Even more classics are getting a new life on PC with the Toaplan Arcade Shoot 'Em Up Collection Vol. 3 announced for release on February 1st along with Linux and Steam Deck support just like the previous collections.
Games included:
- Tiger-Heli: This is where it all started. Tiger-Heli, Toaplan's pioneering bomb-based vertical shooter set the stage for an entire genre back in 1985!
- Vimana: Uncover the magic of Indian mythology, unique power-ups, and an enchanting soundtrack in this electrifying space showdown!
- FixEight: Toaplan's thrilling vertical run-and-gun game features eight peerless warriors with cutting-edge weapons!
- Batsugun: The epic conclusion of Toaplan's legendary shooter series. Play the original or Batsugun Special. Choose your favorite character and spaceship in this thrilling sci-fi adventure!
As usual, the updated releases come with a whole bunch of improvements thanks to the emulation involved. Some of the enhancements are listed below:
- Minimal Input Lag: Emulation, input processing, and rendering all complete on the same frame.
- Quick Save using F1-F10, Reload with Shift+ F1-F10.
- Online leaderboards for Single Credit, No Assist, and Assisted plays.
- Instrument panels with extra gameplay information and artwork.
- Rewind the game between 10-18 minutes, depending on the action.
- Capture sharable replays to immortalize your interstellar victories (or funny moments).
- Assist Features such as auto-fire at multiple rates.
- Very Easy Mode: Lower the difficulty to breeze through the adventure.
- Pixel perfect or full-screen scaling in windowed or full-screen mode.
- Rotate the gameplay in 90-degree increments.
- Steam Achievements.
- Hone your skills in the ultra customizable practice mode!
My testing of the previous two collections was great, as they really did work exceptionally well on both Steam Deck and my Linux gaming desktop - so I expect more of the same goodness from this latest collection since they're clearly using the same software base for them all. It's just good to see more classic games get modernised like this, enabling them to be played easily.
You'll be able to buy the games from GOG and Steam.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
10 comments
I've really been digging into some shooters this last week, enough so to finally have a preference for vertical ones*, so I may well end up picking up Tiger Heli, from this selection. 
*That said, I did enjoy the Mega Drive version of Zero Wing, and still need to pick up the Steam re-release of the arcade one.
*That said, I did enjoy the Mega Drive version of Zero Wing, and still need to pick up the Steam re-release of the arcade one.
2 Likes, Who?
StoneColdSpider Jan 11
Quoting: Pengling*That said, I did enjoy the Mega Drive version of Zero Wing, and still need to pick up the Steam re-release of the arcade one.All your base are belong to us.....
3 Likes, Who?
Linux_Rocks Jan 11
Quoting: PenglingI've really been digging into some shooters this last week, enough so to finally have a preference for vertical ones*, so I may well end up picking up Tiger Heli, from this selection.Play Ikaruga and Radiant Silvergun. Also any CAVE shmups are good too. Along with the Raiden series.
*That said, I did enjoy the Mega Drive version of Zero Wing, and still need to pick up the Steam re-release of the arcade one.
2 Likes, Who?
I greatly appreciated their ports from the previous releases. Some of the big names should take notice on how properly release older titles to modern systems.
3 Likes, Who?
Quoting: PenglingI've really been digging into some shooters this last week, enough so to finally have a preference for vertical ones*, so I may well end up picking up Tiger Heli, from this selection.
My favorites at the arcades were Xevious, 1942, Slap Fight, Sky Shark, Twin Cobra, 1943, Truxton, Twin Hawk and Raiden. When the arcades changed the price from 20c to 40c I just stopped playing.
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: StoneColdSpiderAll your base are belong to us.....Somebody set up us the bomb! And it wasn't any of my robots this time.
Quoting: Linux_RocksPlay Ikaruga and Radiant Silvergun. Also any CAVE shmups are good too. Along with the Raiden series.Alas, I'm too old for my reflexes to be any good for a lot of these, hahaha!
My absolute limit is Super Star Soldier.Quoting: NodMy favorites at the arcades were Xevious, 1942, Slap Fight, Sky Shark, Twin Cobra, 1943, Truxton, Twin Hawk and Raiden.I love Xevious and 1942.
The rest, I haven't played yet (well, I have played 1943, but unlike many I prefer 1942). I've been having a good time with some of the shooters on the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 of late - my favourite one there, by far, is Star Parodier.Quoting: NodWhen the arcades changed the price from 20c to 40c I just stopped playing.You should've seen how insane the UK prices got - they went from 20p up to £1, £2, or higher!
Last edited by Pengling on 12 January 2024 at 8:44 am UTC
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: NodI played a bit of those, but my favourite at the arcade was that boxing thing, I think it was called Punch Out. Totally different from most of the arcade stuff, and the great thing was--I didn't suck at it! I could squeeze quite a bit of time out of a single quarter. Things like Raiden or Truxton I was lucky to last a minute.Quoting: PenglingI've really been digging into some shooters this last week, enough so to finally have a preference for vertical ones*, so I may well end up picking up Tiger Heli, from this selection.
My favorites at the arcades were Xevious, 1942, Slap Fight, Sky Shark, Twin Cobra, 1943, Truxton, Twin Hawk and Raiden. When the arcades changed the price from 20c to 40c I just stopped playing.
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: Geppeto35I miss some good shoot-them-up like stargunner or entertaining like Apidaya.
The Sky force's game are a nice go for shmup on linux and steam deck, and playing in coop locally with children or friends. I warmly recommend.
I do love Sky Force games. If the developer added the "Tate" view, they would be perfect.
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: PenglingQuoting: NodMy favorites at the arcades were Xevious, 1942, Slap Fight, Sky Shark, Twin Cobra, 1943, Truxton, Twin Hawk and Raiden.I love Xevious and 1942.
You should really give some of those others a try then, highly recommended, all classics of the genera!
Quoting: PenglingQuoting: NodWhen the arcades changed the price from 20c to 40c I just stopped playing.You should've seen how insane the UK prices got - they went from 20p up to £1, £2, or higher!
Yea I always wonder about that price jump, was it a good idea or did it contribute to the demise of the arcades? I found myself pondering how to optimize revenue as an arcade owner. My theory is you really want to price things to optimize throughput and get more people in the arcade and playing and then cross sell drinks and snacks. It really needs you to own two arcades so you can do A/B testing. Do you earn more with games at 20c and higher utilization of each console or 40c with lower utilization? How much does higher utilization impact maintenance costs? What are the cross sell opportunities? Do arcades make most money from the games or something else (like restaurants make more from alcohol sales than the food).
I find myself pondering similar questions whenever I go to a second hand bookshop or restaurant. Like if you train your restaurant staff to be very attentive to the state of customers drinks and always offer a top up as soon as there are empty glasses and you will boost revenue by 25% right there. Yet I often find myself always sitting there with and empty glass desperately trying to get a waitresses attention.
Last edited by Nod on 21 January 2024 at 11:16 pm UTC
1 Likes, Who?
Patreon
PayPal
See more from me