If you consider yourself a fan of the “shmup” genre, the name Toaplan should ring through your head like a power-up chime. This legendary developer didn’t just make games; they crafted the blueprint for the modern shoot-’em-up. Their influence throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s was monumental, and having spent the last few days diving into Toaplan Arcade Collection Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 on Xbox, I can safely say: these games haven’t aged a day.

Whether you’re a retro veteran or a newcomer looking to see where the bullet-hell craze began, these collections are a masterclass in arcade perfection.