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[Koren]

Another victim of Square-Enix T_T

I really miss Densha de Go (among others Taito titles).

 

[davidwhangchoi]

has anyone played Taito's coin-up Superman?

best sound effects and music for a Sup game

and his alternate colors (player 2) were cool

can almost beat it in a quarter =)

 

[wondermega]

Space Invaders essentially created video-gaming as we know it.

Without it, the arcades would never have blown up globally and kickstarted a desire for people to have the same sort of experiences at home.

Possibly even more importantly it showed that video-games could be about more than just bat and ball simulations.

This is debatable, Computer Space/Space War/ etc had already established that there was fun to be had with arcadey spaceship blaster-type games. I think something of the style of Space Invaders was probably an inevitability at that point. I would not be surprised if there was not something similar predating it..

 

[Clear]

This is debatable, Computer Space/Space War/ etc had already established that there was fun to be had with arcadey spaceship blaster-type games. I think something of the style of Space Invaders was probably an inevitability at that point. I would not be surprised if there was not something similar predating it..

Not at all.

SpaceWar! (1962) was a niche curiosity in tech circles, and Nolan Bushnell's attempt to commercialise it as Computer Space in 1971 was hardly a great success (1500 cabinets in 5 years) because it lacked market appeal.

In the documentary Video Game Invasion: The History of a Global Obsession, Bushnell explained, "Sure, I loved it, and all my friends loved it, but all my friends were engineers. It was a little too complicated for the guy with the beer in the bar.

However, Bushnell hit paydirt a couple of years later with Pong (ironically, basically a modified clone of Tennis on the Magnavox Odyssey console) and in so doing set the template for the style and content of coin-op gaming in the mid-70's.

This trend then recursed back into home gaming with the "TV game" fad producing a glut of Pong clones until that market basically crashed around 1977.

In 1978, SF/Fantasy being red-hot (for the first time in many years) from the global success of Star Wars, sets the stage for Space Invaders to show up and become a bona-fide cultural phenomenon internationally.

Whats noteworthy though is that this is a game that is fundamentally abstract, its not a copy of a real-world sport or activity; its a part of the post-SW zeitgeist but it is a totally new IP and the founding example of a genre unto itself.

 

[PepsimanVsJoe]

This is debatable, Computer Space/Space War/ etc had already established that there was fun to be had with arcadey spaceship blaster-type games. I think something of the style of Space Invaders was probably an inevitability at that point. I would not be surprised if there was not something similar predating it..

Eh...I'm not seeing it.

The thing with Space Invaders is that it wasn't just a "shoot all the aliens" deal. There was a lot of depth in how the the invaders would get faster and more aggressive as their numbers dwindled. Plus the player loses a life if invaders reach the bottom of the screen, which adds a lot of tension.

The fantastic sound direction is also part of what helped it become such a classic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axlx3o0codc

It had a really unique vision unlike anything else out there.

 

[Purest 78]

has anyone played Taito's coin-up Superman?

best sound effects and music for a Sup game

and his alternate colors (player 2) were cool

can almost beat it in a quarter =)

Yes it was great for its time.

 

[sixteen-bit]

that classic logo tho

source

 

[eyeball_kid]

I'm surprised at the Namco bottom tier comments. I love their output. Galaga ranks right up their with the Pac Man titles for me. Rolling Thunder ranks right up there with Elevator Action. And I love their more "modern" 3D output like Soul Blade, Ridge Racer, Ace Combat and Tekken.

Yeah, not to get too off-topic, but Namco is definitely on the same tier as Taito for arcade games. I mean Pac-Man, Galaxian, Galaga, Rally-X, Pole Position, Rolling Thunder, Ridge Racer, Time Crisis. All great titles.

Galaga is in my top 5 arcade games. The iconic graphics, sounds, the addictive gameplay...I feel like it's the best representative of early '80s arcade games, and it's ageless. There's something about it that never gets old. It also basically laid out the template (minus boss characters) for the shmups we know today.

 

[yyr]

I challenge anyone with a pulse to grab copies of Taito Legends 1 & 2 and try to NOT have fun. It's impossible.

Hell, I was just playing Space Invaders '95 and Puchi Carat on my PS2 copy of TL2. These games are timeless. Taito of the 80s and 90s just *got* intense action games. Not every one was gold (Violence Fight lol) but they were serious masters of their craft, definitely as good as anyone else cranking out arcade games.

 

[Platy]

Growl, Sonic Blastman, Puzzle Booble and PuLiRuLa are awesome games

 

[petran79]

I challenge anyone with a pulse to grab copies of Taito Legends 1 & 2 and try to NOT have fun. It's impossible.

Hell, I was just playing Space Invaders '95 and Puchi Carat on my PS2 copy of TL2. These games are timeless. Taito of the 80s and 90s just *got* intense action games. Not every one was gold (Violence Fight lol) but they were serious masters of their craft, definitely as good as anyone else cranking out arcade games.

Windows version of TL2 has Starforce, so better uninstall the driver first before rebooting and replace the exe with a non-DRM patched copy.


