Search found 19 matches for ININ

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Ray'z Your Hand'z In Excitement!

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Developed by TAITO and M2, published by ININ Games, and with public relations by PR Hound, Ray'z Arcade Chronology for the Nintendo Switch is a faithful port of three legendary TAITO arcade shmups that are among the best games in the genre as well as HD Remasters of two of the included games! Have these ports withstood the test of time, and how good are the two included HD Remasters? As always, continue reading our review to find out the answers to the all-important questions!



The overall UI presentation of the menus and in-game gadgets for the included games are clean and very informative which is a given if you know how TAITO arcade shmups operate, and we couldn't be more thrilled! The gameplay of all of the included games are faithful to their original arcade releases and still feel wonderful to play all of these decades later!

The games are quite action-oriented, but not bullet hell in nature, rather more in line with TAITO's other major Shmup series Darius, which we also reviewed the ININ collections for that series extremely favorably! The games also feature built-in achievements which is a nice touch for sure. The games also vary in length from about 30-45 minutes long to a whopping 3 hours in-length with multiple paths easily giving this collection 30+ hours of replay value for completionists!

The only downside to this collection is that it lacks bonus features such as artwork and other extras that other collections from ININ possessed, but it doesn't really negatively affect our opinions of the game all that much.



The games control amazingly well and feel as fluid as they did in the arcades way back when! As for the visuals? The games range from 2D to 3D, and look gorgeous with excellent enemy and ship designs, flashy and awe-invoking special effects, and gorgeous scrolling effects that have aged like fine-wine! The HD Remasters included really pop in HD with sharper image quality, and vastly improved backgrounds and special effects that look fantastic even by today's standards!

And lastly the games' soundtracks are as exceptional as they are varied and they fit the mood of what's going on on-screen extremely well. Overall the audiovisual-presentation is absolutely top-notch!



Bottom-Line: With flawless gameplay, excellent replay value, great controls, and a top-notch audiovisual-presentation, Ray'z Arcade Chronology for the Nintendo Switch is a must-have collection for any/all fans of the SHMUP genre and despite lacking some of the bonus features you'd expect from a collection of arcade classics such as this one, the games are so well-done that this one gripe just barely lowered our score of this otherwise perfect collection! As such we give Ray'z Arcade Chronology a nearly perfect level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★¾ 9.75/10

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#Review #RayzArcadeChronology #TAITO #ININ #M2 #PRHound #Switch #Retail #eShop #PS4 #PS5 #PSN #Shmup #Arcade #Retro

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A Brilliant Shmup Making Waves Later This Year!

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ININ Games and PR Hound have announced that Air Twister, their upcoming 3D shoot em up with a touch of Kid Icarus Uprising flair will be releasing on November 10th! Pre-Orders are set to begin on July 18th! Here's what PR Hound had to say about the upcoming game:

PR Hound wrote:In Air Twister, embark on an epic quest with Princess Arch as she fights to save her planet from imminent destruction. Armed with arrows that trace graceful arcs of light, she confronts bizarre invaders in her path. With more than 20 unique enemies to conquer and beautifully designed stages to explore, Air Twister promises an unforgettable gaming experience.

To evoke a sense of nostalgia for traditional arcade games, Yu Suzuki designed Air Twister with varying levels of difficulty, providing an authentic old-school arcade feel.

The game’s challenging gameplay is amplified by an epic musical score by Valensia that will take you on a nostalgic and thrilling journey. It is a one-of-a-kind gaming adventure that no player will soon forget!

Game Features:

12 artfully crafted stages with unique and new experiences each time you play. Embark on a fantastic journey, resembling that of Alice down the rabbit hole.

Over 20 Vanguard creatures and 10 unique bosses to challenge your skills and simple controls for a fun and easy play experience.

An epic soundtrack by Valensia, a Dutch music composer, known for over three decades of keeping the musical rock and opera heritage of Queen's greatest hits alive.8

High replayability by unlocking Challenge Games in the Adventure Map with different modes like Arcade, Turbo, Boss Rush and more!

Many fantastic Minigames with surprising elements.

And lastly, the announcement trailer can be watched below:



What do you think of this announcement? As always be sure to let us know in our comments section below!

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#News #AirTwister #ININ #PRHound #Switch #Retail #eShop #PS4 #PS5 #PSN #Shmup

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Legendary Ninpo Art of Greatness!

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Developed by City Connection, published by ININ Games, and public relations by PR Hound, Jajamaru: Legendary Ninja Collection is a fantastic collection of arcade-platforming games that largely went unlocalized outside of Japan for several decades, but are now compiled into a feature-rich collection and we can't recommend these games enough! Does that mean that we gave the game a perfect level of recommendation? You'll have to continue reading our review to find out!



