Best Arcade Complation Discs on PSX/PS2

[CGQuarterly]

I'm interested in hearing people's opinions on what the better arcade compilations are for the PSX and PS2. Now that I have my RGB setup going, I would like to start picking up games like that so that I can move away from PC and XBox-based emulation. Yes compilation discs are still emulation, but playing them on an RGB monitor makes them look a lot more like the real thing (at least to me).

 

Right now the only disc I have is the SNK Arcade Classics Collection (bought it primarily to play Baseball Stars 2). I guess what I really want to know is which titles to stay away from. I am thinking about going for the Midway games on PS2, and maybe the Namco games for PSX.

 

Anyway, what are your opinions on these discs?

 

Thanks,

 

Chris

[KIWASABI]

Atari Anthology is the one I would recommend getting the most. It has 20 arcade games and about 80 2600 games I believe. The amount of content on that disc is insane.

 

Midway Arcade Treasures 1 is pretty good, but definitely stay away from 2; apparently they forgot to save any good games for the second disc so it's all crap (who really wants to play APB and Cosmic Cruiser?). The third disc has the newer games like Hydro Thunder and whatnot so it's up to you whether that's worth it or not.

 

The Capcom classics collection looks to be pretty good, as do the Taito collections (I don't actually have these). The Namco collections don't look all that interesting just because Namco didn't really have much aside from Galaga and Pac-man.

[shadow460]

Midway Arcade Treasures 1 to 3 are good. Just be aware that the Hydro Thunder port is not the original arcade game. It is based on the Dreamcast version.

 

I have Arcade's Greatest Hits 1 and 2 for the Saturn. There is a lot of backstory in both of those. There are six game per disc, but it'll keep you busy for a while. IIRC, they were also made for the PS1. I also have the third Arcade's Greatest hits for the PS1.

[Atariboy]

MAT2 is worthwhile for Timber and Total Carnage, in my opinion.

 

I bought a Xbox just to play Timber though when MAT2 came out, so perhaps I'm a bit biased.

[TwinChargers]

I enjoyed both Taito Legends and Taito Legends 2. Big fan of all the Midway Arcade Classics also. I know that Capcom also has two arcade compilation discs, but I haven't played them at all yet.

[MCHufnagel]

I have both Capcom collections. I highly recommend them.

 

Don't forget about Street Fighter Alpha Collection. That's really good too.

[+RangerG]

Go to the Phosphor Dots Fossils section of this website:

 

http://www.thelogbook.com/

 

 

Earl is a member here and posts a lot on DP. He has really nice reviews of the PC/console compilations (including rare import ones).

The rest of his site is interesting also - just don't let his pro-Odyssey2 bias get to you .

Edited April 15, 2009 by RangerG

[cimerians]

RARITIES:

 

Get Arcade's Greatest Hits : Midway Collection 2 for PS1, its got Moon Patrol and Joust2

 

http://www.amazon.com/Arcades-Greatest-Hit...n/dp/B000021Y5D

 

Try to find Konami Arcade Classics for the PS1.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Konami-Arcade-Classi...ref=pd_sim_vg_9

 

Its got Pooyan, Roc n Rope and Circus Charlie....some of the more rare Konami games that are fun.

Edited April 15, 2009 by cimerians

[+Cafeman]

Has there ever been a newer version of Konami Arcade Classics? I own the excellent Playstation compilation and have but many hours into its games. Thanks to it, I got revisit old haunts like Gyruss and Time Pilot, and I got addicted to Road Fighter (something I used to not like) once I dialed-in and learned its nuances. I love seeing Superman flying overhead as a reward for getting so far.

[retrorussell]

I had the first 3 Namco Collections on PSX and loved them, even with some crappy games like Dragon Buster or Grobda. I loved the Atari collections as well. And the Midway's Greatest was terrific also.

The Sega Genesis had a fantastic Williams collection, that played exactly like the originals. I enjoyed setting the extra lives option to "every 1,000 points" on Robotron and kicking ass.

[pinball22]

I've got Activision Anthology, Atari Anthology, MAT1, Capcom 1, Taito 1 and 2, and Intellivision Lives for the PS2... all are pretty good (I can't understand the voice in the Intellivoice games on the Inty one). If you don't have Activision Anthology, you've got to get it -- yes, you may have all of them in carts, but it's really nice to be able to just put the disc in and play whichever one you want, and the extras are nice... it's really fun to see all the patches you've gotten. I also especially like the Taito ones -- the first one has a lot of really good games, and the second one has a lot of games you probably haven't played that are really interesting to see.

[Atariboy]

Has there ever been a newer version of Konami Arcade Classics? I own the excellent Playstation compilation and have but many hours into its games. Thanks to it, I got revisit old haunts like Gyruss and Time Pilot, and I got addicted to Road Fighter (something I used to not like) once I dialed-in and learned its nuances. I love seeing Superman flying overhead as a reward for getting so far.

 

They've done a GBA and a DS compilation since then with some of the same games and some different ones, and released several titles to XBLA (Time Pilot, Gyruss, Scramble, and several others). But no real follow up console compilation, sadly.