While it is based on emulation, some games now run a little better in MAME, while others run only on TL emulator without issues.

Though I advise to play the console version of some games.

Elevator Action Returns on Saturn has correct gfx emulation, while on TL2 and MAME you get black background if you shoot the electrical circuits.

Bubble Symphony on Saturn is the definitive edition with region dipswitches and arranged soundtrack.

Cleopatra Fortune on PS1 and DC has puzzle quest mode, more PERFECT poses and 1 extra soundtrack.

Puchi Charat has better story mode and difficulty can be adjusted.

 

[Fularu]

You can add that the TL version of Darius Gaiden is based on the shitty PSOne version and not on the Arcade or Saturn versions and sucks

 

[Celine]

Never said Taito was in better shape (though their 10 year old low end arcade hardware are more powerful than Switch)

I just wouldnt want them to turn like Nintendo if they had to change this way, bastardising their franchises

Nintendo haven't bastardized their franchises however games cannot be made the same way as it was 20 years ago.
You need to accept that an unrepeatable epoch just ended when it did and move on.
Nintendo still produce high quality games, actually the pinnacles in some of their franchises were created after the '90s (for example Mario Kart).
Nintendo is unique in the industry in how they were able to keep relevant franchises from 20-30 years ago.

 

[Fularu]

Hey I love Darius Gaiden as well, it's amazing on Saturn.

My favorite Darius games are

#1: Darius Gaiden
#2: Darius II (Sagaia in NA)
#3: G-Darius
#4 Dariusburst

And this game, Gekirindan, has some really beautiful 2D graphics.

I always viewed Gekirindan (I have the Saturn version) as Tatsujin 3

Great game, even if it has lots of memorization (like every Taoplan shooter really)

 

[petran79]

Nintendo haven't bastardized their franchises however games cannot be made the same way as it was 20 years ago.
You need to accept that an unrepeatable epoch just ended when it did and move on.
Nintendo still produce high quality games, actually the pinnacles in some of their franchises were created after the '90s (for example Mario Kart).
Nintendo is unique in the industry in how they were able to keep relevant franchises from 20-30 years ago.

I moved on. I only did a U-turn at Nintendo road

 

[AmyS]

I always viewed Gekirindan (I have the Saturn version) as Tatsujin 3

Ya know, you're absolutely right. Even that bomb in the flyer makes me think of Gekirindan as a Tatsujin 3.

Great game, even if it has lots of memorization (like every Taoplan shooter really)

Totally agree.

 

[Shaneus]

that classic logo tho

source

Motherfuck.

 

[III-V]

I do not really recall the name, but I played so many of those games as a kid. I likely assumed everything was Atari, Nintendo or Sega.

I guess, to answer your question, OP, for me it is name recognition. I have played Bubble Bobble more times than I can count, and purchased the game for several different consoles - still have no memory of Taiko.

 

[djtiesto]

I can't believe people have never heard of freaking Taito... especially on a forum that calls itself "a nexus of hardcore gamers".

Oh well, just listen to this and educate yourself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NteidGHXV7U

then this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP28A3WI1g8

Then pick up the 2 Taito Legends comps. Ridiculous amount of great gaming for dirt cheap, from the massive to the obscure but still awesome (Liquid Kids, Sylvallion, Metal Black, and my favorite, Balloon Bomber).

 

[Fularu]

The problem with the Taito Legends compilation (Be it on PS2/XBOX/GC/PSP) is that most of the time the emulation is rather poor.

It's a good substitute though but they're getting more and more expensive now.

 

[D.Lo]

The problem with the Taito Legends compilation (Be it on PS2/XBOX/GC/PSP) is that most of the time the emulation is rather poor.

It's a good substitute though but they're getting more and more expensive now.

The emulation itself is okay from what I remember, but the games are output in 480i which makes them a horrible blurry mess on a CRT or a fixed pixel monitor. And the first one was also on a CD (not DVD) which makes Fat PS2s sound like a plane taking off.

 

[Phreak47]

I can't believe people have never heard of freaking Taito... especially on a forum that calls itself "a nexus of hardcore gamers".

Oh well, just listen to this and educate yourself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NteidGHXV7U

then this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP28A3WI1g8

Then pick up the 2 Taito Legends comps. Ridiculous amount of great gaming for dirt cheap, from the massive to the obscure but still awesome (Liquid Kids, Sylvallion, Metal Black, and my favorite, Balloon Bomber).

As an old timer I don't need to see those videos to remember them... they were pretty god-like in the early arcade days (mid-late 70s). Not just for Space Invaders but a whole shitload of other hits too (Sea Wolf, Lunar Rescue, etc)... I was playing all of it. The answer to the OP question is simply that Nintendo revived the dead console business and in so doing attained the brand loyalty they still enjoy.

 

[Fularu]

The emulation itself is okay from what I remember, but the games are output in 480i which makes them a horrible blurry mess on a CRT or a fixed pixel monitor. And the first one was also on a CD (not DVD) which makes Fat PS2s sound like a plane taking off.

