December2023
News Granzella's R-Type Tactics I & II Remakes Are Coming To Switch In "Fall 2024"
Update: Now scheduled to release next year
Update #3 [Sat 30th Dec, 2023 08:30 GMT]: Earlier this year in July, it was announced the release date of "Summer 2023" for R-Type Tactics I • II Cosmos had been pushed back to 2024, with the aim to launch the game at the "earliest possible date". Now in an new broadcast this week, Granzella has narrowed...
December2021
Feature 'Arcade Perfect' Be Damned: R-Type DX Is Still Portable Perfection
Bydo To The Future
R-Type may be 34 years old but the beyond-enthusiastic reception for R-Type Final 2's Kickstarter proved Irem’s long-running series is much more than a nostalgic memory held close by a few greying fans, or vintage shmup still hazily respected from a great distance. R-Type can still generate hype and open up wallets; the thought...
October2021
Gallery Breaking The Seal On Retro-Bit's 'Undercover Cops' Reissue
One of the rarest Super Famicom games lives again
Irem's Undercover Cops is one of the most expensive Super Famicom titles, regularly changing hands for $200 just for the loose cartridge. However, Retro-Bit has come to our rescue with a reissue of the game which comes with a bunch of other goodies that collectors will want to check out. Retro-Bit...
February2021
News Irem's SNES Brawler Undercover Cops Is Getting A New Physical Release
And it comes with loads of goodies, too
One of Irem's 1990s classics is getting a fresh physical release this year, thanks to American company Retro-Bit. Undercover Cops originally launched in arcades in 1992, and built upon the legacy of Kung-Fu Master, which Irem had released way back in 1984. Set in a post-apocalyptic 2043, it's a...
September2020
News R-Type Final 2's Release Date Confirmed For Spring 2021
Blasting off again
R-Type Final 2 will hit Switch and other formats early next year, it has been revealed. The latest issue of Weekly Famitsu magazine confirmed the news. The shooter – which is the sequel to the 2003 PlayStation 2 original (itself part of a series which began life in arcades in the '80s) – was crowdfunded to the tune of...
December2019
Gallery Unboxing Metal Storm, The NES Hidden Gem That's Getting A Second Chance
Irem's cult classic is available once more
While your typical console has plenty of AAA titles which gain plenty of attention and bumper sales, there are always a few underrated gems which slip through the cracks for one reason or another. Irem's Metal Storm is one such title; originally released in the US to positive reviews in 1991, it was...
November2019
News Metal Slug Forerunner In The Hunt Is Coming To Switch
Thanks, Hamster!
Japanese company Hamster has been doing sterling work of late bringing classic arcade titles to the Switch via its Arcade Archives line, and it's lining up a release for one of Irem's most loved shooters. In The Hunt – known in Japan as Kaitei Daisensō – was originally released in 1993 and was developed by the same core team...
September2019
News Irem's Vigilante Joins The Arcade Archives Downloadable Series This Week
Take the law into your own hands
If River City Girls is beyond your budget, and you still want some beat 'em up action on Switch this week, then it might be worth taking a look at Hamster's latest Arcade Archives game, Vigilante. It was originally released by the Japanese developer Irem (best known for R-Type) in 1988 and is designed for 1-2...
August2019
News Irem's Classic Shoot 'Em Up X Multiply Is Coming To Arcade Archives On Switch
Blast some aliens
The classic side-scrolling shoot 'em up XMultiply is expected to make a comeback on the Switch thanks to Hamster's glorious retro line, Arcade Archives. If you're not familiar with this title, you might at least know the Japanese developer behind it. Irem was best known for R-Type back in the day. XMultiply - released in 1989 - is...
November2018
News R-Type Dimensions EX Lands On Switch At The End Of The Month
Bydo beware!
Shmup aficionados can circle their calendars on 28th November, the date that R-Type Dimensions EX releases on the Switch eShop, at long last adding Irem's revered, evil alien empire shooter to the ever-growing list of shoot 'em ups on Nintendo's hybrid system. If you're unfamiliar with this iteration of Irem's classic, know that it is...
