Review by Jack Hawes
The Taito Milestones collection for Nintendo switch is an excellent compilation of retro goodies.

The collection includes:
Bubble Bobble, a round-based panic driven game that tasks you with shooting bubbles at enemies both in front and above you. It is a true classic that has been largely unchanged for decades, and that’s for a reason! It controls very well and feels fair when you have been bested. An overall joy to play.

Similarly, Rainbow Islands incorporates a similar charm and gameplay loop to the latter. With that said, the game requires you to clear stages by ascending and taking out enemies along the way to increase your score. This is achieved by using well timed and placed rainbows to function as projectiles and ledges. It was lots of fun and easy to pick up as a newcomer!

Rastan Saga 1 and 2 are both platformers in a similar vein to Ghosts n goblins. Both games can be as easy or as hard as you want to make them. For example, you can take a swinging rope to the high ground to make life easier, or wade through enemies on the bottom path. The weapon selection in both games make you feel like Conan the barbarian. With that said, some weapons can feel very samey over a distinguished weapon.

Similarly, Cadash fits in this category as well. Combining the dungeons and dragons theme to the platformer genre, while incorporating levelling your character. The addition of character dialog and progression gave this game a sense of character and distinguished itself very well.

Thunder Fox is another platformer that incorporates a military style. Like The other platformers, you are tasked with getting to the end of the level, while using the provided toolkit of a knife and whatever your enemy drops. A very entertaining play.

RunArk is a beat em up with a lot of character and fun weapons to acquire as you progress. Overall, a great game.
Warrior blade is a round-based beat em up that brings back our friend Rastan and friends. It had the best art style and character animations by far out of the whole collection. After my first playthrough I was eager to jump back in with a different character and test their play style. A very engaging game.

Champion Wrestler is a classic button mashing fighting game that was as frustrating as it was fun. It provided fun and tense fights with both Bots and friends alike.

Dead Connection was my favourite game in the collection. It is a level-based shooter on vertical levels. You are tasked with shooting enemy mobsters and collecting cool gear. You will encounter a boss at the end of each level which keeps you on your toes so throughout the whole stage. Highly recommended.

To conclude, my time with the Taito Milestones collection was a blast. There is something for everyone and is even better with a friend.

I would recommend to anyone who wants to stretch their retro muscles or wants a casual pick up and play. Tonnes of fun and easy to pick up as a newcomer!