Yes and no, most of the time the console versions are emulated instead of the arcade ones and they're not even taking the best homeports for the emulation (like the horrible PSOne version of Darius Gaiden instead of the Saturn/Win95 versions if emulating the Arcade one was too hard).

Most of the games running on the Taito F3 hardware are prety average as far as emulation goes actually.

 

[D.Lo]

Yes and no, most of the time the console versions are emulated instead of the arcade ones and they're not even taking the best homeports for the emulation (like the horrible PSOne version of Darius Gaiden instead of the Saturn/Win95 versions if emulating the Arcade one was too hard).

Most of the games running on the Taito F3 hardware are prety average as far as emulation goes actually.

Well there you go. I turned it off after a new minutes because it all looked so bad honestly, they seemed to run fine but 480i is garbage.

 

[AmyS]

The emulation itself is okay from what I remember, but the games are output in 480i which makes them a horrible blurry mess on a CRT or a fixed pixel monitor. And the first one was also on a CD (not DVD) which makes Fat PS2s sound like a plane taking off.

Yes and no, most of the time the console versions are emulated instead of the arcade ones and they're not even taking the best homeports for the emulation (like the horrible PSOne version of Darius Gaiden instead of the Saturn/Win95 versions if emulating the Arcade one was too hard).

Most of the games running on the Taito F3 hardware are prety average as far as emulation goes actually.

Well there you go. I turned it off after a new minutes because it all looked so bad honestly, they seemed to run fine but 480i is garbage.

Serious question, should I get both compilations off ebay, or am I better off sticking with MAME ?

I don't currently have a CRT, my PS2 Slim is hooked up via component to an LED HDTV.

 

[Fularu]

Stick with MAME, if you feel guilty about it, purchase the compilations you feel like playing and store them somewhere.

Please note that RayStorm and G-Darius are exclusive to the PS2 version of Taito Legends 2 while RayForce and Bubble Symphony are exclusive to the XBOX version of Taito Legends 2

All 4 games are available for PS2 through the 4 Taito Memories collections in Japan though (and some more)

 

[entremet]

has anyone played Taito's coin-up Superman?

best sound effects and music for a Sup game

and his alternate colors (player 2) were cool

can almost beat it in a quarter =)

Great game. Loved it as a kid.

 

[petran79]

Please note that RayStorm and G-Darius are exclusive to the PS2 version of Taito Legends 2 while RayForce and Bubble Symphony are exclusive to the XBOX version of Taito Legends 2

Xbox version is identical to Windows version. I had hoped for a better emulation like it happened with Midway games. Apparently games are based on MAME Taito drivers with the exact same issues. Eg Bubble Memories boss background priority.
Taito F3 was very advanced for 2d.

 

[Arc Christelle]

Because Psychic Force 3 never happened.

 

[SmokedMeat]

has anyone played Taito's coin-up Superman?

best sound effects and music for a Sup game

and his alternate colors (player 2) were cool

can almost beat it in a quarter =)

As a kid I thought it was good. But to play it now? It's awful. I'd rather play Irem's Kung Fu Master.

 

[Phreak47]

Haha you guys are all in the late 80s and 90s and I'm thinking about shit like Space Invaders. Guess I'm older than most of you... lel

 

[Omega Kirby]

WIll there be a new bubble bobble

 

[MisterHero]

Bub and Bob should be a Smash Bros. tag team character. Their specials can include shooting bubbles and those balls from Bust a Move

 

[Fularu]

Haha you guys are all in the late 80s and 90s and I'm thinking about shit like Space Invaders. Guess I'm older than most of you... lel

Well Space Invaders really aged badly.

Space Invaders 90, 91 and 95 are all more interesting nowadays.

 

[Phreak47]

Oh hey, how bout some early 80s Taito love... I played all these fuckers until my eyes bled... I used to run Pleiades up over 500,000 and quit out of boredom (ah, the days of the potentially unlimited extra lives...)


Phoenix

Pleiades (Multiple editions of this, Taito had one)

Stratovox

Qix

Front Line

Jungle KING (that's right, fuckers, KING not HUNT, fuck those copyright claiming assholes, LONG LIVE THE OG TARZAN RIPOFF VERSION)

Zoo Keeper

Elevator Action

And of course, Arkanoid (Used to think it was "Arkanow" for a long time because that I and D looked like a W)

Loo-loo loo! Loo loo loo loo loo!

 

[reson8or]

Love me some Taito. What a company if you were of the time and place to play their games when they were at their peak.

 

[AmyS]

Stick with MAME, if you feel guilty about it, purchase the compilations you feel like playing and store them somewhere.

Please note that RayStorm and G-Darius are exclusive to the PS2 version of Taito Legends 2 while RayForce and Bubble Symphony are exclusive to the XBOX version of Taito Legends 2

All 4 games are available for PS2 through the 4 Taito Memories collections in Japan though (and some more)

Nah, I won't feel guilty for using emulation freely, I simply don't want to spend the money on the compilations if the emulation of those games on PS2 is even somewhat poor.