Taito Legends 2 finally coming to the USA! Also a PSP edition!

[Dire 51]

Less than a week away, according to Gamestop.com (they have it scheduled for 5/7 at $19.99, but oddly have the product description for the PSP version), but Game Crazy and a few other sites don't even have it listed. Anyone else heard anything about the release date?

[MarioMania]

Good news, been waiting for this for a long time.

Taito Legends 2 from Europe isn't region locked by the way, will play fine in North American systems.

Is that the Xbox Version or the PS2

[heybtbm]

Less than a week away, according to Gamestop.com (they have it scheduled for 5/7 at $19.99, but oddly have the product description for the PSP version), but Game Crazy and a few other sites don't even have it listed. Anyone else heard anything about the release date?

I can tell you that I failed twice at trying to pre-order this at my local Gamestop. There is no PS2 version in their system. I explained that the game is even listed on their website, but it turns out it's really the PSP version. It looks like it's going to be Amazon FTW.

Edit: I guess Amazon doesn't have this listed either. Hmmm.

[Xexyz]

Like I stated in an earlier post, GameStupid/EBumgames doesn't take pre-orders for budget priced titles anymore. I have no clue as to their reasoning for this, but it's their policy. I remember them not having Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2 and Sega Genesis Collection up for pre-order, even on the week before their respective releases.

[MegaDrive20XX]

I hate when they do that, those stores don't care about classic compliations. I swear, if it doesn't say "HALO" or "GTA" on the box...the marketing for GameStop/EB Games don't give a flying flip..

[Three-P]

I gotta quote Bender from Futurama, here.

"About time."

[Leo_A]

Sorry for not being clearer, it's the Xbox version that is region free. The Playstation 2 version was region locked.

[Gabriel]

Out of the online stores I frequent, none have the PS2 version listed yet. I found somewhere that had the PSP version listed, but I forget where it was and I can't seem to turn anything up now.

Searching " 'Taito Legends 2' PS2 " on Google Products only returns two matches: DVDStars (they want $33.49 for it, allegedly region 1) and BlahDVD (a PAL release).

I really doubt this game is being released on the alleged date. I don't think I've ever seen any game which has been so utterly ignored by retail. What was the source for the May 7th date, because I think it's a complete fabrication.

[Leo_A]

IGN, Gamespot, and 1Up have recieved preview copies from Destineer and released previews, Destineer (The publisher) announced the PS2 and PSP game were coming this month just a few weeks ago. The ESRB recently rated these for North America. The release date is listed in EB's system and elsewhere.

I believe it

[Dire 51]

I guess we'll find out tomorrow. Isn't a Monday an odd day for a new game release, though?

[Neo Rasa]

I guess we'll find out tomorrow. Isn't a Monday an odd day for a new game release, though?

While there are always expections, typically new games will be released on Monday (same with movies). Due to the laws of physics though, they won't reach store shelves until Tuesday at the earliest (there have been several major games that have been getting shipped out on Tuesday/Wednesday this past year though).

For a "C list" title like this though, Gamestop/EBGames probably won't be seeing it until the end of the week if it's being distributed by Gamestop itself. If Destineer FedExes it it should make it Tuesday afternoon.

[Ed Oscuro]

Legend of Kage enhanced version?

[Spartacus]

It's kind of interesting to see how the Taito compilations have unfolded, both here and in Japan. Japan had already received two Taito compilations titled Taito Memories Joukan and Taito Memories Gekan before the west would see it's first - Taito Legends. Japan would also see two more compilations, Taito Memories II Joukan and Taito Memories II Gekan, before the west would receive Taito Legends 2. But as you begin to analyse the rosters for each of the compilations, you start to notice some interesting facts. While it's true that Japan got two compilations totaling 50 games before Taito Legends arrived here with a mere 29 games, the west got 17 games that didn't arrive until 2 years later in Japan. Taito Legends also got 6 games that didn't come out on any of the four compilations in Japan!

Here's the timeline for the Taito compilations...
Taito Memories Joukan (JPN) 07/28/05
Taito Memories Gekan (JPN) 08/25/05
Taito Legends (EU)10/14/05 (US)10/25/05
Taito Memories II Joukan (JPN) 01/25/07
Taito Memories II Gekan (JPN) 03/29/07
Taito Legends 2 (EU)03/31/06 (US)05/07/07-supposedly



Here's a breakdown of the Taito Legends compilation...

