Last year, I had the pleasure of reviewing ININ Games’ Taito Milestones 2. Though lacking the deep dive into historical facts like Digital Eclipse usually does, it’s a lively collection. And, hey, that port of Darius II by M2 is the stuff of legend. The developer apparently wants the games to speak for themselves – which isn’t the worst thing, we’ll admit. And Taito Milestones 3 is happy to take that route.
Releasing next week, this ten-game compilation, like the ones before it, comes with old-school bliss aplenty. You’ve got ten different favorites to choose from, including the entire Rastan trilogy and two Bubble Bobble games. There are also some rarities, including Dead Connection and Champion Wrestler, finally getting a home release here. Oh, and, of course, Cadash, which role-playing fans will love.
It may not be loaded with tidbits about the company, but Taito Milestones 3 comes with hours of gameplay. Not only that, but it’s a blast plowing through Warrior Blade with a friend. Old-schoolers should definitely not hesitate on this one.
Taito Milestones 3 – The Games, Part 1
When I said there’s a Rastan trilogy, I’m not kidding. There are three games.
The original Rastan is essentially Conan the Barbarian: The Video Game. You’ve got a warrior cutting through enemy forces with whatever he can find. This one’s got superb medieval flavor, and great level design. Not to mention that iconic music. It practically screams “I AM RASTAN!”
Rastan Saga 2, however, takes a different route. The characters are bigger and the pace is much slower. Plus the combat is a little bit weird. Still, there’s lots of enemies to mow down, and the bosses do have an impressive touch.
My favorite of the three, however, is Warrior Blade. It’s a side-scrolling brawler akin to Final Fight with a trio of heroes. I mean, Golden Axe it isn’t, but it’s a hell of a ride. Not to mention you can play it alongside friends. It’s a treat.
Bubble Bobble comes next, and this is an obvious classic. Packed with levels and adorable dinosaurs that destroy enemies with bubbles (hey, it works), it’s a highlight in Taito’s game legacy. This is a must-play, especially alongside a buddy in local fashion.
Its sequel, Rainbow Islands, is also here. It’s much different, as you take out enemies with rainbows while getting to the top of a stage. But it’s cool in its own right, and the power-ups are pretty fun. TRIO RAINBOWS!
Taito Milestones 3 – The Games, Part 2
Champion Wrestler feels like a spiritual successor to Mat Mania, in a way. The controls feel great and the array of wrestlers isn’t bad in the least. I mean, there’s no one that says, “A WINNER IS YOU!”, but I’ll take it anyway. A must for fans of the sport.
Runark is essentially Growl, a side-scrolling beat-em-up where you take on animal poachers in wild ways. This one’s too short for its own good, but is a good time while it lasts. Plus the dialogue is top-notch. It’s not every day someone calls you a “wisp.”
Cadash is an old-school style action/RPG, where you guide a character through a fantasy world. Fans that played this on Turbo-Grafx or Sega Genesis will no doubt fondly remember this one. The arcade port is excellent, and a real highlight of this package. Be prepared to invest time with this particular title.
Thunder Fox is a side-scrolling action game where you play a soldier of fortune, wiping out enemies. This is a must for high-score enthusiasts and those that like good old fashioned action. It delivers in spades.
Finally, Dead Connection is a shoot-em-up, where you take out enemies in eight different directions while avoiding bullets. The concept is confusing, but the game is surprisingly robust. And you can play alongside friends in multiplayer to boot.
So How’s the Collection Hold Up?
Considering some of these releases came out as part of the Arcade Archives collection, you’ll see a lot of similar options. That includes adjusting lives, video, audio and whatever else you want to toggle. It’s a neat set of options, so you can play however you wish. And it’s nice to cater the experience to whatever skill set you want.
But, again, Taito Milestones 3 could’ve been a little bit more with a historical element. How did Taito make these games in the first place? What inspired the change between Rastan and Rastan Saga 2? What was the motivation behind Runark, if not something from the Indiana Jones lexicon? This addition would’ve skyrocketed this game into “must-have” status.
As it stands, though, Taito Milestones 3 still has a lot to offer. Plus, I have yet to see a gamer stubborn enough to turn away Bubble Bobble. Those dinos are just too darn adorable.
Save Your Quarters and Get Into the Milestones
If you can get over the bare-bones approach when it comes to history, Taito Milestones 3 doesn’t disappoint. The scope of the games is off the charts here, and there are some real rarities and popular favorites to soak in. Not to mention they’re emulated well and have plenty of options to mess with.
I honestly wouldn’t mind a Taito Milestones 4 down the road, perhaps with a mixture of oddball favorites. Night Striker would hit the spot; and, for good measure, we haven’t seen Pu-Li-Ru-La in forever.
For now, though, this is a solid collection for old-schoolers. Now grab your Warrior Blade and carve your way into the holidays.
GAMERHUB RATING: 4 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to ININ Games for the review code! The game releases on December 10th for Nintendo Switch.
Don’t forget to check out our review of Taito Milestones 2, as well as the awesome Castlevania Dominus Collection!
