Latest Reviews of Data East Games
Mini Review Magical Drop II (SNES) - Fun And Colourful Puzzle Action
Grab, toss, and match three
With five new additions to Nintendo Switch Online's catalogue of NES and SNES games arriving today, we decided to review these new/old releases to help you decide which to play first. Enjoy! Magical Drop is Data East's take on the competitive puzzle game, but with a major twist - instead of fallin
Mini Review Joe & Mac (SNES) - A Comical But Flawed Prehistoric Platformer
No third character called Cheese, amazingly
With five new additions to Nintendo Switch Online's catalogue of NES and SNES games arriving today, we decided to review these new/old releases to help you decide which to play first. Enjoy! There was a period in the early 1990s when the video game industry was in love with caveman characters - after...
Review Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Two Crude Dudes (Switch eShop)
Are you a crude enough dude to rescue New York?
The bombs fell in New York back in 2010 and turned the once prosperous metropolis into a nightmarish radioactive junkyard. It is now the year 2030 and the U.S government has decided to take back the city from the criminal ‘Big Valley’ gang of freakish mutants. But with the Bad Dudes now well into...
Review Magical Drop III (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Simple, frantic fun with balloons
The lineup of retro offerings on Switch may largely be comprised of fighting games and shmups, but other genres feature too, such as platformers, sports titles and - in the case of Magical Drop III - a highly enjoyable puzzle games. With the second game in the series already receiving the ACA Neo Geo treatment,...
Review Karnov's Revenge (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Yes it's another Neo Geo one-on-one fighter...
Hamster has done a good job of providing a variety of genres with its ACA Neo Geo series, but SNK's machine had a lot of one-on-one brawlers and consequently Switch owners are not exactly short of options when browsing the eShop. Here's another one, this time from the Fighter's History series...
Review Street Hoop (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Short on options, big on fun
While some of the games have not been strictly necessary (being outclassed by later updates/instalments in their series) and there’s been the odd dud, but HAMSTER’s ACA Neo Geo series has been a continued source of classic arcade thrills on the Switch, almost making up for the lack of a Virtual Console on the system...
Review Spin Master (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Short but sweet arcade action
The fiendish Dr. De Playne has taken Johnny’s treasure map and his girlfriend Mary. A globe-trotting adventure follows as you attempt to get both back, either by yourself or with the help of a friend who is given control of the identically handling Tom. Despite featuring different characters and a more modern...
Review Magical Drop II (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Just Magical
Although SNK’s Neo Geo is perhaps best known for its dreamy array of one-on-one fighters, beat-‘em-ups, and shooters, the arcade marvel also played host to an impressive parade of puzzle games, from classics like Puzzle Bobble to deep cuts like the oddly addicting currency-converter Money Idol Exchanger. If there’s a series that...
Review Tumble Pop (3DS eShop / GB)
Tumble Pop and lock
In the future, nests of hornets will be the least of pest control's worries. Tumble Pop is filled with strange beasts, from living skeletons to little grey aliens, manic clowns and Sweetums from The Muppets. In this arcade platformer, it's your job to clean them up with nothing more than a trusty – and presumably engine-powered...
Review Lock 'N Chase (3DS eShop / GB)
Puzzle Pac-Man
Data East had quite a few relatively unknown Game Boy games back in the day. Much BurgerTime Deluxe, released a few weeks ago, Lock 'N Chase is essentially a "sequel" to the original arcade game, with the same general gameplay but with many more levels and even a few new gameplay mechanics. If you've played the arcade game,...
Latest Data East Articles
News Forever Entertainment Is Remaking The 1993 Data East Beat 'Em Up Night Slashers
Coming to all major platforms
Forever Entertainment - the same company behind remakes of Panzer Dragoon and House of the Dead - has signed an agreement with G-Mode to create a remake of the 1993 Data East beat 'em up Night Slashers for all major platforms. There's no release date just yet, but i
Poll Box Art Brawl #47 - Shadowrun
What we do in the shadows
Welcome back to the Box Art Brawl, our weekly poll to find out which regional box art variant of an old video game is best. Last week we looked at the three main cover variants for Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The North American Genesis version won out in the end, with Japan not too far behind and Europe trailing in third place...
News Hamster Is Adding A Handful Of Data East Classics To The Arcade Archives
More retro goodness
In recent weeks, Hamster Corporation has experienced some minor setbacks due to the suspension of the CERO (Computer Entertainment Rating Agency) in Japan. Apart from a reshuffle in its development schedule, it appears to be business as usual for the company. In the coming months, it will be adding a handful of Data East...