First off, this collection of games is fantastic with loads of bonus content including artwork, a rewind feature, screen filters, and more which is already fantastic, all this even before we get into playing the games themselves! The 6 games in the collection span a wide-array of genres and all are emulated flawlessly which of course is a HUGE plus for sure. Some of the NES and Gameboy games are somewhat archaic, but still are great fun in short bursts, while others such as Ninja JaJaMaru: Operation Milky Way are brilliant and their gameplay and visuals hold-up just as well as Super Mario Bros. 3 and Kirby's Adventure in today's time!

The UI looks very nice, and the menus are easy to navigate which is always nice. The length of the games range from under an hour to upwards of 5-10 hours to beat which is to be expected from retro games that aren't JRPG's. As for the controls? They are serviceable and have no flaws to speak of, though the button-mapping in some of the games could be a bit better, but overall they are good.



The audiovisual-presentation of Jajamaru: Legendary Ninja Collection is varied with some of the better looking titles looking exceptionally stylish and vibrant while others haven't aged so well, however the soundtrack in every single included game is a real banger and we thoroughly enjoyed that aspect!



Bottom-Line: With great gameplay, solid controls, and a superb soundtrack, Jajamaru: Legendary Ninja Collection for the Nintendo Switch is a great game compilation that is worth checking out, even if a few of the games haven't aged too well. Overall we give Jajamaru: Legendary Ninja Collection a good level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8/10

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#Review #CityConnection #ININ #PRHound #Compilation #Retro #Switch #eShop #NinjaJajamaru

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The Waves of Wonder & Adventure!

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Developed by Bliss Brain, published by ININ Games, and public relations by PR Hound, Wonderboy Anniversary Collection is the definitive collection of Wonderboy titles currently available on any platform. Despite missing several of the best versions in the series such as Dynastic Hero on the Turbographx CD, it's well worth its price and here's why:



This "Wonder"ful collection of Wonderboy games comes complete with several different versions of each of the six included games, ranging from Sega Master System, to Genesis, to Game Gear releases, to Japanese exclusive versions, each emulated perfectly with tons of goodies such as artwork, manuals, and much more. The games all run as they should with no apparent bugs or frame-rate dips that weren't present in their original releases which of course is always a huge selling point for any worthwhile retro games compilation!

Filter, shading, and rewind features are also included to increase the immersion and ability to up your skills as we'd expect from any collection published by ININ games!



The collection has a fantastic and fluid UI that feels so good to navigate and the games themselves look great even on a modern TV. The controls for the games are great and work well with the Switch Pro Controller as well as the Joycon control scheme. As for the individual games? We'll be delving into some of them in an exclusive feature sometime during the first half of 2023 listing our top 10 retro Wonderboy games and versions!



The adiovisual-presentation in this collection is top-notch, with fluid animations and few if any performance issues and flawless recreation of the retro games. You can tell a lot of love went into making these games look and feel just as they did on their original hardware, and the developer succeeded spectacularly in every regard!



Bottom-Line: With excellent gameplay, amazing UI and bonus content in the form of artwork and more, many versions of the included games, a rewind feature to improve your skills, and flawless emulation and audiovisual-presentation, the Wonderboy Anniversary Collection is a timeless collection that we highly recommend any and all Switch owners to check-out! We give this collection a perfect level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★★ 10/10

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#Review #Wonderboy #Compilation #PRHound #ININ #BlissBrain #Switch #Retail #eShop #PS4 #PSN

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Ninjatastic Jutsu Ninpo'ing Its Way To Greatness!

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Developed by Tanuki Creative Studios, published by ININ games, and public relations by PR Hound, Jitsu Squad is a fast-paced and action-packed beat em' up with a lot going for it in-terms of gameplay features and potential! Does the game live up to this potential? Continue reading our review to find out!



The gameplay in Jitsu Squad is highly refined and has all of the best aspects needed for a top-notch beat 'em up. The characters are unique and each have plenty of zany and over-the-top attacks that will leave their enemies black and blue in the most outlandish cartoony ways possible! Support characters such as Yooka And Laylee can jump in occasionally to lend a hand by wiping the floor with massive groups of enemies.

The controls are simple yet challenging to master and in-terms of content the game is a bit lacking as it can be beaten in 2-3 hours and there's not a lot to keep you coming back for more too often outside of multiplayer with buddies.



The audio-visual presentation of Jitsu Squad is where the game truly shines with amazing special effects, gorgeous backgrounds and highly detailed worlds with zany characters and enemies that breathe life into this absolutely beautiful game and a soundtrack that will knock your socks off! Overall the game is nearly flawless in the audio-visual department, however some minor frame-rate issues do drop the game's overall score. It's nothing major, but is certainly noticeable.



