At it's core, originally compilation games were getting more games for cheaper. It was perfect among jump starting your video game collection. Just going by 2020-2025 I played some truly fantastic games. Some of these even became among my absolute favorite games ever!!! There's a very clear difference between bundles and compilation games.
Bundles is simply every game included you must install separately. Now there do exist some compilation games you gotta buy games for. But those can actually play all the games. I know a bit confusing I apologize. I can assure you a few truly decent compilation games can go a rather long way. Personally I prefer a solid connection for them.
Either made by the same company/indie developers. They don't have to be the same genre. I do like to have some variety within the game play myself. A lot of them either sticks to one platform or attempts a few of them. Both sides of this has their advantages. Compilations that sticks to one platform. The developers has a much easier time fully emulating all the games included.
Compilations emulating games from multiple platforms are tricker. Depending on which platforms they're emulating from. This is more difficult to carefully pull off in comparison. When I gave praise to compilations doing that I do truly mean it. On one side you directly appeal to a particular fan base. Either of a particular franchise or an gaming platform.
A great example of this was Sega Genesis Classics. Which has over fifty Genesis games or slightly more in Steam version. In vice versa, it's a higher demand. You get an handful of platforms to a lot of them like Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection coming out this Friday. There's extra pressure to nail the emulation of every game included.
Obviously every gaming platform differs in many ways especially through emulation. It's like they work at different frequencies maybe that's a bit too deep. The amount of games sometimes doesn't matter much. The lowest amount to be considered an compilation game is two games. Which is pretty compare even by today's standards.
I considered these the easy compilation games to make. Not meant to directly disrespect companies doing it either. For a smaller, decent amount of games collections. It's not the amount but rather the overall ratio that truly matters. You want enough of them to feel satisfied. A good example being Swords & Souls Legacy Collection.
You get five flash games that felt complete together. Now missing a game or two could heavily impact this. Dragon Ball Z Budokai HD Collection lacked Budokai 2. Suddenly it's not an complete collection. Having that ratio is critical for finding great compilation games. Personally want the bonus content especially never seen before stuff.
This has little impact on them. At the same time, a lot of it ends up being pretty sweet stuff. Achievement/trophy hunting notably differs. Some of them doesn't include something for every game included. Just like the extra content has little impact on the overall experience. What truly does matter is emulation done right.
Also if they offer any changes to the game play. Which could be a double edge sword. Depending on the games within the compilation. Some changes could make it a bit more enjoyable or a bit easier. For some compilations, this actually could take away a lot from the experience. It really depends which games are included honestly.
Sometimes they add in some cool alternative modes. Even if some of them aren't well executed. Let's take X Challenge mode from either Mega Man X Legacy Collection game for an example. On paper, you take on two bosses at once was a great idea. Unfortunately, a lot of bosses aren't presented. Also the only real major different between the two similar compilation games.
Every third boss fight of a set was different that's it. In other words, this mode ended up as a huge disappointment. The first Mega Man Legacy Collection game had challenges that goes between the Mega Man classic games. Now majority of the challenges I played doing that was well executed. Sometimes they can't include everything for several reasons.
Either the team couldn't emulate particular platforms or legal issues or the company said no. The last being companies ultimately approves to teams making these compilation games. Which available games gets in as well as what doesn't make the cut at all. Again Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection is a good example of that.
Some retro compilations mostly Digital Eclipse does additional games through paid DLCs. Honestly, I'm okay paying for a few games especially SNES Aladdin game. If there wasn't all additional games deal I wouldn't be happy about it. Majority of compilation games are finalized lineup games. A large number of them are reasonably prices.
A lot of them are notably smaller in size from bigger sized video games. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection & Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics respectively. Quite luckily, every company involved wanted to deliver everything!!! This is quite rare for licensed compilation games.
Both of those are among the golden standard compilation games. Right now TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection is the best higher game count compilation game I ever played!!! It's possible to make crazier amount compilation games to work. Just don't expect it to be like that you won't be disappointed. This might be a me thing you gotta be able to play through all the games included.
