Developer: Tozai Games, Irem
Publisher: United Games Entertainment GmbH. ININ Games
Genre: Arcade, Retro
Price: $24.99
Release Date: July 1st, 2025
Where to buy: (Physical edition), Nintendo,
The latest installment in ININ Games and Tozai Games’ Irem Collection series, Volume 3, delivers another dose of arcade brilliance, focusing on a trio of often-overlooked yet deeply engaging shoot ’em ups. While some may lament the relatively small number of titles compared to other retro compilations, the quality and unique charm of the included games—Mr. Heli, Mystic Riders, and Dragon Breed—make this collection an essential pick-up for fans of the genre and arcade history.
At the heart of Irem Collection 3 lies Mr. Heli, also known as Battle Chopper. This 1987 “cute ’em up” stands out immediately with its whimsical art style and innovative gameplay. Players pilot the titular rotund helicopter, navigating multi-directional scrolling levels. What sets Mr. Heli apart is its inventive combat system, allowing for both horizontal firing and upward-shooting missiles, alongside ground-rolling bombs. This versatility is crucial for tackling the intricately designed levels and their myriad enemies. The game also features a unique economy, where collecting crystals from destructible blocks allows for valuable power-up purchases, adding a strategic layer to the frantic action. The inclusion of both the arcade versions (English and Japanese) and the PC Engine port (Japanese) provides a welcome historical perspective and varying gameplay experiences. Mr. Heli’s enduring appeal lies in its satisfying blend of charming visuals, challenging level design, and rewarding mechanics, making it a true highlight of the collection.
Next up is Mystic Riders, a 1992 release that deviates from the typical sci-fi or military themes of most shmups. Here, players take on the role of a witch or mage, soaring on broomsticks through a fantastical world filled with magical adversaries. Mystic Riders offers a lighter, more vibrant aesthetic, reminiscent of the “cute ’em up” subgenre popularized by titles like Cotton. Its gameplay features melee attacks, the ability to fling your broom as a projectile or shield, and charged shots, requiring a blend of quick reflexes and pattern memorization. What makes Mystic Riders particularly appealing is its relatively gentler difficulty curve compared to its Irem brethren, making it more approachable for newcomers to the shmup scene. The inclusion of local two-player cooperative play further enhances its appeal, allowing for a magical tag-team experience.
Rounding out the collection is Dragon Breed from 1989, a truly distinctive horizontal-scrolling shooter. Players control King Kayus, who rides atop the colossal and seemingly indestructible dragon, Bahamoot. The innovative mechanic here is the separate control over both characters: Kayus fires a crossbow, while Bahamoot’s massive body can be strategically used to block projectiles and even attack enemies directly. Power-ups add further depth, granting Bahamoot elemental abilities like fireballs or electrical bolts. The interplay between protecting Kayus and utilizing Bahamoot’s formidable power creates a unique and invigorating gameplay loop. Dragon Breed is a testament to Irem’s willingness to experiment, offering a truly memorable and visually impressive experience for its time.
Beyond the games themselves, Irem Collection 3 offers a robust set of modern features that enhance the retro experience. These include essential quality-of-life additions like quick save/load states, a rewind function for those tricky moments, and customizable control layouts. Players can also toggle display filters to recreate the authentic arcade look and feel, and global leaderboards provide a competitive edge. The option to choose between “casual” and “classic” modes caters to different player preferences, with the former providing all the modern conveniences and the latter delivering an unadulterated arcade experience.
However, a minor point of critique, echoed in some reviews, is the lack of extensive supplementary materials. While the core games are meticulously emulated, the absence of developer notes, marketing art, or interviews leaves a missed opportunity for deeper historical context, especially for titles as unique and obscure as these. For a collection aimed at retro enthusiasts, such archival content would have been a welcome addition, on par with other exemplary retro compilations.
Despite this minor quibble, Irem Collection 3 stands as a strong entry in the ongoing preservation of Irem’s rich arcade legacy. The three included games, Mr. Heli, Mystic Riders, and Dragon Breed, are individually captivating and collectively showcase Irem’s innovative spirit and mastery of the shoot ’em up genre. For fans of classic arcade action, particularly those with an appreciation for the more unconventional and charming side of shmups, Irem Collection 3 is an undeniable triumph and a highly recommended addition to any retro gaming library. Its unique selection and solid emulation make it a must-buy that truly “tears the roof off” with its fun and obscure offerings.
