Best Namco Museum Iteration? Other Retrocomps worth our time

[TheRev]

With No Retron 5 being under my tree this year I decided to stock up on Retro compilations and GBA carts.

I'm getting all 5 PS1 volumes (hopefully 5 is a bit pricey) to play on my PS3. But there are other Namco Museums 50th anniversary for all the last gen stuff (or last last gen) There's a collection for 360 PSP collections, DS ect.

Which one do you feel is the best one?

While we're at it what Retro compilations are worth looking into? I noticed there are a ton for PS1. Which interest me becuase, they're Retro compliations, on a now retro system.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

5 is the best because it has Densetsu no Valkyrie, which is not available on any other console (there's a TG16 version, but the levels are different).

That and Namco 50th anniversary on xbox, gamecube, or ps2 will have you covered. The PC version has starforce though, stay away.

[TheRev]

50th has Rolling thunder which was on Encore in Japan but none of the other games from Encore (NO WONDER MOMO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!)

[BoneSnapDeez]

The problem I have with those Namco comps is they all seem to only contain 4 or 5 games each. I would love to see Namco release a 30 game comp someday.

Some others I either own or have been looking to buy:
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1
Data East Arcade Classics
Midway Arcade Origins
Intellivision Lives!
Taito Legends

That are various Capcom and Komani comps that look stellar as well.

I swear that most of my "current gen" gaming is spent on these compilations.

[TheRev]

The problem I have with those Namco comps is they all seem to only contain 4 or 5 games each. I would love to see Namco release a 30 game comp someday.

Some others I either own or have been looking to buy:
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1
Data East Arcade Classics
Midway Arcade Origins
Intellivision Lives!
Taito Legends

That are various Capcom and Komani comps that look stellar as well.

I swear that most of my "current gen" gaming is spent on these compilations.

I'm thinking of getting a few of those. Bummed the Data East one is Wii Only.
Midway Orgins too, I have the older arcade treasures but my XBOX (Original) is not working. Need to rebuy Taito legends for that same reason too.

[BurningDoom]

I ADORE these things. You get so much bang for your buck, when they're good. The best ones out there:

-Activision Anthology (PS2) - A collection of Activision Atari 2600 games, which were arguably better than the Atari first-party games.
-Atari Anthology (PS2/Xbox) - A collection of first-party Atari 2600 games. 85 of them.
-Capcom Classics Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (PS2/Xbox) - Two great collections of classic Capcom games that any gamer from the 80s to early 90s are sure to love.
-Data East Arcade Classics (Wii) - Title says it all. A gem for 80s arcade fans.
-Mega Man Anniversary Collection (PS2/Xbox/GameCube - Collects Mega Man 1-8, plus 2 previously only released in Japan games as unlockables.
-Mega Man X Collection (PS2/GameCube) - Collects Mega Man X 1-6, plus the rare Mega Man racing game.
-The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition (GameCube) - Collects the NES and N64 Zelda games.
-Mega Man: Zero Collection (Nintendo DS) - Collection Mega Man: Zero 1-4.
-Metal Slug Anthology (PS2/Wii) - Collects Metal Slug 1-6 & MS X.
-Midway Arcade Treasures 3 (PS2/Xbox/GameCube)- You know, everyone seems to love these. But to tell the truth, I thought the first 2 were weak. You got a few good games on each, with the rest of the titles really just being filler. But in the 3rd collection, you're treated to a slew of great arcade racing games from the 80s.
-Pinball Hall of Fame: Williams Collection and Gottileb Collection (PS2/Wii) - Two fan-freaking-tastic video pinball collection of actual Pinball tables that range from the 50s to the 80s. Very nice attention to detail on these tables.
-Samurai Shodown Anthology (PS2/Wii) - Collects the Samurai Shodown games.
-SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 (PS2/Wii) - Collect 16 of the best first-party Neo Geo MVS games. Unfortunately, we never did see a Vol. 2 released.
-Sonic Mega Collection Plus (PS2/Xbox/GameCube) - Collects the ALL the Genesis Sonic games and a few Game Gear titles, plus a couple non-Sonic unlockables.
-Sonic Gems Collection (GameCube) - Collects the Sega Master System, Sega CD, and Sega Saturn Sonic games.
-Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection (Xbox 360/PS3) - A fantastic collection of 40 of the best first-party Sega Genesis games as well as a few Master System and Arcade Classics as well.
-Street Fighter Anniversary Collection (PS2/Xbox) - Collects all the different iterations of Street Fighter II.
-Street Fighter: Alpha Anthology (PS2) - Collects the Street Fighter: Alpha games.
-Super Mario All-Stars (SNES/Wii) - Collects Super Mario Bros. 1-3, and Super Bros.: Lost Levels (SMB 2 in Japan). There's also a more rare SNES version (in addition to the normal SNES version) of the game that includes Super Mario World as well.
-Taito Legends 2 (PS2/Xbox) - I haven't played the first one, so I can't really say how it is. But this 2nd one is a fan-freaking-tastic collection for shoot-em up fans. It's worth the price of admission for Darius Gaiden and G-Darius alone.

