In case you’re a fan of side-scrolling shoot ‘em ups and wild retro weirdness, Irem Assortment Quantity 3 from ININ Video games is like opening a time capsule full of pixelated power-ups, dragons, and the sort of artistic enemy design solely the ’80s and ’90s might conjure. This lovingly compiled assortment brings collectively three of Irem’s most eccentric and thrilling shooters: Mr. Heli/Battle Chopper, Mystic Riders, and Dragon Breed. And belief me—you’re in for a experience that’s as weird as it’s good.
🚁 Mr. Heli / Battle Chopper (Arcade & PC Engine)
This quirky little helicopter with eyes and a face is something however cute on the subject of shelling out destruction. In Mr. Heli, you’re piloting a plucky chopper by way of caves, industrial complexes, and molten hellscapes, blasting enemies whereas navigating tight areas and gravity-defying jumps.
The PC Engine model is a neat inclusion—it’s a devoted port with barely totally different sprite work and a few charming 16-bit aptitude. Whether or not you’re nostalgic for the arcade or curious concerning the console iteration, it’s nice to have each.
🧙♂️ Mystic Riders (Arcade)
Mystic Riders is what occurs once you combine magic carpets, flying broomsticks, and sufficient glittery magic spells to make Hogwarts jealous. This co-op horizontal shmup is probably the most whimsical of the bunch—two wizard youngsters take to the skies to take down fantastical foes in a world that seems like a mashup of anime and excessive fantasy fever goals.
The native 2-player co-op right here is the place it shines. There’s one thing inherently joyful about launching fireballs and dodging outsized haunted pumpkins with a pal at your aspect.
🐉 Dragon Breed (Arcade)
Now this is the heavy-hitter. You’re not simply piloting a ship—you’re using a freaking large golden dragon throughout a dystopian sci-fi panorama. The gameplay twist? Your dragon is invincible, appearing like a transferring defend as you rain laser dying upon alien hordes. It’s sensible, strategic, and the sort of recreation that sticks with you.
With its epic boss fights, moody soundtrack, and layers of assault choices, Dragon Breed is arguably the crown jewel of this assortment.
🎮 High quality of Life Upgrades
ININ Video games didn’t simply dump ROMs and name it a day—there are some considerate enhancements right here:
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Fast Save/Load and a built-in rewind system allow you to recuperate from boneheaded errors or rewind to finesse your dodging abilities.
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Customisable controls, together with rapid-fire assignments, make an enormous distinction for consolation and efficiency.
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Show filters recreate the glow and scanlines of old-school arcade displays, or hold it clear with sharp pixels—it’s your alternative.
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Worldwide leaderboards add a contemporary problem for aggressive score-chasers.
🕹️ Closing Ideas
Irem Assortment Quantity 3 is a joyous blast of arcade nostalgia. Whether or not you’re chasing excessive scores, revisiting forgotten favourites, or discovering them for the primary time, these video games maintain up remarkably nicely. The combination of fantasy and sci-fi, wacky enemy designs, and tight shoot ‘em up mechanics showcase why Irem was a kingpin of the style.
And let’s be sincere—using a fire-breathing dragon whereas blasting biomechanical nightmares simply by no means will get previous.
Rating: 7.5/10 – Pure retro arcade magic, lovingly preserved and enhanced for the trendy sofa warrior.
