RB Community List: 30 Best Retro Gaming Compilations

[retrosportsgamer]

Just looking for the best Doom set - so tentatively crossed that one out. If we think the PSN only comp is best - let's add it.

[Xeogred]

The PSN release includes No Rest For the Living, originally an XBLA exclusive. This is not on the Steam release though.

Doom Classic Complete PSN:

- Ultimate Doom ~ 35
- Doom 2 ~ 32
- Final Doom (Plutonia + TNT) ~ 64
- Doom 2 Master Levels ~ 21
- No Rest For the Living ~ 8

160 maps.

That's a lot of Doom. Very good deal.

Like the BFG Edition, this has the edited medpack icons. But that's hardly a big deal.

[TEKTORO]

Just looking for the best Doom set - so tentatively crossed that one out. If we think the PSN only comp is best - let's add it.

I agree bro, nice work and input so far
I get giddy thinking about Sonic UGC, never grew up with Sega and feel that comp is way crazy good I love everything on it there's almost too much. Haha

[miked]

Surprised to see no mention of the Namco Museum series. Thats been going on for years and has a ton of entries, so I would have no idea which would be considered the best, but surely the series deserves a spot on the list.

I would like to see the Sega 6-Pak mentioned for historical purposes more than anything, but do understand that its far from the best Sega compilation.

[retrosportsgamer]

Surprised to see no mention of the Namco Museum series. Thats been going on for years and has a ton of entries, so I would have no idea which would be considered the best, but surely the series deserves a spot on the list.

I would like to see the Sega 6-Pak mentioned for historical purposes more than anything, but do understand that its far from the best Sega compilation.

I brought up Namco on the previous page; we need to whittle down the best. I threw out the Namco Museum Virtual Arcade, which has:

Xbox Live Arcade Games

Dig Dug (1982)
Galaga (1981)
Galaga Legions (2008)
Mr. Driller Online (2008)
Ms. Pac-Man (1982)
New Rally-X (1981)
Pac-Man (1980)
Pac-Man Championship Edition (2007)
Xevious (1982)

Museum Games

Baraduke (1985)
Bosconian (1981)
Dig Dug II (1985)
Dragon Buster (1985)
Dragon Spirit (1987)
Galaga '88 (1987)
Galaxian (1979)
Grobda (1984)
King & Balloon (1980)
Mappy (1983)
Metro-Cross (1985)
Motos (1985)
Pac & Pal (1983)
Pac-Mania (1987)
Pole Position (1982)
Pole Position II (1983)
Rally-X (1980)
Rolling Thunder (1986)
Sky Kid (1985)
Sky Kid Deluxe (1986)
Super Pac-Man (1982)
The Tower of Druaga (1984)
Arrangement Games

Dig Dug Arrangement (2005)
Galaga Arrangement (2005)
Pac-Man Arrangement (2005)

Potential issue is its limited to just the 360, but there's a lot packed in here, including their XBLA stand-alone games.

[Jagosaurus]

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.

Darius Gaiden and Elevator Action Returns here are note worthy additions for Taito Legends 2. Save your Saturn collection a few hundred right there!

Still reading through the other nominations before I mention any of my own. It's a weird concept... we can emulate all of these on a PC but there's something freaking cool about playing an arcade perfect (hopefully) port off a disc on a Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo console. I don't get why I dig this so much ... but it's fun & a cool novelty.

[Jagosaurus]

OP list Midway Arcade Treasures 3 twice.

Vampire: Darkstalkers Collection
ヴァンパイア ダークストーカーズコレクション
Okay, your going to need an import console or a modded PS2. Go DL the .iso now! I can confirm this will boot from the PS2 HDD for any one running OPL. Must have MDMA 0 enabled & cold boot.



Via wiki:

Vampire: Darkstalkers Collection (ヴァンパイア ダークストーカーズコレクション Vanpaia Dākusutāzu Korekushon?) is a compilation of all five Darkstalkers arcade games that were released in Japan only for the PlayStation 2 in 2005...

IGN called it "one of the finest compilations ever" and a "true, wait-free arcade perfection."

Speaking of wiki, get ready to reference a wiki release table quite a bit to know which game you're actually playing. This is a series I really enjoy, but geeze are the name changes between US & JPN territories are confusing.

Before this my exposure to the series was Sega Saturn Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge, aka Vampire Hunter: Darkstalkers' Revenge in JPN... again with these similar names between sequels across regions. I digress. Also, from the NGPC fighting games. Of course, I've played as the characters as well in the MvC universe.

I was thrilled to get this import collection running on my PS2 & while I don't think any fighting game will ever surpass SF2 for me (nostalgia glasses!), these are up there with the MvC games for me. I also love horror so the tight Capcom SF gameplay, beautiful sprite work, hectic gameplay, with horror elements throughout... right up my alley.

This series has never received the attention it deserves in the States (not counting cosplay ). Another "compilation" was released on PS3/360 but IIRC it is only 2 titles, not all 5. Was it DL only also? Have to go for the PS2 import collection!

This one I'd love to master & write an article on all 5 within the collection. Just not enough Stateside coverage on these.

Dang Lycans...

[marlowe221]

The two recent Atari Flashback compilations for Xbox One and PS4 deserve a mention here. They are sold as two volumes but are probably best regarded as one collection. There are 100 games in this collection, including some excellent arcade ports of the classics that Atari ported to the VCS.

There is also the very similiar (maybe identical) Atari Vault collection on Steam for PC.

[Jagosaurus]

Time to start debating what makes the top 30? Doubt we have too many more recommendations.

[retrosportsgamer]

Yeah going to give the rest of the week. I've been tied up this week and haven't had a chance to post.