September2018
News Hamster Adding Even More Games To The Arcade Archives On Switch
Switch virtual arcade salons are receiving a major update
While all of us at Nintendo Life are still rejoicing over yesterday's confirmation of the puzzling adventures of a certain well-known dinosaur duo, Hamster overnight revealed the Arcade Archives release schedule for the Switch. If you want to be surprised on the eShop every week, you should...
August2018
Gallery Unboxing Retro-Bit's Incredible R-Type And Holy Diver Limited Editions
Limited to 2,900 copies each
Retro-Bit is doing an excellent job when it comes to keeping the past alive, and has already released a couple of welcome compilations for the NES and SNES. However, the company has really outdone itself with its latest project, which features limited edition versions of Irem's R-Type and Holy Diver, for the SNES and...
April2018
News Coin-Op Gridiron Classic 10-Yard Fight Is Coming To Switch Next Week
Hut!
Hamster is bringing Irem's classic 10-Yard Fight to the Switch eShop as part of the Arcade Archives range, it has been revealed. A listing on the eShop shows that the 1983 classic - along with its 1984 update, VS 10-Yard Fight, which includes a two-player feature - is hitting the digital store on May 2nd. If you were a NES fan during the...
March2018
News World Heroes 2 JET, Moon Patrol And Sol Divide Bring The Retro To Switch Next Week
Jet laggin', Moon patrolin' and Sol devidin'
Circle 22nd March on your calendars, NL retro enthusiast readers, because HAMSTER and Zerodiv are after your tokens. No less than three very distinct retro gaming choices await you next week (four if you have an American eShop account). With the upcoming release of World Heroes 2 JET ADK's curious...
February2018
News Two New Hamster ACA Titles Dropping Next Week On Switch eShop
Magical Drop III and Heroic Episode demand your coins
Data East's love affair with the Nintendo Switch is set to continue next week thanks to Hamster's Arcade Archives label. Magical Drop III drops onto the eShop giving puzzle lovers who keep wandering why Taito's Puzzle Bobble is still a no show on the system something to look forward to. This...
January2018
News Irem Arcade Classics Kid Niki, Youjuu-Den And Moon Patrol Heading To Switch
Retro-tastic
Hamster has confirmed another three coin-op classics for release on the Switch eShop. Irem titles Kid Niki, Youjuu-Den And Moon Patrol will be available soon, and are also coming to the PlayStation 4. Here's what they all look like: Will you be downloading any of these games on your Switch?
December2017
News Retro-Bit Announces R-Type Returns For Super Nintendo
Irem's Holy Diver also making a comeback on NES
Looks like Retro-Bit is once again targeting retro gamer's wallets in early 2018 with a couple of exclusive physical re-releases. R-Typepe Returns will bring both excellent entries of the series exclusive to the Super Nintendo (Super R-Type and R-Type III: The Third Lightning) in a single...
November2017
News R-Type And Other Irem Arcade Hits Are Coming To Switch
Thanks to Hamster
Japanese conversion specialist Hamster - famous for its superb line of Neo Geo ports on the Switch eShop - has just revealed that it has gained the licence to bring some of Irem's most beloved coin-op titles to Nintendo's console. The first game is Arcade Archives Zippy Race, which is due for release this year in Japan...
September2016
News Retro-Bit Generations Game List Contains Capcom, Irem And Data East Classics
Rest easy, Super Noah's Ark is included
Clone consoles are all the rage at the moment, what with Nintendo's own NES Mini and RetroUSB's AVS arriving on the scene to remind everyone just how great the NES was, and still is. However, Retro-Bit is taking a slightly different approach by not focusing on a single system but instead creating an "all in...
July2016
News Retro-Bit's Next System Aims To Challenge The NES Classic Edition Mini Console
Over 100 titles, HDMI support, SD card slot and 6-button controllers
Ever since the Retron 5 and Retro Freak arrived on the scene clone hardware maker Retro-Bit has fallen a little silent. The company's last major release - the Super Retro Trio - was seen as a rival to Hyperkin's hardware, but lacked HDMI su