Evercade Expands Its Arcade Legacy: Taito’s Timeless Classics Arrive on New Cartridges and Hardware Redesigns

The Evercade platform, a beacon for retro gaming enthusiasts, continues its impressive trajectory of growth and evolution. Blaze Entertainment, the driving force behind this beloved system, has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to delivering a diverse and high-quality library of classic games. In a recent and highly anticipated release, two distinct Taito Arcade compilations have been introduced, bringing some of the most iconic titles from one of arcade history’s most revered developers directly to Evercade owners. This significant expansion of the Evercade library is not just about adding new games; it’s about preserving and celebrating gaming heritage, offering players new ways to experience these foundational digital experiences. Alongside these new cartridge releases, Blaze Entertainment has also unveiled new color variations for both the home and portable Evercade hardware, further enhancing the aesthetic appeal and user experience for its dedicated fanbase. We will delve deeply into what these Evercade Taito Arcade collections offer, explore the nuances of the games themselves, and examine the enhancements and considerations of the latest hardware iterations.

A Curated Approach to Arcade Excellence: Understanding the Evercade’s Collection Philosophy

While the Evercade platform is inherently built around a collection-based acquisition model, encouraging enthusiasts to build a comprehensive library of cartridges, the organization and thematic coherence of these releases are crucial for player engagement. We appreciate the deliberate strategy behind releasing these Taito Arcade compilations concurrently, allowing players to immerse themselves in the distinct eras and genres represented by Taito’s rich history. This simultaneous release strategy, in contrast to a phased approach where a single cartridge might receive follow-up releases much later, allows for a more immediate and impactful experience. From a gameplay perspective, we firmly believe that collections organized by specific moods, genres, or historical significance offer a more compelling narrative and a richer player journey. These new Taito compilations perfectly embody this ideal, presenting a thoughtfully curated selection that caters to both historical appreciation and modern gameplay enjoyment.

Evercade Taito Arcade Collection 1: Foundational Pillars of the Golden Age

The first of the new Taito Arcade collections is a potent distillation of some of the most recognizable and influential titles from the early days of arcade gaming. This cartridge is a testament to the enduring power of simple, yet profoundly engaging gameplay mechanics that defined an era.

The Seminal Impact of Space Invaders

Undeniably, the inclusion of Space Invaders on an Evercade cartridge is a landmark achievement. While numerous ways exist to experience this iconic title in the modern era, its presence on the Evercade signifies a crucial step in bringing foundational arcade history to a dedicated retro gaming platform. Space Invaders is more than just a game; it is a cultural phenomenon that popularized the shoot ’em up genre and laid the groundwork for countless successors. Its deceptively simple premise—defending Earth from descending alien hordes—belies a strategic depth that still captivates players today. The relentless march of the invaders, the increasing speed of their descent, and the tactical use of cover all contribute to an experience that remains as thrilling now as it was upon its initial release.

Optimal Play for Space Invaders on Evercade

For the Evercade EXP and EXP-R handhelds, Space Invaders shines particularly brightly in Tate Mode. This vertical orientation allows players to experience the game as it was originally intended on many arcade cabinets, providing a more immersive and visually engaging presentation. The sharp, pixelated graphics translate beautifully to the handheld screen, and the intuitive controls ensure that every shot is precise. Even in 2025, the simple act of aiming and firing at the advancing aliens can lead to hours of absorbed gameplay, a testament to its timeless design. The feeling of progression as you clear wave after wave, coupled with the increasing challenge, makes Space Invaders a perfect example of “just one more game” addiction.

Colony 7: A Strategic Dimension to Early Shoot ’em Ups

Complementing Space Invaders is Colony 7. This title introduces a more strategic element to the early shoot ’em up formula. Players are tasked with defending a remote outpost, managing resources and deploying defensive measures against waves of attackers. The gameplay often involves a mix of shooting and light strategic planning, offering a different kind of challenge than the pure reflex-based action of Space Invaders. The inclusion of Colony 7 adds a layer of variety to the cartridge, appealing to players who appreciate a slightly deeper gameplay experience within the early arcade shooter framework.

Growl: A Four-Player Beat ’em Up Bonanza

Adding a different genre entirely to Evercade Taito Arcade Collection 1 is Growl, a side-scrolling beat ’em up that brings a welcome dose of chaotic fun. What sets Growl apart and makes it a particularly exciting addition is its four-player option for the Evercade VS system. This feature transforms the game into a boisterous social experience, perfect for gatherings and competitive friendly play. The game features a distinctive visual style and some intriguing quirks, including a non-linear path that encourages exploration and replayability. Players can choose their character and embark on a mission to thwart a nefarious organization, employing a variety of punches, kicks, and weapon pick-ups. The ability to team up with up to three other players adds a dynamic layer of coordination and emergent gameplay, making each playthrough a unique adventure.