[tremoloman2006]

Nichibutsu Arcade Classics (ニチブツアーケードクラシックス) [sLPS-00184] is an often overlooked gem! It was only released in Japan but if you look on the internet its very easy to find online. It never leaves my regular rotation of games I'm playing. Phosphor Dot Fossils gave it the highest rating too!

 

Games included are: Crazy Climber, Crazy Climber '85, Moon Cresta, SF-X, Frisky Tom, and Tom's Strike-Back.

 

 

I always like obscure stuff...

[retrorussell]

I have the Nichibutsu's Greatest for the SNES, and it's good but they should have put MagMax on there. Now THAT was a good game!

 

I hope someday they will make a TV Game Plug and Play console with Atari Arcade Classics, not just the Atari 2600 games. It might be tough to translate Battlezone's controls onto a simple joystick but Tempest's spinner control could be simulated by turning the top of the joystick, like on Pole Position on the Namco Classics Jakks Pacific game.

 

Oh, and a Universal TV Game would be nice, with the whole Mr. Do series and Ladybug and Snap Jack, maybe others.

[Skylark68]

I have volume 1 and volume 2 of the Midway Classics on PS2 and they are really great with 1 exception. Wizard of Wor isn't right at all. It's way too fast and it's hilarious how quickly you'll get killed. It's virtually unplayable. It's unfortunate because that was one of my more favorite games. The Atari Anthology for PS2 is excellent and I wholeheartedly recommend this one. The Intellivison Lives collection is nice, but you have to figure out the controls on some of the more complicated titles like Utopia because of the lack of a keypad. The Taito collections are nice, but you have to put up with a lot of obscure titles. I was amazed that they lacked "Renegade."

[jhd]

I have all of the classic game compilations for the PS 2 released in North America; here is a list of the games included in each collection:

http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ab443/arcade_games.htm

 

I have reviewed some of these collections for Retrogaming Times Monthly, with more to come.

 

Most of these collections include some decent games, and much filler material. I ould have to say that Midway Arcade Treasures (vol. 1) is probably the strongest collection; while Atari Anthology has the lagest number of games. Taito Legends (both volumes) has some really odd and obscure Japanese games.

Edited April 20, 2009 by jhd

[roadrunner]

This might be a dumb question but, is the arcade version of Ikari Warriors available on the PS2?

I have the 7800 version of Ikari Warriors and it kicks major @ss!

 

For the PS2 i have -

Activision Anthology

Atari Anthology

Midway Arcade Treasures Vol 1 and Vol 3

Taito Legends 1

all are real good.

 

That was a dumb question. i should have clicked on the link above.

Edited April 21, 2009 by roadrunner

[Atariboy]

No Ikari Warriors, SNK has forgotten they made games before the Neo Geo.

[CGQuarterly]

Thanks a lot for all of the replies. Gamestop is doing a B2G1 sale this weekend, so I am trying to buy as many of the following as I can find:

 

Midway Arcade Treasures 1

Taito Collection 1

Activision Anthology

Capcom Classics Collection 1

Atari Anthology

Intellivision Lives (not an Arcade disc, but I don't have an Inty...)

 

Chris

[Spoon]

I like all of those classic collection discs, but my two big favorites are:

Taito Legends - The main reason I bought this was for Zookeeper, but well worth the price for the inclusion of Gladiator, Elevator Action, and Rastan.

Capcom Classics Collection - I grew up a Capcom junkie, so this was a no-brainer. 42, 43, 3 g'n'g games, Gun.Smoke, Section Z, etc.

[CGQuarterly]

I went to GS this morning. Grabbed Atari Anthology, Taito Legends, Activision Anthology, Midway AT vol. 1, Midway AT vol. 2, and Capcom Classics, all for about $40 before tax. Not too bad. Thanks again for all of the suggestions.

 

Chris

[Atariboy]

You should enjoy those I think.

 

I've bought all the last generation compilations besides the ones dedicated to 2d fighters such as most of the SNK ones, and I found each one worthwhile owning. I'd encourage you to pick up any others you come across in the future for a good price like Taito Legends 2 and Capcom Classics Collection 2, but I imagine that's your plan anyways.

Edited April 26, 2009 by Atariboy

[CGQuarterly]

You should enjoy those I think.

 

I've bought all the last generation compilations besides the ones dedicated to 2d fighters such as most of the SNK ones, and I found each one worthwhile owning. I'd encourage you to pick up any others you come across in the future for a good price like Taito Legends 2 and Capcom Classics Collection 2, but I imagine that's your plan anyways.

 

Indeed it is. I am also going to try and find Metal Slug Anthology.

 

All these arcade complications are going to force me to buy an arcade stick...

 

Chris

[Spoon]

That Metal Slug Anthology is must own material.

[The Eidolon]

There are quite a few good arcade ports on the PS1 that only came out with

one or two games per disc. So I don't know if you can count them as a

"collection." But it's definitely worth looking for:

 

R-Types (R-Type 1 & 2)

Bubble Bobble (includes Rainbow Islands)

Buster Brothers Collection (1-3)

Xevious 3D-G (many Xevious games)

Raiden Project (Raiden 1 & 2)

Raystorm

 

There are a lot of Japan only PS1 arcade titles too...

Raiden DX is one of my favorites