Taito Legends (PS2/Xbox) - 29 games
Battle Shark (Taito Memories II Gekan)
Bubble Bobble (Taito Memories Joukan)
Colony 7
Continental Circus (Taito Memories II Joukan)
Electric Yo-Yo, The
Elevator Action (Taito Memories Gekan)
Exzisus (Taito Memories II Joukan)
Gladiator aka Ohgun no Shiro (Taito Memories II Joukan)
Great Swordsman (Taito Memories II Gekan)
Jungle Hunt
New Zealand Story, The (Taito Memories Gekan)
Ninja Kids, The (Taito Memories II Joukan)
Operation Thunderbolt (Taito Memories II Joukan)
Operation Wolf (Taito Memories II Gekan)
Phoenix (Taito Memories II Gekan)
Plotting
Plump Pop (Taito Memories II Gekan)
Rainbow Islands (Taito Memories II Joukan)
Rastan Saga (Taito Memories Joukan)
Return of the Invaders (Taito Memories II Joukan)
Space Gun (Taito Memories II Joukan)
Space Invaders (Taito Memories Gekan)
Space Invaders Part 2 (Taito Memories Gekan)
Super Qix (Taito Memories II Joukan)
Thunderfox (Taito Memories II Gekan)
Tokio aka Scramble Formation (Taito Memories II Joukan)
Tube It
Volfied (Taito Memories II Gekan)
Zoo Keeper

2 games from Taito Memories Joukan
4 games from Taito Memories Gekan
10 games from Taito Memories II Joukan
7 games from Taito Memories II Gekan
6 games weren't on any of the Japanese Taito compilations

Here's the 6 Taito games the Japanese didn't get...
Colony 7 (Shooter) Arcade
Electric Yo-Yo (Puzzle) Arcade
Jungle Hunt (Platform) Arcade/Atari 2600*5200/C64/Colecovision
Plotting (Puzzle) Arcade/C64
Tube It (Puzzle) Arcade
Zoo Keeper (Platform) Arcade


By the time Taito Legends 2 rolled out in the west, the Japanese had already received all 4 compilations of 25 games each for a total of 100 games. The two western compilations would total 68 games. The west would get 7 Taito games that weren't on any off the Japanese compilations, but the Japanese would get 34 Taito games that we wouldn't.


Here's a breakdown of the Taito Legends 2 compilation...

Taito Legends 2 (PS2/Xbox PAL) -39 games
Alpine Ski (Taito Memories Joukan)
Arabian Magic (Taito Memories Gekan)
Bronze Adventure aka Jigoku Meguri (Taito Memories Joukan)
Cameltry (Taito Memories Joukan)
Chack 'n' Pop (Taito Memories Gekan)
Cleopatra Fortune (Taito Memories Joukan)
Crazy Balloon (Taito Memories Gekan)
Darius Gaiden (Taito Memories Joukan)
Don Doko Don (Taito Memories Joukan)
Dungeon Magic aka Light Bringer
Elevator Action Returns (Taito Memories Joukan)
Fairyland Story, The (Taito Memories Joukan)
Front Line (Taito Memories Gekan)
Gekirindan (Taito Memories Gekan)
Grid Seeker: Project Storm Hammer (Taito Memories Joukan)
Growl aka Runark (Taito Memories Joukan)
Gun Frontier (Taito Memories Gekan)
Hat-Trick Hero (Taito Memories Gekan)
Insector X (Taito Memories Gekan)
Kiki Kaikai (Taito Memories Joukan)
Kuri Kinton (Taito Memories Joukan)
Legend of Kage (Taito Memories Gekan)
Liquid Kids aka Mizubaku Daibouken Adventure (Taito Memories Gekan)
Lunar Rescue (Taito Memories Joukan)
Metal Black (Taito Memories Joukan)
Puchi Carat (Taito Memories Joukan)
Puzzle Bobble 2 (Taito Memories Gekan)
Qix (Taito Memories Gekan)
Raimais (Taito Memories Gekan
Rastan Saga 2 (Taito Memories Gekan)
Space Invaders DX (Taito Memories Joukan)
Super Space Invaders '91 aka Majestic Twelve (Taito Memories Joukan)
Space Invaders '95 aka Akkanvader (Taito Memories Gekan)
Violence Fight (Taito Memories Gekan)
Wild Western (Taito Memories Gekan)


