Retro-Bit Publishing has revealed that they will soon be taking pre-orders on 4 fantastic Sega Genesis shooters from Toaplan! These titles include legendary classics like Hellfire, Fire Shark, Truxton, and Zero Wing (All your base are belong to us)! Each of the 4 classics will be available to pre-order beginning September 15 through October 6 for $44.99 apiece. Each game comes in a clamshell-style Sega Genesis box with reversible cover art and a removable slipcover. Inside the box, players will be treated to a full-color instruction booklet, art card, sticker sheet, certificate of authenticity, and an interview with the game’s original developer Masahiro Yuge. Each game cartridge will also be very unique with each game coming in a specially colored translucent shell. The games are region free allowing them to be played worldwide!

Each Collector's Edition will include:

• Translucent 

  • Nebula Truxton Cartridge

  • Zircon Hellfire Cartridge

  • Air Strike Fire Shark Cartridge

  • Plasma Zero Wing Cartridge 

• Vivid & Detailed Full-Color Instruction Manual 

• Reversible Cartridge Cover with embellished artwork

• Collector's Embossed Slipcover with Custom Design 

• Special interview with developer Masahiro Yuge

• Individually Numbered Certificate of Authenticity 

• Exclusive Vintage 80's Puffy Sticker Set 

For huge fans of Toaplan’s games, a special bundle containing all 4 titles in a special slipcase is also being made available for $159.99. This edition also features a Zero Wing enamel pin of the famous All your base are belong to us scene and a special thank you message from Masahiro Yuge.

Bundle will include the above extras and the following:

• Commemorative Slipcover to house all 4 Games 

• Thank You Card from Masahiro Yuge 

• Zero Wing Collectible Enamel Pin

Pre-orders for the games will be available through Limited Run Games and CastleMania Games. Each game is open pre-order during the available time frame so you will not have to worry about limited quantities! A special Edition Vinyl of Toaplan music will also be coming to Limited Run Games for fans who dig the soundtracks for these awesome titles.

Retro-Bit publishing’s aim is to make harder to find or unavailable games accessible to the masses. With these 4 titles, that goal is once again accomplished as all of these titles have become hard to find often commanding a premium of $60 or more to pick up even a pre-owned copy. In the case of Zero Wing, it hasn’t even been available in North America before!

Each title has also been worked on to ensure these are the definitive versions ever released. Audio issues present on Hellfire when using a Model 2 Genesis have been eliminated and all 30ish endings from Zero Wing’s Japanese release are being restored and translated to English for the first time ever (the original PAL release only had 3). Truxton and Fire Shark also include regional differences when using a Japanese or North American console.

Originally announced back at Gamescom 2019 along with a slew of other titles, the Toaplan shooters have been of particular interest to me. These games are some of the best the Genesis has to offer when it comes to shmups with fast and smooth scrolling, large enemies, fluid animations, rocking music, and crazy weaponry! Having played a couple of them through emulation over the years, I am happy to have a chance to snag them in an official capacity and finally play Zero Wing!

Are you excited about the release of these new reprints of Toaplan’s Sega Genesis shooters?