A Rich Tapestry of Taito Classics: The Full Lineup of Taito Arcade 1

Beyond the headline attractions, Evercade Taito Arcade Collection 1 is packed with a diverse array of beloved Taito titles, each offering its own unique flavor of retro gaming joy:

• Bubble Bobble: A legendary puzzle-platformer renowned for its charming protagonists, Bub and Bob, and its addictive cooperative gameplay. Players must trap enemies in bubbles and pop them to defeat them, navigating colorful stages filled with secrets and power-ups. Its infectious music and simple yet deep mechanics have cemented its status as a timeless classic.
• The Legend of Kage: An action-platformer where players control Kage, a ninja on a mission to rescue a princess. It features nimble platforming, swift sword combat, and an engaging ninja aesthetic. The game’s fluid animations and challenging enemy patterns provide a satisfying arcade experience.
• Don Doko Don: A charming platformer with a unique premise involving dwarves battling monsters with hammers. It combines platforming challenges with a lighthearted fantasy setting, offering a distinct gameplay loop centered around rhythm and timing.
• Chack’n Pop: A quirky and colorful arcade game that involves a chicken trying to collect items and rescue its chicks from a mischievous monster. Its unique mechanics and playful presentation make it a memorable addition to the collection.
• Pirate Pete: A lesser-known but enjoyable arcade title that puts players in the role of a pirate seeking treasure. It often involves navigating treacherous environments and engaging in ship-to-ship combat.
• Raimais: A puzzle-action game that challenges players to guide a character through mazes while avoiding enemies and collecting items. It requires careful planning and quick reflexes, offering a strategic puzzle experience.

This comprehensive selection on Evercade Taito Arcade Collection 1 ensures a varied and engaging experience for any retro gaming fan, highlighting Taito’s early prowess in multiple genres.

Evercade Taito Arcade Collection 2: Exploring Taito’s Maturing Masterpieces

While the initial wave of arcade games often leans towards foundational mechanics, Evercade Taito Arcade Collection 2 showcases Taito’s evolution, presenting titles that exhibit more refined gameplay, deeper mechanics, and richer graphical presentation. This collection appeals to those who appreciate the artistic and technical advancements that characterized the late 1980s and early 1990s in arcade development.

The Depth and Personality of Later Taito Output

We find ourselves particularly drawn to Taito’s later output, and Evercade Taito Arcade Collection 2 delivers on this preference. Games from this era often benefited from improved hardware, allowing for more detailed sprites, richer color palettes, and more complex animations. This graphical enhancement, in turn, enabled developers to infuse their creations with more personality and to iterate on established gameplay mechanics, leading to deeper and more rewarding experiences.

• Liquid Kids (1990): This vibrant platformer, also known as Uptown Cinderella, offers a visually appealing experience with engaging gameplay. Players control a fiery protagonist tasked with navigating diverse environments and defeating enemies. Its colorful graphics and imaginative enemy designs stand out, and the gameplay mechanics are both accessible and offer room for mastery.
• Volfied (1989): Known in Japan as Ultimate Runner, this game blends elements of racing and shooting. Players must navigate a futuristic track while fending off hostile forces. Volfied is notable for its speed and its unique combination of genres, offering a fast-paced and challenging experience that was ahead of its time.
• The NewZealand Story (1988): This charming platformer features a whimsical setting and a unique protagonist, Tiki the kiwi bird. Players must guide Tiki through various stages, utilizing a bow and arrow to defeat enemies and overcome obstacles. The game’s distinctive visual style, engaging music, and well-designed levels make it a standout title in Taito’s catalog.

These titles represent a significant leap forward in arcade game design, offering a more sophisticated and engaging experience that still holds up remarkably well today.

Kiki KaiKai: The Genesis of a Beloved Franchise

The undisputed standout in Evercade Taito Arcade Collection 2 is Kiki KaiKai. This groundbreaking title is the direct progenitor of the much-loved Pocky & Rocky series, and it’s easy to see why it spawned such a successful franchise. Kiki KaiKai got so much right from the very beginning. It’s a top-down shooter that combines fast-paced action with strategic elements, tasking players with guiding a shrine maiden and her companion through increasingly challenging levels populated by demons and yokai. The gameplay is addictive, the controls are responsive, and the spiritual successor, Pocky & Rocky, owes a significant debt to the foundation laid here. Playing Kiki KaiKai today is not just a nostalgic trip; it is still a genuinely fun and rewarding gaming experience.

Operation Wolf: A Light Gun Classic Adapted for D-Pad

Operation Wolf is another significant inclusion, representing the popular light gun genre. While originally designed to be played with a physical light gun peripheral, its inclusion on the Evercade requires adaptation for D-pad controls. We are pleased to report that, even with this control scheme change, Operation Wolf remains a compelling experience. The game’s tense combat sequences, iconic sound effects, and challenging missions translate well enough to the D-pad, allowing players to appreciate its thrilling on-rails shooting action. Successfully navigating the perilous scenarios and taking down enemy forces with precision is still a deeply satisfying accomplishment.

