Taito Egret II Mini

[subcon959]

Candy cab fans this one is rather interesting! After the recent Astro City mini we now have the Egret II mini announced..

The fact they kept the tate mechanism is what makes this one super interesting.

Amazon is showing a March 2022 release date so there's a while to go but the current price is ¥18,678 (which is a lot more than the Astro City).

Games List

• Adventure Canoe (1982)
• Bubble Bobble (1986)
• Bubble Memories (1995)
• Bubble Symphony (1994)
• Cadash (1989)
• Chack'n Pop (1983)
• Dan-Ku-Ga (unreleased update to Kaiser Knuckle, 1995)
• Darius Gaiden (1994)
• Don Doko Don (1989)
• Elevator Action (1983)
• Elevator Action Returns (1994)
• Fairyland Story (1985)
• Growl (1990)
• Gun Frontier (1990)
• Halley's Comet (1986)
• Hat Trick Hero (1990)
• Kaiser Knuckle (1994)
• Kiki KaiKai (1986)
• The Legend of Kage (1985)
• Liquid Kids Adventure (1990)
• Lunar Rescue (1979)
• Lupin III (1980)
• Metal Black (1991)
• New Zealand Story (1988)
• The Ninja Kids (1990)
• Outer Zone (1984)
• Pirate Pete (1982)
• Puzzle Bobble 2X (1995)
• Qix (1981)
• Raimais (1988)
• Rainbow Islands EXTRA (1988)
• Rastan Saga (1987)
• RayForce (1993)
• Scramble Formation (1986)
• Space Invaders (1978)
• Steel Worker (1980)
• Tatsujin (1988)
• Twin Cobra (1987)
• Violence Fight (1989)
• Volfied (1989)

Games with Spinner Controller

• Arkanoid (1986)
• Arkanoid Returns (1997)
• Arkanoid: Revenge of DOH (1987)
• Birdie King (1982)
• Cameltry (1989)
• Marine Date (1981)
• Plump Pop (1987)
• Puchi Carat (1997)
• Strike Bowling (1982)
• Syvalion (1988)

 

[hippy dave]

Looks epic, especially with the rotating screen. Sounds like it has a good selection of games, but do these devices tend to get broken to run custom emulators/games?

 

[KiiWii]

Wow!

 

[FAST6191]

If this was more of a tabletop/decent sized laptop affair rather than something you could probably hold in your hand I would be over there on launch day to pick one up in person, even without it being hacked to do many other games.
Little things like this... harder to see the value in for me.

 

[subcon959]

If this was more of a tabletop/decent sized laptop affair rather than something you could probably hold in your hand I would be over there on launch day to pick one up in person, even without it being hacked to do many other games.
Little things like this... harder to see the value in for me.

I kind of agree that a larger size would be far more exciting, but I wonder what sort of price point that would mean. I don't think the usual mini console collector would be interested once you're over the £500 mark, but I could be wrong. As it stands, you already have to purchase a costly addon controller to get the full experience.

 

[FAST6191]

I kind of agree that a larger size would be far more exciting, but I wonder what sort of price point that would mean. I don't think the usual mini console collector would be interested once you're over the £500 mark, but I could be wrong. As it stands, you already have to purchase a costly addon controller to get the full experience.

Basic LCD screens are pretty cheap these days, though we do get to enter a different world for them (small screens below about 12 inches tend to be their own class with the own manufacturers). Boxes are basically free (see what you can get custom CNC cut chipboard furniture for, hardly any different here with just a different decal). Controls might be more, not sure what sites are being suggested for MAME cabinets these days but would be a reasonable start if looking for controls.
To that end I don't see it as being all that more radical for price than this.

 

[subcon959]

Updated with game list.

 

[FAST6191]

Qix and Volified? I do like them.

 

[subcon959]

Qix is a great game. I also think Lunar Rescue will be fun to play on this thing. There's a rumour that there might be a western release that is actually a bit different, unlike the Astro City mini where they just changed the box.

 

[hippy dave]

Puzzle Bobble 2X (1995)

Game!

 

[subcon959]

https://www.unitedgames.io/news/egret-2-mini-exclusive-version-coming-to-the-west/

 

[subcon959]

Well, reservations for the limited edition western release are now open. That's the good news. The bad news is that it's coming through Strictly Limited Games..

https://store.strictlylimitedgames.com/collections/egret-2-mini

Those prices are a bit silly, plus there is very likely going to be a loooong wait as they tend to take forever with releases.

On the other hand, the Japanese version is just over a month away, a lot cheaper if you just get the base model, and will take only a few days to reach you via Amazon Express shipping. I still haven't talked myself into ordering one but I'm probably 60/40 in favour right now.

 

[subcon959]

Ah crap.. this video of the tate mechanism pushed me over the edge and forced me to order. It just looks so well done and satisfying..

 

[SilverWah]

I played Dan-Ku-Ga with someone on Fightcade. Pretty cool game. It did wall breaks properly compared to Strive lol.

 

[subcon959]

I played Dan-Ku-Ga with someone on Fightcade. Pretty cool game. It did wall breaks properly compared to Strive lol.

Yeah, it's a bit of a hidden gem.

 

[subcon959]

We're getting close now.. units are in reviewer's hands!

 

[subcon959]

Just got my shipped email.. I know no one else is excited about this but I'm looking forward to it more than the Steam Deck!

 

[subcon959]

This thing is SWEEET! It's a fair bit bigger than the Astro City mini too.

TATE baby! The mechanism is SO satisfying to use.

 

[FAST6191]

I can see it as a coffee table piece, though one of those arcade coffee table mame cabinet things is the better path for me, which is more than I expected (looks like reasonable buttons as well, even if a bit cramped). Not going to be running out to get my own unless it is a deal of the century/clueless mother/bored ex flogging things scenario.

 

[subcon959]

Taito added little leds under the marquee holder so I decided to print my own..