Gameplay:...
- RayForceRayForceRayForce is a vertical space shooter style game by Taito released for the Taito F3 arcade hardware in 1993 and later ported to the Sega Saturn in 1995....
(Gunlock in other countries)
In any event, all of the games seen here were taken directly from the Japanese Taito Memories collections. The only exceptions were Bubble Symphony, Pop 'n Pop, and Rayforce; Bubble Symphony and Rayforce now appear on the Japanese Taito Memories 2 collections ; Pop 'n Pop still has yet to appear. In addition, the North American PS2 version replaces Puzzle Bobble 2 (the original Japanese version) with Bust-a-Move Again, the game's North American equivalent. The only games not included on this collection are the color version of Space Invaders
Space Invaders
is 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...
(not to be confused with "Space Invaders Part II"), PuLiRuLa
PuLiRuLa
PuLiRuLa 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...
, and a baseball game called "Aa Eikou no Koshien", having been replaced by the three "exclusive" games previously mentioned.
Copy Protection
The PC version of this game uses StarForceStarForce
StarForce is a software copy protection mechanism developed by Protection Technology, which claims that products protected with StarForce are difficult to reverse engineer.- Product families :Currently known official versions of StarForce include:...
copy protection. As such, it will not run on Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
or Windows 7 without updating the StarForce drivers.
Reception
Taito Legends 2 received mixed reviews with a score of 67.60% for the PlayStation 2 version based on 15 reviews, 77.50% for the Xbox version based on 1 review, and 78.33% for the Windows version from GameRankings, based on 3 reviews. Major criticisms include the large amount of obscure and "filler" titles, all of which are from the Japanese Taito Memories collections in which they are little known in the U.S., (with GameSpotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
quoting, "There's really nothing legendary about most of the old arcade games found in Taito Legends 2."
), as well as unresponsive, "flipped", and clunky controls. Kristan Reed of Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
wrote a more positive response saying, "It's all but impossible to make an objective assessment that takes into account everyone's hugely varying tastes. What's definitely unarguable, though, that this particular package has much better presentation than the last one, with all games sorted into chronological order (a small but valuable point), and various useful options that make the experience far better than most retro collections." However, Jason Venter of HonestGamers commented, "Unless you lived in arcades 20 years ago, you probably won't even remember half the stuff you find here. You're thus denied even the value that nostalgia might lend each selection. Taken on their own terms, most titles you'll find here are trumped by the free Flash games you can find all over the Internet." Some reviewers also compared Taito Legends 2 unfavorably with the Sega Genesis Collection
Sega Genesis Collection
The Sega Mega Drive Collection is a video game compilation for the PlayStation 2 and PSP, compiled and emulated by Digital Eclipse and released in the U.S. in 2006 and Europe and Australia in 2007...
, writing the aforementioned Genesis Collection as superior, and was also criticized for its lack of bonus content, (asides from instructions panels that can be viewed in the main menu and during gameplay).
External links
- Destineer site
- Empire support site: PC Xplosiv, PS2 Xplosiv, Xbox Empire