Some compilation games gives you more than enough to achieve doing that!!! I absolutely loved a new game debuts through these as well. A great example being Haunted Castle Revisited through Castlevania Dominus Collection. The same Castlevania compilation has the original Arcade version among the worst Castlevania games I ever played!!!
Then you play the new version wow it's truly great stuff!!! Suddenly I'm thankful that's in the same compilation game as well. I wouldn't had that wow factor without it. Some of these made games that bad playable is quite an statement. Just imagine how much better some of the finest video games within compilation games became.
Either you have a mostly short length compilation meaning all the included games aren't long at all. Some of them can be quite lengthy in comparison. I even felt some of those could justify not having additional stuff to still do well on their own. I know some expects some huge bugs to get fix. Honestly, if any bug that could freeze your game or cause it to crash.
Those bug fixes I deeply welcomed. Compilation games kept getting more amazingly overtime. Digital Eclipse broke new ground with it's revolutionary documentary style. Which also in the upcoming MK game as well. This also became a better method to properly bring back classic video games. I do appreciate the same teams making several compilation games.
Compared to kept swapping em out for Mega Man Legacy Collection games. Seriously what's the deal with that Capcom? I think another notable factor is this heavily represents. Retro gaming simply had games holding up better or at least ended up being more interesting than a lot of newer games. Aspects of both heavily represented within compilation games.
I wanna be clear I didn't get into compilation games because of budgets. No a lot of them instantly gotten my interest. Majority of them were quite amazing video games. Once in a while I'll run into Zombies Ate My Neighbors + Ghoul Patrol situation. I don't wanna say cash grab just everything was notably off overall.
An small handful of games collections can be truly amazing stuff. Now finding actual decent higher games amount compilations is difficult. Some of those simply has too many games for you to properly focus. Which also deeply impacts the ratio you'll need to enjoy em. I felt both Capcom Arcade Stadium games were amazing despite some issues.
There's also compilation games with many similar games included. Like half the first Capcom Fighting Collection was Darkstalkers series. Mostly two of them with every Arcade alternative versions. Stuff like this heavily depends if you're that into the franchise or not. Personally I absolutely love Darkstalkers a lot I'm fine with it.
Some also could criticize TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection that also plays into that. Same with Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics to a degree as well. Yet I felt those compilation games justified themselves for that not really being an issue. Of course, depending what's included could bring back a lot of nostalgia.
You would be quite surprised how content filled games within many compilation games truly are? We're talking virtually mind blowing stuff. Even considering bigger RPG games that's packed with content. I could argue a lot of compilation games I played beats those by a ridiculous amount of content. I know some view compilation games as budget games nothing more.
More recently, compilation games became a great way to properly bring back many franchises. Even compilation games that isn't from the same franchise. But so happened to be developed and published by the same companies is also quite often. A good example being Sega Vintage Collection games. Sadly you can't buy any of these compilation games anymore.
Yes four out of five represented particular franchises. There was one that had three random Sega classics packaged together. It had Alex Kidd in Miracle World on Sega Master System. It also included Hang-On on Arcade and The Revenge of Shinobi on Sega Genesis respectively. Three vastly different Sega games from three platforms in one collection was rather unexpected for it's time.
This is why a company connection ends up being critical as well. Without that connection don't expect your compilation games to do well. People often forget so many games included in these compilation games. Realistically cost a ridiculous amount of money for just the actual cartridges/disc. Not to mention, Arcade cabinets can be pretty expensive.
Compilation games actually saves you a mind blowing amount of money you may not even realize. I do also appreciate being able to pause Arcade games. An easier save/load system could go a long way. Two remastered compilations from Nightdive truly brought those classics back. They even added newer levels to spice things up.
Another thing is compilation games for the most part comes out on most platforms. You have no excuse not owning any of them. You might prefer one game at a time. You technically could do that with compilation games to a degree. Plus you can switch to another game when you're ready. A lot of them also includes soundtracks to all games included.
