M2’s Toaplan mini-collection splits arcade and console ports — that split matters

Pay once for the arcade originals, pay more for nostalgia: M2’s Toaplan release just made that explicit

M2’s new Toaplan All-Timers compilation gives you the arcade Tiger-Heli (1985) and Twin Cobra (1988) with modern extras – save states, customizable overlays, a Super Easy mode and the puzzler Teki-Paki free – but it intentionally splits the rest of the package into paid DLC. Classic console ports (NES, PC Engine, Genesis), and even the rare arcade title Get Star/Guardian, are being sold separately. That change isn’t a small UI choice. It forces buyers to decide whether they want a tidy arcade-focused collection or to pay extra for the full historical bundle.

• Launch and platforms: PS4 release from February 26; reports indicate other platforms and a physical edition are planned.
• What’s in the base build: arcade Tiger-Heli and Twin Cobra with M2 extras and free Teki-Paki.
• What’s DLC: console ports (NES, PC Engine, Genesis) and additional rare arcade entries; pricing has not been disclosed.
• The real trade-off: arcade authenticity and QoL features versus paying to unlock the era-specific ports collectors care about.

The split is a pricing choice posing as “choice”

This is not about technical limitations. M2 is among the few studios that actually do preservation work that matters – their emulation and extras are why retro fans pay attention. The uncomfortable truth is the company is using that good will to segment buyers. The base compilation covers the marquee arcade originals and adds the sorts of QoL touches M2 is known for. But if you want the versions that lived on NES cartridges, PC Engine carts, or Genesis cartridges — the ports that shaped many players’ first memories of Toaplan — you’ll need to buy them on top.

Why collectors and preservationists should squint at this

There are two different values here. Arcade emulation gives a canonical experience: original hardware timing, cabinet presentation, authentic physics. Console ports are historical artifacts in their own right — they show how a game was adapted to limited hardware and different audiences. Separating those behind paid DLC makes the collection less of a single “definitive” preservation package and more of a pick-and-pay archive.

For preservation-minded buyers or historians, that’s annoying. If the DLC pricing is low enough, the split is a minor annoyance. If the console-port packs are priced like mini-compilations, this becomes an economical gate: “Do I pay again for versions of games I have on cartridge or ROM?” That question is going to determine how this release is received.

M2’s track record buys them leeway — but not unlimited goodwill

M2 has earned credibility by shipping high-quality emulation and smart extras. That credibility matters here: the base arcade package is likely worth attention on its own because of the polish M2 adds — overlays, difficulty options, mission/challenge modes, and the often-underappreciated save-state/replay niceties that make violent shmups playable for modern sessions. But goodwill isn’t infinite. Fans notice when companies monetize the very archival work they praise. The comparison to other recent retro compilations — some of which bundled console ports and extras together — will be inevitable.

The question M2 needs to answer (and the one I’d ask in their Q&A)

How much are the “Console Ports + Get Star” packs going to cost, and will there be a true “complete” bundle price that makes sense for buyers who want everything? That’s the single detail that determines whether this is sensible segmentation or nickel-and-diming. Also: will those DLC packs be offered individually (NES vs PC Engine vs Genesis) or only as a single bundle? Gamers like choice — but they hate being nudged into multiple purchases to assemble something that used to be a single product.

What to watch next

• Feb 26 — base PS4 release. Check early reviews for M2’s arcade emulation quality and how well QoL features are implemented.
• Pricing announcement — unknown date. If console-port DLC is under ~$10 total, this is a minor quibble. If it’s priced like separate mini-collections, expect pushback.
• Switch/physical edition confirmations — reports indicate a physical edition and Switch release, which may include different bundling options; watch retailer listings.
• Whether M2 offers a discounted “complete edition” later. That will reveal if segmentation is temporary or a permanent revenue strategy.

M2’s Toaplan package will be judged less on the individual emulations — which will almost certainly be solid — and more on how fairly the full library is packaged and priced. The base arcade set is a tidy product for people who just want Tiger-Heli and Twin Cobra with modern conveniences. For everyone else — collectors, nostalgia buyers, and preservation-minded players — the final verdict depends on DLC numbers that M2 hasn’t released yet.

TL;DR

M2’s PS4 Toaplan release gives you the arcade classics and nice QoL features on February 26, but classic console ports are paid DLC. The company’s emulation chops make the base collection attractive, but the real value hinges on undisclosed DLC pricing. Watch for the price of the console-port packs and any bundled “complete” edition — that will tell you whether this is sensible packaging or a cash-segmenting move.