[BoneSnapDeez]

-SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 (PS2/Wii) - Collect 16 of the best first-party Neo Geo MVS games. Unfortunately, we never did see a Vol. 2 released.

There is a Volume 0 of pre-Neo Geo SNK games. Ikari Warriors, Athena, Psycho Soldier, Guerrilla War, Touch Down Fever, and a bunch more... It's Japan-only though.

[ExedExes]

I collect these like crazy, here's what I have as of right now --

On the PC - (good point by V-F there about the nasty StarForce protection, but you can find ways around it if you search hard enough)

Taito Legends

Taito Legends 2 (has StarForce)

Midway Arcade Treasures (good collection, but it sadly re-uses the Windows 95 ports from the old Williams Arcade Classics discs, so it may not run good on anything Vista and up)

Midway Arcade Treasures Deluxe (contains Arcade Treasures 2 & 3, but they also have StarForce. MAT 2 also has missing sounds and music, a patch is available)

Sega Mega Pack (contains a lot of old Sega stuff, but again, borrows from Win 95 ports so compatability on newer systems can be hazy)

Activision Anthology Remix (the best version of Activision Anthology, it has the most games too, more than the console ports!)

Atari 80 Games In One (again, Vista and up may have some issues running it)

On GBA:

Activision Anthology (2nd best compared to the PC)

Pac Man Collection (includes Pac Man Arrangement!)

Konami Arcade Advanced (Konami code enhances these ports even further)

On GameCube:

Namco Museum 50th Anniversary (PC port indeed has StarForce so I avoided it)

Mega Man Anniversary Collection (GC port has the Making of Mega Man from G4 as bonus!)

Mega Man X Collection

Midway Arcade Treasures 2 (probably the best in the MAT series)

Sonic Gems Collection (SONIC CD IS BEST SONIC)

Intellvision Lives! (Very nice collection of Intellvision stuff)

This thread here has a bit more in-depth conversation with a focus on arcade comps.

[BurningDoom]

Since we're on the subject, here's a list of compilations that I think we absolutely need to see happen (and I'm having a little fun with the names, here):

-Castlevania: Legacy Collection (Castlevania 1-4, Rondo of Blood, Bloodlines, and Symphony of the Night)
-Contra: Memoirs of War (Contra 1, 3, & 4, Super C, and Hard Corps)
-Donkey Kong Collected - (DK 1 & 3 and DK Jr. + DKC 1-3)
-The Original Crash Bandicoot Trilogy
-Konami Klassics (NES, SNES, Arcade, and Genesis titles)
-Metroid: The Samus Chronicles (Metroid 1 & 2, Super Metroid, Fusion, and Zero Mission)
-Ninja Gaiden Collection (NG 1-3 (NES), NG Arcade, & NG Master System)
-The Original Spyro the Dragon Trilogy
-Resident Evil Revisited (RE 1-3 + Code Veronica)
-Sega Shooters (Pack in a light-gun with it and include Virtua Cop 1-3, House of the Dead 1-3, and the Sega Jurassic Park & Lost World arcade games)
-TurboGrafx-16 Essentials (Essential TG-16 games like the Bonk Trilogy, Blazing Lazers, Super Star Soldier, Ys 1 & 2, Neutopia 1 & 2, etc.)

[AppleQueso]

-Metal Gear Origins (MG 1 & 2, Snake's Revenge, and MGS 1)

You're pretty much never going to see Snake's Revenge on a compilation, but the entire series (including Metal Gear 1 and 2) has been collected several times at this point. They're all on the Legacy Collection at least.