[Review] Irem Collection Volume 2 for Nintendo Switch

Irem Collection Volume 2, released by ININ Games, Tozai Games, and Ratalaika Games, is breathing new life into some classic gems now available on the Nintendo Switch. If you recall, last year I had the opportunity to delve into Irem Collection Volume 1, which featured acclaimed Shoot ’em Ups like Image Fight, Image Fight II, and X-Multiply. This time, Irem Collection Volume 2 invites us into a nostalgic journey with run ‘n’ gun titles GunForce and its sequel GunForce II, alongside the classic shoot ’em up Air Duel.

In this collection, players can toggle between Casual Mode and Classic Mode. For a more breezy gaming experience, Casual Mode offers handy features like rewinding gameplay, applying cheats for invincibility or unlimited lives, utilizing save states, and activating automatic fire to help you conquer your foes. Classic Mode, on the other hand, preserves the original gameplay with the added advantage of autofire and the chance to compete on online leaderboards.

GunForce, which first hit arcades in 1991, sets you on a straightforward mission: shoot anything that moves to thwart an evil threat to Mother Earth. This arcade game eventually found its way onto the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992, courtesy of Bits Studios, albeit with the expected compromises of ported arcade content—think occasional slowdowns and sprite flicker to fit SNES specs. In this collection, you’ll experience both the classic arcade and the SNES versions.

Your character can be maneuvered using the left analog stick or the D-Pad. Fire away with the A button while strategically aiming to dispatch enemies faster than they can catch you. Leave the repetitive button-mashing behind by using autoshoot with the Y button, and leap across obstacles using the B button. Made a mistake? Simply rewind the action with the L button or access the menu by holding down the + button to save or load your progress. Collecting power-ups lets you employ a fearsome array of weapons like power ammo, machine guns, lasers, or even a flamethrower, enhancing your combat prowess.

GunForce II, initially released for arcades in 1994, elevates the run ‘n’ gun excitement with more intensive action and a higher difficulty level. This sequel arms your character with dual wielding abilities—powered-up weapons in one hand, regular arsenal in the other— for more dynamic gameplay. The controls remain consistent with its predecessor, featuring the same power-up opportunities.

With D.A.S. threatening planetary peace, Max and Lei step up as the heroes. GunForce II’s similarity to the beloved Metal Slug series made me wonder if it inspired SNK’s classic run ’n’ gun. Some even dub it the “Metal Slug Zero.” As a fun tidbit, GunForce II also marks the final arcade offering from Irem!

Completing this vintage lineup is Air Duel, a 1990 arcade shoot ’em up. It shares the same world setting as GunForce II and offers a straightforward control scheme that allows you to immerse yourself in the thrilling aerial combat. Moving your aircraft is done via the left analog stick or D-Pad, with shooting mapped to the A button and bomb deployment to the B button, with autoshoot available via the Y button.

You can alternate between piloting a jet fighter or a chopper, with the perks of power-ups maintaining their continuity between vehicle switches. Each vehicle boasts distinct attack styles: the jet’s spread attack is excellent for crowd control, while the chopper delivers focused firepower—a tactical advantage against boss encounters.

Interestingly, Air Duel is designed as a vertical shooter, so you can access the special settings menu to replicate the arcade era display by rotating the screen. This feature is perfect for use with the Flip Grip accessory, allowing you to hold the Switch vertically and recreate that nostalgic vertical shoot ‘em up ambiance.

Irem Collection Volume 2 delivers a package of cherished classics now accessible on Nintendo Switch. This offering bundles GunForce in both its arcade and SNES forms, its energetic sequel GunForce II, and the captivating vertical shooter Air Duel. Altogether, these games deliver a solid retro experience on the Switch for just $24.99.

Disclaimer: This review of Irem Collection Volume 2 is based on a Nintendo Switch copy supplied by ININ Games.