Hello everyone I'm XboxClown89, you could consider this an follow up to My Favorite Game is.... The same basic concept except I'm directly pointing out my favorite game compilations. It's no secret, they became a nice alternative to over priced, newer video games. You are getting your money's worth with most not even having dlcs for the most part is a rather nice touch.
It's very difficult to just pick one from a few game companies while others mostly has that one going for them. Obviously, you get to see more directly what exactly my taste in video games is. Honestly, I been wanting to write this for awhile now. There's so much ground I could cover with this topic alone. I figured some of you might be curious hearing what some of my absolute favorite game compilations are.
Today I'll only cover three game companies that's notably present in my life. But all three their names are famous around the world. Despite major mistakes over time of course. Of course, if you have your own favorite game compilations even they're not from these companies. Please feel free to comment & tell me about them pleasantly.
Sega
I played a couple Sega compilations over the years. I kept coming back to two particular Sega compilations that stand the test of time. Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection & Sonic Mega Collection respectively. I will praise Sega Genesis Classics for several reasons. But presentation with unlockables wise, Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection was more of a pleasant surprise to us Sega fans.
Also Sonic Mega Collection Plus didn't properly recreate the audio as well. Yes it has two games depending on regions you might have in the original version as well as half the Game Gear Sonic games. They even changed the extra content to a degree. I think most of us agrees the original GameCube version was the best version.
Honestly, trying to decide which one is better rather tricky. Obviously, both nails the Sonic games. Most versions of Sega Genesis Classics lacks Sonic 3 & Knuckles, a major reason it doesn't end up here. Yes they were represented in halves within Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection. At least, Sonic 3 was mostly presented in that compilation for every versions.
Both have unlockables but Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection has more interesting hidden games you can play. Most of them are Arcade classics with two hidden games directly pulled from Sega Master System. One of a very few game compilations you can play the entire original Phantasy Star series. Also video interviews were done well for it's time.
I also prefer the game selection screen because parts of it represented the actual game console. I do love both games opening including theme songs. I just slightly preferred Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection. Yes all the lock-on games are in Sonic Mega Collection. Which means you can play Sonic 3 a few ways. You can do save states that help improve your chances beating games.
Yes Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection is widely known for being one of the easiest games to get every achievement in. Sonic Mega Collection is an Sonic compilation with it's own surprises in it's Museum Mode. Obviously, if you're a huge Sonic fan you may be leading towards that more. You also get Flicky & Ristar with interesting connections to the franchise.
Which you get by default in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection. You have to do a more annoying method to unlock both those games in Sonic Mega Collection. There's no question, both nails the controls perfectly. It's just difficult to compare an Sonic compilation to an Sega Genesis compilation. Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection represents the system those games originate on way better.
Best Sega compilation is Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Capcom
I played a lot of Capcom compilations as well. I quickly kept coming back to two particular game compilations. Devil May Cry HD Collection & Capcom Fighting Collection respectively. I felt some people might quickly jump on me since I previously preordered Capcom Fighting Collection. Trust me when I say this is a close one folks.
They offer a lot of the same things. Such as displaying artwork, listening to all games' soundtracks and showing off credits. Obviously, both of them are fighting theme in some way. Capcom Fighting Games is filled with fighting games while Devil May Cry series is more of this unique hack & slash style. Personally removing DMC2 would've made that compilation way better.
Hell it worked for Dragon Ball Z: Budokai HD Collection. DMC1 should've been given a bigger screen resolution. Keep in mind, the one change in the more recent version of the compilation. Believe it or not turned out to be the option to go back to the game selection screen. Yeah, originally you couldn't do that.
Which partly makes the newer version the best version for something so small. This isn't even an issue for Capcom Fighting Collection. Also they made plenty of great changes making that an truly unique experience. It has options that quickly wins the entire argument. Even achievement/trophy hunting is better in Capcom Fighting Collection.
Not because there's fewer achievements/trophies either. No it's because you will be more challenged in comparison. You have to commit to getting them all from the start. Thankfully you got plenty of stuff to help improve your chances. Also this compilation marked a few firsts as well. Like this is the first port of the Arcade game, Red Earth.
This also was the first time both updated versions of Vampire Savior got released outside Japan. Sure there isn't many notable changes but as a Darkstalkers fan still nice to have. I'm glad they went with Hyper Street Fighter II. This version allows you to play as every version of every character among Arcade versions.
You can tell this compilation was truly fan service. Still a little weird Capcom quickly does another game compilation, Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium that has half this compilation's game line up. Roughly a month later but Capcom Fighting Collection is the way to go playing those same games. As much I enjoy Devil May Cry HD Collection, it just falls shorts to Capcom Fighting Collection.
Best Capcom compilation is Capcom Fighting Collection
Konami
I got another close one for everyone. There's no surprise two particular game compilations I'm a huge fan of. Konami had more notable involvement with one of these but didn't ruin things. By now, you should already know which two game compilations I'm going to be comparing today. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection & Castlevania Advance Collection.
A lot of the same stuff going for these two as Capcom. I would even argue this is the toughest one by far. Both greatly represented fan service beautifully in their own way. Castlevania Advance Collection is mostly representing an era of Castlevania series on Game Boy Advance. TMNT is representing the entire original Konami TMNT collection.
