Update #2 [Thu 18th May, 2023 12:05 BST]:
M2 has just detailed which console ports we can expect to see as part of its upcoming Zero Fire release.
- Zero Wing: JP Mega Drive, EU Mega Drive, PC Engine CD
- Hellfire: JP Mega Drive, Genesis, PC Engine CD
- Horror Story: PC Engine CD.
These ports will be available as DLC if you purchase the game digitally but will come as standard with the physical version.
Update [Thu 13th Apr, 2023 11:35 BST]: M2 has just revealed the release date for Toaplan Arcade Garage #3: Zero Fire. It launches in Japan on July 20th for PS4 and Nintendo Switch. The pack will also include Horror Story/Demon's World.
Original Story [Fri 10th Feb, 2023 12:45 GMT]: M2 has just announced the next entry in its 'M2 ShotTriggers Toaplan Arcade Garage' series, and it will bundle together two of Toaplan's most believed horizontally-scrolling blasters: Zero Wing and Hellfire.
Hellfire originally hit arcades in 1989 and was ported to the Genesis / Mega Drive and PC Engine CD. It boasts a unique weapon system which allows the player to cycle through various shots that fire in different directions.
Zero Wing is perhaps most famous for spawning the "All Your Base" meme, which is taken from the western Genesis / Mega Drive port. It also hit arcades in 1989 and was also ported to the PC Engine CD, like Hellfire.
The pack – which will be known as Zero Fire – launches this year. No platforms have been revealed at present, but previous packs were released on PS4 and Switch.
Key art for the new release has been created by Yuji Kaida, who did the cover art for Battle Garegga, Daimakamura / Ghouls 'n Ghosts on the Genesis / Mega Drive and many others.
As has been the case with previous Toaplan Arcade Garage releases, a bonus Toaplan title will be included, and M2 is holding a competition to guess the game:
[source twitter.com]
Comments 12
Great games although I always feel zero wing gets mentioned more than hellfire but I personally think hellfire is the superior game. The megadrive version of hellfire is a lot better than the arcade version hope they include the MD version as a bonus
@Gs69 All the versions (MD, PCE) should be included, if the past 2 M2 releases in the series are anything to go by.
I can see why they bundled these 2 games together - neither one of the them got a lot of ports AFAIK - unlike the previous 2 collections (Fire Shark and Tiger Heli).
Good to see M2 bringing back these collections!
@Soupbones thanks that’s great news I really liked the port of Gleylancer on switch as it included the original and an enhanced version I would love all retro releases to go down that route but I’m definitely in for this day 1
Zero wing is so damn hard on the eyes, with the constant red flashing screen. Why that game gets mentioned so much is beyond me. For a guy like me, it's literally unplayable from the physical pain it causes me.
Zero Wing passed me by on the Mega Drive, and to this day I've still never played it — Hellfire I really remember enjoying, but it didn't have quite the style and finesse of Thunderforce 3 and 4
@SonOfDracula it’s just because of the all your base line in the intro other than that it’s fairly generic
@Andee it’s definitely not as fast or as thrilling as the Thunder force games but I feel it has pretty deep gameplay and the music on the MD is excellent saying that the Thunder force games have amazing soundtracks too
@Gs69 oh the music on all three games was awesome — Thunder Force IV has so many genres going on in it as well, one of the subterranean levels has an almost lounge jazzy vibe it
@SonOfDracula I wouldn't be surprised if they have an option to remove that. I know there's the option in MAME - M2 has to know it's an issue for some people.
@Soupbones There's an option in MAME? Is that in service mode or something?
@SonOfDracula It's a cheat - see more here: https://www.arcade-projects.com/threads/zero-wing-red-screen-flashing.11780/
@Soupbones Ah, that makes no sense to me, but thank you for sharing it.
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