Retro game enthusiasts have reason to celebrate as the second collection of Irem's classic arcade games Irem Retro Collection Vol. 2 is soon hitting the shelves, bringing three legendary games: GunForce, GunForce II and Air Duel.
GunForce
The first game in the collection is GunForce, known for its run-and-gun gameplay style. Players take on the role of a soldier fighting against enemy forces using a variety of weapons and vehicles like tanks and helicopters. This game was a pioneer in the genre and laid the groundwork for later hits like the Metal Slug series.
GunForce II
GunForce II, also known as GeoStorm in Japan, is a sequel to the original game and features improved graphics, animations, and gameplay. This game was never officially released outside of arcades, making its inclusion in this collection a special event for fans. Players can use various vehicles and weapons while battling through five intense levels.
Air Duel
The third game in the collection is Air Duel, a classic shoot 'em up game that was originally available only in Japanese arcades. Players take control of a military aircraft and fight through seven challenging levels, using various weapon upgrades.
Collection Features
- GunForce: Includes both the SNES and arcade versions of the game.
- GunForce II: Available on consoles for the first time, with improved animations and gameplay.
- Air Duel: Available outside of Japanese arcades for the first time, with a local co-op mode for two players.
Each game in this collection can be played in two ways - casual with the option to activate immortality, unlimited lives, and original for those who love arcade difficulty. Everything is the same as it was in the original, including occasional slowdowns during battles with larger numbers of enemies and colorful effects during big explosions. The games are available for solo play or in pairs, which is more fun and challenging for genre enthusiasts.
While playing, the GunForce series reminded us of the best elements from the popular Contra and Metal Slug series! Irem definitely knew how to make quite solid video games for arcade machines in the mid-1980s and early 1990s. As for Air Duel, it is a typical vertical shooter with planes, unfortunately from the era of World War II. During gameplay, we did not notice any complaints, except as in the case of GunForce games, if you choose to play without optional assistance, the game can be too difficult, especially during boss fights! For masochists, a tip - try to achieve 1CC.
We must admit it is nice to see when Japanese companies make their popular titles from the past available to a larger number of players on current platforms. We hope that other companies whose games are currently not available in digital form will follow this positive trend that has been sought for a long time and announce their collections.
We believe that this collection is perfect for all retro game lovers and those who want to experience the classics that shaped the genre. Irem Retro Collection Vol. 2 will be available from November 14, 2024, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Game copy for review purposes provided by publisher ININ