Which is rather nice you just wanna listen to music. Some of them goes out their way to make amazing intros. It's not often I see them have fun with the ending credits. The more recent of that I seen was Castlevania Dominus Collection. Compilation games became a great way to attempt getting into other platforms you may never played before.
For me trying to remember every platform across every compilation game I played. We're talking a rather long list of platforms no joke. It's perfect you want a more clear idea what to like from some platforms. You also need to realize some newer versions of video games aren't great. Which could cause people to not buy anymore compilation games.
Honestly most of the games I played through em been very decent quality. Sega Classics Collection mostly had two versions of Columns while everything else wasn't great. Sega also had issues with Sonic Origins Plus as well. Which was rather disappointing being it's main flagship franchise. In some cases, you gotta pick and choose which versions you like the most?
For me, a great example indirectly involves an compilation game. I wasn't happy with the newer version of Duke Nukem 3D for many reasons. I actually greatly prefer Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition way more. Sometimes it's the little things that ends up making the biggest differences. Especially if you're going by nostalgia alone.
Compilation games quickly became one of my most demanded genres. It easily could represent so many genres depending on which games included. A true gamer would welcome such an unique experience. Load times is virtually non existent even before they focus on cutting it down in newer video games. It's so easy to marathon a great compilation game for hours nonstop.
The insane amount of work that goes into a lot of these is really impressive stuff!!! It's hard to make over ten games compilations enjoyable. Let's be honest, it's possible to like bigger amounts compilation games. In all honestly, it's up to you. If you truly wanna attempt getting into all those video games. Rare Replay may had a couple games needed to be installed outside the compilation.
Not to mention, those same games had to exclusively be played outside it altogether. You still have two ways to playing em. Either by default if they're installed just select the one you wanna play. You also could select to play em through Rare Replay as well. Rare Replay may actually have too much content for an compilation game honestly.
To be fair, Rare Replay is such a great compilation game despite it's flaws. Some of the later Xbox 360 games lags from emulation to a degree. Battletoads Arcade has getting freeze during the final boss fight issue. I still felt it's easily among the best thirty games compilations I ever played!!! I also love they put some effort into the games selection screen.
Some of them are quite amazing stuff as well. Like TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection does this cool comic book style. Compilation games are already holding up better than actual newer video games. Which is both sad and brutal honestly really disappointing!!! I also love upon looking at the games you see game play or other cool stuff from the games.
They don't need to label years of release. Although I do welcome it on some occasions. I also liked when they specify which platform that game being emulated from. A lot of compilations I played does that. Some of them don't which is fine by now. I strongly felt eventually you'll find the right compilation game you can not stop playing!!!
I especially love you see how much some companies cares for their own franchises. When you see such a lackluster overall presentation in an compilation game. You're in for a rather terrible time. You want the compilation games given proper care. I played enough compilation games to fill up some of my digital gaming collections.
In some cases, unavoidably you'll get some that has a few famous bad games. A lot of them also has games that's rather not known by a lot of people. My best advice is if you try em. Try to find a game or two you like within the compilation games you're playing. This is always a great way to know. If you may actually end up loving it or being roughly 50/50 or not liking it at all.
There's no fourth option here. The main reason I often go for compilation games. I simply wanna play a lot of games I missed out on. Especially a few series thanks to compilation games I'm now into. Castlevania and Mega Man X to name a few. Just when you thought you never play em. A compilation game with em comes out instantly getting your attention.
It's almost like an kid at an candy store. I hope their parents doesn't buy em too much candy lol. Compilation games is a great way to better understand. Yourself as well as which game genres you enjoy more? I especially love compilation games with so many genres it's insanity!!! I do see parts of the gaming future being more great compilation games coming out.
Atari 50 already changed the world. If the gaps kept getting shorter overtime. This obviously means more gamers gotten into compilation games as I predicted. I rather spend an hundred dollars on a few compilation games than one huge newer video game not sorry GTA VI. Honestly, I'm deeply thankful for compilation games in general.