Two TAITO games from the 1980s are back on modern consoles, but they offer very different ways to revisit gaming history. On November 5, 2026, Hamster releases Console Archives ELEVATOR ACTION alongside Arcade Archives EXZISUS, giving players a choice between a methodical spy adventure and an energetic science-fiction shooter.
There is another important distinction beyond their genres. Elevator Action preserves a 1985 home-console adaptation, while EXZISUS returns in editions designed around its 1987 arcade origins. Their prices, supported systems and additional features also differ. Here is what matters before choosing either release.
Elevator Action brings its 1985 home-console mission to new hardware
Anyone expecting the original arcade release should pay attention to this version’s history. Console Archives ELEVATOR ACTION recreates the game TAITO released for an 8-bit home console in 1985. Rather than presenting a modern remake, Hamster is bringing that particular home adaptation to Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5.
The premise is simple, yet it creates plenty of tension. You control a spy infiltrating an organization’s building to recover confidential documents. Every document must be collected before you can escape in the car waiting underground. Security guards complicate the journey, while elevators become essential for navigating the building and avoiding danger.
Your offensive options are deliberately limited to a pistol and a jump kick. Consequently, positioning and timing matter as much as attacking enemies. The elevators also give each encounter an extra layer of decision-making, especially when moving between floors under pressure.
According to Hamster’s official Console Archives ELEVATOR ACTION listing, the release includes both Japanese and English versions. However, all in-game text remains in English because the original game was designed that way. It supports one or two players, with two-player sessions using local alternating turns rather than simultaneous cooperation.
Elevator Action and EXZISUS have different console editions and prices
Both games launch on November 5, 2026, although EXZISUS has a wider selection of platforms and two distinct editions. This is the most useful difference for anyone comparing the releases before purchasing.
- Console Archives ELEVATOR ACTION — Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5. Release date: November 5, 2026. Price: $7.99.
- Arcade Archives 2 EXZISUS — Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Release date: November 5, 2026. Price: $9.99.
- Arcade Archives EXZISUS — Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. Release date: November 5, 2026. Price: $7.99.
- EXZISUS upgrade — Moving from the Nintendo Switch or PlayStation 4 Arcade Archives version to Arcade Archives 2 costs $2.99.
The distinction is worth checking carefully. On Switch 2, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, Arcade Archives 2 EXZISUS includes additional features. Meanwhile, Switch and PS4 owners receive the standard Arcade Archives edition at a lower initial price. The upgrade option also gives existing owners of those versions a defined route to Arcade Archives 2.
These are individual classic releases rather than a combined two-game package. Therefore, players interested in both should treat them as separate purchases, not assume that buying one unlocks the other.
EXZISUS delivers a faster arcade experience with transforming firepower
Where Elevator Action rewards careful movement through a guarded building, EXZISUS heads into space. Originally released by TAITO for arcades in 1987, this shooting game puts players in control of Cosmo Fighter Robin, battling a mysterious army that has infested the 4th Galaxy.
Robin begins with a blaster and missiles, but collecting items expands its offensive capabilities. One particularly interesting mechanic is the transformation into Turbo Jet mode. Players can also summon bird and dog animal robots to support their attacks, giving the shooter a more varied arsenal than its basic weapons initially suggest.
Each stage culminates in an encounter with a giant robot whose weak points must be targeted. That creates a different challenge from simply surviving enemy fire: identifying vulnerable areas becomes part of the battle. The game supports one or two players.
The official Arcade Archives EXZISUS page confirms the game’s return and its different console editions. For players choosing between these two TAITO revivals, the contrast is clear: one emphasizes infiltration and escape, while the other focuses on weapons, transformations and stage-ending bosses.
Elevator Action and EXZISUS show two approaches to preserving classic games
The most interesting part of this double release is how Hamster adapts two different types of older games without turning them into conventional remakes. Console Archives focuses on home-console history, whereas Arcade Archives reproduces original arcade experiences with settings designed for contemporary hardware.
For Elevator Action, the Console Archives series provides customizable controls, rapid-fire options, multiple save points, screen layout adjustments and filters that imitate CRT televisions. Some titles in the series also include rewind functionality, although that feature should not be assumed to be available in every release.
EXZISUS follows the Arcade Archives approach. Its ORIGINAL MODE allows difficulty and display adjustments, button remapping, rapid-fire, multiple save files at any time and rewind. Meanwhile, HI SCORE MODE and CARAVAN MODE introduce online rankings for players who enjoy chasing better performances.
Arcade Archives 2 adds TIME ATTACK MODE, challenging players to finish the game as quickly as possible, alongside variable refresh rate (VRR) support. That gives the newer edition a practical distinction beyond its higher price.
Accessibility also extends to the interface. Menus and manuals support English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Japanese, making both series easier to navigate for an international audience.
These releases arrive during a broader conversation about keeping older games available. Battle4Play recently explored that subject through GOG’s showcase dedicated to classic PC games, where preservation and long-term access take center stage. Another approach appears in the Barbie retro games collection, which connects historical titles with an additional modern experience.
Hamster’s approach is more focused: preserve individual games and provide tools that make returning to them convenient. For anyone interested in 1980s design, Elevator Action offers a compact espionage challenge, while EXZISUS delivers the spectacle of an arcade shooter. Which kind of classic would you rather revisit first?
Creator of the website, Pokemon trainer by nature. Trying to report on everything related to the world of video games, series and movies. Yu-Gi-Oh is my weakness, collecting cards since the dawn of time.
