"Review of TOAPLAN Arcade Collection Volumes 1 & 2 on Nintendo Switch: Outstanding Shoot 'Em Up Gaming"
In the realm of video game development, few companies have left as lasting an impact as Toaplan, a Japanese studio renowned for its influential shoot 'em up (shmup) games. Active primarily from 1984 to 1994, Toaplan played a significant role in defining and evolving the genre, introducing early examples of bullet hell mechanics that would later become commonplace.
The origins of Toaplan can be traced back to staff from smaller companies like Orca and Crux, who regrouped to form Toaplan and began producing arcade shooters. Their debut title, Tiger-Heli (1985), established them as leaders in the shooter market.
Toaplan's games were known for their vertically scrolling action, precise but challenging gameplay, and innovative mechanics such as the bomb mechanic, which gave players a powerful screen-clearing weapon to offset difficulty, balancing strategic movement and bullet evasion. Their portfolio includes classics like Flying Shark, Slap Fight, Truxton, and Batsugun, many of which are regarded as pioneering titles in the shoot 'em up genre's evolution.
The company's influence on the bullet hell subgenre is significant. Toaplan's shooters advanced the complexity and intensity of enemy bullet patterns, laying the groundwork that later developers, notably Cave, founded by ex-Toaplan employees, expanded into the fully-fledged bullet hell style characterized by dense, intricate projectile patterns requiring extreme player precision.
Sadly, Toaplan declared bankruptcy in 1994, but their design philosophies and mechanics directly impacted the bullet hell genre's development and inspired many modern shmups. Today, Toaplan's legacy is preserved and celebrated through collections like the Toaplan Arcade Collection Vol. 1 and 2, which re-release their key titles with modern enhancements, enabling new audiences to experience their historic contributions firsthand.
Released on August 14th, 2025, the Toaplan Arcade Collection Vol. 1 and 2 is priced at $34.99 per volume. This collection covers the heyday of Toaplan's arcade shmup output and includes international variants for each classic arcade game. Volume 1 includes the games Flying Shark, Fire Shark, Tiger Heli, Twin Cobra, Out Zone, Fix Eight, Batsugun, and Dogyuun. Volume 2 includes Zero Wing, Hell Fire, Slap Fight, Grind Stormer, Truxton, Truxton 2, Vimana, and Twin Hawk.
The collections offer local co-op play and different arcade variants released worldwide, but not console ports of the games. Developed by Bitwave Games and published by Clear River Games, the Toaplan Arcade Collection Vol. 1 and 2 is available on Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Xbox Series X|S. It offers a rewind option, save states, and various customization options for smooth gameplay on the Switch.
While Toaplan's history was bumpy, it led to the creation of multiple game studios, most notably Cave. Games like Zero Wing are known for their legendarily terrible English localization, but their innovative mechanics and impact on the shoot 'em up genre cannot be denied. The Toaplan Arcade Collection Vol. 1 and 2 offers a unique opportunity for modern gamers to experience this history firsthand.
For those interested in gaming history, the Toaplan Arcade Collection Vol. 1 and 2 is a must-have. Follow the reviewer on X, Facebook, and YouTube, and don't miss their coverage of the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan. The reviewer received copies of the games from Clear River Games for the purposes of this review, and the Toaplan Arcade Collection Vol. 1 and 2 received a score of 8/10.
- The Toaplan Arcade Collection, available on Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox, is a tribute to the Japanese studio's legacy in the video game industry, showcasing their influential shoot 'em up titles like Zero Wing and Hell Fire.
- In the realm of entertainment, gadgets like the Toaplan Arcade Collection serve as technology artifacts, preserving a piece of history through playable games, offering modern audiences a glimpse into the evolution of video games and the birth of subgenres like bullet hell.