Bottom-Line: With great gameplay, good controls and a nearly perfect audio-visual presentation, Jitsu Squad for the Nintendo Switch is a fantastic beat 'em up for sure, but minor frame-rate issues and a relatively limited amount of content do hold the game back a bit. Overall, however we do give Jitsu Squad a good to great level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★¾☆ 8.75/10

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#Review #PRHound #ININ #TanukiCreativeStudios #JitsuSquad #BeatEmUp #Switch #eShop #PS4 #PSN #Action #Scrolling

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Boulder Dash Makin' A Splash!

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PR agency PR Hound has announced that Strictly Limited Games has opened pre-orders for its physical release, Boulder Dash: Ultimate Collection! You can read the announcement below:

PR Hound wrote:




The legendary action-puzzler is back!

Boulder Dash Ultimate Collection now for pre-order



Stuttgart, December 14th, 2021: ININ Games and BBG Entertainment are truly excited to announce a collection of all time classics in gaming history. The Boulder Dash Ultimate Collection will release a boxed version of this bygone gaming experience that captivated the hearts of many gamers. The action puzzle retro classic will be available for Nintendo Switch in North America and Europe.


The Boulder Dash Ultimate Collection delivers both, the fresh 2021 relaunch, Boulder Dash Deluxe and Boulder Dash 30th Anniversary -










Simply Devious…


Boulder Dash Deluxe

The original Boulder Dash set a milestone in interactive gaming back in the ‘80s. For many players, regardless of age, the action puzzle adventures with Rockford were a challenge but also a delight to master. Loyal fans of this classic and new players alike can now take up the challenge again - Rockford is back in the awesome 2021 relaunch of this action-puzzle digging and collection game!


Grabbing the loot!


Boulder Dash Deluxe comes with some amazing new content, features and fresh graphics:



180 all-new levels with advanced features!

Includes 20 levels from the original 1984 Boulder Dash version

9 exciting new worlds with high-end graphics, having their own, unique textures, go to Macmarnua Sea or Urath Castle – or back in time to the classic 1984 world with its caves

15 new special opponents like Octopus, Shark Polar bear, and Snow tiger will keep your mind agile and you on your toes.

Full character customization of your game character Rockford, e.g. shirt, pants, shoes, eyewear, headgear, hair, and facial hair

Retro version screenshot



Boulder Dash 30th Anniversary

Guide Rockford and help him dig his way through spectacular caves and collect as many diamonds as required whilst avoiding the many dangers that surround you. Watch out for falling boulders, discover treasure chests, collect potent power-ups and unlock 9 other playable characters.

Coming with family-friendly, pretty pixel-art style, it seems like a nice puzzle experience, but beware! One wrong move could end in disaster. Boulder Dash offers an all encompassing challenge for all gamers - from newbies to hard-core players!


HD screenshot



280 all-new levels with advanced physics!

12 Never-before-seen worlds, with new creatures with 3D animations!

Premium world by videogame legend Peter Liepa - with 20 of the most mind-bending levels yet!

New multicolored gem combos, treasure chests, rare collectibles and spectacular power-ups!

Play as Rockford or unlock 9 other playable male and female characters including Crystal!

First Boulder Dash game ever to include diagonal walls and movement!


With this Collection, players get the ultimate Boulder Dash experience - more than 400 levels across both games waiting to be mastered. There are several different beautiful game worlds to discover, created by the video game legend Peter Liepa, making his return to the game he created 30 years ago.

For more information about the game, visit https://www.iningames.com/games/boulder-dash-ultimate-collection/

What do you think of this collector's set? As always be sure to leave us a comment below!


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#News #StrictlyLimitedGames #ININ #PRHound #CollectorsEdition #Switch #Retail

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Space Fish In 3-D!

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Developed by TAITO, published by ININ Games, and public relations by PR Hound, G-Darius HD for the PS4 is a 3-D Polygonal arcade space shoot em' up in the long-running Darius series and the first one that was in 3-D. The original arcade release back in the 90's was amazing and while the PSOne port wasn't quite as good, it was still quite an enjoyable experience. Does this HD remaster live up to the previous iterations of the game? We think so, and we'll tell you why, so continue reading our review to find out!



The gameplay in G-Darius HD, is jam-packed with a robust power-up system, dozens of types of enemies, branching level paths, and epic bosses and mid-bosses that are sure to provide a challenge to all players. The games' zones vary widely and add a ton of replayabilty to an already content rich game, which is always a good thing. The game also features alien ship capturing allowing players to capture enemies or even mid-bosses and add them as an ally!

The difficulty can be challenging, but is fair and as for the controls, they work exceptionally well. The game also features loads of cabinet settings, screen settings, and an assortment of widgets that can display various information regarding the game on-screen which is a nice touch!