The Full Spectrum of Taito Arcade 2 Delights

Evercade Taito Arcade Collection 2 rounds out its impressive lineup with a further selection of Taito’s diverse arcade offerings:

• Rastan: A classic action-platformer featuring a barbarian hero. Players hack and slash their way through challenging levels filled with monsters and traps. Rastan is known for its challenging difficulty and its visceral combat.
• Elevator Action: A groundbreaking arcade game where players navigate buildings, using elevators to move between floors, collecting documents, and avoiding enemy agents. It’s a clever blend of stealth and action that was highly influential.
• Alpine Ski: A fun and accessible sports game that allows players to compete in downhill skiing events. It captures the thrill of racing down snowy slopes and offers a refreshing change of pace from action-oriented titles.
• The Electric Yo-Yo: A quirky and energetic game that involves using a yo-yo in combat. Players must master the physics and maneuvers of the yo-yo to defeat enemies and progress through the game, offering a unique and engaging gameplay mechanic.

This second collection further solidifies the Evercade’s commitment to showcasing Taito’s broad creative output, offering a rich variety of genres and gameplay styles.

Evolving Hardware: The New Classic Retro Evercade EXP-R and VS-R

In conjunction with the launch of these two significant Taito Arcade collections, Blaze Entertainment has also introduced new “Classic Retro” editions of its Evercade EXP-R and VS-R hardware. These updated versions represent an evolution of the Evercade platform, focusing on refinement and accessibility while maintaining the core retro gaming experience.

A Closer Look at the EXP-R and VS-R

This marks our first in-depth experience with the “-R” versions of these devices, and we find them to be largely similar in their core functionality, with some subtle but noteworthy differences.

• Evercade EXP-R: The EXP-R model streamlines the portable experience by removing the HDMI output. While the HDMI-out feature on previous models offered an avenue for connecting to larger displays, we find its absence on the EXP-R to be an acceptable trade-off. Its utility was often relegated to edge-case scenarios for most users, and its removal contributes to a more focused and potentially cost-effective portable device. Furthermore, this new iteration doesn’t include any built-in games, a departure from some earlier models. This approach allows players to curate their experience from the ground up, purchasing only the cartridges they desire.
• Evercade VS-R: The VS-R mirrors the design philosophy of the EXP-R, focusing on core functionality. Both devices feature minor design adjustments, which are subtle enough that they are unlikely to be a deciding factor for consumers when choosing between models. The primary emphasis for both “-R” models is on delivering the Evercade experience with a clean aesthetic and efficient design.

Streamlined Packaging and Cost-Conscious Design

A significant aspect of these new hardware releases is their packaging and pricing strategy. Unlike previous “Neon Retro” editions that included bundled cartridges, the EXP-R and VS-R are sold without any pre-loaded games. This decision is a conscious effort to keep costs as low as possible, a particularly relevant consideration in our current economic climate. The resulting smaller packaging is also a welcome benefit for those who need to manage storage space. We appreciate Blaze Entertainment’s recognition of practical consumer needs. Moreover, the packaging itself feels and looks good, representing a significant improvement over the initial iterations of Evercade hardware packaging, showcasing the iterative refinement and attention to detail the company has demonstrated over the years.

Aesthetic Evolution: The Classic Retro Colorway

The “Classic Retro” colorways for the EXP-R and VS-R are aesthetically pleasing. The vaguely NES-like aesthetic adopted for these models works harmoniously with the broad spectrum of games playable on the Evercade platform. The color palette is also not a radical departure from the Evercade’s signature red-and-white branding, creating a cohesive visual identity across the product line.

A minor point of observation is that the cartridges themselves retain their original white color. This makes pairing them with the light gray finish of the EXP-R a noticeable contrast. While the original EXP handheld also had a slight mismatch, it was close enough to be largely overlooked. We understand Blaze Entertainment’s design choices here, likely stemming from a desire to maintain consistency with the existing cartridge design to ensure backward compatibility and a recognizable product line. However, a coordinated color scheme for cartridges and hardware would undoubtedly enhance the visual appeal for some users.

Availability and Conclusion: The Evercade Continues Its Winning Streak

The latest additions to the Evercade ecosystem, comprising the two Taito Arcade collections and the new Classic Retro EXP-R and VS-R hardware, are available now. This timely release offers a fantastic opportunity for both existing Evercade owners and newcomers to dive into some of the most historically significant and enjoyable arcade games ever created. The new Classic Retro Evercade EXP-R and VS-R are priced at $119.99, providing a competitive entry point into the Evercade ecosystem.

These releases underscore Blaze Entertainment’s dedication to curating a comprehensive and high-quality retro gaming library. The Taito Arcade collections are not merely compilations of old games; they are carefully selected packages that celebrate the innovation, artistry, and enduring appeal of arcade gaming. Combined with the refined hardware options, the Evercade platform continues to solidify its position as a must-have for anyone passionate about the history and continued enjoyment of classic video games. For those seeking more information, impressions, and a deeper dive into the expansive Evercade universe, our dedicated Evercade archive is an invaluable resource.