EastasiaSoft has released a two game bundle on the PlayStation 5 called The CUTE ’em UP Collection. This consists of Takotan and Exo-Calibre on a single PlayStation 5 game disc. Lets check out these titles and see what this bundle has to offer.
In Takotan, humanity stands on the brink of total annihilation following a surprise invasion by relentless extraterrestrial forces. Rather than relying on traditional military jets or orbital defense platforms, the world’s last hope comes in the form of Takotan: an ultra-cute, weaponized flying octopus who ascends into the sky to battle waves of alien invaders single-handedly.. While not much of a story, as you don’t need one when it comes to shmups; what is here is absurd and rather cute.
EXO-Calibre, by contrast, adopts a lighter, anime inspired mech aesthetic centered on human connection and heroic camaraderie. Set in a vibrant future threatened by invading automaton swarms, the narrative follows a trio of distinct pilots operating high tech armored flight suits. Dialogue unfolds during mid-stage radio chatter and cutscene interludes, focusing on lighthearted banter, pilot rivalries, and optimistic heroics rather than gritty galactic warfare.
Together, both games balance each other’s storytelling styles within the collection. Takotan delivers a delightful monster invasion premise driven by its silent protagonist, while EXO-Calibre grounds its conflict in character-driven pilot interactions. You don’t really need a story when it comes to this genre, but both of these games give you a story that is easy enough to follow without distracting from the hectic mechanics and gameplay.
When it comes to gameplay, both of these titles offer very different styles and are both unique and I am glad they are included in this single collection.
Takotan is a side-scrolling 2D shmup that demands nimble fingers and quick tactical thinking. You are constantly threading the needle through thick screens of enemy fire while juggling a rotating stash of power-ups, from screen-clearing spread shots and piercing lasers to locked-on homing missiles. If you want to survive its tougher stages, “spray and pray” won’t cut it. You need to know exactly when to swap your loadout to shatter specific boss phases and enemy waves.
EXO-Calibre flips the axis to a vertical bullet-hell, doubling down on character variety and high-stakes aggression. You pick from three distinct pilots, each packing their own mobility stats, sub-weapons, and game-changing special abilities. Instead of hanging back at the bottom of the screen, the game actively rewards you for getting right in the enemy’s face, blending close-quarters attacks with long-range barrages to crank up your score multipliers across a varied lineup of game modes.
If you are looking to learn the ropes and enjoy the narrative, Story Mode gives you boosted health pools and unlimited continues. This lets you blast through stages and experience the lighthearted comms dialogue between pilots and mission control without the threat of a quick Game Over. On the other hand, Arcade Mode strips away the dialogue to keep the action fast and uninterrupted, handing you a limited stock of lives and a tighter health bar where every dodge and close-quarters strike counts toward a clean clear.
For players who prefer focused challenges, Boss Rush skips straight to the heavy hitters by pitting you against the game’s massive boss fleet back-to-back, testing your phase recognition and burst damage efficiency under constant pressure. Meanwhile, Time Rush turns the clock into your primary rival, shifting the goal from basic survival to raw efficiency as you push to clear waves and eliminate targets before time runs out. Each mode features its own dedicated online leaderboard, allowing you to chase top scores under completely different rule sets regardless of your preferred playstyle.
Visually, Takotan pops off the screen with a vibrant 16-bit pixel art style, drenched in pastel hues and classic retro sprite work. There is a delightful absurdity to its presentation, pairing charmingly animated designs with apocalyptic backdrops of shattered cities, alien hives, and storm-wracked skies. Nothing highlights this personality quite like the contrast between its adorable octopus hero and the towering, grotesque alien monstrosities standing in your way.
EXO-Calibre dials into a sleek late-90s arcade aesthetic, going all-in on crisp mechanical details and flashy particle effects. The exo-suits, enemy automatons, and screen filling boss units feature sharp linework and smooth animations that feel straight out of a high-octane coin-op cabinet. Even when the action erupts into a chaos of dazzling beam attacks and massive explosions, the visual design keeps overall readability high so you never lose track of incoming bullet patterns.