The audiovisual presentation is fantastic with detailed environments, gorgeous 3-D enemies, and crazy special effects that are actually quite impressive for a game released back in the late-90's. The soundtrack is also extremely enjoyable and fits the game like a glove! The sound effects and other audio is just as pleasing to the ears as well!



Bottom-Line: With excellent gameplay with tons of replayabilty, great controls, and a top-notch audiovisual presentation, G-Darius HD for the PS4 is a superb remaster of one of the first 3-D scrolling shmups released in the arcades and the amount of customization adds to the replayabilty of the game! Overall we give G-Darius HD for PS4 a nearly perfect level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★½ 9.5/10

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#Review #TAITO #M2 #PRHound #ININ #SHMUP #Arcade #PS4 #Retail #PSN #Switch #eShop

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Invincibility = MC Squared!

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Developed by TAITO, published by ININ Games, and public relations by PR Hound, Space Inviders: Invincible Collection is the definitive collection for any fan of the nearly 45 year old franchise and has all the bells and whistles that arcade aficionados could possibly ask for! While the collection is super pricy, we do think it's well worth the cost, and here's why:



Hot on the heels of Space Invaders: Forever, is the fantastic follow-up collection, Space Invaders: Invincible Collection which is a massive collection of the earlier Space Invaders titles, including Majestic Twelve and Space Invaders '91! The first game is included in both black & white as well as in color with the same gameplay between the two, and yeah it HASN'T aged well at all with extremely slow-paced gameplay, but it's sequel Space Invaders II is much better and is also included in the collection. Majestic Twelve and Space Invaders '91 are the cream of the crop and will be what most players will sink their time into with unique missions, more action-oriented gameplay, and much more responsive controls than the previously mentioned games in this collection!

A few additional games are available that were also in the Space Invaders: Forever collection so there's no real need to mention them here as we already reviewed that collection. As for the menu and options, Space Invaders: Invincible Collection is loaded with cabinet options, including difficulty and screen settings, A.I. settings, cabinet backgrounds, and much, much more!



As for the audiovisual presentation, the games look and sound authentic and exactly how they did in the arcades which is definitely a nostalgic trip down memory lane if you grew up around arcades in the 80's and 90's! Each game also plays as it should with every little flaw and or detail displayed correctly so the emulation is spot-on!



Bottom-Line: With an excellent line-up of games with great gameplay, and a ton of nostalgia if you're a gamers from the 70's, 80's, or 90's. The U.I. is intuitive, with a ton of options allowing for a highly customized experience while the faithful audiovisual presentation will transport you back to simpler times when gameplay was king! Overall we give Space Invaders: Invincible Collection for the Nintendo Switch a nearly perfect level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★¼ 9.25/10

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#Review #TAITO #ININ #PRHound #Switch #Retail #eShop #Retro #Compilation

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Cotton In 3-D!

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Panorama Cotton will be releasing on the Nintendo Switch and PS4 this week as part of the Cotton series' 30th anniversary celebration according to PR Hound. You can read the official announe below:

PR Hound wrote:The big 30th birthday celebration of the Cotton franchise continues with Panorama Cotton. Strictly Limited Games is opening pre-orders for physical Limited and Collector’s Editions, starting October 24th at 12 AM (midnight) CEST, exclusively at the Strictly Limited Games store!


ININ Games is proud to announce the launch of the digital versions of Panorama Cotton for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in the west, on October 29th. For the first time on current-gen consoles!


Panorama Cotton

Panorama Cotton is an addictive, pseudo-3D rail shooter, adding an intriguing new twist to the Cotton franchise. When a burnt willow suddenly appears in the Queen's garden, the behavior of her highness begins to get stranger and stranger. Cotton and Silk go on a journey to find the evil willow burner and bring an end to the disaster.

Strictly Limited Games - Physical Editions

The Limited Edition includes the game for Nintendo Switch or PlayStation 4 and the colorful game manual. It will be available for 29.99€, limited to 2,500 copies for Nintendo Switch and 1,500 copies for PlayStation 4.



PS4 Packshot Limited Edition Nintendo Switch packshot Limited Edition

The Collector’s Edition will be available for 64.99€ limited to 1,500 copies for Nintendo Switch and 800 copies for PlayStation 4. It contains a colorful combination of collectibles:



Game for Nintendo Switch or PlayStation 4

Collector’s Edition box

Colorful game manual

Yunomi (Japanese-style tea cup)

Natsume (Japanese-style tea can)

Kakemono (Japanese-style wall scroll)

Original soundtrack

Large reversible poster (A2)

6x Postcards

2x Lenticular cards

Window sticker


Collector's edition contents


Strictly Limited Games - Retro Releases

Retro collectors will also be able to grab a standalone Panorama Cotton cartridge compatible with the Sega Genesis/Megadrive, with 600 cartridges compatible with the Sega Megadrive and 900 cartridges compatible with the Sega Genesis for 49.99€.



