There’s even a mode that swaps the screen orientation during two-player games, imitating the feel of playing a tabletop coin-op. Throughout Milestones 2, each game receives every conceivable option, allowing everything from tate mode, filters that simulate CRT blur, to scaling settings. With over 350 ported titles under the Arcade Archives and Neo Geo ACA brands, Hamster’s experience level is nearly unrivaled. The upside is Hamster Corporation’s emulation. Indistinguishable From the Arcade Version Publisher ININ Games didn’t even localize two of the icons or add any kind of clarifying text as you move the cursor around. This is as barebones as compilations get, with players selecting one of the ten games to play from the title screen. And that continues to be an oversight with Milestones 2.
While compilations sporadically include interviews, photos, or even a glimpse into any surviving design documents, the package provided no historical context. Notables of the era like Arkanoid, Jungle Hunt, Rastan were absent and likely withheld for future installments of the Milestone series. But for a ten-game bundle, the inclusion of antiquated curios such as Space Seeker, Alpine Ski, and Wild Western meant there was a worrisome filler-to-killer ratio. The collection, which revisited the publisher’s output during the 1980s, had a few gems like Qix, Elevator Action, and The Ninja Warriors. As a retro anthology, 2002’s Taito Milestones was a bit lackluster.