When played on the PlayStation 5, both titles translate their retro visual styles to modern screens without losing a single drop of detail. Sharp high-definition scaling ensures that Takotan’s pixel work and EXO-Calibre’s detailed sprites stay razor-sharp on 4K displays with zero muddy blurring. It lets the vibrant color palettes from two completely different eras of classic arcade design shine at their absolute best.
When it comes to performance on the PlayStation 5, both titles deliver a flawlessly smooth experience, locking to a rock solid 60 FPS no matter how chaotic things get. In twitch reflex shmups where a single missed frame means a quick death, that stability is everything. Whether Takotan is swarming the screen with dense alien projectiles or EXO-Calibre is unleashing massive, screen filling laser grids, neither game ever hiccups, stutters, or drops a frame.
Control responsiveness on the DualSense feels lightning fast and razor sharp. Standard micro dodges in Takotan and frantic, split second dashes in EXO-Calibre execute immediately without a hint of input delay. On top of that, the PS5’s high speed SSD completely wipes out loading screens. Stage transitions are practically instantaneous, and hitting retry after a bad run gets you right back into the action without waiting around.
The DualSense haptics add a nice touch of physical feedback without overwhelming your hands. Takotan uses light, distinct rumbles to give weight to weapon fires and enemy impacts, while EXO-Calibre relies on sharp tactile pulses to warn you when your shields are failing or when you trigger heavy ordnance. From top to bottom, both games run like a dreams on a technical level.
When it comes to audio, both titles really shine in this department! Takotan sets its pace with a high energy chiptune soundtrack that fits its retro 16 bit look like a glove. Pulsing synth melodies and heavy bass lines drive the tempo forward during frantic stage pushes and frantic boss fights. The sound effects pack a genuine arcade punch, loaded with crunchy laser blasts, crisp power up chimes, and satisfyingly retro explosion sounds.
EXO-Calibre leans heavily into FM synth and synthwave tunes that call back to golden age Japanese mecha shooters. The music shifts dynamically between general stage clearing and intense boss clashes, cranking up the tension right as screen filling attacks erupt. Mid battle voice clips and radio chatter between pilots inject extra personality into every fight, giving the action an authentic arcade atmosphere.
The audio mix on PS5 keeps everything crisp and balanced for both games. Soundtracks stay energetic without drowning out critical combat cues, like incoming missile warnings in Takotan or special attack readiness in EXO-Calibre. Ultimately, both scores do a phenomenal job driving the momentum of the entire package.
Physical Edition from Eastasiasoft LTD.
Eastasiasoft LTD. delivers a standout physical release that packs both games onto a single PlayStation 5 disc. Best of all, both Takotan and EXO-Calibre are completely playable right off the print without forcing any day one patch downloads or annoying digital download codes! That makes this set a fully self contained, double feature treasure for physical game collectors, and those that really care and appreciate preservation of games.
The physical case comes loaded with vibrant cover art. Placing cover and back art from both games seamlessly on the same page. I mean it really looks nice and not like it was a cut and paste type scenario. The print quality on the box art and disc label looks razor sharp and colorful, fitting right in on display shelves next to other top tier indie physical releases.
The CUTE ’em UP Collection combining EXO-Calibre and Takotan on PlayStation 5 is a wonderful double feature that gives two distinct 2D arcade shooters their fair turn in the spotlight. By pairing Takotan’s quirky, side scrolling weapon rotation mechanics with EXO-Calibre’s high speed, vertical pilot driven action, the package delivers incredible variety and tons of replay value.
Technically speaking, both games run like absolute dream on PS5 thanks to sharp 4K scaling, locked 60 FPS performance, lightning fast load times, and punchy DualSense haptics. Whether you are dodging wild projectile patterns as a brave octopus in Takotan or chasing top leaderboard spots with armored mechs in EXO-Calibre, both titles feel responsive, incredibly polished, and deeply satisfying to master.
Backed by a preservation friendly physical release from Eastasiasoft LTD. that puts everything right on the disc, this compilation is a total no brainer for shmup enthusiasts and physical media collectors alike. It is a blast to play, exceptionally well balanced, and a fantastic tribute to modern indie arcade gaming that earns its place on your PS5 shelf!
In addition to writing articles, Ryan Byers also creates content for his YouTube channel called "Obscure Games and Consoles", collects video games, and dabbles in video game development.