News Train Up And Compete In Hamster's Latest Arcade Archives Release Karate Champ
Or wrestle cows on the beach
After being announced much earlier this year, Karate Champ is now finally being added to Hamster's Arcade Archives series this week on the Nintendo Switch. This is an action game that was originally released by Data East in 1984. Here's some additional information about it, courtesy of the official press release:...
News It Looks Like Johnny Turbo Is Entering The Shmup Business On Nintendo Switch
"Gues whats next"
If the Nintendo Switch is your system of choice for shoot 'em up games, you'll be glad to hear another retro one is making a comeback. Johnny Turbo - one of gaming's worst mascots - and now the face of Flying Tiger Entertainment's classic line recently hopped on Twitter to tease another old school Data East title coming to the...
News Johnny Turbo's Team Battle Game Heavy Burger Comes To Switch On 4th October
Features iconic Data East games
Flying Tiger Entertainment is trying out something different next week with the Switch eShop release of Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Heavy Burger on 4th October. Instead of another port, this is apparently a new game making use of Data East IP. As described on the American Nintendo website, Heavy Burger is a team battle...
News Johnny Turbo Teases Data East's Arcade Beat 'Em Up Night Slashers For Switch
Prepare for scares
The Johnny Turbo line of games by Flying Tiger continues to expand courtesy of Data East's classic library of games. According to a post on the official Twitter account, the 1993 arcade beat 'em up Night Slashers is making its way across to the Switch in the near future. This title is often compared to Capcom's Final Fight...
News The Next Johnny Turbo Game Is Shoot Out, Arrives At The Beginning Of August
Gangster life
It looks like yet another Data East arcade classic will be making its way across to the Switch eShop. Arriving on 2nd August, Flying Tiger Entertainment is releasing Shoot Out - a shooting gallery-style game originally released in 1985. It will be part of Johnny Turbo’s Arcade line and will set you back a total of $7.99...
News Johnny Turbo Does The Dinosaur With Caveman Ninja
Joe & Mac are back!
The fifth serving of Johnny Turbo's arcade ports is already on the horizon and this one will bring back a couple of very familiar faces to Nintendo owners. The 1991 Data East Caveman Ninja classic marks the debut of the whole Joe & Mac series with this well-received title making its way to pretty much every home format at the...
News Johnny Turbo Heads For The Kitchen With Super Burger Time
"Let's go out for a burger..."
The fourth serving of Johnny Turbo Data East classics will be released today in North America (next week in Europe) and it's strangely related with President Ronnie's favourite take-out food. Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Super Burger Time was the first proper sequel to the classic 1982 original, and along with a welcome...
News Sly Spy Infiltrating Switch eShop Next Week
"Shaken, not stirred"
Johnny Turbo's Arcade returns next week with another beloved Data East classic up for grabs on the Nintendo Switch eShop. Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Sly Spy drops into service on 3rd May (priced $6.99 in the US), bringing along nine levels of playful variety that wooed arcade goers and those who were lucky enough to pick up Ocean's...
News Johnny Turbo's Arcade Arrives Next Week In Europe
'Gate of Doom' and 'Bad Duves vs. DragonNinja' European debut
We heard you, lovely European NL readers and so we reached out to Flying Tiger Entertainment inquiring if we would ever see Johnny Turbo's Arcade slice of Data East retro gaming heaven on European shores. The answer was the best one possible: Both Gates of Doom and Bad Dudes vs...
News Bad Dudes Vs. DragonNinja Punches Its Way To Switch Next Week
Are you a bad enough dude to rescue President Ronnie?
On March 21st we will be turning the clocks back to 1988, baby. The Data East classic Bad Dudes Vs. DragonNinja is hitting the Switch eShop thirty years after it thrilled arcade goers and entertained countless others via a series of ports. Blade and Striker must fight the army of the...
Deals Check Out These Retro-Bit Famicom And Super Famicom Cart Collections
Many games, one cart
We recently took a look at Retro-Bit's classic game collections sold in the US, classic NES and SNES games lovingly put onto reproduction carts with fancy packaging - a must-have for retro game collectors. It just came to our attention that Retro-Bit is selling a bunch of new retro classic game collections on Play-Asia which...
News Two New Hamster ACA Titles Dropping Next Week On Switch eShop
Magical Drop III and Heroic Episode demand your coins
Data East's love affair with the Nintendo Switch is set to continue next week thanks to Hamster's Arcade Archives label. Magical Drop III drops onto the eShop giving puzzle lovers who keep wandering why Taito's Puzzle Bobble is still a no show on the system something to look forward to. This...
