The classic 1992 Macross arcade game by Banpresto is getting a new port courtesy of those nice people at Arcade Archives this December in Japan.
Based on the 1984 movie, Macross Do You Remember Love?, this Macross arcade game was a very solid vertical scrolling shmup that had you follow the narrative of the movie.
As you piloted a variable fighter, known as a Valkyrie, in the original series and movie, you had to pick up power-ups in order to transform between its three modes of fighter, GERWALK, and battroid.
This game is also not to be confused with the Sega Saturn and PlayStation side-scrolling shmup named after the same movie, as that’s an entirely different game released five years later in 1997. It is, however, entirely excellent and comes highly recommended.
Anyway, Banpresto shmups of this era have garnered a serious following over the years. We’ve already seen the Mazinger Z arcade game given the Arcade Archives treatment in May of last year.
Although, for some reason somebody decided to release that the day before Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which was a bit stupid and meant it probably flew under the radar of most gamers.
In any case, there are quite a few classic Banpresto shmups that deserve a modern port and release, not least the arcade games for both Macross II and Macross Plus.
The only caveat to all of this is that due to the rights situation with the original Macross TV series and movie, it’s very unlikely that this particular Macross arcade game will come Westward. However, if the arcade games for Macross II and Macross Plus are eventually ported, those should see a Western release at some point.
So, if you were left a bit underwhelmed by the recent Macross Shooting Insight, this new port of the classic Macross arcade shmup should hopefully hit the spot.
This arcade port of Macross is released on December 26 for the PlayStation 4 and Switch in Japan and will be priced at 1,500 yen (or around $10). A Western release is also unlikely.
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