Taito Milestones 2 review

Despite the lack of historical material and a few obligatory clunkers, Taito Milestones 2’s emulation is top-notch thanks to Hamster’s habitual diligence.  

As a retro anthology, 2002’s Taito Milestones was a bit lackluster. The collection, which revisited the publisher’s output during the 1980s, had a few gems like Qix, Elevator Action, and The Ninja Warriors. But for a ten-game bundle, the inclusion of antiquated curios such as Space Seeker, Alpine Ski, and Wild Western meant there was a worrisome filler-to-killer ratio. Notables of the era like Arkanoid, Jungle Hunt, Rastan were absent and likely withheld for future installments of the Milestone series.

Sadly, the curation was even worse. While compilations sporadically include interviews, photos, or even a glimpse into any surviving design documents, the package provided no historical context. And that continues to be an oversight with Milestones 2. This is as barebones as compilations get, with players selecting one of the ten games to play from the title screen. Publisher ININ Games didn’t even localize two of the icons or add any kind of clarifying text as you move the cursor around.

Indistinguishable From the Arcade Version

The upside is Hamster Corporation’s emulation. With over 350 ported titles under the Arcade Archives and Neo Geo ACA brands, Hamster’s experience level is nearly unrivaled. Throughout Milestones 2, each game receives every conceivable option, allowing everything from tate mode, filters that simulate CRT blur, to scaling settings. There’s even a mode that swaps the screen orientation during two-player games, imitating the feel of playing a tabletop coin-op. And yes, you get a digital instruction manual for each game- which was the case when each of the individual titles in Milestones 2 was originally released. But it’s not quite perfect, with the developer withholding rapid-fire from one title.

Reaching back the furthest in the Shinjuku-based publisher’s archives, Ben Bero Beh is a peculiar action platformer undoubtedly inspired by Nintendo’s success with Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. The object of each stage is to guide Dami-chan through a succession of burning apartment buildings, saving his girlfriend Nao-chan. While Dam-chan moves like a drunken bear, he is armed with a fire extinguisher that can be aimed at various angles. Beside eluding flames, he also has to evade with hazards like swingling florescent bulbs and jump over gaps in the floor.

Heroic Ninjas and Intrepid Shine Maidens

Although 1995’s The Legend of Kage has been remade, revised, and sequelized, it’s a bit of a one-trick pony. Guiding the game’s lead feels distinctive, with Kage able to soar through each stage with just a push of the joystick. But given that your ranged weapon, shuriken are unlimited, it’s all too easy to ignore the use of your kodachi shortsword as you hunt down leaping enemies. Whichever weapon you use, you’re fingers will get a vigorous workout, making the absence of any turbo-fire option an oversight.

1986’s Kiki Kaikai is the first entry in the series that would be localized as Pocky and Rocky. This iteration slows down the pace and removes the second playable that would appear in the Famicom Computer Disk System port. But here, Hamster provides access to rapid-fire, letting you fling o-fuda scrolls and shake your purification rod with ease. With some of the same stage layouts and references to different yokai and obake that you’ll see in subsequent series entries, Kiki Kaikai is a worthwhile inclusion.

Revel in a 32:9 Aspect Ratio

When it comes to STGs, Milestones 2 includes three. The highlight here is undoubtedly the three-monitor version of Darius 2. Here you’re able to see robo-fish enemies approach from far out, giving you plenty of time for defensive and offensive maneuvers. Undoubtedly, it’s the best of the best, with 1990’s Gun Frontier and 1991’s Metal Black demonstrating Taito releasing rather bland shooters across this period. (That would change with 1994’s RayForce, the first entry in Taito’s well-liked Ray series.)

Gun Frontier’s novelty is player ships that resemble revolvers. But play is hampered by inconsistent pacing, sluggish ship speed, and enemy formations that can be peeving. It’s acceptable, but there are a multitude of better STGs out there. Metal Black excels not because of the quality of its play but because it feels radically different from most shoot ’em-ups. Visually, there are oddities like an animation of a kickboxer projected on a dilapidated skyscraper followed by a giant hermit crab aircraft using an aircraft carrier as a shell. With horizontally scrolling stages filled with R-Type-style biomechanical monstrosities and an abundance of tiny power-ups that float through the air, Metal Black is just as peculiar as it is playable.

Kiwi, Kids, and Two Crummy Fighting Games

Undoubtedly, the stars of the show are a pair of action platformers: The NewZealand Story and Liquid Kids. Both build on the colorful action of Bubble Bobble, as you guide well-armed animals through scrolling stages teeming with adversity. Each offers a bit of action-puzzling, with NewZealand tasking you with commandeering floating tools to hover through spike-filled mazes. Meanwhile, 1990’s Liquid Kid’s hippo protagonist tosses water bubbles that drench enemies. After they’re soaked watching into them removes them from the screen. Occasionally, you even activate a Bubble Bobble-like wave that can sweep through a throng of foes. It’s chaotic but also quite enjoyable.

Rounding out the compilation are two humdrum fighters that are Milestones 2’s fluff. ‘91s Solitary Fighter is an odd mix of brawler and one-on-one fighting. But save for the knife-wielding streetwalkers, a rowdy crowd who tossed trash, and a bonus round where you battle a bear, the eccentricity overpowers any sense of enjoyment. Finally, 1991’s Dinorex might predate Primal Rage by two years, but the dino fighting game feels like it’s fighting extinction with clunky controls. Expect to spend about one-third of each match watching the visually impressive but monotonous animations.