Blizzard Arcade Collection Reviews
As a birthday gift from Blizzard to itself, Blizzard Arcade Collection has been put together with some care. Sometimes good things come in smaller packages, though, and a lot of the content here is superfluous. Two of the Definitive Edition games are worse than the SNES titles also included, while Rock 'n Roll Racing's is so successful that including the SNES and Mega Drive versions has only really added clutter. The result is a need to start every version of every game a few times to work out which one is actually worth playing, which somewhat spoils the party. But, for all those imperfections, there's a lot to love: it may not be exactly what we've always wanted, but it's the thought that counts.
The Blizzard Arcade Collection isn't a perfect compilation by any means, but for the advancements that Blizzard made on some of these games without compromising the old-school visuals make it a must-own. The Museum is also a fun look back at the making of some of these old gems. Rock N Roll Racing by itself is more than worth the price of admission, but The Lost Vikings and Blackthorne are such unique time capsules of old-school Blizzard design that they're worth experiencing.
The Blizzard Arcade Collection is a great little compilation of some lesser known Blizzard games. The additional features such as rewind and save states, when available at least, are delightful improvements, and the definitive editions work amazingly well. I'm also impressed with such a great behind the scenes section with a lot of interesting content. But most of this smorgasbord is par for the course, and I expect a little more out of Blizzard. It falls under the competent category, rather than revolutionary.
Blackthorne is by far the deepest narrative-driven game of the three titles in the collection. It offers some rich world-building, unique settings and some challenging, innovative combat. Rough animations and movement, however, take some getting used to, especially for people who didn't grow up on the titles. If your willing to stick with it Blackthorne is a great platformer that offers a unique take on combat. Priced at USD $19.99 as part of a three-game collection, you really can't go wrong adding it to yours.
The Lost Vikings is a classic title that feels great to play 30 years later. It's silly, charming, and challenging in all the right ways. Some frame drops and lack of tooltips make it a bit frustrating at times but never to the point of being a game-breaker. Quality of life upgrades and being bundled with some other great titles make The Lost Vikings a title worth having in your collection. The Blizzard Arcade Collection is priced at 19.99 USD and is available on PC, Switch, PS4, and Xbox One.
When thrown in with two other great titles (more on those soon) Rock N Roll Racing was an innovative racing title that still plays well today. Priced at a smooth $19.99USD for the whole collection, I don't think you can go wrong picking up this blast from the past.
The price of admission might be somewhat high, as the games on offer are good, but not really that good, yet these remain classics in one way or another, even if there were far better alternatives, even at the time of their development. Having said that, they are definitely enjoyable; a bunch of titles that have stood the test of time. More importantly, the quality of this collection couldn't be any higher. It's basically a fantastic bundle of nostalgia, with lots of different versions of each game, plus plenty of behind-the-scenes material, excellent for those who are into the historical preservation side of the industry.
Although it's light on actual games for the price, the Blizzard Arcade Collection shows off an intense amount of love for the included games. While the creation of the definitive editions of these games is welcome and the result does a great job of matching it up with modern standards, the inclusion of the different console editions is a great forward-thinking move for game preservation. The inclusion of lots of supplementary material is excellent for those who are interested in the history of these titles, and the games stand the test of time rather well. It also helps that the titles remain fun even today. Whether you're discovering these games for the first time or want to play them again, this is a compilation that's worth checking out.
Blizzard Arcade Collection takes no chances and plays it safe by offering some of the most classic games from the developer in the pre-Diablo era without many changes, ensuring not only respect for the original works but as well to the fans' memory. Balanced, the collection offers diversity and the best of creativity from the early 1990s.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The addition of rewind and save states lets newcomers experience them without having to beat their heads against the wall. Even better, the tome of special features and developer interviews shows a devotion from Blizzard to make this collection a true historical document that too many classic game collections lack. Even for those who haven't played the originals, this is a package I'm happy to recommend to anyone.
It may not contain any arcade games but Blizzard Arcade Collection provides a collection of 3 solid old-school gems with plenty of ways to enjoy them. That being said, it still only includes 3 games so its value will be parallel to how much nostalgia you have for these titles.
Before they became Blizzard and released the likes of the WarCraft and Diablo series, among others, the folks at then Silicon & Synapse created a diverse set of 3 very different titles that showed they were set for greatness...
Blizzard Arcade Collection is a rad compilation of three niche titles that now will have a home on modern consoles, and that is awesome.
"Forgotten classics receive nice updates."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
The Blizzard Arcade Collection is a very valid work from different points of view especially for the work done by the developers who haven’t limited themselves to simply re-proposing the basic versions of the games but who have added several possibilities with the final versions but also with a lot of accompanying contents to show users the history and life of the company from the 90s to today. In short, this collection is a very good work if you want to recover the history of videogames and go deeper into titles that characterize it.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A fantastic example of how a collection of games should be done. Only 3 games available does hold this back a little.
If you’re a newcomer to Blizzard or have only gotten to know them over the last couple decades, the Blizzard Arcade Collection is an excellent way to discover more of their history, going to show that there’s more to them than only their catalog of established franchises. Even the (arguably) biggest companies in the business had to start small, and as the collection proves, creativity and passion can go a long way, even if the Blizzard of today might seem like a far cry from what it was back then.
Amid the various collections launched on the market, Blizzard Arcade Collection stands out with a very solid proposal. Blackthorne, The Lost Vikings and Rock N 'Roll Racing, are timeless and very fun, and the collection have several different versions, with emphasis on the definitive ones, which deliver welcome improvements. Although it leaves something to be desired on certain points, such as the lack of online modes and the limited saving system, the title leaves a positive balance.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Blizzard Arcade Collection is a compilation of the first three games of the Californian studio. In terms of options and extras, this is a very complete and interesting compilation, the possible drawback is given by the small number of titles included. In spite of this, the multiple versions of these three titles, including the definitive versions, are to be appreciated, and any Blizzard fan or any user who is curious about their beginnings will not be disappointed.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
As mentioned before, the Blizzard Arcade Collection is a great way to look at the company history. With three unique games, each with three different versions, behind-the-scenes artwork, videos and more, there’s plenty to enjoy here.