was a Japanese video game developer based in Tokyo. It was best known for its catalogue of scrolling shooters and other arcade video games. The company was founded in 1979 but its gaming division was established in 1984 by former Orca and Crux employees, who wanted to make games, after both companies declared bankruptcy. Their first shoot 'em up game, Tiger-Heli (1985) on arcades, was a success and helped establish Toaplan as a leading producer of shooting games throughout the 1980s and 1990s that would continue to characterize its output.
Though initially exclusive to arcades, it expanded with the Sega Genesis in 1990. The company ceased development of shoot 'em up projects before declaring bankruptcy in 1994. Several offshoot developers such as Eighting, Tamsoft, CAVE, Gazelle, and Takumi Corporation were formed prior to and after the closure, while former members later joined to other studios such as Bandai Namco Entertainment, Capcom, Square Enix and Taito. Toaplan has since earned recognition from critics, being called one of the greatest and most influential Japanese shoot 'em up developers and "master" of the scrolling shooter genre. Performan was created by most of the same team that previously worked on several projects at Orca and Crux before both companies declared bankruptcy, In 2023, Tatsujin announced several new projects, such as Truxton Extreme, Snow Bros. Wonderland (both games being sequels to their respective series) and Amusement Arcade TOAPLAN, a compilation of 25 arcade games for smartphones. One of the titles from Tatsujin, Snow Bros. Wonderland, was released in 2024.
Staff
Various individuals have been important figures in the history of Toaplan:
- Masahiro Yuge – One of the six original team members and frequent composer.