Two particular eras I felt was nailed perfectly in their respective game compilations. Obviously Castlevania: Dracula X got the short end of the stick. Originally within the in-game strategy guide for TMNT, that were true with TMNT: Tournament Fighters (Genesis). Late last year, they made some changes that fixed the problem.
There's more notable game play styles in TMNT. They also displayed five platforms to compared to two of them. It's mind blowing the additional stuff TMNT has. I will still give credit for Castlevania Advance Collection creating this awesome animation with the four main characters. Now how awesome is that right?
We get to see Richter, Juste, Nathan and Soma working together. You can tell the team had a lot of fun making this. It's the same team that previously done a few game compilations like Castlevania Anniversary Collection. Yes it's the same one also respectable for Contra Anniversary Collection. Both companies are masters at making game compilations in their own way.
One annoying thing is because of the method they used to get a lot of that extra content into the game. You have to wait a little longer before you can see em better. Which isn't a program in Castlevania Advance Collection. There's no secret Castlevania Advance Collection has more enjoyable achievement/trophy hunting.
Every single achievement/trophy within TMNT is simply beat the games. There's much more you do within Castlevania Advance Collection. Also I felt characters mostly in Advance trilogy are better animated with more cool stuff you could do. Yes those are lengthy games but they're packed with content as well.
All three of them have additional modes you can play as well. Which further helps to keep things refreshing. It doesn't mean TMNT is down for the count. They have additional features to make these games more replayable as well. There's more notable emulator options in Castlevania Advance Collection.
Honestly, I'm really pulling hairs to decide which one is the best Konami compilation I played. Castlevania Advance Collection has some sick animations while TMNT has a better game selection screen. Castlevania has cooler graphics while TMNT does have more awesome soundtracks. Although, Castlevania has more interesting enemy variety as well as the bosses.
TMNT does offer online play for five TMNT games. Castlevania does bounce back with more forgiving game play. I think most of us can agree both of these are way better than Castlevania Anniversary Collection. It really does come down to personal taste. If you are a bigger Castlevania fan, you may enjoy Castlevania Advance Collection more
If you are a bigger TMNT fan, you may enjoy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection more. I can promise you both of them really does their respective franchises justice. I am not kidding they're both very decent game compilations. Even the closest things to call issues aren't real issues at all.
If you are more into having a variety in terms of the amount of platforms as well as game play styles. You are more likely going to enjoy TMNT more. But if you are more into impressive handheld games, you are more likely going to enjoy Castlevania more. I'm actually considering giving this one a tie. After much needed thought, Castlevania Advance Collection.
There's a few things I didn't even mention yet that ended up being the difference for me. For example, one surprising option you can't do in TMNT is create your own playlist. Yes you can select songs from all four games within Castlevania Advance Collection to create your own playlist is a very nice touch. Not only that, the maps are much more than in TMNT 3: Radical Rescue as well.
I am not just saying that because all the maps featured in GBA Castlevania trilogy are notably bigger. No, the way they went about the map screen inevitable leaves to confusion later on. In comparison, the more you explore of the maps. The more of it that becomes a different color to help you find your path. Yes the same problem could occur here as well.
If you look closely on GBA Castlevania trilogy. You can actually see which directions you can enter or exit areas from. I felt in Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance it's the trickiest with three different colors excluding the default unexplored color. Sadly none of that is within TMNT 3: Radical Rescue at all. So if you are planning to use the map to get around, you may not know how the map actually presented.
Basically, it lacks marks to letting you know ways into that area. Yes with an feature you can now see where doors, keys and bosses are. Part of that GBA Castlevania trilogy doesn't do is reveal where key items are on the map as well as the bosses. Yet you still get more useful upgrades. Not to mention, all three Castlevania games has an leveling system to help better your chances too.
You actually could find a short area quickly kill enemies then leave the area. Come right back to repeat the process as much as needed to level up your characters. Keep in mind, being under leveled has it's fair share of it's pros and cons. Of course, GBA Castlevania trilogy also has it's secret areas as well. You also have an easier to spot cursor representing your location on the map too.
Another major factor is Castlevania Advance Collection improved on a few issues I had with another compilation. Obviously I'm referring Castlevania Anniversary Collection. Such as having the ability to rewind. Yes TMNT also has that as well. They also made it even easier to access your save states as well.
Nathan has card combinations with some difficult to master. Soma has this awesome souls system that greatly affects the game play. Juste uses spell books that helps improves his chances. Yes all of them have stuff that could be considered as being op, I won't argue that. There's also plenty of locations to save your process in-game within all three GBA Castlevania games as well.
Thus, there's another way to save your process is kinda a game changer here. You also can easily change the region of which version while on game selection screen too. Yes in a few TMNT games like TMNT: Tournament Fighters (SNES), there's some notable changes. I just felt in a few ways Castlevania Advance Collection to me ended up being the best Konami compilation.
Best Konami compilation is Castlevania Advance Collection
By the way, yes I played Metal Gear Solid HD Collection. I still felt both of these amazing game compilations was better. To be fair, you also can't go wrong with that one either. Keep in mind, Hideo Kojima was still working with Konami at the time of it's release. Honestly, I highly recommend that one as well especially you love Metal Gear franchise.
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