More Taito Legends headed to US

Destineer confirms domestic release of Taito compilations for PS2, PSP set for second quarter.

If the original Taito Legends was a "greatest hits" of the classic arcade game publisher's work--including Space Invaders, Elevator Action, and Bubble Bobble--then the sequel focuses more on forgotten gems and latter-day successes. Originally released in Europe a little over a year ago, the sequel collection of the company's arcade games is finally slated for an American release.

A Destineer representative today confirmed that the company would publish Taito Legends 2 for the PlayStation 2 and Taito Legends Power-Up for the PlayStation Portable in the US. As for the Xbox and PC editions of the game released overseas, the representative said that Destineer is not announcing domestic releases for those right now.

Taito Legends 2 is headlined by a number of sequels to the company's classic games, including Puzzle Bobble 2 (Bust-A-Move Again in the US), Space Invaders '95, Space Invaders DX, Elevator Action Returns, and Nastar (Rastan 2). It also contains a wealth of shoot-'em-ups, including G Darius, Darius Gaiden, Insector X, Ray Storm, and more.

The lineup for Taito Legends Power-Up features some overlap with its console counterpart, as well as games like Rastan Saga, the original Space Invaders, and New Zealand Story. It also contains four recently remade versions of Taito games, including The Legend of Kage and Cameltry.

Taito Legends 2 and Taito Legends Power-Up are scheduled for a second-quarter release. The full lineup for each collection's European release follows:

Taito Legends 2 for the PlayStation 2
Alpine Ski
Arabian Magic
Balloon Bomber
Bonze Adventure
Cameltry
Chack 'n Pop
Cleopatra Fortune
Crazy Balloon
Darius Gaiden
Don Doko Don
Dungeon Magic
Elevator Action Returns
The Fairyland Story
Football Champ
Front Line
G Darius
Gekirindan
Grid Seeker: Project Storm Hammer
Growl
Gun Frontier
Insector X
KiKi KaiKai
Kuri Kinton
Legend of Kage
Liquid Kids
Lunar Rescue
Metal Black
Nastar (Rastan 2)
Puchi Carat
Puzzle Bobble 2 (Bust-A-Move Again)
Qix
Raimais
Ray Storm
Space Invaders '95
Space Invaders DX
Sylvalion
Violence Fight
Wild Western

Taito Legends Power-Up
Alpine Ski
Balloon Bomber
Balloon Bomber (enhanced version)
Cameltry
Cameltry (enhanced version)
Chack 'n Pop
Crazy Balloon
Crazy Balloon (enhanced version)
Elevator Action
The Fairyland Story
KiKi KaiKai
Kuri Kinton
Legend of Kage
Legend of Kage (enhanced version)
Lunar Rescue
New Zealand Story
Phoenix
Qix
Raimais
Rastan Saga
Return of the Invaders
Space Chaser
Space Dungeon
Space Invaders
Space Invaders Part 2

28 Comments

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erikthe10man

NO MAT MANIA???? C'mon, Taito...you can do better than that!

Posted May 7, 2007 12:07 am PT
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Mr_Koenshaku

Darius Gaiden, G- Darius, Raystorm... very nice.

I see a tasty-looking selection of shooters on here... a few of which I've been curious about for awhile, too. I'm definitely going to have to scoop this one up.

All it needs is Rayforce (aka Layer Section or Galactic Attack) and I wouldn't have to worry about getting the temptation to hook up the Saturn for a good while.

Posted Apr 17, 2007 12:44 pm PT
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undox

I thought that they would never bring this collection to North America. Looking forward to it.

Posted Apr 13, 2007 1:04 pm PT
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a-man-called-e

xbox can beat this list easily

Posted Apr 11, 2007 9:15 am PT
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PierreDevereaux

zsc4

Isn't this a bit too late Too late? Retro NEVER runs out of time.

Posted Apr 11, 2007 9:08 am PT
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RetroGameFanCom

I will be getting this. Too bad no Xbox version since the 1st Taito Legends I have is on Xbox. Guess i will get the PS2 version...

Posted Apr 11, 2007 6:48 am PT
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Terebi_chan

Unfortunately, the only version I can get is the PC version. So I'm still waiting for that one...

Posted Apr 11, 2007 4:29 am PT
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zsc4

Isn't this a bit too late

Posted Apr 11, 2007 2:13 am PT
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kavadias1981

I have owned Taito Legends 2 for about a year now here in the UK. You Rednecks sure are getting it late

Posted Apr 10, 2007 11:24 pm PT
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blackace

I play many of those games. Fairytale Story was a pain in the butt. I remember Growl and everyone has played Elevator Action by now I'm sure. A lot of those games are crap, but there are a few diamonds in the rough.

Posted Apr 10, 2007 11:18 pm PT
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S_Pac_316

It's about time.

Posted Apr 10, 2007 9:36 pm PT
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theKSMM

Now that's a collection of games! Looking at that list of games is like getting a history lesson behind the origin of the gaming business almost 30 years ago.

By numbers alone, it makes the Namco Museum on the DS look paltry. I'm not saying which will be more fun to play (as I suspect some of these games haven't aged well) but the numbers alone go to the other (non-DS) consoles.

Posted Apr 10, 2007 9:23 pm PT
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fierro316

Wow great list although some titles are missing like the ones PowerSitchOff are mentioning and Rastan 1 was the best.

Posted Apr 10, 2007 9:10 pm PT
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PowerSwitchOff

Wish they included RayForce (aka Layer Section aka Galactic Attack), but oh well. Nice to see RayStorm and the better Darius games included.

Posted Apr 10, 2007 7:00 pm PT
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theclaw135

Why bother? It's been out in Europe over a year now. And also, the PC version is region-free anyway!

Posted Apr 10, 2007 6:10 pm PT
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OfficialBed

space invaders!!!

Posted Apr 10, 2007 5:52 pm PT
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RaiKageRyu

Lots of compiliations today...

Posted Apr 10, 2007 5:46 pm PT
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Pete5506

cool

Posted Apr 10, 2007 5:38 pm PT
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dracos9000

what was that game called where you shoot super huge beams out of your spaceship and practically blow up the entire screen? I know the game was made by taito. Another clue is that most of the bosses where of sea creature designs like fish, whales, sharks, etc.

Posted Apr 10, 2007 5:33 pm PT
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Halo05

No Xbox version? For shame... That was the one in Europe that had, among others, Cadash and Bubble Symphony.

Posted Apr 10, 2007 5:23 pm PT
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inlikeflt

It's really a shame that Space Dungeon is coming for the PS2 version since the dual analog would be great for that game. It was awesome on the Atari 5200 with the controller holster.

Posted Apr 10, 2007 4:43 pm PT
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bryehngeocef

Elevator Action Returns is a great game. Ray Storm and Rastan 2 are true classics as well.

Posted Apr 10, 2007 4:34 pm PT
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EBWCLIF

Where the heck is Mat Mania!!! Or was that on the first one I don't remember?

Posted Apr 10, 2007 4:29 pm PT
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Tenjikuronin

Aside from Operation Wolf on the NES, I can't think of a single Taito game that really stuck out for me....

Posted Apr 10, 2007 4:24 pm PT
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limelight022

i already have this. Its a very poor collection of games. Nothing like the Capcom Classics or Genesis Collection, not even close.