Can the third installment hit the mark?
The earlier Taito Milestones games received mixed reviews, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Taito Milestones 3 follows a similar path. Let’s be honest: including ten arcade games in a collection doesn’t guarantee they’ll all resonate with players. For me, a gamer who fondly recalls spending time in arcades during the mid-80s and early ’90s, only a few of these games motivated me to replay them.
I didn’t expect these titles to be deeply complex. The collection largely consists of beat ’em ups, notably the entire Rastan Saga trilogy. If you have a buddy who shares your enthusiasm for such games, the value of this collection rises significantly. And if you’re thinking of teaming up with more friends for games like Dead Connection or Runark, even better. Unfortunately, my wife isn’t drawn to these types of games. Thankfully, she does enjoy Bubble Bobble and its sequel, Rainbow Islands. We find Bub and Bob delightful, whether they’re in their playful dinosaur/dragon forms or as humans.
But this brings up an interesting question: as much as we love Bubble Bobble, how many versions of it do we really need? The majority of this collection’s games, with a few exceptions like Thunder Fox, have been released multiple times, either separately or as part of other compilations. Many of these can be bought individually under the Arcade Archives banner. If you already own a few, this latest release might not be as appealing.
Imagine if instead of a $40 collection, Taito offered a deal where you could choose ten games from the Arcade Archives for the same price. I’m sure many would jump at that chance to create a personalized set of favorites. But, for now, we have Taito Milestones 3. To give credit where it’s due, many of these games are visually impressive, with vibrant colors, detailed graphics, parallax scrolling, and more on-screen action than you might expect. The music, too, is a highlight—tunes that would have been hard to catch amid the noise of a bustling arcade. Their design often includes surprising features and options that add a unique touch. Cadash, for instance, is notable for being an arcade RPG. However, gameplay remains the ultimate decider, and my feelings are mixed, much like Kirk’s reaction to the previous Taito Milestones.
Though I find most games in this collection intriguing, and watching them is fun, arcade games traditionally aim to hook players into spending all their pocket money in one go. If you’re purchasing these to play on your Switch at home, you’d expect your activity log to show more than just “played for a short while.” That’s not my experience, though it could be yours.
If Taito plans to continue these Milestone series, a slight price reduction paired with a few exclusive titles might be the key to success. Additional historical context, as offered in other collections, could also enhance its value. But here’s the bottom line: if you already own the standout games from this collection as individual Arcade Archive releases, you might not be the target audience. Think carefully before spending $39.99 on Taito Milestones 3 unless you’re driven by nostalgia.
