EGRET II: The Taito mini terminal that does the maximum?

Game news EGRET II: The Taito mini terminal that does the maximum?

Launched in Japan in 1996, the Taito Egret II arcade terminal was an engineering marvel for its time. A superb 29-inch anti-glare screen with black painted edges, powerful speakers with clear sound, two remote joysticks for duo gaming and three buttons for each player. What fun about the brand’s titles. If today it is difficult to find this reindeer in Japanese arcades, you know that a miniature version, the EGRET II mini, will soon also be available in the west (logically at the end of May 2022). It’s been slightly revised to meet today’s standards, but Fans of this kind of machines and retro games should find their account here.

The mini kiosk that convinces

There is nothing to say about the shape, this EGRET II throws. If it’s actually a mini version, the attention to detail is evident in the shapes of the terminal and even its fairing, not to mention the off-screen lights that light up on top of the machine to add to the immersion . It’s striking. Of course, note that it only has one stick, but offers six buttons, unlike the original version

, which will be important for some games. Note that the famous stick has two modes: with 4 old-fashioned directions or with 8 in the modern version. In fact, some games lend themselves more to one style or another, as indicated in the menus. Finally, let’s add the dimensions of the EGRET II mini with a Width of 150 mm, depth of 200 mm, height of 209 mm and all this with a weight of 1130 grams.

The rendering of the arcade?

If the stereo speakers offer completely honest sounds and music, it is ultimately more through its LCD screen (4:3 with a resolution of 1024 x 768) characterizes this mini arcade machine. First of all, the 5 inch screen offers a Excellent rendering, even on the oldest games offered (basic total 40 installed)but it’s possible Rotate the screen 90 degrees, which changes everything. So you can customize the latter depending on the game you are using. If you’re in a horizontal fighting game and switch to a vertical shooter, just rotate the screen by tapping it first. An idea that fans of the era will really like, even if modern players might find it a bit dated.

In terms of ports, the EGRET II is powered by a USB-C port and allows you to connect up to two (controllers sold separately) thanks to its two other USB-A ports. An HDMI port even allows you to enjoy your games on a modern screen, and if some aren’t exactly sized to fit, a nice coating fills in the holes around the display. Again, considerable care for the fans. As for the controllers, there’s the Control Panel (a second stick and its six buttons), the Control Pad (a directional cross with its six buttons), and the famous trackball (a two-button ball for very specific games sold with , in an SD card that can be used on the terminal).

Here is the list of additional games on the SD card:

• Navy date – 1981
• Strike Bowling – 1982
• Birdie King – 1982
• Arkanoid – 1986
• Plumper Pop – 1987
• Arkanoid: The Revenge of DoH – 1987
• Syvalion – 1988
• Camel Breeding – 1989
• Arkanoid Returns – 1997
• Puchi carat – 1997

game for everyone?

Games, let’s talk about it. 40 in number, installed directly in the terminal, they trace seventeen years of brand titles (from 1978 to 1995), from ship gunners (shoot them up horizontally or vertically) to one-on-one combat, through the platform, fighting against multiple opponents (beat them together), soccer, and even adventure. A fairly large panel that can appeal graphically in recent years (one thinks of course of the Kaiserknuckle of 1994) and unsettled in the first ones with the Space Invaders of 1978 for example. Note that their rendering is very good on the terminal, but also on a modern screen thanks to HDMI. Obviously, saves are possible anywhere in these games with the EGRET II, ​​whereas in their original version this was not the case. A little more significant again, even when it comes to arcade games. If we were happy with the whole thing, you still know that most of these games are relatively unknown in our countries and maybe surprise. Here is the list so you can check it yourself if you need to:

• Space Invaders – 1978
• Moon rescue – 1979
• Steel workers – 1980
• Lupine the Third – 1980
• QIX-1981
• Pirate Pete – 1982
• Adventure Canoe – 1982
• Elevator Action – 1983
• Chack’n Pop – 1983
• Outer Zone – 1984
• The Wonderland Story – 1985
• The Legend of Kage – 1985
• Bubble Bobble – 1986
• Halley’s Comet – 1986
• Kiki Kaikai – 1986
• Scramble Formation (Tokyo) – 1986
• Rastan Saga (Rastan) – 1987
• Kyukyoku tiger (twin cobra) –1987
• Rainbow Islands Extra – 1988
• The New Zealand History – 1988
• Extensions – 1988
• TATSUJIN (Truxton)–1988
• DonDokoDon –1989
• Violent struggle – 1989
• Cadash-1989
• Volfied – 1989
• Mizubaku Adventures (Liquid Kids) – 1990
• Gun Frontier (Weapon & Frontier) – 1990
• Runark (snarl) – 1990
• Hat-Trick Hero (Soccer Champion) – 1990
• The Ninja Kids – 1990
• Metal Black – 1991
• RayForce (Gunlock) – 1993
• Kaiser Knuckle (World Champion) – 1994
• Bubble Symphony (Bubble Bobble II) – 1994
• Elevator Action Returns (Elevator Action II) – 1994
• Darius Gaiden – 1994
• Dan-Ku-Ga – 1994
• Puzzle Bobble 2X – 1995
• Bubble Memories – 1995

If you recognize titles like Space Invaders or Puzzle Bubble easily, it gets more complex with most of the others. And that’s where the shoe pinches for the EGRET II Mini. The machine is really well made and some games are punchy (Kaider Knuckle – from the fight – in the lead, but also Darius Gaiden or even Hat Trick Hero – from the football -) many others will not necessarily speak to you. And the oldest games will ultimately not be able to reach the youngest. So let’s be clear the EGRET II is obviously intended for nostalgics who could know this time and not necessarily to others. Especially since fans will be making the effort to explore the oldest titles, it makes sense.

Everyone has their own EGRET II mini

Finally, in terms of prices, there is something for everyone. the classic terminal, EGRET II mini Blue Edition costs $199.99the additional control panel (stick with its six buttons) for $89.99, the control pad (a directional cross with its six buttons) for an additional $34.99 and the track ball with its 10 games on an SD card is for $119, $99 available. A salty touch despite the quality of the products. And finally there are also two sets: the Arcade Cabinet Blue Edition for $319.99 (the EGRET II mini Blue Edition and the Track Ball and its games, with a small book about Taito and 4 audio CDs with music games) or the Game Center Edition for $439.99 with the total, all the games, the pads, the CDs, the book and so on. here.

Find the EGRET II mini Blue Edition
Find the EGRET II mini Game Center Blue Edition

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