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Irem

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Irem Software Engineering, Inc.(JP)(CN) was a Japanese video game developer and publisher.

Company History[]

Founding and dissolution[]

The company was established in 1974 as IPM Co., Ltd.(JP) It changed its name to Irem Corporation(JP) in 1979. It has used its current name since April 15, 1997. Some of its assets were split into Apies Corporation Ltd.(JP)(CN)

The company dissolved its video game division in April 2011 and all its developers left. Several of them formed Granzella.

Association with Nintendo[]

Irem's association with Nintendo began when Nintendo developed a licensed Famicom port of Irem's arcade game Spartan X. It was released on June 21, 1985, nearly a month before Irem published its first Famicom title. Nintendo would later release Spartan X in North America the following October as Kung Fu.

List of Games[]

Developed/published[]

Title Platform(s) Release date Notes
Zippy Race Family Computer 1985-07-18July 18, 1985
10-Yard Fight Family Computer 1985-08-30August 30, 1985 This version was published by Nintendo in North America.
Spelunker Family Computer 1985-12-06December 6, 1985 This version was co-developed by TOSE and published by Broderbund in North America.
Sqoon Family Computer 1986-06-26June 26, 1986 Developed by Home Data.
Kineko Famicom Disk System 1986-11-28November 28, 1986 Developed by Tamtex.
Mashou Family Computer 1986-12-15December 15, 1986 Developed by Lenar. Published in North America by Broderbund as Deadly Towers.
Super Lode Runner Famicom Disk System 1987-03-05March 5, 1987
Kineko Vol. II Famicom Disk System 1987-05-01May 1, 1987
R-Type Arcade 1987-10October 1987 This version was published by Nintendo in North America.
Game Boy 1991-03-19March 19, 1991 This version was developed by Bits Studios.
Mahjong Kazoku Famicom Disk System 1987-08-04August 4, 1987
Super Lode Runner II Famicom Disk System 1987-08-25August 25, 1987 Developed by Tamtex.
Spelunker II: Yuusha he no Chousen Family Computer 1987-09-18September 18, 1987 Developed by Now Production.
Kaiketsu Yanchamaru Family Computer 1987-10-02October 2, 1987 Developed by TOSE. Published by Data East in North America as Kid Niki: Radical Ninja.
Youkai Yashiki Famicom Disk System 1987-10-23October 23, 1987
Guardic Gaiden Family Computer 1988-02-05February 5, 1988 The game was developed by Compile as well as published by Broderbund in North America as The Guardian Legend.
Napoleon Senki Family Computer 1988-03-18March 18, 1988 The game was developed by Lenar.
Hototogisu Family Computer 1988-08-19August 19, 1988 The game was developed by Tamtex.
Nishimura Kyoutarou Mystery: Blue Train Satsujin Jiken Family Computer 1989-01-20January 20, 1989 The game was developed by TOSE.
Holy Diver Family Computer 1989-04-28April 28, 1989
Major League Family Computer 1989-10-27October 27, 1989 The game was developed by Lenar.
Gekitotsu Yonku Battle Family Computer 1989-11-27November 27, 1989 The game was developed by Tamtex.
Shinsenden Family Computer 1989-12-15December 15, 1989 The game was developed by Tamtex.
Nishimura Kyoutarou Mystery: Super Express Satsujin Jiken Family Computer 1990-03-02March 2, 1990 The game was developed by TOSE.
Image Fight Family Computer 1990-03-16March 16, 1990
Meikyuu Jima Family Computer 1990-06-29June 29, 1990
Shisenshou: Match-Mania Game Boy 1990-07-13July 13, 1990 Developed by Tamtex.
Spartan X Game Boy 1990-12-11December 11, 1990