Genesis PackshotMega Drive packshot

ININ - Digital Versions

For fans of digital copies, ININ Games is also releasing a digital version of Panorama Cotton for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation! Available on the 29th of October!

What do you think of this news? Be sure to let us know in our comments section below!

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#News #ININ #PRHound #StrictlyLimitedGames #PS4 #Switch #PSN #eShop #Megadrive #Genesis #Retro #Cotton

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Witchtastic!

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Developed by KiwiWalks and Ikina Games, published by ININ, and public relations by PR Hound, WitchSpring 3 Re:Fine is an RPG that feels a lot like a Atelier series title, but more simplistic. For better or worse the game is short at around 12 hours in length, but is that a turn-off to recommending purchasing the game? Yes, but it's mostly due to the price and there are a myriad of reasons why you should at least consider this game if it's discounted.



The gameplay is simple enough, but has quite an addictive curve to its formula in much the same way an Atelier game does with a robust item creation system that is heavily integrated into the story itself. The battles are also quite unique with the golem like puppets that you fight battles with. Overall this is where the game shines the most.

As for the controls the can be somewhat cumbersome at times, but aren't bad overall, the game is also a bit on the easy side and the length of the game is VERY short at around 12 hours in length as we already said. The audiovisual presentation is also merely adequate while it's not bad, nothing really struck us as being memorable in that department.



Bottom-Line: With great gameplay with a fun and addictive alchemy system, WitchSpring 3 will draw players in with its charm, however a short story length, overly easy difficulty, somewhat cumbersome controls, and unremarkable audio presentation really hold this game back, as does its $40 price tag. It's not without its merits and is definitely enjoyable for fans of the Atelier series so we do give the game a decent to solid level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★¾☆☆☆ 6.75/10

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#Review #WitchSpring #KiwiWalks #IkinaGames #ININ #PRHound #Switch #Retail #eShop #RPG

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Alien Wars Begin Anew?

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Developed by DICE, published by ININ, and public relations by PR Hound, Ultracore is a resurrected SEGA Genesis / SEGA Megadrive run and gun MetroidVania that has finally been released over 20 years after its cancellation. Does it live up to other gems of the genre from the 90's? We think so, but you'll have to continue reading our review to find out why!



If you're interested in a run and gun platformer with exploration elements you need look no further than Ultracore a cancelled SEGA Genesis title under the original name Hardcore that was previewed in certain gaming magazines before being cancelled. The gameplay is reminiscent of Contra and features similar hardcore platforming with endless waves of enemies who try to utterly destroy you while you traverse the game's many challenging stages.

There is exploration and hidden goodies as well, but good luck finding everything since you are given a timer to beat each stage and if it runs out BOOM! The game is roughly 2-3 hours in length, but has a good amount of replayability which is always a good thing. The difficulty is stiff, but fair so no Contra (NES) hair-ripping difficulty with this title! As for the controls, they are quite straightforward and easy to learn while complex enough to give you alot of freedom of movement and shooting!



The audio-visual presentation in the game is an absolute blast from the past with true Genesis/Megadrive graphics that look actually quite nice considering that the game is limited by the hardware it was originally meant to release on. The soundtrack is top-notch and is easily one of the best aspects of the game as it sounds on-par with some of the greats of the Genesis era!

Owner

The Vita Difference: The Vita version while a worthy port of the game has a few ever so slight issues that affect the overall score of the game. The first is that the frame-rate does dip ever so slightly more than in the PS4 version, but overall this is extremely minor, the more noticeable issue is the flickering graphics when there are too many enemies on-screen at once which is definitely a bit of an eyesore, but luckily only occurs once in a blue moon under very certain circumstances and we still thoroughly enjoyed the Vita port quite a bit!

Bottom-Line: With superb gameplay, excellent controls, and a nearly flawless audio-visual presentation with a few minor visual issues in the Vita port. Ultracore for the Vita is a great game that's a blast to play and we highly recommend it to all fans of MetroidVania's and the Contra series. We give Ultracore a great level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★½☆ 8.5/10

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#Review #ININ #PRHound #DICE #Action #Platformer #MetroidVania #PS4 #Vita #PSN #Switch #eShop

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Alien Wars Begin Anew?

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Developed by DICE, published by ININ, and public relations by PR Hound, Ultracore is a resurrected SEGA Genesis / SEGA Megadrive run and gun MetroidVania that has finally been released over 20 years after its cancellation. Does it live up to other gems of the genre from the 90's? We think so, but you'll have to continue reading our review to find out why!



If you're interested in a run and gun platformer with exploration elements you need look no further than Ultracore a cancelled SEGA Genesis title under the original name Hardcore that was previewed in certain gaming magazines before being cancelled. The gameplay is reminiscent of Contra and features similar hardcore platforming with endless waves of enemies who try to utterly destroy you while you traverse the game's many challenging stages.