News Data East Makes Its 2018 Debut On Switch Next Week With Gate Of Doom
Isometric RPG-light dungeon crawler on the go
Retro gaming fans rejoice, because next week will see Flying Tiger Entertainment joining Namco, Hamster and Zerodiv in the exclusive club of publishers bringing arcade game content to Nintendo's hybrid system. Gate of Doom (know as Dark Seal outside the United states) was released back in 1990 and along...
News Data East Arcade Titles Are Coming To Switch, Courtesy Of One Of Gaming's Worst Mascots
It's Turbo time!
Flying Tiger Entertainment has announced that it is bringing some of Data East's most beloved arcade titles to the Switch. Over 20 titles are coming to Switch, PS4, Xbox One and Steam, with the only confirmed game so far being the 1990 fantasy action release Gate of Doom (also known as Dark Seal). Games are expected to sell...
Gallery Cracking Open Retro-Bit's "New" Old NES And SNES Games
Data East and Jaleco classics are back!
Remember those terrible cardboard boxes that Nintendo games used to come in, way back when? The company thankfully moved onto more civilised plastic cases in the GameCube era, but NES, SNES, N64, Virtual Boy, Game Boy and Game Boy Advance titles all came in easily-crushed cardboard packaging which, for modern...
News Karnov Will Have His Revenge On The Switch eShop This Week
Data East's Neo Geo brawler coming soon
Data East's Neo Geo fighting game Karnov’s Revenge is coming to the Switch eShop this week, it has been revealed. Released in 1994, the title showcases 13 different fighters - including the titular Karnov, who previously starred in his own 1987 arcade action title. In some regions it went under the...
News Retro-Bit Lifts The Lid On Its Multi-Cart Collections For The NES And SNES
Data East and Jaleco classics repackaged
Retro-Bit is releasing a series of multi-carts for the NES and SNES which come packed with classic Data East and Jaleco games. Launching this December, each cartridge is compatible with the original SNES and NES hardware. They ship with an exclusive button and sticker set along with a collectible retail box,...
News SNES Title Joe & Mac Gets the MSU1 Digital Audio Enhancement Treatment
Rescue the cave babes to new sounds
It seems like it was only yesterday we were reminiscing about Data East's original cave man ninja duo, and now news of a MSU1 audio enhancement patch by Kurrono Kei has dropped like one of the game's many pterodactyls after a good bashing. The Super Nintendo version of Joe & Mac was released back in 1991, the...
News Neo Geo Action Platformer Spinmaster Rotates Elegantly Onto Switch Next Week
It's a miracle (adventure)!
Sorry fight fans, there's no Neo Geo one-on-one fighting game from SNK next week as Hamster is instead choosing to bring to the Switch eShop the very first game Data East developed for MVS hardware. 1993's Spinmaster (known as Miracle Adventure in Japan) lets you take control of Johnny and Tom in their...
Book Review Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents Data East Arcade Classics
Are you a bad enough dude to read this book?
Alongside the likes of Capcom, Konami and Namco, Data East was one of the quintessential software makers of the '80s arcade scene, but unlike those other firms it perhaps didn't have the pulling power to ensure long-term success. The company has long since been dissolved and its properties sold to the...
News Retro-Bit Generations Game List Contains Capcom, Irem And Data East Classics
Rest easy, Super Noah's Ark is included
Clone consoles are all the rage at the moment, what with Nintendo's own NES Mini and RetroUSB's AVS arriving on the scene to remind everyone just how great the NES was, and still is. However, Retro-Bit is taking a slightly different approach by not focusing on a single system but instead creating an "all in...
News Retro-Bit's Next System Aims To Challenge The NES Classic Edition Mini Console
Over 100 titles, HDMI support, SD card slot and 6-button controllers
Ever since the Retron 5 and Retro Freak arrived on the scene clone hardware maker Retro-Bit has fallen a little silent. The company's last major release - the Super Retro Trio - was seen as a rival to Hyperkin's hardware, but lacked HDMI su
News Forever Entertainment Is Remaking The 1993 Data East Beat 'Em Up Night Slashers
Coming to all major platforms
Forever Entertainment - the same company behind remakes of Panzer Dragoon and House of the Dead - has signed an agreement with G-Mode to create a remake of the 1993 Data East beat 'em up Night Slashers for all major platforms. There's no release date just yet, but i
Poll Box Art Brawl #47 - Shadowrun
What we do in the shadows
Welcome back to the Box Art Brawl, our weekly poll to find out which regional box art variant of an old video game is best. Last week we looked at the three main cover variants for Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The North American Genesis version won out in the end, with Japan not too far behind and Europe trailing in third place...
