Impressions so far:
+ Pretty decent loading, nice interface I guess. Great start screen and menu music.
+ Mass amounts of arcade games from various genres across the board. Lots of variety here.
+ Tons of rare, JP only games are on this and any arcade gameplay fan owes themselves the pleasure of buying this because it's quite an opportunity. Not only for retro enthusiasts, but arcade gaming enthusiasts in general. If you like 2d games, you have to check this out. Many games lots of people have not played aside from the extremely niche import fans have never seen a console release in the western part of the world. This is a REAL retro compilation. It doesn't have a bunch of stuff you've played 1000 x, it features games that have NEVER been released outside of Japan, and playing this stuff is a joy. This is how it is done Capcom, Konami, Sega, and fucking Namco of all companies. I expect Rent-A-Hero on the next Sega Genesis Collection, Sega! I want imports that have never been released outside of Japan on the Virtual Console, Nintendo!
+ I have played some of the games on this compilation prior to playing it. I own a few actually (like G Darius and Raystorm). I can safely say that these are arcade perfect, and experience little if any lag. The psx version of G Darius for instance, lags like a mother at times, but I have had little problem with this version. ROCK.
+ If you have any interest in shoot em ups/shmups at ALL, this is a must buy. Every form of shmup is represented in this compilation: horizontal, vertical (with it's classic aspect ratio represented here. No stretched vertical shmups on this compilation!)...It is worth it for G Darius and Raystorm alone if you have never played them.
+ $20 price tag.
- The fact that the people put different games in the different versions is really gay. What's even gayer is that North America only got the ps2 version while Europe got pc, ps2, and xbox. We get to miss out on the awesome Don Don Pachi, and other games like Rayforce, and Bubble Symphony. I just can't grasp why they did such a thing beyond cash grabbing, but it was really fucking distinguished mentally-challenged.
- No Raycrisis! I would like a Layer Section (Ray series) collection for the psp!
Elevator Action Returns (II in our version): Excellent arcade gaming as expected. I never knew this game existed until this compilation was announced but I liked playing Elevator Action on the NES when I was a kid. This game, however, is so much better. Not only is the action faster, it's much more gritty and ...just well, it's just much more fun. I will be coming back to this game a lot.
G Darius - This game is as awesome as ever, and now with 99% less lag! The arcade version doesn't have Boss Rush mode that is present in the psx version (is there a Saturn version?), but no matter. It's worth it for the lack of lag.
Qix - This game is fun as hell and very stylish despite it's age. It has interesting art direction, sounds, and music going for it. I knew the Art class mini game in Bully felt familiar. I have seen this game before in some forms, but I have never played the original arcade game. It's really fun.
Raystorm - Another game I own for the psx, and still as awesome as ever. I wish it had Raycrisis on here, but it's no big deal. Still as awesome as ever.
Darius Gaiden - I have never had the opportunity to play this entry in the Darius series, but it is greatness. It's not better than G Darius imo, but still good horizontal shmup fun.
Kiki Kaikai - For those of you who have ever played
Pocky and Rocky on the SNES, you should be familiar with this game. It's the first game in the series, and while it lacks a second character it's still good stuff. Like Pocky and Rocky, it feels like a beat em up mixed with the gameplay and enemy patterns of a shmup. It rocks. It's nothing on Pocky and Rocky, but damn if it doesn't get me excited for the new Kiki Kai Kai game coming out in Japan this summer. It better come out Stateside.
That's all I've played so far, but I am sure this compilation will keep me busy for a while. Arcade gameplay fans, check this thing out pronto.