There is exploration and hidden goodies as well, but good luck finding everything since you are given a timer to beat each stage and if it runs out BOOM! The game is roughly 2-3 hours in length, but has a good amount of replayability which is always a good thing. The difficulty is stiff, but fair so no Contra (NES) hair-ripping difficulty with this title! As for the controls, they are quite straightforward and easy to learn while complex enough to give you alot of freedom of movement and shooting!



The audio-visual presentation in the game is an absolute blast from the past with true Genesis/Megadrive graphics that look actually quite nice considering that the game is limited by the hardware it was originally meant to release on. The soundtrack is top-notch and is easily one of the best aspects of the game as it sounds on-par with some of the greats of the Genesis era!



Bottom-Line: With superb gameplay, excellent controls, and a nearly flawless audio-visual presentation, Ultracore for the PS4 is a great game that's a blast to play and we highly recommend it to all fans of MetroidVania's and the Contra series. We give Ultracore a great level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★¾☆ 8.75/10

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#Review #ININ #PRHound #DICE #Action #Platformer #MetroidVania #PS4 #PSN #Switch #eShop

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Running and Gunning!

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PR Hound has announced in a recent press release that the cancelled 90's Run 'n Gun action platformer, Ultracore is being revived for PS4 and Switch and will be releasing digitally tomorrow! The game is being backed by Strictly Limited Games and ported by ININ games in conjunction with the original development team. Originally meant to be released over 25 years ago by Digital Illusions, now known as DICE, but was later cancelled.



Will you be downloading this retro gem? As always be sure to leave us your comments below!

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#News #PRHound #ININ #DICE #DigitalIllusions #StrictlyLimitedGames #PS4 #PSN #Switch #eShop

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A Whopper of A Collection!

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Developed by M2, published by ININ, and localized by ININ, Darius Cozmic Collection Console is a collection of console versions of several of the flagship shoot 'em up's from the famous TAITO series Darius. Does the game hold up as a true masterpiece like the Arcade Collection of Darius that we recently reviewed? No, but it's still a good collection nonetheless and here's why:



This collection features several versions of a few different Darius console titles which have all of the great shmup action you'd expect from the series, only a bit shorter and more simplified than the arcade counterparts. You still must fight hordes of ships modelled after marine life, avoid hazards, collect power-up's for your ship, etc. As per usual the console titles in the series feature branching level progression with dozens of level possibilities, although the courses are a bit shorter and there are fewer of them when compared to the arcade versions. There are a couple of games that are console exclusive that make this collection worthwhile, but the lack of options compared to the arcade collection and the missing UI elements do make this collection the less exciting of the two, which is a shame because it could have been so much better.

The difficulty is ironically harder than the arcade collection due to the lack of being able to add infinite continues in the games, despite the games themselves actually being easier. The controls are quite easy to learn, but hard to master with a bit of a frame delay. It's nothing substantial or even bad, but it takes a bit of getting used to. Overall the gameplay and controls are solid in this collection!



The visuals in this collection won't wow anyone, but are quite good with great backgrounds, detailed character and enemy models, and great special effects for games of their time! The soundtrack is absolutely incredible and will have you humming for hours afterwards. The music not only fits the games well, but is extremely memorable! Overall the audio-visual presentation of this collection is great!



Bottom-Line: With solid gameplay and controls, and good graphics Darius Cozmic Collection Console will draw fans of the genre in and the amazing and memorable soundtrack will keep them hooked and coming back for more! We give Darius Cozmic Collection Console for the PS4 a good to great level of recommendation to all arcade aficionados and fans of shmups in general!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★½☆ 8.5/10

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#Review #M2 #PRHound #ININ #TAITO #PS4 #PSN #Switch #eShop #Shmup #Arcade #Console

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Battling The Aquatic Alien Menace!

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Developed by M2, published by ININ, and localized by ININ, Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade is a definitive collection of several of the flagship shoot 'em up's from the famous TAITO series Darius, but is it worth the price of admission? We think so and here's why:



The gameplay in this arcade collection is frantic high-octane borderline bullet-hell goodness that'll likely hook any fan of the shooter genre hook, line, and sinker! The included games are varied and there are several versions of each game aside from Gaiden that are from various regions or with updated gameplay. The gameplay is slightly different with each game, but the basic gist is you defeat hordes of enemies and avoid a myriad of obstacles and hazards and usually face a mid-boss sometime during each level and face a boss at the end. Defeating an entire wave of enemies usually results in a large sum of bonus points and sometimes leaves you a ship upgrade to boost your firepower, shield, speed, or grants you a powerful silver form with a massive boost in power!

