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Irem
deserve a special mention. They were some of the greatest
craftsmen of videogame history, responsible for some
of the most unforgettable games ever devised. From the
pioneering Moon Patrol (1982) and Spartan X (1984) to
the lavish design work of R-Type (1987) and Katei Daisenso
(1993) they always delivered the goods in a style that
was uniquely their own, and went on to release numerous
4-star home console releases. From their humble beginnings
in the 70s right through to their 'rebirth' in 1997,
Irem are still going today - but only just. With a bit
of luck, they might still have a bit of the old magic
up their sleeve. |
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HISTORY
A quick look at Irem's origins and arcade
chronology |
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GOODS
A small selection of Irem-related merchandise
on sale |
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SOFTWARE
The complete Irem home consumer software
catalogue |
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Irem
was founded in 1974 as 'IPM Corporation' in Hakusan,
Japan. Like most of their contemporaries, the
company's initial purpose was to produce and rent
out electronic leisure machinery to various sections
of the entertainment industry. With the advent
of arcade videogaming and the hugely popular Space
Invaders (1978), Irem opted to move into the
development and manufacturing of their own titles.
They rapidly released their own 'invader clone',
the aptly named IPM Invader (1978).
IPM Invader was a crude and shameless
copycat of Taito's milestone, but yet the sheer
popularity of arcade rooms at the time saw the
game do well enough to convince the company that
games were a viable business opportunity.
In 1979 they changed their corporate name to Irem
Corporation, an acronym for 'International Rental
Electronics Machines'. This would stand until
the mid-80s, when it would then be changed to
'Innovations in Recreational Electronic Media'.
For their first few years, Irem's output was average
at best. If anything it could almost be considered
poor: random invader clones and poorly produced
action games disappeared amongst the numerous
other titles of the day. It wouldn't be until
the arrival of Moon Patrol (1982) that Irem would
make any mark of their own. |
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IPM
Invader (1978) |
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Moon Patrol (1982) |
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As
Irem's only release of 1982, Moon Patrol made
a huge mark for itself: it was a sharp, fun, and
addictive side-on racing game that involved guiding
a small lunar buggy across a dangerous terrain,
while avoiding and gunning down a variety of obstacles
and flying saucers. It was an instant hit, that
was rapidly picked up by US game company Williams
for distribution in the US.
1983 also proved to be a fruitful year for Irem:
10-Yard
Fight and Zippy
Race became cult hits in Japan, and in 1984,
Spartan X
made sure that Irem's name would be on the map
for good.
Released as 'Kung Fu Master' in the West, Spartan
X was loosely based on the Jackie Chan film
of the same name - and following a hugely successful
run in the arcades, went on to become a massive
worldwide hit on the Famicom,
converted and distributed by none less than Nintendo
themselves.
The success of Spartan X was rapidly
followed by Irem's clever licensing of Broderbund's
Lode
Runner (1984) and Spelunker (1986) for arcade
distribution, both of which would become massive
hits for Irem.
Well off the mark in the arcade market, Irem swiftly
moved into home console development, becoming
one of the Famicom's leading publishers thanks
in great part to a hugely successful 1985 port
of Spelunker. Irem were building up to
a massive crescendo - the late 80s would prove
to be the company's golden years, and the main
reason why they are featured on this site: between
1987 and 1990 they would release no less than
8 arcade masterpieces. |
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R-Type (1987) |
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R-Type
(1987) is widely acknowledged to be one of the
most important shooting games of all time: its
clever gameplay design, sumptuous visuals and
tense atmosphere make it the definitive shooting
game of the 80s, a benchmark that few managed
to equal. It is hard to fault it in any way, except
maybe that its extraordinary success managed to
overshadow Irem's other two shooting games of
the period, the quirky Mr.
Heli (1987) and the excellent Image
Fight (1988).
Irem also struck gold with Vigilante
(1988), a sharp, violent and entertaining successor
of sorts to Spartan X and the sumptuous
Saigo
no Nindo (1988), a smooth and phenomenally
playable action game that went on to become a
huge worldwide success as 'Ninja Spirit'.
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And
it just didn't stop: Irem continued to produce
excellent work: Legend
of Hero Tonma (1989) is a criminally under-rated
action platform game, R-Type
II (1989) delivered on every front, and 1990's
Daiku no Gen-san became a massive worldwide
cult.
Known as 'Hammerin' Harry' outside of Japan, Gen-san's
clever architecture and memorable characters won
hearts the world over. Irem would go on to produce
no less than six home releases based on the character
- but then never relased them outside of Japan.
