Irem Collection Volume 1 announced for Switch

Original (4/25): ININ Games, Tozai Games, and Irem today unveiled Irem Collection Volume 1 for Switch and other platforms. A release is planned for 2023.

Irem Collection will consist of five volumes. The first volume contains Image Fight, Image Fight II, and X Multiply.

Here’s some information about each game:

The first volume of the irem Collection is an updated homage to the Japanese-exclusive ‘Arcade Gears‘ series (released in the 1990s on Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation) and comprises three legendary shoot ‘em up games Image Fight, Image Fight II and X-Multiply.

Image Fight first appeared in 1988 as a vertical scrolling Shoot ‘em Up. It became one of the most successful table arcade games at that time in Japan and is still being regarded by many fans as one of the best shmups ever made. In addition to this arcade version, the upcoming volume will also include the PC Engine/TurboGrafx version as well as the NES version from 1990. The game is set in the year 20XX, the moon collapses after an explosion caused by aliens which proceed their offensive against mankind. To settle the situation, the player must go through an eponymous training process called “Image Fight”, before they are allowed to join the combat to fend off the invaders and earn everlasting glory.

Image Fight II was released in Japan in 1992, after the success of the first part. Unfortunately, the game never made it to the west (except for a Wii Virtual Console release, that is). It is set in the year 2051, the alien forces try once again to exterminate humanity. The player must take over the role of pilot Sho, the main character in the story, switching to a new generation of ships. The story is really outstanding in this game, the introduction of visual scenes reminiscent of animes especially intended for the PC-Engine SUPER CD-ROM version strengthen the story and add depth and a second dimension to this game, shaping Sho as a real hero in this unequaled approach to building a SHMUP storyline.

X-Multiply is a side-scrolling shooter originally released in 1989 for arcade (M72). The combination of science fiction and biological elements makes X-Multiply extraordinary even though it flew under the radar of many gamers: The player is controlling a miniaturized ship getting ‘injected’ in an evidently humanoid body and is using tentacles attached to his ship to fight alien parasites killing humans in detailed as sinister designed stages located inside that corpse.

Irem Collection Volume 1 will be sold both physically and digitally on Switch. Strictly Limited Games will be in charge of the boxed versions – we have a look at the collector’s edition that’s being planned above.

Visit the official website here.

Source: ININ Games PR

Update (5/2): The first trailer has come in and we have full details on the physical release.

The “limited edition” features an exclusive titlesheet design and an English manual. Only 4,000 copies will be made.

For the collector’s edition, you’ll be getting a premium Collector Box, original soundtracks on three CDs, visual compendium, collector coin, and a package of retro print material. Only 2,000 copies will be made available.

Also, Strictly Limited Games will offer bundles of both Limited and Collector‘s Editions including the upcoming volumes 1 to 5 of the irem Collection in an exclusively designed slip case. The Limited Edition bundle will be limited to 3,000 individually numbered copies for Switch. The Collector’s Edition bundle will have 1,000 individually for Switch.

Pre-orders for the physical editions of Irem Collection‘s Volume 1 are available here.

Below is the Irem Collection Volume 1 trailer:

Update (11/14): We now have an official release date of November 21, 2023.