Taito Memories[a] is a series of video game compilations published by Taito in Japan. A total of five collections were released from 2005 to 2007 — four on the PlayStation 2, and one on the PlayStation Portable. The PlayStation 2 entries each have twenty-five titles, while the PlayStation Portable game has sixteen. The collections contain arcade games developed by Taito throughout the 1980s and 1990s. A similar series of collections, Taito Legends, was released outside Japan in North America and Europe, which retained many of the games included in the Taito Memories collections. The first two compilations sold a total of 145,616 copies.[n 1]

Taito Memories
Genre(s)Various
Developer(s)Taito
Publisher(s)Taito
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable
First releaseTaito Memories Jōkan
July 28, 2005
Latest releaseTaito Memories II Gekan
March 29, 2007

Games edit

Taito Memories Jōkan edit

The first entry, Taito Memories Jōkan, was released on July 28, 2005.[3] It would be re-released under two different budget labels - first under the Taito BEST label on July 7, 2006, and the second under Eternal Hits on June 28, 2007. Among the included titles, KiKi KaiKai, Bubble Bobble, Syvalion, Cameltry and Metal Black are locked, and can be accessed by inserting a code in the title screen - the reprints of the game would have these games available from the start.[4]

Games included in Taito Memories Jōkan
Title Genre Original release Unlockable
Space Invaders Color Fixed shooter 1978 No
Lunar Rescue Fixed shooter 1979 No
Alpine Ski Alpine skiing 1982 No
The Fairyland Story Platform 1985 No
KiKi KaiKai Multi-directional shooter 1986 Yes
Bubble Bobble Platform 1986 Yes
Rastan Saga Beat'em up 1987 No
Kuri Kinton Platform 1988 No
Syvalion Multi-directional shooter 1988 Yes
Bonze Adventure Platform 1988 No
Cameltry Puzzle 1989 Yes
Don Doko Don Platform 1989 No
Flipull Puzzle 1989 No
Ah Eikou No Koshien Baseball 1990 No
Majestic Twelve: The Space Invaders Part IV Fixed shooter 1990 No
Runark Beat'em up 1990 No
Pu-Li-Ru-La Beat'em up 1991 No
Metal Black Horizontal-scrolling shooter 1991 Yes
Grid Seeker: Project Storm Hammer Vertical-scrolling shooter 1992 No
Dungeon Magic Beat'em up 1994 No
Space Invaders DX Fixed shooter 1994 No
Darius Gaiden Horizontal-scrolling shooter 1994 No
Elevator Action Returns Platform 1995 No
Cleopatra Fortune Puzzle 1996 No
Puchi Carat Puzzle 1997 No

Taito Memories Gekan edit

The second entry, Taito Memories Gekan, was released on August 25, 2005. It would be re-released under two different budget labels - first under the Taito BEST label on July 9, 2006[5] and the second under Eternal Hits on June 28, 2007. Among the included titles, Qix, Elevator Action, Front Line, The NewZealand Story and Gun Frontier are locked, and can be accessed by inserting a code in the title screen - the reprints of the game would have these games available from the start.[6] The ports of both RayStorm and G-Darius are instead the PlayStation versions instead of the arcade releases.

Games included in Taito Memories Gekan
Title Genre Original release Unlockable
Space Invaders Fixed shooter 1978 No
Space Invaders Part II Fixed shooter 1979 No
Crazy Balloon Maze 1980 No
Balloon Bomber Fixed shooter 1980 No
Qix Maze 1981 Yes
Wild Western Fixed shooter 1982 No
Front Line Maze 1982 Yes
Elevator Action Platform 1983 Yes
Chack'n Pop Platform 1983 No
The Legend of Kage Hack'n slash 1985 No
The NewZealand Story Platform 1988 Yes
Rastan Saga II Beat'em up 1988 No
Raimais Maze 1988 No
Insector X Horizontal-scrolling shooter 1989 No
Cadash Action adventure 1989 No
Violence Fight Fighting 1989 No
Gun Frontier Vertical-scrolling shooter 1990 Yes
Hat Trick Hero Football 1990 No
Liquid Kids Platform 1990 No
Arabian Magic Hack'n slash 1992 No
Space Invaders '95 Fixed shooter 1995 No
Gekirindan Vertical-scrolling shooter 1995 No
Puzzle Bobble 2 Puzzle 1995 No
RayStorm Vertical-scrolling shooter 1996 No
G-Darius Horizontal-scrolling shooter 1997 No

Taito Memories Pocket edit

This compilation is a portable version only available for the PlayStation Portable, and was released in Japan on January 5, 2006. It includes 16 titles, four of which are featuring an additional remake version.