PS2 exclusives:
Balloon Bomber (Taito Memories Gekan)
G Darius (Taito Memories Gekan)
Ray Storm (Taito Memories Gekan)
Syvalion (Taito Memories Joukan)

Xbox exclusives:
Bubble Symphony (Taito Memories II)
Cadash (Taito Memories Gekan)
Pop 'n Pop
Rayforce (Taito Memories II Joukan)

Here's the 1 Taito game the Japanese didn't get....
Pop 'n Pop (Puzzle) Arcade



Because some people, myself included, buy Japanese PS2 games. Here's a breakdown of all four of the Japanese Taito compilations...

Taito Memories Joukan (PS2) -25 games
Alpine Ski (Taito Legends 2)
Bubble Bobble (Taito Legends)
Cameltry (Taito Legends 2)
Cleopatra Fortune (Taito Legends 2)
Darius Gaiden (Taito Legends 2)
Don Doko Don (Taito Legends 2)
Elevator Action Returns (Taito Legends 2)
Fairyland Story, The (Taito Legends 2)
Flipull
Grid Seeker: Project Storm Hammer (Taito Legends 2)
Jigoku Meguri aka Bronze Adventure (Taito Legends 2)
KiKi KaiKai (Taito Legends 2)
Kuri Kinton (Taito Legends 2)
Kyuukyoku Harikiri Koshien
Light Bringer aka Dungeon Magic (Taito Legends 2)
Lunar Rescue (Taito Legends 2)
Majestic Twelve aka Super Space Invaders '91 (Taito Legends 2)
Metal Black (Taito Legends 2)
Puchi Carat (Taito Legends 2)
PuLiRuLa
Rastan Saga (Taito Legends)
Runark aka Growl (Taito Legends 2)
Space Invader Color
Space Invader DX (Taito Legends 2)
Syvalion (Taito Legends 2 PS2)

Here's the 4 Taito games the west didn't get....
Flipull (Puzzle) Famicom (JPN)
Kyuukyoku Harikiri Koshien (Baseball Sim) Famicom (JPN)
PuLiRuLa (Action) Arcade/PlayStation & Saturn (JPN)
Space Invader Color (Action) Arcade



Taito Memories Gekan (PS2) -25 games
Akkanvader aka Space Invaders '95 (Taito Legends 2)
Arabian Magic (Taito Legends 2)
Balloon Bomber (Taito Legends 2 PS2)
Cadash (Taito Legends 2 Xbox)
Chack'n Pop (Taito Legends 2)
Crazy Balloon (Taito Legends 2)
Elevator Action (Taito Legends)
Front Line (Taito Legends 2)
Gekirindan (Taito Legends 2)
G-Darius (Taito Legends 2 -PS2 exclusive)
Gun Frontier (Taito Legends 2)
Hat Trick Hero (Taito Legends 2)
Insector X (Taito Legends 2)
Legend of Kage (Taito Legends 2)
Mizubaku Daibouken Adventure aka Liquid Kids (Taito Legends 2)
New Zealand Story, The (Taito Legends)
Puzzle Bobble 2 (Taito Legends 2)
Qix (Taito Legends 2)
Raimais (Taito Legends 2)
Rastan Saga II (Taito Legends 2)
Raystorm (Taito Legends 2)
Space Invaders (Taito Legends)
Space Invaders Part 2 (Taito Legends)
Violence Fight (Taito Legends 2)
Wild Western (Taito Legends 2)



Taito Memories II Gekan (PS2) -25 games
Battle Shark (Taito Legends)
Bubble Symphony (Taito Legends 2 Xbox)
Buggy Challenge
Chase H.Q.
Field Goal
Final Blow
Full Throttle aka Top Speed
Great Swordsman (Taito Legends)
Gyrodine
Halley's Comet
L.S.A. Squad
Master of Weapon
Megablast
Metal Soldier Isaac
Night Striker
Onna Sanshirou aka Gladiator (Taito Legends)
Operation Wolf (Taito Legends)
Phoenix (Taito Legends)
Plump Pop (Taito Legends)
Polaris
Rainbow Islands Extra
Sea Fighter Poseidon
Thunder Fox (Taito Legends)
Volfied (Taito Legends)
Warrior Blade: Rastan III

