INSIDE THE EGRET II MINI

Back in the Eighties and Nineties, arcade developers were constantly pushing boundaries, whether it was in the development of new genres, or the pushing of constantly exciting hardware. While the arcade scene is very different to what it was like during its halcyon days, companies like SNK and Sega are still revisiting those glory years with miniature systems like the Neo Geo Mini and the Astro City Mini.

While both consoles certainly come with their fair share of strengths and weaknesses, they both do a tremendous job of highlighting the diverse libraries of both studios, with SNK’s Neo Geo Mini featuring as many as 48 games (depending on which version you own) and Sega’s Astro City Mini delivering 37 arcade classics. The latest arcade heavyweight to enter the ring is Taito, which recently released its Egret II Mini in Japan and hopes to establish it as the definitive miniature arcade machine of choice.

If you’re not keen on importing from overseas you’ll be pleased to know that a limited number of systems with distinctive blue buttons (rather than the pink of the Japanese release) are currently available to buy in the West via ININ Games and Strictly Limited Games and they cater to all – from those who are just happy to own the unit itself to those that want to fully immerse themselves in Taito lore, thanks to numerous extras like books, CDs, flyers and stickers. As we revealed in issue 231’s hands-on review, the Egret II Mini certainly isn’t