Titles included in Taito Memories Pocket
Title Genre Original release Remake
Lunar Rescue Fixed shooter 1979 No
Crazy Balloon Maze 1980 Yes
Balloon Bomber Fixed shooter 1980 Yes
Qix Maze 1981 No
Alpine Ski Alpine skiing 1982 No
Elevator Action Platform 1983 No
Chack'n Pop Platform 1983 No
The Legend of Kage Hack'n slash 1985 Yes
The Fairyland Story Platform 1985 No
KiKi KaiKai Multi-directional shooter 1986 No
Rastan Saga Beat'em up 1987 No
Kuri Kinton Beat'em up 1988 No
The New Zealand Story Platform 1988 No
Raimais Maze 1988 No
Rainbow Islands Extra Platform 1988 No
Cameltry Puzzle 1989 Yes

Taito Memories II Jōkan edit

This compilation saw its release on January 25, 2007.

Titles included in Taito Memories II Jōkan
Title Genre Original release
Space Chaser Maze 1979
Grand Champion Racing 1981
Time Tunnel Maze 1982
The Athletic Sports game 1984
Ben Bero Beh Platform 1984
Return of the Invaders Fixed shooter 1985
Gladiator Beat'em up 1986
Kick and Run Sports game 1986
Scramble Formation Vertical-scrolling shooter 1986
Continental Circus Racing 1987
Exzisus Horizontal-scrolling shooter 1987
Super Qix Maze 1987
Rainbow Islands Platformer 1987
Operation Thunderbolt Shooting gallery 1988
Cloud Master Horizontal-scrolling shooter 1988
Fighting Hawk Horizontal-scrolling shooter 1988
Asuka & Asuka Vertical-scrolling shooter 1989
S.C.I. Racing 1989
Darius II Horizontal-scrolling shooter 1989
Champion Wrestler Fighting 1989
Space Gun Shooting gallery 1990
The Ninja Kids Beat'em up 1990
Dino Rex Fighting 1992
RayForce Vertical-scrolling shooter 1994
Bubble Memories Platform 1996

Taito Memories II Gekan edit

This is the final compilation, released in Japan on March 29, 2007.

Titles included in Taito Memories II Gekan
Title Genre Original release
Field Goal Breakout 1979
Phoenix Fixed shooter 1980
Polaris Fixed shooter 1980
Great Swordsman Fighting 1984
Sea Fighter Poseidon Horizontal-scrolling shooter 1984
Gyrodine Vertical-scrolling shooter 1984
Buggy Challenge Racing 1984
Typhoon Gal Fighting 1985
Metal Soldier Isaac II Vertical-scrolling shooter 1985
Halley's Comet Vertical-scrolling shooter 1986
Land Sea Air Squad Vertical-scrolling shooter 1986
Operation Wolf Shooting gallery 1987
Full Throttle Racing 1987
Plump Pop Breakout 1987
Chase H.Q. Racing 1988
Rainbow Islands Extra Platform 1988
Final Blow Fighting 1988
Volfied Maze 1989
Night Striker Shooter 1989
Battle Shark Shooter 1989
Master of Weapon Vertical-scrolling shooter 1989
Megablast Horizontal-scrolling shooter 1989
ThunderFox Beat'em up 1990
Warrior Blade: Rastan Saga Episode III Beat'em up 1991
Bubble Symphony Platform 1994

Reception edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ In Japanese: Taito Memories (タイトーメモリーズ, Taitō Memorīzu)

References edit

  1. ^ "Taito Memories Vol. 1". Garaph (data from Famitsu). Retrieved 28 July 2005.
  2. ^ "Taito Memories Vol. 2". Garaph (data from Famitsu). Retrieved 25 August 2005.
  3. ^ Yasuki, Shiga. "タイトー、名作ゲーム25作品が1本に!! PS2「タイトーメモリーズ 上巻」を7月28日に発売". GAME Watch. Retrieved 13 May 2005.
  4. ^ Taito Memories Jōkan BOOK. Taito Corp. Retrieved 28 July 2005.
  5. ^ Ishida, Katsuo. "タイトー、アーケードゲーム集の廉価版を発売 PS2「タイトーメモリーズ 下巻 TAITO BEST」". GAME Watch. Retrieved 8 July 2006.
  6. ^ Taito Memories Gekan BOOK. Taito Corp. Retrieved 25 August 2005.
  1. ^ Taito Memories series sales:
    • Taito Memories Jokan: 25,636 units[1]
    • Taito Memories Gekan:[2]

External links edit