News Hamster Is Adding A Handful Of Data East Classics To The Arcade Archives
More retro goodness
In recent weeks, Hamster Corporation has experienced some minor setbacks due to the suspension of the CERO (Computer Entertainment Rating Agency) in Japan. Apart from a reshuffle in its development schedule, it appears to be business as usual for the company. In the coming months, it will be adding a handful of Data East...
News Train Up And Compete In Hamster's Latest Arcade Archives Release Karate Champ
Or wrestle cows on the beach
After being announced much earlier this year, Karate Champ is now finally being added to Hamster's Arcade Archives series this week on the Nintendo Switch. This is an action game that was originally released by Data East in 1984. Here's some additional information about it, courtesy of the official press release:...
News It Looks Like Johnny Turbo Is Entering The Shmup Business On Nintendo Switch
"Gues whats next"
If the Nintendo Switch is your system of choice for shoot 'em up games, you'll be glad to hear another retro one is making a comeback. Johnny Turbo - one of gaming's worst mascots - and now the face of Flying Tiger Entertainment's classic line recently hopped on Twitter to tease another old school Data East title coming to the...
News Johnny Turbo's Team Battle Game Heavy Burger Comes To Switch On 4th October
Features iconic Data East games
Flying Tiger Entertainment is trying out something different next week with the Switch eShop release of Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Heavy Burger on 4th October. Instead of another port, this is apparently a new game making use of Data East IP. As described on the American Nintendo website, Heavy Burger is a team battle...
News Johnny Turbo Teases Data East's Arcade Beat 'Em Up Night Slashers For Switch
Prepare for scares
The Johnny Turbo line of games by Flying Tiger continues to expand courtesy of Data East's classic library of games. According to a post on the official Twitter account, the 1993 arcade beat 'em up Night Slashers is making its way across to the Switch in the near future. This title is often compared to Capcom's Final Fight...
News The Next Johnny Turbo Game Is Shoot Out, Arrives At The Beginning Of August
Gangster life
It looks like yet another Data East arcade classic will be making its way across to the Switch eShop. Arriving on 2nd August, Flying Tiger Entertainment is releasing Shoot Out - a shooting gallery-style game originally released in 1985. It will be part of Johnny Turbo’s Arcade line and will set you back a total of $7.99...
News Johnny Turbo Does The Dinosaur With Caveman Ninja
Joe & Mac are back!
The fifth serving of Johnny Turbo's arcade ports is already on the horizon and this one will bring back a couple of very familiar faces to Nintendo owners. The 1991 Data East Caveman Ninja classic marks the debut of the whole Joe & Mac series with this well-received title making its way to pretty much every home format at the...
News Johnny Turbo Heads For The Kitchen With Super Burger Time
"Let's go out for a burger..."
The fourth serving of Johnny Turbo Data East classics will be released today in North America (next week in Europe) and it's strangely related with President Ronnie's favourite take-out food. Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Super Burger Time was the first proper sequel to the classic 1982 original, and along with a welcome...
News Sly Spy Infiltrating Switch eShop Next Week
"Shaken, not stirred"
Johnny Turbo's Arcade returns next week with another beloved Data East classic up for grabs on the Nintendo Switch eShop. Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Sly Spy drops into service on 3rd May (priced $6.99 in the US), bringing along nine levels of playful variety that wooed arcade goers and those who were lucky enough to pick up Ocean's...
News Johnny Turbo's Arcade Arrives Next Week In Europe
'Gate of Doom' and 'Bad Duves vs. DragonNinja' European debut
We heard you, lovely European NL readers and so we reached out to Flying Tiger Entertainment inquiring if we would ever see Johnny Turbo's Arcade slice of Data East retro gaming heaven on European shores. The answer was the best one possible: Both Gates of Doom and Bad Dudes vs...
News Bad Dudes Vs. DragonNinja Punches Its Way To Switch Next Week
Are you a bad enough dude to rescue President Ronnie?
On March 21st we will be turning the clocks back to 1988, baby. The Data East classic Bad Dudes Vs. DragonNinja is hitting the Switch eShop thirty years after it thrilled arcade goers and entertained countless others via a series of ports. Blade and Striker must fight the army of the...
Deals Check Out These Retro-Bit Famicom And Super Famicom Cart Collections
Many games, one cart
We recently took a look at Retro-Bit's classic game collections sold in the US, classic NES and SNES games lovingly put onto reproduction carts with fancy packaging - a must-have for retro game collectors. It just came to our attention that Retro-Bit is selling a bunch of new retro classic game collections on Play-Asia which...