Perman: Enban o Torikaese!! Family Computer 1990-12-14December 14, 1990 Developed by Tamtex.
Metal Storm NES 1991-02-28February 28, 1991 The game was developed by Tamtex.
Racing Damashii Game Boy 1991-02-28February 28, 1991 Developed by Tamtex.
Ganso!! Yanchamaru Game Boy 1991-07-11July 11, 1991
Kaiketsu Yanchamaru 2: Karakuri Land Family Computer 1991-08-30August 30, 1991
Spartan X 2 Family Computer 1991-09-27September 27, 1991 Developed by Tamtex.
Daiku no Gen-san Family Computer 1991-11-15November 15, 1991
Taiyou no Yuusha Fighbird GB Game Boy 1991-12-20December 20, 1991 Developed by Biox.
Perman Part 2: Himitsu Kessha Madoodan wo Taose! Family Computer 1991-12-20December 20, 1991 Developed by Biox.
Taiyou no Yuusha Fighbird Family Computer 1992-01-11January 11, 1992 Developed by Tamtex.
DinoWars: Adventures in the Dinosaur Kingdom Super Famicom 1992-07-17July 17, 1992 The game was published in North America as DinoCity.
Daiku no Gen-San: Ghost Building Company Game Boy 1992-07-31July 31, 1992 Developed by Tamtex.
Major Title Super Famicom 1992-10October 1992
GunForce Super Famicom 1992-11-27November 27, 1992 Developed by Bits Studios.
Noobow Game Boy 1992-12-11December 11, 1992
R-Type II Game Boy 1992-12-11December 11, 1992 Developed by Bits Studios.
Kizuchida Quiz da Gen-san da! Game Boy 1992-12-18December 18, 1992 Developed by Tamtex.
Ai Sensei no Oshiete: Watashi no Hoshi Family Computer 1993-03-26March 26, 1993
Kaiketsu Yanchamaru 3: Taiketsu! Zouringen Family Computer 1993-03-30March 30, 1993 Developed by Micronics.
Street Combat SNES 1993-04April 1993 Localization of NCS' Ranma 1/2: Chounai Gekitou Hen.
Shuyaku Sentai Irem Fighter Game Boy 1993-07-30July 30, 1993
Nitro Punks: Might Heads Super Famicom 1993-07-30July 30, 1993
Daiku no Gen-san 2: Akage no Dan no Gyakushuu Family Computer 1993-10-22October 22, 1993 Developed by Micronics.
R-Type III Super Famicom 1993-12-10December 10, 1993 This version was published by Jaleco in North America.
Undercover Cops Gaiden: Hakaishin Garumaa Game Boy 1993-12-10December 10, 1993
Saigo no Nendou: Ninja Spirit Game Boy 1993-12-18December 18, 1993
Ganbare! Daiku no Gen-san Super Famicom 1993-12-23December 22, 1993
Daiku no Gen-san: Robot Teikoku no Yabou Game Boy 1994-03-25March 25, 1994
Undercover Cops Super Famicom 1995-03-03March 3, 1995 Published by Varie.
Parlor! Pro 64 Nintendo 64 1999-01-29January 29, 1999 Published by Telenet.
PachiPara 3D: Premium Umi Monogatari Nintendo 3DS 2011-11-24November 24, 2011
PachiPara 3D: Ooumi Monogatari 2 Nintendo 3DS 2012-05-17May 17, 2012
PachiPara 3D: Ooumi Monogatari 2 with Agnes Lum Nintendo 3DS 2012-09-06September 6, 2012
PachiPara 3D: Deluxe Umi Monogatari Nintendo 3DS 2013-02-07February 7, 2013

Virtual Console and Arcade Archives rereleases[]

Irem Collection[]

In collaboration with Tozai Games and ININ Games, various games from Irem's library will compiled into 5 volumes of games with each volume containing 3 games. The first volume is releasing in November 2023 with the later volumes following up through 2024. At the end of 2024, the 5 collections will be released physically both in a bundle or in a collector's edition by Strictly Limited Games. Each volume's collector's edition featuring a manual, each game's soundtrack and various collectibles.

Involvement in other games[]

  • Kung Fu (Nintendo developed a remake for the Famicom/NES)
  • R-Type DX (Irem is credited and Nintendo released the game in North America and Europe)

External links[]

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