RB Community List: 30 Best Retro Gaming Compilations

[retrosportsgamer]

I'll put in for the Mega Man Anniversary Collection on PS2, Xbox, and Gamecube.

Mega Man
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 3
Mega Man 4
Mega Man 5
Mega Man 6
Mega Man 7
Mega Man 8
Mega Man The Power Battle
Mega Man 2 The Power Fighters

It also has an assortment of extra content like concept art, remix tracks, even the pilot episode of the Mega Man cartoon.

This is going to be a good discussion; Mega Man Legacy Collection (current gen + portable) vs. Mega Man Anniversary Collection. The added games here is a perk (four extra).

I guess Anniversary Collection stands unopposed?

Is the GameCube the only version where the buttons can't be swapped to their original layout?

[marurun]

I think the GC version also lacks the remixed soundtracks.

[Michi]

Haven't seen anyone mention Gradius Collection (PSP).

Gradius
Gradius II
Gradius III
Gradius IV
Gradius Gaiden

If I'm not mistaken, I don't think it was released on any other platform.

[alienjesus]

Activision Anthology is essential as well. I believe the PC version has the largest number of games.

The PC version does (I own it). All the Imagic titles and many homebrews are there.

I'm also going with the previously suggsted Game & Watch Gallery 4 on GBA. It just has so much!

aren't the DS G&W collections better?

The DS G&W collections only contain 3 games each. The G&W Gallery games contain 5-20 a piece.

DS collections are more accurate recreations due to screen layout & size though, arguably. Honestly not too big a strike against the Gallery titles though, it makes very little difference to playability for most of the games.

[nightrnr]

I don't think that Taito Legends 2 was officially endorsed yet, so...

Taito Legends 2.
This has a remarkable (if slightly obscure) set of arcade games, 39 in all (per version). Most of these I never got to play back in the day, and I doubt I'm alone on that. It has a greater selection of games than the 1st one and many that are 2-player (or more) and shooting games, so is great for parties. In particular, it is a must for Space Invader fans, as Space Invaders 95 (aka Attack of the Lunar Loonies) is not to be missed (think Parodius, only Space Invaders).

The Xbox and PS2 have 4 exclusives each, as most are aware. I am not completely partial to one over the other, as I really like G-Darius and Raystorm (which are on the PS2 collection, but also available on PS1), but only have access to Bubble Symphony (which is AWESOME) and RayForce on the oXbox port (and I won't shell out for the Saturn ports).
...also Cadash...

...but then you can emulate arcades on the oXbox easy enough and Taito Legends 2 is pretty hard to come by (being a PAL exclusive that happens to play perfectly on NTSC systems).
So I might give the nod to PS2.

Taito Legends 2 needs to be on this list. I revere it at least as much as the Capcom Classics.

[BoneSnapDeez]

I know Midway has been mentioned here. Isn't Midway Arcade Origins the best singular one?
It has:

720°
APB
Arch Rivals
Bubbles
Championship Sprint
Defender
Defender II
Gauntlet
Gauntlet II
Joust
Joust 2
Marble Madness
Pit-Fighter
Rampage
Rampart
Robotron: 2084
Root Beer Tapper
Satan's Hollow
Sinistar
Smash TV
Spy Hunter
Spy Hunter II
Super Off Road
Super Sprint
Toobin'
Total Carnage
Tournament Cyberball 2072
Vindicators Part II
Wizard of Wor
Xenophobe
Xybots

Just a thought too...... If we're gonna end up "ranking" these, wouldn't comps dedicated to a single company or system generally trump those dedicated to a specific series? "Objectively" speaking, at least. Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, Capcom Classics Collection Vol 1, and so on have something for everyone, while, say, the Metal Gear Solid Legacy Collection would only appeal to fans of one specific franchise.

[Tanooki]

Has to be a physical collection you can own for the shelf. NES classic is a neat suggestion, but doesn't fit the scope of the project. Humble bundles certainly don't (although I appreciated the idea that the staunchest physical non-vaporware supporter would be a proponent for digital titles).

Fair enough, and I've got my tolerances with digital. When you can download it and put it on your own physical media I'm a 100% supporter of it. The NG 25th just like anything on GoG you can do this with so I'm totally behind that.

Just a little added perspective, Twinkle Star Sprites I think is around the $300-600 range for a MVS cart to get the same ROM set given to you for basically (total pack considered) maybe 50 cents. In theory if you wanted, you own it, so if you had the tools and a spare board, you could make your own MVS conversion cart for an arcade cabinet with it.

While not one to count within a top30, I want to give a shout out to the NGPC Japanese only release of Rockman Battle & Fighters, it is a compilation cart of both the arcade games converted to the NGPC format and it's truly fantastic.


I have not skimmed the total list as it's a busy day, but I have gameboy on the mind today because of a truly epic find. In the UK you had Konami GB Collection Vol 1-4 which had all their early pre-SuperGB era GB games (mostly arcade or OG GB games from notable franchises) on each cart (4 a piece, 16 total) colorized. The JP release was poorer and only SGB colored so it sucks. Bugs me still can't get a hold of #4 as it's my #1 GBC priority and has been since last summer. I have no idea why it's few and far between as it was produced as much as the others. I had all 4 CIB back 15 years ago.

Another worthwhile to mention would be the Game & Watch Gallery 1-4 (1-3GB/GBC and #4 GBA) which have most of the G&W library between all releases both with LCD mode and a modern mode with a ton of unlockable museum stuff from art, blurbs and even full hidden games.

On the GBA front -- Pinball Challenge Deluxe (UK only sadly) which has both the classic digital pinball games (4 a piece so 8 in this cart) of Pinball Dreams and Pinball Fantasies (from Amiga originally, then DOS, GB, GG, SNES, PS Minis, mobile, etc.) DICE made tables, fantastic.

And just for a laugh not serious with this, DK Classics on the NES with DK+DK Jr in one cart. They may not be arcade perfect, but it's at least the best of the era releases and in one cart.

[retrosportsgamer]

Did they ever fix the NG 25th issues ? It played at 2x speed for me and many others had issues. Since it was essentially just legal roms for MAME then, I dismissed it.

But your point about it having very expensive games available on it is a + point for me when weighting these. The Kirby Collection is another where you're getting legit physical versions of expensive SNES games.

Also - can you still purchase it?

[Xeogred]

Haven't seen anyone mention Gradius Collection (PSP).

Gradius
Gradius II
Gradius III
Gradius IV
Gradius Gaiden

If I'm not mistaken, I don't think it was released on any other platform.

A rare PSP game that I actually own... too bad I hate the d-pad for these.

[Michi]

Okay, how about EA replay?

Wing Commander
Wing Commander: Secret Missions
Budokan
Mutant League Football
Desert Strike
Jungle Strike
B.O.B.
Road Rash
Road Rash II
Road Rash III
Haunting Starring Polterguy
Syndicate
Ultima: The Black Gate
Virtual Pinball

Just a thought too...... If we're gonna end up "ranking" these, wouldn't comps dedicated to a single company or system generally trump those dedicated to a specific series? "Objectively" speaking, at least. Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, Capcom Classics Collection Vol 1, and so on have something for everyone, while, say, the Metal Gear Solid Legacy Collection would only appeal to fans of one specific franchise.

Maybe the list should be split into two? One list for collections that have a variety of content and one that covers collections that have a specific focus, like the series collections?

Should there be a 'wall of shame' at the bottom of the article that points out collections to generally avoid? I know the Silent Hill collection, for instance, is reviled by series fans for multiple reasons.