News Two New Hamster ACA Titles Dropping Next Week On Switch eShop
Magical Drop III and Heroic Episode demand your coins
Data East's love affair with the Nintendo Switch is set to continue next week thanks to Hamster's Arcade Archives label. Magical Drop III drops onto the eShop giving puzzle lovers who keep wandering why Taito's Puzzle Bobble is still a no show on the system something to look forward to. This...
News Data East Makes Its 2018 Debut On Switch Next Week With Gate Of Doom
Isometric RPG-light dungeon crawler on the go
Retro gaming fans rejoice, because next week will see Flying Tiger Entertainment joining Namco, Hamster and Zerodiv in the exclusive club of publishers bringing arcade game content to Nintendo's hybrid system. Gate of Doom (know as Dark Seal outside the United states) was released back in 1990 and along...
News Data East Arcade Titles Are Coming To Switch, Courtesy Of One Of Gaming's Worst Mascots
It's Turbo time!
Flying Tiger Entertainment has announced that it is bringing some of Data East's most beloved arcade titles to the Switch. Over 20 titles are coming to Switch, PS4, Xbox One and Steam, with the only confirmed game so far being the 1990 fantasy action release Gate of Doom (also known as Dark Seal). Games are expected to sell...
Gallery Cracking Open Retro-Bit's "New" Old NES And SNES Games
Data East and Jaleco classics are back!
Remember those terrible cardboard boxes that Nintendo games used to come in, way back when? The company thankfully moved onto more civilised plastic cases in the GameCube era, but NES, SNES, N64, Virtual Boy, Game Boy and Game Boy Advance titles all came in easily-crushed cardboard packaging which, for modern...
News Karnov Will Have His Revenge On The Switch eShop This Week
Data East's Neo Geo brawler coming soon
Data East's Neo Geo fighting game Karnov’s Revenge is coming to the Switch eShop this week, it has been revealed. Released in 1994, the title showcases 13 different fighters - including the titular Karnov, who previously starred in his own 1987 arcade action title. In some regions it went under the...
News Retro-Bit Lifts The Lid On Its Multi-Cart Collections For The NES And SNES
Data East and Jaleco classics repackaged
Retro-Bit is releasing a series of multi-carts for the NES and SNES which come packed with classic Data East and Jaleco games. Launching this December, each cartridge is compatible with the original SNES and NES hardware. They ship with an exclusive button and sticker set along with a collectible retail box,...
News SNES Title Joe & Mac Gets the MSU1 Digital Audio Enhancement Treatment
Rescue the cave babes to new sounds
It seems like it was only yesterday we were reminiscing about Data East's original cave man ninja duo, and now news of a MSU1 audio enhancement patch by Kurrono Kei has dropped like one of the game's many pterodactyls after a good bashing. The Super Nintendo version of Joe & Mac was released back in 1991, the...
News Neo Geo Action Platformer Spinmaster Rotates Elegantly Onto Switch Next Week
It's a miracle (adventure)!
Sorry fight fans, there's no Neo Geo one-on-one fighting game from SNK next week as Hamster is instead choosing to bring to the Switch eShop the very first game Data East developed for MVS hardware. 1993's Spinmaster (known as Miracle Adventure in Japan) lets you take control of Johnny and Tom in their...
Book Review Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents Data East Arcade Classics
Are you a bad enough dude to read this book?
Alongside the likes of Capcom, Konami and Namco, Data East was one of the quintessential software makers of the '80s arcade scene, but unlike those other firms it perhaps didn't have the pulling power to ensure long-term success. The company has long since been dissolved and its properties sold to the...
News Retro-Bit Generations Game List Contains Capcom, Irem And Data East Classics
Rest easy, Super Noah's Ark is included
Clone consoles are all the rage at the moment, what with Nintendo's own NES Mini and RetroUSB's AVS arriving on the scene to remind everyone just how great the NES was, and still is. However, Retro-Bit is taking a slightly different approach by not focusing on a single system but instead creating an "all in...
News Retro-Bit's Next System Aims To Challenge The NES Classic Edition Mini Console
Over 100 titles, HDMI support, SD card slot and 6-button controllers
Ever since the Retron 5 and Retro Freak arrived on the scene clone hardware maker Retro-Bit has fallen a little silent. The company's last major release - the Super Retro Trio - was seen as a rival to Hyperkin's hardware, but lacked HDMI su