Irem Collection Volume 3 Review - More Retro Goodness

XPN Network
Jul 26
3 min read

Irem Collection Volume 3 is a nostalgic blast from the arcade past, bundling together three lesser-known but fascinating shoot-'em-ups: Mr. Heli’s Great Adventure, Dragon Breed, and Mystic Riders. Each game offers a distinct flavour of retro chaos, throwing you into broomstick-wielding magicians, dragon-riding knights, and chopper-piloting antics all wrapped in a user-friendly package, and while the package isn’t flawless, it’s a compelling tribute to Irem’s creative legacy.

I love retro gaming, and seeing classic games given another chance to find an audience, with a whole host of improvements, running the best they ever had on my TV in crisp HD always makes me happy. Having played the past Irem Collections I was eager to jump into the three games on offer!

As with alot of these retro gaming re-releases, there are a selection of quality of life improvements that make the games better than ever!

Streamlined Gameplay Flow

Rewind your session at any point to correct a misstep without restarting
Save and resume progress instantly with quick-save/load slots
Speed through less exciting segments using the fast-forward toggle
Activate built-in cheats like infinite health, extra continues, or one-hit defeat

Tailored Controls and Difficulty

Fully customizable button mappings, including a dedicated rapid-fire setup
Autofire option to ease strain during extended shooting bouts
Set your preferred starting lives and pick from multiple difficulty presets

Enhanced Visual Presentation

Choose from classic CRT scanlines and authentic color palettes for a retro arcade vibe
Apply modern screen shaders or select themed wallpapers to refresh the look

Competition and Co-op Features

Challenge players worldwide via integrated online leaderboards
Team up locally in Mystic Riders with a second controller for two-player action

Mr. Heli

Arcade (English/Japanese), PC Engine (Japanese)

Mr. Heli debuted in arcades in late 1987 and puts you in charge of a tiny, cartoon-style helicopter blasting through side-scrolling stages to collect gems, unlock power-ups, and topple quirky mechanical foes.

Mr. Heli shines with its playful art style and intuitive weapon-shop system, though its relatively slow pace may feel abit too gentle for hardcore shooter veterans. Having the PC Engine port of Mr. Heli is a welcome edition as it was built for console too.

Mystic Riders

Arcade (English/Japanese)

Mystic Riders is a 1992 horizontal-scroll shooter that swaps futuristic hardware for medieval sorcery and casts you as one of two broom-riding sorcerers weaving spells and hurling your broom in eight directions across vibrant fantasy backdrops.

The game features lighthearted two-player co-op, chargeable magic attacks, and a forgiving respawn system.

Dragon Breed

Arcade (English/Japanese)

Dragon Breed released in arcades in 1989 and puts you atop Bahamoot, an indestructible dragon whose body you whip around enemies while King Kayus fires crossbow bolts and breathes fire through charged barbs.

Dragon Breed thrills with its multi-segment dragon combat and strategic power-orb upgrades, although occasional collision detection quirks can jar the experience.

And if you really want something special, there is a lovely physical collectors edition from Strictly Limited Games, filled with Soundtracks, Posters, Art Books and more. Unfortunately these physical versions are only available on PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch which means I wont be able to add one to my Xbox collection (curse you!), but they are filled to the brim with amazing nostalgia items and limited to 999 copies!

Irem Collection Volume 3 feels like the hidden album from your favourite band. Each track has its quirks, and you’ll discover new twists through persistence. At £19.99/$24.99, it’s a worthy snapshot of Irem’s unconventional side, though a richer archival package would have elevated its appeal. Mr. Heli alone makes it worth the price of admission, and the inclusion of rare titles like Mystic Riders adds real value. Just be prepared for some arcade-era frustration and a barebones presentation.

XPN Rating: 4 out of 5 (GOLD)