Together at last! The Shark series by legendary Japanese game studio, Toaplan, is a prominent feature in the shoot ‘em up genre. Its first entry, Flying Shark, praised for its expertly tuned difficulty level and simple rules, went on to influence future vertical scrolling shmup titles. The sequel, Fire Shark, was renowned for setting arcades ablaze with the utter devastation of its screen-filling weapons.

Those looking for an authentic arcade experience on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 need look no further as Arcade Mode does exactly that. But newcomers to these titles, or even the shmup genre, will find grace in the Super Easy Mode featured in both Flying Shark and Fire Shark.

Included in the titles are a whole host of features to assist burgeoning captains and to help them survive the seemingly never ending onslaught of enemies. The M2 Gadgets shown on both sides of the playing field have been designed to take the sting out of blind spots and give an early warning to watch out for new items and hidden features. Arcade Challenge Mode splits each area into bite-sized chunks so players can perfect every section of the game, and there’s even a rewind feature that is automatically activated when your ship is hit in Challenge Mode. A one-credit clear awaits you!

Games included in the Toaplan Arcade Garage: Flying Fire Shark compilation:

• Flying Shark (Worldwide arcade version)
• Sky Shark (US arcade version)
• Hisho Same (JP arcade version)
• Fire Shark (Worldwide arcade version)
• Same! Same! Same! (JP arcade version)
• Same! Same! Same! (JP arcade 2-player version)

In addition to the six titles that make the Toaplan Arcade Garage: Flying Fire Shark, retro enthusiasts will delight in the DLC content available for digital owners of the collection, which comes as part of the physical release. Not only will gamers be able to play the arcade versions of Flying Shark and Fire Shark on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, they will also be able to relive the days of it being on the NES, SEGA Mega Drive and SEGA Genesis too.

But the DLC content doesn’t stop there! Alongside the console versions of these classic titles, the DLC includes another game, Wardner. Originally released in 1987, Wardner is an arcade action platformer in which players use fire magic to defeat enemies as they venture through an insidious forest to ultimately challenge the evil boss Wardner and rescue the young girl imprisoned by her transformation into a crystal ball.

Games included in the Toaplan Arcade Garage: Flying Fire Shark - Wardner DLC:

• Sky Shark (NES version 1989)
• Same! Same! Same! (JP SEGA Mega Drive version 1990)
• Fire Shark (SEGA Genesis version 1990)
• Wardner (Worldwide arcade version 1987)
• Wardner no Mori (JP arcade version 1987)
• Pyros (US arcade version 1987)
• Wardner no Mori (FDS version 1988 - JP language only)

As a special bonus, Toaplan’s arcade puzzle hit, Teki-Paki, originally released in 1991, will be included as a free download for anyone who has purchased any of the TOAPLAN ARCADE GARAGE games. This seemingly simple match-five title hides some exceptionally tricky gameplay, set to a gritty industrial techno soundtrack that will inspire you to scale the online leaderboards with every bold move. Not quite at the top of your game yet? Worry not, because you can download and watch the elite gameplay sessions of some of the most elite players on the scoreboard, remembering and mastering their every move.

Toaplan Arcade Garage: Flying Fire Shark will launch on PS4 and Nintendo Switch with both digital and physical editions on August 29, 2026.