And that marked the first of a series of very
bad decisions made by the company, that sadly
would cause them to crumble and fall in the space
of a few years. |
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New
Block X / New Block Z
ニューブロックX
/ ニューブロックZ |
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Ginga
Teikoku no Gyakushū
銀河帝国の逆襲 |
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Oli
- Boo - Chu
Oli - Boo
- Chu |
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Tropical
Angel
Tropical
Angel |
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The
Battle Road
The Battle
Road |
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Feb |
Lode
Runner II
ロードランナーII
バンゲリング帝国の逆襲 |
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Nov |
Lode
Runner III
ロードランナーIII
魔神の復活 |
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Oct |
Spelunker
II
スペランカーII
23の鍵 |
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Nov |
Lode
Runner IV
ロードランナーIV
帝国からの脱出 |
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Dec |
Kaiketsu
Yanchamaru
快傑ヤンチャ丸 |
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June |
Dragon
Breed
ドラゴンブリード |
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Daiku
no Gen-san
大工の源さん
べらんめ町騒動記 |
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Pound
for Pound
Pound
for Pound |
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July |
Cross
Blades
クロスブレイズ |
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Thunder
Blaster
Thunder
Blaster |
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Major
Title 2
Major Title
2 |
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Mahou
Keiditai Ganhooki
Mahou
Keiditai Ganhooki |
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Apr |
Kaitei
Daisensou
海底大戦争 |
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Irem
Arcade Classics
アイレム
アーケード クラシックス
SEGA SATURN |
DETAILS
| Format |
Sega
Saturn |
| Released |
26
Apr 1996 |
| Publisher |
I'MAX |
| Product
ID |
T-22403G |
| Size
(cm) |
14.2
x 12.4 x 1 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.10 |
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Celebrational
3-in-1 'Arcade Classics'
compilation that features:
- 10-Yard
Fight (1983)
- Zippy
Race (1983)
- Spartan
X (1984)
All three games are arcade
perfect, the only downside
is that there is no backup
/ save feature for high
scores.
CD case, Sega Saturn CD-ROM
disc, 20-page colour booklet,
spine card.
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Irem
Arcade Classics
アイレム
アーケード クラシックス
PLAYSTATION |
DETAILS
| Format |
PlayStation |
| Released |
26
Apr 1996 |
| Publisher |
I'MAX |
| Product
ID |
SLPS-00341 |
| Size
(cm) |
14.2
x 12.4 x 1 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.10 |
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The
PlayStation also gets its
share of classic Irem action,
with three timeless arcade
gems from the 80s:
- 10-Yard
Fight (1983)
- Zippy
Race (1983)
- Spartan
X (1984)
Again, no memory card feature.
But aside from that this is
a great package, that has
steadily been gaining a little
more value than its Sega Saturn
counterpart.
CD case, PlayStation CD-ROM
disc, colour booklet, spine
card. |
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Featured
below is a detailed chronology of every Irem home consumer
release!
Click on an icon below to skip to a certain format: |
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Don't
forget!
If you are searching for a specific title,
use your browser's CTRL+F function
anytime to search |
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IF-01 |
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18
July 1985 |
Racing |
IF-02 |
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30
Aug 1985 |
Sport
(American Football) |
IF-03 |
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Spelunker
スペランカー |
7
Dec 1985 |
Platform
/ Puzzle
Licensed
from Brøderbund |
IF-04 |
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Sqoon
スクーン |
26
June 1986 |
Shooting
Licensed from Homedata |
IF-05 |
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Mashō
魔鐘 |
15
Dec 1986 |
Action
RPG
Licensed from Lenar |
IF-06 |
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Spelunker
II - Yūsha e no Chōsen
スペランカーII 勇者への挑戦 |
18
Sep 1987 |
Platform
/ Puzzle
Licensed
from Brøderbund |
IF-07 |
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Kaiketsu
Yanchamaru
快傑ヤンチャ丸 |
2
Oct 1987 |
Action
Platform
aka 'Kid Niki - Radical Ninja' (US) |
IF-08 |
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Guardic
Gaiden
ガーディック外伝 |
5
Feb 1987 |
Shooting
Licensed from Compile |
IF-09 |
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Napoleon
Senki
ナポレオン戦記 |
18
Mar 1988 |
Strategy
Wargame
Licensed from Lenar |
IF-10 |
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Hototogisu
不如帰 |
19
Aug 1988 |