Here's the 16 Taito games the west didn't get....
Buggy Challenge (Racing) Arcade
Chase H.Q. (Mission based Driving) Arcade/Famicom/GameGear (JPN)
Field Goal (Sports) Arcade
Final Blow (Boxing) Arcade/C64
Full Throttle (Racing) Arcade
Gyrodine (Shooter) Arcade/Famicom (JPN)/MSX (EU)
Halley's Comet (Shooter) Arcade
L.S.A. Squad (Shooter) Arcade
Master of Weapon (Shooter) Arcade/MegaDrive (JPN)
Megablast (Shooter) Arcade
Metal Soldier Isaac (Shooter) Arcade
Night Striker (Shooter) Arcade/PlayStation/SegaCD/Saturn (JPN)
Polaris (Shooter) Arcade/Atari 2600
Rainbow Islands Extra (Platform) Arcade/MegaDrive (JPN)
Sea Fighter Poseidon (Shooter) Arcade
Warrior Blade: Rastan III (Fighting) Arcade



Taito Memories II Joukan (PS2) -25 games
Asuka & Asuka
Ben Bero Bee
Bubble Memories: The Story of Bubble Bobble III
Champion Wrestler
Chuka Taisen aka Cloud Master
Continental Circus (Taito Legends)
Darius II
Dino Rex
Exzisus (Taito Legends)
Fighting Hawk
Grand Champion
Kick and Run
Operation Thunderbolt (Taito Legends)
Ninja Kids (Taito Legends)
Ohgun no Shiro aka Gladiator (Taito Legends)
Rainbow Islands (Taito Legends)
Rayforce (Taito Legends 2 -Xbox exclusive)
Return of the Invaders (Taito Legends)
SCI: Special Criminal Investigation
Scramble Formation aka Tokio (Taito Legends)
Super Qix (Taito Legends)
Space Chaser
Space Gun (Taito Legends)
Time Tunnel
Undoukai, The

Here's the 14 Taito games the west didn't get....
Asuka & Asuka (Shooter) Arcade
Ben Bero Bee (Platform) Arcade
Bubble Memories (Platform) Arcade
Champion Wrestler (Wrestling) Arcade/TurboGrafx-16 (JPN)
Chuka Taisen (Shooter) Arcade/SMS -Famicom/MSX (JPN)
Darius II (Shooter) Arcade/Genesis -Turbo CD/Saturn (JPN)
Dino Rex (Fighting) Arcade
Fighting Hawk Shooter) Arcade
Grand Champion (Racing) Arcade
Kick and Run (Soccer) Arcade/Famicom Disk System (JPN)
SCI: Special Criminal Investigation (Car Combat) Arcade/Saturn/C64/SMS/TG16
Space Chaser (Maze) Arcade/PlayStation (JPN)
Time Tunnel (Adventure) Arcade
Undoukai, The (Track & Field) Arcade



Here's a few that I'm sorry to see weren't included...
Aqua Jack
Arabian Magic
Battle Lane Vol. 5
Chaos Heat
Chase Bombers
Cycle Shooting
Dead Connection
Dr. Toppel Tankentai
Enforce
Fire Battle
Galactic Storm
Mission 660
Rezon
Ryu Jin
S.R.D. Mission
Storming Party
U.A.G. (Un-Attached Grenadier)
Wyvern F-0

[Leo_A]

EB pushed it back a week today, not a good sign.

[heybtbm]

EB pushed it back a week today, not a good sign.

Why don't they just say "Gamestop/EB Games Exclusive" or something? It's not like this is for sale anywhere else. The good news is, I finally pre-ordered it online.

[Emuaust]

Is this the same game that us PAL gamers have been playing for 12+ months?
if so both the xbox and ps2 comps are great!

[rbudrick]

Whoa! So what's enhanced on Legend of Kage?

Oh, and when's this out?

-Rob

[Leo_A]

The enhanced games are only on the PSP game, and they're just updated graphics I believe.

[Dire 51]

EB pushed it back a week today, not a good sign.

*grumble*

Does Destineer even have a website for their console games? Only one I've found so far is for PC stuff.

[Gabriel]

Well, the only citations I can find for a release date are second hand sources which state "Q2" or "May". I think someone made the May 7th date out of whole cloth and the others quoting that as the date just copied it from the incorrect source.