The 90s were a glorious time and brought us several cult classics that continue to hold up today. A few of these came during the Genesis era, and from the developers at Wolf Team. They worked alongside Telenet Japan to generate underground hit after underground hit – many of which fetch top dollar on eBay these days. Fortunately, there’s a more feasible option to collect some of these die-hard favorites, and that’s with Telenet Shooting Collection.
This compilation features four awesome releases. There’s the side scrolling shooter Gaiares; the tank battler Granada; the helicopter shooter Avenger; and the top-down Super CD Rom exclusive PsychicStorm. No matter which game you start with, you’ll find plenty of legendary – and challenging – fun.
All four games are emulated nicely; and while some fare better than others, they make for a great collection. The Steam version lets you pick and choose whatever games you want to purchase, as well as other goods like soundtracks. The Switch version is all-in-one, but a tremendous value all the same. And fun to take on the go. It doesn’t hurt that the games have solid emulation, along with helpful options. These include changing screen types and, yep, rewind. Some of you rookie players will need it.
Telenet Shooting Collection is worth more than its weight in gold, giving you considerable value for a great price. Double that if you’re a “shmup” fan looking to rediscover a lost era in games.
What’s Included In Telenet Shooting Collection?
Let’s break down each of the games, one by one.
PsychicStorm– originally released for PC Engine Super CD-Rom, this one pits a lone hero against “the Thing,” a dangerous alien threat. (No, not the Kurt Russell movie.) It’s essentially a virtually scrolling shooter, but pretty nice to play. Not to mention the power-ups will keep you busy, and the classic soundtrack is worth a listen.
Avenger– probably the weakest of the four games here. But it too is a PC Engine Super CD-Rom title worth checking out, thanks to its fast action and exciting boss encounters. And, again, you’re saving money compared to hunting down the original version.
Gaiares- now we’re talking! Initially released for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Gaiares is a challenging side-scrolling classic. Its boss encounters are wicked, and its power-ups divine. Not to mention it has a great soundtrack to boot. I do wish the classic cover art was included, but, hey, you can’t argue with a favorite.
Granada– an unconventional Wolf Team release, but my favorite of the bunch. You guide a tank on ground and air missions, blasting every enemy within your path. This one is fast-paced and quite difficult, but incredibly fun.
Pick and choose whichever games you want on Steam, though the collection is complete on Switch. Either way, though, you literally get a lot of bang for your buck. All four releases have something to offer, as well as extras like rewind. And don’t be surprised if you find yourself using it often.
How’s the Presentation For Telenet Shooting Collection Hold Up?
The visuals really hold up well for these 90s style shooters. They aren’t remade, nor do they need to be. But they look like their authentic selves, and you can change the screen size and filters however you see fit. Edia did a great job with keeping these games in pristine condition.
As for audio, well, they sound like the real deal, too. The Super CD-Rom games will provide you with fun music from the good ol’ days, but the Genesis releases are wonderful as well. Especially Granada, with tracks that I could listen to for days.
There’s a lot to dig into here, and for a decent price. I do wish there was some kind of documentary discussing the greatness of Wolf Team, but this museum still has a lot to see and do.
Let’s Blast Our Way Through Gaming History
I know we’re getting some Earnest Evans love this year from Limited Run Games as well, and maybe even a little more Valis down the road. But, for now, let’s enjoy Wolf Team’s works in a very good way. Telenet Shooting Collection offers value galore for a great price, especially compared to what the original games sell for. And there are additional options as well.
A documentary would’ve been icing on the cake. But as it stands, the games speak for themselves. And boy, do they have a lot to say.
GAMERHUB RATING: 4 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Edia for providing us with a review code! The game is available now for Nintendo Switch and PC/Steam!
Need more old-school shooting goodness? Check out our review of Earthion!
