Hey gang, Valkor here. The folks at ININ games have dropped in on the Val-Cave with the third installment in the Taito Milestones series. In Taito Milestones 3, for the Nintendo Switch, you'll get a bunch of fun faves that bring home all the arcade goodness. It's a definite hit in the Val-Cave. But is it worth the price of admission? Let's find out!
Taito Milestones 3 features ten classic arcade titles, tapping into your nostalgia (and mine) of arcade yesteryears. Games include Cadash, Rastan Saga, Rastan Saga 2, Rainbow Islands, Champion Wrestler, Thunder Fox, Runark, Dead Connection, Warrior Blade, and Bubble Bobble. Each game is well-emulated from its original arcade form, except for some screen adjustments in some titles. What's good is that you can pump credits as much as you like, so you'll never have to worry about starting over. Thankfully, there's a save feature so you'll never lose your place (works well with Cadash), co-op play, and an online leaderboard. But the true fun is experiencing some of these titles. And with that, let's go over some of my favorites in the collection.
Cadash – Anyone who enjoys action role-playing games, including myself, will love this one. Choose between a warrior, mage, priest, or ninja in Cadash as you explore large areas, converse with multiple NPC characters, gain experience, and purchase character upgrades. Even though the game runs on a timer, you're not out of it completely as you can continue right where you left off.
Dead Connection – You choose to play as one of four detective characters in a noir-style shooter as you take on the mob. You'll run, gun, and dodge your way through single-screen action, with the ability to shoot in multiple directions. Also, there are plenty of cut scenes—all of which are in Japanese. No matter as the game is still a blast!
Runark – Once again, you choose between four characters in a fast-paced beat 'em up to stop a bunch of poachers. You'll fend off against a plethora of baddies. More so than I've seen in any beat 'em up! Fortunately, you have a variety of weaponry at your disposal that you will discover along the road in addition to your standard punches and kicks. It's a good thing you can reload credits because you're going to need them!
The Good:
Taito Milestones 3 is a fun collection of arcade games that's sure to be a hit in any home. Older players will come for the nostalgia. But newer players can dive in for a unique experience far from the 3D and VR gaming of today. In some games the controls are clunky. But none of them are unplayable. The games have stunning 2D graphics and are presented beautifully, with clear backgrounds and smooth motion. The fact that there is a co-op option is also great; you should use the Switch docked for this reason. And it's a big plus is that you're not only able to work to achieve a high score during play. But you can upload your score online to compare yourself to others around the world. In the end, Taito Milestones 3 is the place to go if you're searching for fast-paced arcade excitement.
The Bad:
My first objection is the title screen; On the Switch tablet, the icons are a bit hard to see, especially the wording. It'd be nice if the icons zoomed in when selected. My second objection is the price of 40 USD. Don't get me wrong, it's a sweet collection of games. But I'd price this one in the 20 USD range. 25 tops.
The Ugly:
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Taito Milestones 3 is available on December 10th in digital and physical form. And if you're not worried about the price, then you'll be in for a nostalgic treat. The collection has a ton of enjoyable and amusing arcade games that are a lot of fun. I recommend giving this one a go! And out of TOV 5 stars, I'm giving Taito Milestones 3 a 4.5!
