Retro Re-release Roundup, week of May 24, 2018

Y'know what, forget the pithiness, time to lay my cards on the table: 3 > 9 > 2 > 5 > 10 > 4 > 6 > 8 > 1 > 7. Come at me.

ARCADE ARCHIVES

Ikki

What's this? Sunsoft's notoriously odd shooting-action game, released in Japanes arcades in 1985; players control one or two feudal-era Japanese farmers on a quest to "rebel" against their overlord, searching for coins and hurling an auto-aiming, boomerang-esque sickle in their pursuit of... well, that's not really clear.

Why should I care? Ikki's a little more self-aware than one might expect given its reputation, and the original arcade version features snappier controls and several more stages than the version you might know from every bootleg Famicom multicart ever.

Useless fact: The now-ubiquitous Japanese term "kusoge" (crap game) was first coined in reference to the Famicom port of Ikki and Sunsoft has attempted to capitalize on that infamy several times, including through the release of Ikki Online, a 12-player online deathmatch interpretation of Ikki aimed at absolutely no-one.

ARCADE ARCHIVES NEO GEO

Top Players Golf

What's this? SNK's launch-era Neo Geo golf game, featuring two courses, a fully-voiced caddy and a surprisingly cumbersome UI.

Why should I care? I usually try to be diplomatic about some of the weaker games that show up from week to week but in this case I won't even bother: get Neo Turf Masters, forget you ever saw Top Players Golf.

Useless fact: If you're into listening to office ladies politely reciting poorly-written script then Top Players Golf might be the game for you after all...

OTHER

Mega Man Legacy Collection & Mega Man Legacy Collection 2

What's this? Capcom's recent pair of classic Mega Man collections  — games 1 through 6 and games 7 through 10, DLC included, plus extensive art galleries and other extras — now available on Switch; in addition to the amiibo-locked challenges from the 3DS version, the first Mega Man Legacy Collection also has a few additional features including a rewind feature and a "turbo" setting that eliminates the games' original slowdown. (A note for retail fiends: the physical version includes MMLC1 on the card and MMLC2 as a one-time download code.)

Why should I care? Mega Man's status as a popular and endless influential action series is cemented in history, and it's nice to see Capcom acknowledge that every once in a while. (Each of these collections includes at least one classic title, so you can't go wrong either way.)

Helpful tip: Early reports suggest MMLC's new turbo mode introduces some very obvious input lag, so if the games don't feel the way you remember them, try turning that off.

SALES & MISCELLANEA

Majyuu-oh Super Famicom reissue by Columbus Circle 

Japanese retro maniacs Columbus Circle are at is again, this time with a licensed reissue of the obscure shape-shifting horror-action sidescroller Majyuu-oh (King of Demons), developed and published by the even more obscure KSS in late 1995 and forgotten about until now;  it won't top any best-of lists but the freeform transformation system, tight game balance and multiple endings make it a respectable choice for anyone looking for a hit of Castlevania methodone.

Unreal series 20th anniversary sale 

Contrary to recent happenings, Cliff Blezinski once spearheaded games people enjoyed and bought, not least of which were the influentia Unreal series of would-be Quake killers; for those of you who haven't touched a PC in the last twenty years, Epic's selling  the fantastic arena shooters Ultimate Tournament GOTY and UT2004, as well as the also-there Unreal 2 for a couple bucks a pop — and, if you move quickly, you can grab a free copy of the original and remarkably well-aged Unreal for free for the next couple hours.