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Irem Collection: Volume 3

Irem Collection: Volume 3

|Japan, Germany|Shooter, Arcade

6.5 /10

Okay

Niche

2 ratings
Trailers & screenshots
Why play it

Release Date: 2025 * Limited to a maximum of 4,000 copies worldwide * Manual included * Mr. Heli/Battle Chopper (Arcade, PC Engine). Guide a cute heli through winding levels and buy upgrades in a shop along the way. Mr. Heli features fresh gameplay and beautiful graphics. * Mystic Riders (Arcade). A quirky horizontal Shooter in a bright fantasy setting with wizards as protagonists. * Dragon Breed (Arcade). Featuring impressive graphics and gameplay reminiscent of R-Type, ride your invincible dragon through a dark fantasy world.

Story and worldbuilding

Mr. Heli, also known outside Japan as Battle Chopper, took the Japanese arcades by storm in 1987, when IREM’s creative mojo was in full bloom. This quirky adventure invites you to steer a little-legged orange Chopper named Mr. Heli through a multitude of innovative stages. What goes up, must come down… and walk! The heroic helicopter can soar through the stages, walks across lands, and wields three different weapons, each with two upgrade levels. Along the way, you’ll mine crystals and buy upgrades to help you take on the massive bosses that stand in your way. And don’t forget to keep your eye open for hidden paths, sneaky secrets, and clever puzzles built into the level design – they might just be your ticket to success in this high-flying adventure! The comeback of Mr. Heli offers a fascinating time travel for shoot ’em-up fans. The IREM Collection Volume 3 contains both Battle Chopper in its 1987 Arcade M-92 version and the 1989 PC Engine / Turbo Grafx version. The fascinating gameplay of these games is preserved over time and stands out as a one-of-a-kind masterpiece deserving your love. You’re a wizard, Harry! The 1992 Arcade Shoot ‘em up Mystic Riders takes you on a magical journey that’s a bit different from IREM’s usual dark and challenging shoot ‘em up style. Developed by the same team that gave us the comical Daiku no Gen-san (Hammerin’ Harry), this shmup ventures into a world of fantasy and magic, far from its counterparts’ biomechanical “nightmares”. Take on the roles of two comical and lighthearted characters, the wizard Mark and the witch Zeal, and start your (possibly co-op) adventure! While riding a broomstick, defeat giant sky turtles, ghosts, grim reapers, dragons, and other mystical creatures. Fling your broom in a boomerang fashion to block projectiles or get a taste of an early version of the dodge roll, a move that’s now common in gaming. Mystic Riders is a true gem in the shoot ‘em genre and a highly entertaining co-op experience, so don’t miss it! Dragon Breed is a thrilling dragon-themed shooter where you hop on a massive dragon named Bahamoot and ride into action! Don’t be fooled by his size, though – only your rider can take damage, while the dragon is a total beast absorbing the damage projectiles of countless opponents. Enemies bounce off its tail harmlessly, making it super satisfying for a player. There’s a bit of run-and-gun action, but the key is sticking close to your dragon buddy, thanks to its tail that blocks bullets and a killer charge shot. Similar to R-Type or X-Multiply, you are diving into a heavy biomechanical theme set in a post-apocalyptic world. So are you ready for an adventure through big levels jam-packed with enemies, surprises, and heart-pounding action? Relive the thrill of Dragon Breed on modern consoles and flaunt your dragon-riding skills to friends and gamers worldwide! Get in on the dragon-fueled fun!

Game highlights
Rating momentum

Okay: 6.5/10 across 2 ratings. Decent score — check if the gameplay loop clicks for you.

Play style

Leans into Shooter, Arcade — a quick read on whether that fantasy matches what you usually enjoy.

Reviews

19 media reviews

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ZTGDKen McKown · 1 Aug, 2025
8/10

While this collection doesn’t have a marquee title to boast, the games included here are definitely fun. I enjoyed revisiting these as well as playing something I had missed when it came out. I love these old collections and hope we continue to see more of them. Bring on Volume 4 and let’s get even weirder with it.

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Seafoam GamingConnor Nichols · 31 Jul, 2025
7/10

Irem Collection Vol 3 was a pretty fun set of shooting games, even if none of them succeed in having the addicting hook that some of Irem’s better known shooters could have on you.

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Cubed3Coller Entragian · 22 Jul, 2025
8/10

Dragon Breed easily stands as the crown jewel in this collection. Its innovative dragon-riding mechanics and striking post-apocalyptic visuals craft a near-masterpiece that rivals R-Type’s ingenuity. Mystic Riders follows with its vibrant fantasy aesthetic and local co-op, a rare treat that injects accessibility and fun, though its simpler patterns and repetitive enemies pale next to Dragon Breed’s depth. Mr. Heli, the weakest link, offers lite exploration and chunky-yet-cute visuals but stumbles with its punishing design, feeling like a relic even with modern tweaks.

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VGChartzEvan Norris · 13 Jul, 2025

Despite the lack of ancillary features, Volume 3 is the best installment of the Irem Collection so far. Not only are the games here rarer than in earlier volumes, but they're better. Indeed, there isn't a bad one in the bunch; all of the titles range from good to great. If you're a diehard shoot-'em-up fan on a budget who wants to invest only in a single volume, make it this one.

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CompletexboxDan Boise · 13 Jul, 2025
5/10

Irem Collection Volume 3 is just another partial collection of games that I feel should be released as a bigger package; more games for a slightly higher price or let players pick and choose what they want to buy.

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GameBlastCarlos França Junior · 9 Jul, 2025
7/10

Irem Collection Volume 3 features three excellent games that didn't receive much attention upon their release, nor were they ported to the most popular consoles of the time. It would be nice to have more information about them, but having them together in a collection is already a compelling feature. Shooter fans who enjoy new interpretations of the genre will definitely enjoy this edition.

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NintendoBoyAndré Barrozo Jr · 7 Jul, 2025
10/10

Although this new entry in IREM's classic collection series only features horizontal shumps, the curation work here was extremely successful in bringing together games that have a unique synergy between them and that cater to a diverse target audience. It's very nostalgic to enjoy games that don't need anything more than addictive gameplay and attractive visuals to keep you in front of the TV or Nintendo Switch screen with a smile from ear to ear.

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Maximum UtmostZoey Handley · 6 Jul, 2025
5/10

Nonetheless, at least Irem Collection Volume 3 is a compilation of three good arcade titles. Okay, maybe I didn’t really jive with Mr. Heli, but I don’t think it’s a bad game… probably. I just don’t think the price tag is representative of the package. If I had to guess, it’s because they want to keep parity with the physical release. But when you’re looking at it on a digital storefront between Taito Milestones and Capcom Arcade Stadium, it doesn’t look very tantalizing, regardless of how much you like Mr. Heli.

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Comunidad XboxMiguel Osorio · 6 Jul, 2025
7.5/10

In short, Irem Collection Volume 3 is another solid installment of what is shaping up to be one of the best collections currently available.

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Video ChumsA.J. Maciejewski · 5 Jul, 2025
7/10

Irem Collection Volume 3 is definitely the most difficult compilation in the series so far which will delight hardcore retro gaming enthusiasts. 🚁

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