Strategy
Developed by Tamtex |
IF-11 |
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Nishimura
Kyōtarō Mystery
Blue Train Satsujin Jiken
西村京太郎ミステリー
ブルートレイン殺人事件 |
20
Jan 1989 |
Murder
Mystery |
IF-12 |
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Holy
Diver
ホーリーダイヴァー |
28
Apr 1989 |
Action |
IF-13 |
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Major
League
メジャーリーグ |
27
Oct 1989 |
Sport
(Baseball) |
IF-14 |
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16
Mar 1990 |
Shooting |
IF-15 |
Gekitotsu
Yonku Battle |
17
Nov 1989 |
IF-16 |
Shinsenden |
15
Dec 1989 |
IF-17 |
Super
Express Satsujin Jiken |
2
Mar 1990 |
IF-18 |
Meikyu
Jima |
29
Jun 1990 |
IF-21 |
Metal
Storm |
24
Apr 1992 |
IF-22 |
Kaiketsu
Yamchamaru 2 |
30
Aug 1991 |
IF-23 |
Spartan
X 2 |
27
Sep 1991 |
IF-24 |
Daiku
no Gen-san |
15
Nov 1991 |
IF-25 |
PaMan
Part 2 |
20
Dec 1991 |
IF-26 |
Firebird |
11
Jan 1992 |
IF-27 |
Watashi
no Hoshi |
26
Mar 1993 |
IF-28 |
Kaiketsu
Yamchamaru 3 |
30
Mar 1993 |
IF-29 |
Daiku
no Gen-san 2 |
22
Oct 1993 |
IFD-KIN |
Kineko
- Kinetic Connection |
28
Nov 1986 |
IFD-KI2 |
Kineko
Vol.II - Kinetic Connection |
15
Feb 1987 |
IFD-SLR |
Super
Lode Runner |
5
Mar 1987 |
IFD-MJK |
Mahjong
Kazoku |
4
Aug 1987 |
IFD-SL2 |
Super
Lode Runner II |
25
Aug 1987 |
IFD-YOK |
Yokai
Yashiki |
23
Oct 1987 |
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Panther
パンサー |
1986 |
MSX
Shooting |
IM-01 |
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Spelunker
スペランカー |
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MSX
Platform / Puzzle
Licensed
from Brøderbund
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IM-02 |
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1986 |
MSX
Sport (American Football) |
IM-03 |
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1987 |
MSX2
Platform / Puzzle
Licensed
from Brøderbund |
IM-04 |
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Dec
1988 |
MSX
Shooting |
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6
July 1990 |
Action
aka 'Ninja Spirit' |
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Racing
Damashi
レーシング魂 |
19
July 1991 |
Racing |
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Gekisha
Boy
激写ボーイ |
2
Oct 1992 |
Action |
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Image
Fight II
イメージファイトII |
18
Dec 1992 |
Shooting |
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Eiyuu
Sangokushi
英雄三国志 |
26
Mar 1993 |
Simulation |
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Sol
Moonarge
ソル
モナージュ |
7
Jan 1994 |
RPG |
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IX68-01 |
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June
1989 |
Shooting |
IX68-02 |
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Image
Fight
イメージファイト |
14
Dec 1990 |
Shooting |
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DMG-MAA |
IG-01 |
Shisensho |
13
Jul 1990 |
DMG-SXJ |
IG-02 |
Spartan
X |
11
Dec 1990 |
DMG-REA |
IG-03 |
R-Type |
19
Mar 1991 |
DMG-RDJ |
IG-04 |
Racing
Damashi |
28
Feb 1991 |
DMG-YMJ |
IG-05 |
Ganso!!
Yancha-maru |
11
Jul 1991 |
DMG-TYJ |
IG-06 |
Firebird
GB |
20
Dec 1991 |
DMG-DIJ |
IG-07 |
Daiku
no Gen-san - Ghost
Breeding Company |
31
Jul 1992 |
DMG-NWJ |
? |
Nu-Bo |
11
Dec 1992 |
DMG-QGJ |
? |
Kizuchi
da Quiz da Gen-san da! |
18
Dec 1992 |
DMG-RZA |
IG-10 |
R-Type
II |
11
Dec 1992 |
DMG-IFJ |
IG-11 |
Irem
Fighter |
30
Jul 1993 |
DMG-UJA |
IG-12 |
Saigo
no Nindo |
18
Dec 1993 |
DMG-UZJ |
IG-13 |
Undercover
Cops Gaiden |
10
Dec 1993 |
DMG-D9J |
IG-15
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Daiku
no Gen-san - Robot Teikoku no Yabo |
25
Mar 1994 |
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SHVC-SR |
Super
R-Type |
13
July 1991 |
SHVC-DW |
Dino
Wars |
17
July 1992 |
SHVC-GU |
GunForce |
27
Nov 1992 |
SHVC-MT |
Major
Title |
4
Dec 1992 |
SHVC-NP |
Nitro
Punks - Might Heads |
30
July 1993 |
SHVC-ER |
R-Type
III |
10
Dec 1993 |
SHVC-EZ |
Ganbare!
Daiku no Gen-san |
22
Dec 1993 |
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SLPS-00588 |
Gussun
Paradise |
22
Nov 1996 |
SLPS-01236 |
R-Types |
5
Feb 1998 |
SLPS-01688 |
R-Type
Delta |
19
Nov 1998 |
SLPS-02164 |
Sanyo
Pachinko Paradise |
29
Jul 1999 |
SLPS-02389 |
Sanyo
Pachinko Paradise 2 |
18
Nov 1999 |
SLPS-02633 |
Sanyo
Pachinko Paradise 3 |
9
Mar 2000 |
SLPS-02935 |
Carton-kun |
21
Sep 2000 |
SLPS-02988 |
Sanyo
Pachinko Paradise 4 |
12
Oct 2000 |
SLPS-03190 |
Sanyo
Pachinko Paradise 5 |
10
May 2001 |
SLPS-03310 |
R-Types
[ R's Best ] |
25
Oct 2001 |
SLPS-03311 |
R-Type
Delta [ R's Best ] |
25
Oct 2001 |
SLPS-03312 |
Sanyo
Pachinko Paradise DX |
25
Oct 2001 |
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'Irem',
the Irem logo and all major associated properties are registered
trademarks of Irem Corp.
TM and © Irem All Rights Reserved
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