Just in time for the release of Evercade Alpha, we have a brand new collection of Toaplan classics for you to enjoy, including some of the company’s very best shoot ’em ups and action games. If you’d like to see the games in action, be sure to check out our video below — and if you’d like to know a little more, read on for a transcript of titles discussed, plus a bit of bonus info for those of you kind enough to come and read our blog.
Toaplan Arcade 3collects together 7 explosive arcade hits from the masters of the shoot ’em up: Japanese developerToaplan.
Toaplangames are renowned the world over for striking an excellent balance between accessibility and long-term challenge, and many of their titles proved to be enormously influential. So let’s take a closer look at the games contained in this collection!
First released in 1993,BatsugunwasToaplan’slast shoot ’em up, but is one of the company’s most influential titles. It’s considered by many to be the origin point of the shoot ’em up subgenre known variously as “manic shooter”, “bullet hell” or “danmaku”, in which the emphasis is on successfully negotiating screen-filling and aesthetically pleasing bullet patterns as much as it is about blowing everything up.
Batsugunhad two variants: its original 1993 release and its much less common 1994Special Version, which never made it to widespread distribution in arcades. TheSpecial Versionincludes a number of gameplay refinements and tweaks such as a shield, more powerful bombs and additional, more difficult loops around the stages for advanced players to take on after beating the game once.
Batsugunand itsSpecial Versionare two of the most well-regarded takes on the shoot ’em up out there, and you can enjoy both of them onToaplan Arcade 3forEvercade.
WhileToaplanis primarily known for its excellent spaceship shooters, the company turned its attention to the top-down run-and-gun genre on a couple of occasions. Released in 1990,Out ZonewasToaplan’sfirst attempt at this type of game, and it’s a well-loved entry in the company’s back catalogue.
InOut Zone, you take control of a cyborg mercenary. There are two types of weapon you can use in the game: a multidirectional shot that can attack all around you, and a three-way shot that fires straight up the screen regardless of which way you’re moving. Knowing when to use which weapon is key to success inOut Zone.
Out Zonewas well-liked by critics back in the ’90s, but many bemoaned the lack of an official home version. Now, you can enjoy the game as much as you like, at home or on the go, withToaplan Arcade 3forEvercade!
Released in 1991,Ghoxis another example ofToaplanleaving its core comfort zone of the shoot ’em up genre and trying its hand at another type of game. This time, it’s the turn of the bat-and-ball block breaker.
Ghoxprovides a number of distinctive twists on this classic formula, most notably through its use of power-ups. Treasure chests on each stage provide useful items, and collecting sets of coloured crystal orbs gives you special abilities that can help make your brick-smashing quest a bit easier.
Ghoxis another classicToaplantitle that never got a home port back in the ’90s, so we’re delighted to give you the opportunity to enjoy it at home or on the go withToaplan Arcade 3forEvercade.
FixEighthails from 1992 and is considered a spiritual successor toOut Zone, though it’s not a direct sequel.FixEightfeatures similar mechanics toOut Zone, but with a number of changes and additions. Perhaps most notably, there are now eight different playable characters, each with their own distinctive loadout of weapons.
The game keeps Out Zone’sdistinction between multidirectional weapons and a “straight up the screen” shot, though now you switch between these by stepping on coloured pads rather than collecting items. Each character also has a powerful “special” weapon that can be collected and used under certain circumstances.
FixEightalso omits one key element ofOut Zone’sgameplay: the energy bar. While inOut Zone, you were forced to keep moving forwards by a constantly declining energy bar that could only be topped up by collecting items, inFixEightyou can take your time a little more. That doesn’t mean the action is any less intense, though; on the contrary, the enemy assault is relentless, so keep blasting!
LikeOut Zone,FixEightnever got an official home port back in the day, so enjoy it on the TV withEvercade VS/VS-R, handheld with Evercade EXP/EXP-Ror with authentic arcade controls with Evercade Alpha!
Truxton II,also known asTatsujin-Oh, was a 1992 release, and, as the name suggests, is a follow-up toToaplanfan favouriteTruxton. Mechanically it’s quite similar toTruxton: the game unfolds across an ongoing series of stages, each with their own enemy encounters, and at various points you have the opportunity to change your weapons by collecting coloured tokens. This time around, the red weapon is a napalm bomb, the blue weapon is a homing laser, and the green shots can cover a wide area.
Truxton IIhas become a cult favourite over the years for its solid gameplay, excellent visual presentation and inordinately catchy music. It’s also notorious for being one ofToaplan’smost challenging games, so be sure to bring your shoot ’em up A-game for this one!
While the originalTruxtonhad a home port to one of the most famous 16-bit games consoles out there,Truxton IIonly made its way home to a Japanese home computer system.Toaplan Arcade 3forEvercadegives you the opportunity to own a physical copy of this excellent game, wherever you are in the world.
Released in 1991,Vimanais one ofToaplan’slesser-known shoot ’em ups. It’snoteworthy for a couple of reasons: firstly, its interesting blend of imagery, which combines sci-fi elements with references to Hindu mythology. Secondly, it’s regarded as one ofToaplan’smore accessible shoot ’em ups; while it’s still a challenging affair that you certainly won’t one-credit clear on your first attempt, it’s notquiteas unforgiving as some of the company’s other games, making it a good starting point for those looking to exploreToaplan’sextensive library of spaceship shooters.
Vimanaboasts a distinctive weapons loadout. As well as a standard rapid-fire shot you can unleash by tapping the fire button (or using the Turbo Fire function), you can also hold the fire button for a charged shot that spreads out across the whole screen. Bombs are implemented in an unconventional manner, too; instead of blasting the whole screen or an area, they take the form of circular orbs of energy that surround your craft and home in on enemies that appear on the screen.
Like several of the other titles inToaplan Arcade 3forEvercade,Vimananever had a port to home consoles back in the day, meaning thisEvercadeversion will likely be many fans’ first contact with it.
Toaplan Arcade 3is available forEvercadefromNovember 2024. Find out more on the official cartridge page.
