We recently brought you the news that Irem Collection 3 was heading to consoles on the 1st of July 2025. Since then, we’ve had a chance to play through the collection and bring you our review of the Switch version. This collection, as with previous entries in the series, has been compiled by publisher ININ Games and contains three classic Irem titles from the golden age of arcade gaming. It will be released digitally on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5/4, and Xbox, priced at €24.99.
The three titles included in Irem Collection 3 are all shooters. Mr. Heli, Mystic Riders, and Dragon Breed were all released between 1987 and 1992, and all feature a different theme from the usual sci-fi spaceship tropes. Each game has additional options to add some modern quality of life, including save/load states, rewind features, and control options that allow players to set things up for their own style of play.
Before getting into the details of the individual titles included in Irem Collection 3, it’s worth mentioning that each one is an emulation of the original arcade version as opposed to any home ports that may have followed. There are also online leaderboards to compete in, should players wish to test their mettle against others around the globe. Although these can only be used by playing the ‘classic’ mode without any cheats or rewind functions. This is certainly where the longevity of this kind of collection kicks in for veteran shooter players.
In addition to the original Japanese arcade version, each game also includes a ‘world’ version that may contain differences, such as Mr. Heli being called Battle Chopper. As a bonus, the Japanese PC Engine port of Mr. Heli has been included. Finally, anyone wanting that retro arcade feel can play about with some video filtering options. It must be said that ININ Games has added lots of functionality that will please hardcore arcade veterans as well as newcomers.
The first game we played on Irem Collection 3 was Dragon Breed. This one certainly has some interesting mechanics that help it stand out from other arcade shooters from that time. Firstly, you play as a warrior who flies on a dragon, both with their own attacking abilities. At various parts throughout the looping six stages, you can dismount the dragon and control the warrior on the platforms. Although used sparingly, and in reality not needed to get through the game, this feature does help mix things up.
The other good thing about Dragon Breed is the range of weapons available for your dragon. Everything from lightning bolts to traditional firebreath helps to keep the gameplay fresh. The only criticism would be that occasionally the screen gets a bit packed at times. This is due to you and your dragon taking up quite a bit of screen space already, plus the many oversized enemies in the game. That being said, some of the bosses are brilliant, and overall this is probably the best game in Irem Collection 3.
We moved on to Mystic Riders, which was released in 1992 and is the most recent of the three games included in Irem Collection 3. This one has lots of different mechanics that give a variety in the gameplay as well as playstyles that can be utilised. Players will mostly use their standard forward shot, which can level up several times. But, there is also a multi-prong axe that can be thrown out, like a shuriken, and another spinning move that helps attack enemies behind.
Another interesting part of Mystic Riders’ gameplay is the occasional maze that appears, which requires platforming-like controlling to make to make sure our broom-riding hero isn’t squished. This one has a distinct art style to go along with the unique gameplay. The animation and sprite work is very good, and pixel art fans will appreciate the overall presentation. The music is pretty good as well, classic chiptune tracks that bump along nicely. There is also a two-player mode that we didn’t test for this review.
As previously mentioned, Mr. Heli has an extra version to try in the form of the great PC Engine port. Both the arcade and home versions are very playable, with the arcade only having the slight edge in terms of graphics and speed. There also aren’t many changes to the level and enemy design in the home port, and it’s worth trying to see just how close the versions are. Considering this was released in 1987, it shows some variety in the gameplay, including several different weapons and tunnels, along with mazes to find your way out of.
The controls in Mr. Heli feel responsive, but this game will provide the most difficult challenge to beat out of the Irem Collection 3. It does show its age during a few sections, but overall, this shooter can hold its own against more modern titles in the genre. It just goes to show that when it comes to shooters, if the developer nails all the fundamentals, the game often can feel timeless. Lots of us still play Space Invaders and R-Type, right? Mr. Heli is a shining example of a great 8-bit shooter.
Irem Collection 3 won’t be the sort of title that will appeal to all gamers, but those who appreciate great pixel art, as well as those who love challenging arcade games, will find a lot here to enjoy. It will take lots of practice to 1CC all three of these games on the proper arcade settings, and those who may be put off by the prospect can live carefree by switching a couple of the cheats on to make things easier. There are also the online leaderboards to tackle for the veterans out there wanting to show off their talents.
Overall, Irem Collection 3 is a decent set of shooters that hovers around some unique gameplay features, which means this isn’t a typical scrolling space shooting collection. Each of the three titles brings something genuinely new to the table, and they all have high-quality pixel art and soundtracks. The emulation is spot on, and the additional features, such as save states, are also a real boon for arcade fans. Great value for money for those who love blasting through arcade classics with 1CC, while casual fans can experience some great examples of shooters from the golden age.