Each game is divided into sectors and at the end of each level you can select one of two. This selection changes based on your previous decisions allowing for a playthrough typically around 6-8 of up to 26 possible courses depending on the game you're playing in the collection! The menu allows you to view online manuals of each game, change difficulty, starting lives, whether or not continues are available, and tons of HUD display options for the on-screen UI. Overall the game offers a considerable amount of customization for each game and is a much-appreciated aspect of the collection!



The difficulty of the games in this collection is tough-as-nails even on the easy difficulty setting, however the fact that you can add as many continues as you want going forward, it's pretty easy to beat the games, of course getting a competitively high score is another matter entirely. The controls are quite easy to pick up as expected from old-school arcade games, however the original Darius does have noticeably less responsive controls that take some time getting used to, but overall the collection is good in this regard.

As for the audio-visual presentation, the visuals aren't going to impress anyone in today's time, but the mechanical sea creatures that you fight in the games are quite unique and the aesthetics of the backgrounds are a step-above most games of that era. Darius Gaiden in particular looks absolutely amazing for an arcade game released in 1994. As for the audio side of things, the sound effects are of high quality and the soundtrack for each game is quite memorable and fits the games mood perfectly, overall the audio-visual presentation is nearly flawless in this collection.



Bottom-Line: With amazing gameplay, a flawless audio-visual presentation, and a myriad of options available for each game in this collection, any fan of the genre will take the bait and snatch up this collection and the controls work as they were meant to in the original arcade releases which will reel you potential buyers all the way in! We give Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade for the PS4 a great level of recommendation!

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Score: ★★★★★★★★★☆ 9/10

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#Review #PRHound #M2 #ININ #TAITO #PS4 #PSN #Switch #eShop #Retail #Arcade #Darius #Collection

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In Console And Arcade Varieties!

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PR Hound has made yet another announcement and it's a good one as ININ Games and PR Hound are releasing two amazing shmup collections next week on PS4 and Switch in conjunction with TAITO Games! The two collections are Darius Cozmic Collection Console and Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade! Here's what PR Hound said in their press release:



“WARNING!”

"A Huge Collection of Classic Shoot-em-up Games is Approaching Fast!


The localised, digital, versions of one of the highest revered Shoot ‘Em Up game series in the history of video gaming are heading to the Nintendo eShop and PSN. The Darius Cozmic Collection Console and the Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade will be available on 16th June 2020.


Make it Simple, Make it Tough!


The Darius series pioneered horizontal Shoot 'Em Up games and was developed by the legendary TAITO Corporation. The first Darius game wowed arcade going fans when it was

released in 1986 with its dedicated dual-display cabinet, imaginative enemy designs and revolutionary sound design.


RoboFish!


The first Darius is set in a futuristic 2D world, where the player pilots a Silver Hawk craft alone, or with a second player, and shoots their way through enemy hordes, navigating tricky terrain and battling giant robotic sea creatures. Armed with missiles, bombs and a forcefield, which can be powered up along the way, the players must defeat the alien invaders through a series of branching ‘zones’ to be victorious.


Numerous sequels and ports followed over the years, setting new standards for Shoot 'Em Up excellence each time, from the outstanding soundtracks, to the unforgettable, aquatic-lifeform-themed boss design and the innovative branching paths at the end of each section


The Darius Cozmic Collection represents the classic 2D history of this iconic Shoot 'Em Up series. All games have been faithfully ported to modern consoles by M2 in Japan, so gamers can rest assured that these are absolutely high-quality ports with perfect performance - as one would expect from the retro game experts at M2."

The two collections and the pricing for each can be found below:



Console


Darius Cozmic Collection Console - Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4

This download collection includes 6 titles (9 versions) from the Darius home console series:

Darius II (Mega Drive, JP version)

SAGAIA (Genesis, US version)

SAGAIA (Master System, EU version)

Darius Twin (Super Famicom, JP version)

Darius Twin (Super NES, US version)

Darius Force (Super Famicom, JP version)

Super Nova (Super NES, US version)

Darius Alpha (PC Engine, JP version)

Darius Plus (PC Engine, JP version)


Price: 54.99€ / 44.99 GBP / 59.99 USD



Arcade


Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade - Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4

This download collection includes 4 titles (7 versions) from the Darius arcade series:

Darius (Arcade, original version)

Darius (Arcade, new version)

Darius (Arcade, extra version)

Darius II (Arcade, Dual Screen version)

SAGAIA (Arcade, ver.1)

SAGAIA (Arcade, ver.2)

Darius Gaiden (Arcade)


Price: 39.99€ / 34,99 GBP/ 44,99 USD



2D or Not 2D - Don’t Miss Out!



What do you think of these two collections of classic games? Will yo be downloading either of these two collections? Be sure to vote in our poll and leave us your comments below!

