Excellent sequel to the Taito classic, rich in ideas and action. Impressive visuals, varied gameplay with differentiated characters. Difficult but fair. One of Saturn's best 2D action games, often overlooked.
Your verdict
Category
Action2 players7+
Co-op
Description
Sequel to Elevator Action set in a dystopian futuristic city in side-scrolling view. Published by Taito, released in Japan in 1997. Two playable agents in co-op, elevators and spies to neutralize, directional shooting, signs and cars used as projectiles, score-attack mode, detailed visuals and jazz-funk atmosphere. An enhanced Saturn port of the 1994 arcade original.
Elevator Action^2 - Returns review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾0,46 GB📅20/11/1997
Published by Taito
Elevator Action^2 - Returns (Saturn) price, value & rarity
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Collector interest
Japan exclusive Saturn port of Elevator Action Returns, distributed by Taito in November 1997, an arcade conversion of the 1994 reworking of the 1983 Taito classic, with local co op and three playable characters. The cartridge stayed strictly Japanese on Saturn while the PlayStation got a wider distribution, which makes it for Taito Saturn enthusiasts a focused archive piece. Taito Japan run was short, jewel case with intact obi, complete with obi clearly sought after.
An underrated gem
Far from the tame arcade game it descends from, this sequel reshapes the formula into a frantic, co-op run-and-gun of elevators, spies, and shootouts in a dystopian city. Never released boxed outside Japan, it went unnoticed. Short but intense, it'll be a joy for fans of two-player arcade action.
Better with friends
A snappy arcade run-and-gun best savored two-player, where you plunge down buildings via doors, elevators and precise shots, covering each other. Mutual aid is the key: splitting the floors and syncing your dodges turns the descent into a tense ballet. Short and intense, it happily restarts to beat your shared score and laugh at the unexpected slip-ups.
Is Elevator Action^2 - Returns still worth playing in 2026?
A direct sequel to the Taito arcade classic, Elevator Action Returns offers a retro 2D shoot where three secret agents infiltrate buildings via elevators by eliminating enemies. The polished dark pixel art direction, two player cooperative mode and tactical handling make it an absolutely overlooked gem of the Saturn catalogue. For anyone fond of retro 2D shoots or seeking an excellent Taito arcade conversion on the Sega machine, a warm recommendation still valid today without hesitation for fans truly here indeed.
