April 18, 2019
KONAMI

Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection

With a scattershot selection of games and a slapdash presentation, Konami Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection misses the mark. The games are playable, but this doesn't feel like the definitive way to preserve these classics. It instead feels like a school project thrown together during an all-nighter.

49%Game Brain Score

music, gameplay

monetization, grinding

54% User Score Based on 204 reviews

Critic Score 66%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Anniversary Collection Arcade Classics" is a compilation of 8 Konami arcade games from the 1980s, including Nemesis and Haunted Castle. This collection offers enhanced features such as mid-game saves, difficulty levels, and display options, providing a fresh experience for both new and longtime fans. Additionally, it includes a bonus eBook with new information and staff interviews.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection screenshot

54%

Audience ScoreBased on 207 reviews

music10 positive mentions

monetization6 negative mentions

A comprehensive collection of 7 iconic and obscure Konami shoot 'em ups, providing a nostalgic experience for fans of retro gaming.
The Bonus Book is a pretty cool addition, offering historical context and insights into the games included in the collection.
Aside from audio issues, the emulation is well done, allowing players to experience these classic games with minimal technical problems.

Haunted Castle is an almost unplayable stain on Castlevania's legacy, frustrating players with its excessive difficulty.
Only one version of each game is available, limiting players to the US versions which may not be the best representation of the original titles.
In-game audio is exceptionally tinny, detracting from the overall experience and enjoyment of the classic soundtracks.

music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
46%
13%
The music in the games is generally praised for its quality and variety, with standout soundtracks like those from Thunder Cross and Vulcan Venture receiving particular acclaim. However, some users noted issues with audio quality, describing certain tracks as muffled or low-quality, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, many players appreciate the nostalgic and engaging nature of the soundtracks, especially those from Konami.
- “The music for the games is very good; there are definitely a lot of nice tracks to listen to.”
- “Challenging gameplay, but you have that tempo soundtrack that is going to keep you engaged.”
- “Soundtrack kicks in... and it shows the persona really well!”
- “Well, a few games have different music, order of levels or are harder and less balanced than their Japanese versions, but the problem comes from Haunted Castle and Thunder Cross. Mainly, Haunted Castle is absurdly hard and it's practically trial and error; it makes a lot of hard games look pathetic in comparison. That being said, the Japanese version was still tough but was a lot more balanced and thus easier and fun to play. Thunder Cross, on the other hand, is literally dumbed down; they removed weapons and you can't do as much with some mechanics as you could in the Japanese version.”
- “Challenging gameplay but you have that tempo soundtrack that is going to keep you engaged.”
- “I bought this full price because I love Konami gaming music and I danced to a lot of the Konami soundtracks!”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
44%
19%
The gameplay is often described as a mixed bag, with some moments being enjoyable while others can be frustratingly difficult, especially on normal difficulty. Players note that older titles may not hold up well, with specific games like "Haunted Castle" being excessively hard and reliant on trial and error, while others like "Thunder Cross" feel dumbed down compared to their Japanese counterparts. Overall, the gameplay experience varies significantly, influenced by game design choices and balance issues.
- “Challenging gameplay, but you have that tempo soundtrack that is going to keep you engaged.”
- “Well, a few games have different music, order of levels, or are harder and less balanced than their Japanese versions, but the problem comes from Haunted Castle and Thunder Cross. Haunted Castle is absurdly hard and is practically trial and error, making a lot of hard games look pathetic in comparison. That being said, the Japanese version was still tough but was a lot more balanced and thus easier and more fun to play. Thunder Cross, on the other hand, is literally dumbed down; they removed weapons, and you can't do as much with some mechanics as you could in the Japanese version.”
- “The gameplay can be a mixed bag; sometimes it's good, other times it's frustratingly bad.”
- “The gameplay can be a mixed bag; I know these are older games and the gameplay isn't going to really hold up, but it can be frustratingly hard even on normal difficulty.”
- “Haunted Castle is absurdly hard and it's practically trial and error; it makes a lot of hard games look pathetic in comparison. The Japanese version was still tough but was a lot more balanced and thus easier and more fun to play.”
- “Thunder Cross, on the other hand, is literally dumbed down; they removed weapons and you can't do as much with some mechanics as you could in the Japanese version.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The graphics are praised for their detailed and colorful pixel art, which effectively captures the charm of the original titles while benefiting from a slight upgrade for higher resolutions. Users appreciate the diverse and interesting level designs, though some suggest adding more filters to enhance the visual experience further. Overall, the graphics are well-received, especially by fans of pixel art.
- “The pixel graphics are very good for their time, definitely with nice detail and color. The levels for all the games are quite nice and diverse with plenty of interesting locations.”
- “A slight graphical upgrade has also been added so that it all still remains quite visible in higher resolutions compared to the resolutions that were available in the living room in the time period when these titles were released.”
- “Graphics are great (obviously I love pixel art!) and the music is great, but I can't remember how the voiceovers sounded before.”
- “I have Windows 10, a DX11-compatible graphics card, AMD FX octocore, 16GB of RAM and only the menu works.”
- “One thing they could improve is to add more filters to improve graphics.”
- “Miss all that frustration at slow response controls and rubbish graphics?”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game is widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with players feeling that the developers, particularly Konami, show little regard for their fanbase. Many users express regret over their purchases and are reconsidering their spending habits in light of this experience.
- “A quick cash grab is all this game is.”
- “Don't tell Konami it's okay to cynically cash grab the fans of their video games - who they clearly don't care about anymore.”
- “I am revising my spending habits (and Steam's advertising) after this pointless purchase.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The story aspect of the Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection is largely considered lacking, with reviewers noting that there isn't much to discuss or engage with, leading some to skip it entirely. Overall, the narrative seems minimal and unremarkable, serving more as a backdrop than a focal point.
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, often leading to frustration and anger, especially when trying to unlock certain content.
- “Grinding can become incredibly tedious and may lead to frustration if you're trying to unlock everything.”
- “The grinding aspect can feel excessively repetitive and can really test your patience.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Haunted Castle" stems from its intentionally frustrating difficulty, where players often find it more amusing to embrace defeat rather than engage in combat, leading to a comedic acceptance of the game's challenges.
- “The Haunted Castle was hilariously difficult in the sense that enemies are sometimes impossible to dodge; it's often better to just accept a death at the start of a level than to run the level and take the hits without fighting.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
While the games offer playability, many users feel that they do not provide a definitive experience for replaying these classic titles, suggesting limited replayability.
- “The games are playable, but this doesn't feel like the definitive way to preserve these classics.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to return for a second playthrough.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices and branching paths makes replaying feel redundant.”