Top 10 Needed Gaming Collections (Pt. 3)

I’m admittedly “cheating” a bit again, but this is essentially commandeering the rumored (but ostensibly fabricated) Pokémon Memories and Reminiscence collection set and actually developing it: however, I’d just make it a single compilation due to the games’ considerable ages (while also including all titles out-of-box – no DLC add-ons required). This gaming collection would feature the Virtual Console ports of Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow and Gold/Silver/Crystal that were released for the 3DS, as well as brand-new ports of Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald and FireRed/LeafGreen.

9. Silent Hill: The Lost Years (2007-2012)

To give the four later, Western-developed Silent Hill games some bit of appreciation (they certainly have their issues – but even I admittedly enjoy parts of them), I’d like to suggest a compendium to my Silent Hill Definitive Collection idea by offering one of their own. While the games would largely be kept intact (narrative/gameplay warts and all), Origins and Shattered Memories would receive new HD upscales (and reworked manual controls for the latter), with Homecoming and Downpour both given dedicated fixes to address various graphical and technical issues seen in their initial releases.

8. Alone in the Dark: The Classic Trilogy

Going from one gaming collection of older horror titles to another, I propose a compilation of the three original Alone in the Dark entries for the home computer (with the CD-ROM versions of AitD and AitD2 featured to match the presentation of AitD3). Extra content will include: special options to apply visual filters to – and manipulate the aspect ratios of – all three games, the ability to toggle on higher-resolution (but still heavily stylized) 3D graphics, and the 1993 Jack in the Dark minigame.

7. Nights: Memorial Collection

Here, I’d compile the 2012 HD port of Nights into Dreams and Nights: Journey of Dreams, further refine/optimize both for significantly enhanced visual quality (like in the Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series collection), and apply additional gameplay and camera improvements (especially in the latter game’s case to address criticisms of its motion controls). All extra content tied to into Dreams (such as Christmas Nights) will be included, as well as its original 1996 Saturn version as a special bonus.

6. Streets of Rage: Bare Knuckle Collection

Proposing a standalone gaming collection that I’m surprised doesn’t actually exist, the Bare Knuckle Collection compiles the three original Streets of Rage titles for the Sega Genesis, with all given the option to play their regional variations (including the notably different Bare Knuckle III) – as well as additional graphical options supporting widescreen presentation. The usual archival extras would feature promotional image galleries, soundtrack playlists, and the two Game Gear spinoff releases; and to sweeten the overall deal, I’d throw in a free copy of Streets of Rage 4 as a nice bonus addition.

5. Kenji Eno’s “D” Saga

Featuring lovingly upscaled and optimized versions of the extended “Director’s Cut” edition of D for 3DO, Enemy Zero for Saturn, and D2 for Dreamcast, this collection would bring together the late Kenji Eno’s wildly avant-garde “D” trilogy and make it available for a wider audience. While the three games will receive notable (but unobtrusive) visual upgrades, their idiosyncratic – and sometimes counterintuitive – mechanics will remain unchanged in full respect of Eno’s unique artistic vision.

4. Capcom Arcade Adventures

Following in the footsteps of my Konami Quarter-Munchers Collection concept – compiling eight co-op arcade brawlers published by Konami that were based on then-popular Western properties – I propose an alternate company equivalent designed for Capcom. This vintage collection would bundle together the following arcade releases: Willow, Nemo, Cadillacs & Dinosaurs, Alien vs. Predator, Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom and Shadow Over Mystara, and the arcade versions of The Punisher and Spawn: In the Demon’s Hand (if it’s okay to repeat the former game’s inclusion).

3. Resident Evil Classics Collection 2

Since I included another idea for a Silent Hill gaming collection, I suppose it would only be fair to also pitch a concept for another Resident Evil-focused compilation: serving as a “sequel” to my RE Classics Collection idea from my second article on needed vintage game re-releases, I’d recommend bundling titles from the latter part of the series’ “classic” era. This would include further refined and optimized versions of the previous HD ports for RE0, the 2002 remake of RE1, and the 2005 original release of RE4 – with a newly translated and remastered edition of 4D-Executer as a bonus feature.

2. Sonic: Before & After Collection

In a similar vein to my proposal for Lecarde Chronicles 1 & 2, I suggest taking the two fan-made (but fairly well-crafted) Sonic the Hedgehog interquels Before the Sequel and After the Sequel, reworking them from the ground-up with higher/better audio-visual assets, and bundling them together as an official gaming collection. Relevant changes would include: the reformatting (and/or replacement) of graphical assets and musical tracks “borrowed” from other games, as well as a complete retooling of After‘s final “Super Eggman” boss fight to downplay the unnecessary (additional) DBZ references.

1. Spider-Man: The Cinematic HD Trilogy

Taking the three primary console games based on the three Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies for the PS2 and PS3 (but potentially incorporating the first entry’s additional Kraven arc from its Xbox port), this vintage collection would provide painstakingly remastered graphics and readjusted gameplay to serve as the “definitive edition” of all three titles. As an archival bonus, the PSP ports of Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3 (which feature unique characters and story content) will also be included: both similarly given notable visual and gameplay upgrades (but to a fairly lesser degree).