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#News #ININ #PRHound #TAITO #PS4 #Switch #PSN #eShop #Shmup #Collection #Arcade #Poll

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Sci-Fi Zelda Meets MMORPG In This Thrilling Epic You Can't Miss!

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CrossCode is a retro-inspired 2D action JRPG that is said to "combine a captivating storyline, with realistic physics and worlds that offer a fast paced combat system and lots of puzzle mechanics. Putting it simply, it's a game not to miss!"

Deck13 , ININ, Radical Fish Games, and PR Hound have stated in a press release that "CrossCode for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 will be available in all major retail stores in Europe and North America starting from August 28th 2020. Furthermore, the exclusive and limited SteelBook Edition and Collector's Edition are available only at Strictly Limited Games starting today. The digital editions can soon be ordered in the Nintendo eShop and the PlayStation Store and will be released on July 9th 2020."

Here's what was said regarding the game in the press release.



"CrossCode is a retro-inspired 2D game that comes with a captivating sci-fi storyline and silky smooth physics. Magnificent worlds and a fast-paced combat system are combined with outstanding puzzle mechanics and lots of options for character growth. A strong main story and lots of side content allow you to spend up to 80 hours in the detailed, nostalgic pixel world.

CrossCode is set in the distant future, where you follow a player named Lea. Lea logs into a fictional MMO called CrossWorlds. Lea suffers from memory loss and is mute. The path to regain Lea’s memory is to play CrossWorlds, discover all the game locations and meet other players. Bit by bit as Lea’s memory returns, the mystery surrounding CrossWorlds will unravel - and you will discover why a mute player is stuck in this game in the first place.

CrossCode had seven years of community-driven development behind its creation and was hugely anticipated by a strong fanbase before its successful release on Steam.


CrossCode features:

* Abundant main story and side content

* Outstanding Retro-style music

* Great variety of puzzles

* Fast-paced combat system

* Combining the best of JRPG and action adventure games in a modern retro-styled look

* Discover a large SciFi world with 7 unique realms

* Fight more than 120 enemy types including 30+ boss fights

* Explore 7 vast dungeons with unique themes and puzzle mechanics"

As for the special editions of the game, they include the following.



CrossCode SteelBook Edition
The limited CrossCode SteelBook Edition for PC, Nintendo Switch and PS4 features:

Game

Instruction Card

Manual

Variant reversible Cover

Original SteelBook

Individually numbered limited Edition

The SteelBook Edition is exclusively available at the Strictly Limited Games Partner Shop for €39.99. The PlayStation 4 SteelBook edition is limited to only 2,000 copies worldwide. The Nintendo Switch SteelBook edition is limited to 3,000 copies worldwide. The PC SteelBook edition is limited to 3,000 copies worldwide.

CrossCode Collector’s Edition



The limited CrossCode Collector’s Edition for PC, Nintendo Switch and PS4 features:

Game

Instruction Card

Manual

Variant reversible Cover

Original SteelBook

Hardcover CE Box with magnetic lock

Original 2-Disc Soundtrack

Hardcover Book - CrossCode Compendium

18 Stickers

Large Poster

Lea 'Hi' Keychain

Individually numbered limited Edition


The Collector’s Edition is exclusively available at the Strictly Limited Games Partner Shop for €59.99. The PlayStation 4 Collector’s Edition is limited to 1,500 copies worldwide. The Nintendo Switch Collector’s Edition is limited to 2,000 copies worldwide. The PC Collector’s Edition is limited to 2,000 copies worldwide.

What do you think of this news? Will you be picking up this excellent action RPG next month when it lands on the eShop and PlayStation Store? As always be sure to leave us a comment below!

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#News #ININ #Deck13 #RadicalFishGames #PRHound #CrossCode #Switch #Retail #eShop #PS4 #PSN #JRPGPS4

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Bubble Bursting Fun!

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PR Hound has announced that Bubble Bobble 4 Friends for PS4 that releases this year will feature loads of new stages and modes not currently in the Nintendo Switch version of the game, but fear not. If you own the Switch version of Bubble Bobble 4 Friends, the platform will be getting the new content in the form of DLC. What do you think of this news? Be sure to pop a bubble in our comments below!

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#News #Trailer #PS4 #PSN #Switch #eShop #DLC #BubbleBobble #PRHound #ININ #TAITO

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Super Blast Sisters Brawl?!

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PR Hound has announced that Unihara Kawase: Bazooka will be releasing on both the Nintendo Switch and PS4 this July! The game looks to be a spin-off that plays a bit like a Smash Bros game and it looks quite promising! What do you think of the announcement trailer and will you be getting the game when it releases in July? Be sure to tell us in the comments section below!

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#News #PRHound #ININ #Switch #PS4 #eShop #PSN

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