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Unlike the vast majority of these retro collections that have found their way to our modern day consoles over the last few years, the Taito Legends series have been anything but mere cash-ins. Packing super rare titles such as Elevator Action Returns, and top class old-school gameplay with the likes of The New Zealand Story, each of the first two Taito Legends collections have become essential purchases for any gamer out there even remotely interested in sampling some of the best games ever created.
So, it’s not too surprising that a PSP iteration has finally hit the streets in order to give handheld gamers a legal hit of retro gaming action. But somewhere along the way, one of the big cheeses involved with this PSP creation mysteriously decided that the PSP fraternity weren’t worthy of some of the best Taito titles from the company’s output post 1990. So, instead of holding a collection of absolute classics in our hands, the bunch could be firmly considered a hit and miss set at best.
Glancing at the 21 titles included in this collection, you can’t help but notice a few stand out omissions straight from the off. First of all, that classic Japan only Saturn classic Elevator Action Returns fails to make an appearance; instead the series is merely represented by its older brother. This one title in particular, with its perfectly created platforming run-and-gun action, would have made this collection an essential purchase. Plus shoot-em-up fans will be bitterly disappointed by the lack of quality shooters, with the likes of G Darius being inexplicably absent.
But there are still a handful of classic titles included on the tiny UMD. Qix once again proves to be one of the very best action/puzzle games ever created, and The New Zealand Story continues to prove itself as close to platforming perfection as any title has ever ventured towards. But even with those two adding some real quality to the collection – along with Cameltry, a 2D maze puzzle game – there are still far too many filler titles.
In a bizarre move, Space Invaders makes three separate appearances on the UMD. While each version includes that gorgeous addictive gameplay of old (though the experience is finally starting to get a little long in the tooth), three versions of what is essentially the same game is a little too much.
In order to further tempt us gamers to part with our cash, four games in this package (Crazy Balloon, Balloon Bomb, The Legends of Kage and Cameltry) have all received a touch-up. Unfortunately, though each has an added level of graphical sheen, somehow the classic gameplay itself has strangely failed to make the jump, so you’re better off sticking to the originals. Not too clever considering these four little creations are to be considered one of the major unique selling points of the collection.
The power of the PSP – and its ever gorgeous widescreen display – does a good job at giving the few true classics available a perfect handheld home. With a mere tap of the select button, screen sizes can be alternated, ranging from a fairly small window in the dead centre of the screen, through to a full-screen stretched image. Unfortunately, as alluring as filling the entire screen with retro goodness is, it certainly starts to show the age of these titles.
You can’t help but feel that this PSP collection was more of a test for future collections, which are bound to truly pack all the classics we’re craving to play on the packed morning train to work. Though Qix on the move is indeed a glorious thing, the sheer amount of total dross here makes this one collection that should be avoided by all but the most desperate of retro handheld fanatics.
