Taito Milestones

by Mikhail Apr 11, 2022 | 1 Votes | 52 Played | 0 Reviews

10 rate

Genres:

Shooter , Arcade , Platformer

Graphics:

Labels:

Shooting , Platformer

Platforms:

Publishers:

ININ Games Taito Milestones is a compilation of 10 of Taito’s arcade classics back in the 1980s. Players will be treated to early iterations of retro arcade games, from Qix to Ninja Warriors. Available for the first time on a modern console, gain firsthand experience of what made many of these arcade titles so desirable! Play Now Similar Games

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Summary Gameplay Community Graphics/Sound Conclusion

Summary

Video games weren't' always the photorealistic masterpieces we see today. Many were pixelated and relatively simple experiences where you only get to fire projectiles, avoid enemies, and jump on platforms. The 1980s saw the boom of arcade machines you could play almost anywhere, and a quarter would give you a credit that equates to several lives.

Taito was one of the companies that churned out games in that era, and these titles are now available via the newly-released Taito Milestones. Now available on the Nintendo Switch, it treats you to 10 of its classic arcade experiences released between 1981-and 1987. Though they're' far from comparable to Switch bestsellers like Breath of the Wild or Mario Odyssey, these games were the pioneers that laid the foundation for the future of the industry, along with their peers.

It isn't' easy to justify buying a $40 package of 40-year-old Taito games on the Switch. Still, if you're' someone looking to dip into a retro experience or a person in their mid-40s or early 50s trying to relive their childhood days in the neighborhood arcade, this might be something you're' looking to obtain. Before you decide, let's' take a look at what it has to offer:

Gameplay

In Taito Milestones, you have 10 of its classic games to choose from. All of which are from the 1980s, specifically the early arcade boom between 1981 to 1987. Some of the games that are part of the lineup include QIX, Space Seeker, and the latest game, The Ninja Warriors. All of the games remain true to their original/unchanged form, featuring the timeless pixel graphics and soundtrack.

Every game in the Taito Milestones lineup offers vastly different gameplay. Though they were made and released in the early years of gaming, they are enough to give you a bit of variety. The titles range from top-down shooters like Halley's' Comet and Front Line, QIX, a fast-paced puzzle game, and Alpine Ski, a top-down downhill skiing game. Meanwhile, The Ninja Warriors is a side-scrolling beat 'em up, while Elevator Action is a fun shooter where you take out enemies that continually appear across multiple floors. Here, you can shoot, jump, ride elevators, and crouch to avoid incoming enemy fire.

While the selection of titles doesn't' offer comprehensive or deep gameplay, they're' pretty advanced for their time. In particular, Halley's' Comet appears to be a game that should have been released in the early 90s, being a relatively solid top-down shooter akin to more popular games like Strikers 1945. QIX was a surprising find; though its gameplay is relatively simplistic, it was fun attempting to draw lines over the randomly moving opponent. Front Line was enjoyable, comparable to early shooters where you have to run, shoot, find cover, and dodge enemy projectiles, particularly grenades.

The controls are universally easy-to-learn, requiring only the directional buttons along with one or two of the ABXY ones. Optionally, you can also use the left or right trigger buttons, especially when playing the run ''n'' gun and shooter titles.

The games in Taito Milestones maintain their old form, which means their game design is 35-40 years old. With this in mind, they keep their janky and complicated elements that we modern gamers who are used to friendly game design would find hard to deal with. In addition, also note that these games were designed for arcade machines hence the high and unforgiving difficulty curve, which will make players churn out more quarters than usual. Nevertheless, it will be a tempting endeavor for arcade purists who love chasing the highest scores possible.

Community

Taito Milestones is mainly a single-player experience, although you can play local co-op with another player if you wish to do so. You cannot play with others online, although there is an option to share your high score with other players, adding a competitive element.

Graphics/Sound

In terms of presentation, the games in Taito Milestones are unchanged and are in the same state as they were in the 1980s. The games are presented in a 4:3 ratio, much like in CRT televisions, and maintain their pixelized and dated appearance. The same can be said about the music and sound effects - the originals remain with zero changes.

Conclusion

Overall, it would be more accurate to say that Taito Milestones is a 1980s arcade simulator where you get to play most of Taito's' titles. Although its game selections are not as popular as other compilations, especially those with games released in the 90s, it's' definitely something you would want to try out.

Although many of its games are 35-40 years old, they hold up reasonably well when compared to other classic games. It is undoubtedly something you would want to play if you're' up for old, classic arcade titles you have not tried nor heard of before.