Against all expectations, the mini retrogaming Arcade terminals initially intended for the Japanese market continue to be announced in the West. After the original Astro City Mini from SEGA, it is the turn of the model made in Taito to be entitled to an outing outside the Japanese archipelago. However, we will have to wait a little longer before we can get our hands on it.
Taito, Inin Games and Strictly Limited have just announced the release of the Egret II Mini terminal in the West. According to the three partners, Taito’s retrogaming terminal will arrive in Europe and North America in 2022. As a reminder, the Egret II Mini is scheduled for March 2 in Japan.
No need to import the Egret II Mini anymore
The Egret II Mini is a reduced version of the real Egret II terminal from Taito. It is equipped with a 5-inch LCD screen that can be rotated 90 °. Thus, the games which worked at the time on a vertical screen (the famous Tate mode) will also do so on this mini terminal. Game levels, 40 titles are included in the machine as standard:
- Space Invaders (screen orientation: vertical, year of release: 1978)
- Lunar Rescue (vertical, 1979)
- Qix (vertical, 1981)
- Elevator Action (horizontal, 1983)
- Chack’s Pop (horizontal, 1983)
- Bubble Bobble (horizontal, 1986)
- Rastan Saga (horizontal, 1987)
- Rainbow Island Extra (horizontal, 1988)
- The Newzealand Story (horizontal, 1988)
- DonDoko Don (horizontal, 1989)
- Violence Fight (horizontal, 1989)
- The Legend of Cadash (horizontal, 1989)
- The Adventure of Water Tapir (horizontal, 1990)
- Metal Black (horizontal, 1991)
- Kaiser Knuckle (horizontal, 1994)
- Steel Worker (horizontal, 1980)
- Pirate Pete (horizontal, 1982)
- The Fairyland Story (horizontal, 1985)
- The Legend of Kage (horizontal, 1985)
- Halley’s Comet (horizontal, 1986)
- KiKi KaiKai (vertical, 1986)
- Scramble Formation (vertical, 1986)
- Raimais (horizontal, 1988)
- Bubble Symphony (horizontal, 1994)
- Elevator Action Returns (horizontal, 1994)
- Adventure Canoe (vertical, 1982)
- Kyûkyoku Tiger (vertical, 1987)
- Gun Frontier (vertical, 1990)
- Runark (horizontal, 1990)
- Hat Trick Hero (horizontal, 1990)
- RayForce (vertical, 1993)
- Puzzle Bobble 2X (horizontal, 1995)
- Bubble Memories (horizontal, 1995)
- Lupine III (vertical, 1980)
- Outer Zone (horizontal, 1984)
- Tatsujin (vertical, 1988)
- Volfied (vertical, 1989)
- The Ninja Kids (horizontal, 1990)
- Darius Gaiden (horizontal, 1994)
- Dan-Ku-Ga (horizontal, 1994)
Questions remain in the West
Note that the accessory “Wheel & Trackball“sold separately in Japan will unlock ten additional games. The marketing of this product in the West, however, has not been mentioned for the moment.
As for its price, the Taito Egret II Mini will cost 18,678 yen in Japan. Which corresponds to around 140 euros. Its official selling price in the West, however, has not yet been revealed.
The companies involved in the project are hinting that this Western version will be offered in limited quantities. Despite everything, the Gret II Mini is a niche product, which is hardly surprising. Those interested should therefore not delay taking action.
What do you think of the announcement of the western release of the Taito Egret II Mini? Does she delight you? Do you plan to get the small terminal? Have you already ordered the Japanese version? What will its price be in Europe according to you? Give us your opinion in the comments below.
