Konami surprised and delighted fans of theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesand beat-‘em-ups alikewith its announcementthat a slew of classicTMNTgames would be bundled in a package calledThe Cowabunga Collection. Hosting nostalgic hits likeTurtles in Time, this bundle is madefurtherenticing with added online gameplay and other bells and whistles like button mapping. And with the addition of save states, disgruntled players of the NES platformer from ‘89 finally have some hope in making it through the technodrome in one piece.
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With this bodacious celebration of the heroes in a half-shell—and old-school gaming at large—gamers’ minds have run wild with other potential retro bundles. While the list of great options is sizable, these are some that should best fit the mold.
8Battletoads
Like the reptile-based franchise, it partly seeks to emulate, Rare’s thrilling retro game of fighting amphibians would surely be a smash-hit. And the British studio has already proven it can craft a great remastered compilation of retro gems, with 2015’sRare Replay.
While the series has been revived by way of a 2020 sequel, fans would no doubt thirst forBattletoadsat its peak, given the mixed reception of that game. The package would of course highlight the breakthrough debut from ‘91, but could flesh out the content with the lesser-knownDouble Dragoncrossover, SNES’Battlemaniacs, and the Game Boy spinoff. Diehards can enjoy thegrueling gameplay this brawler has to offer, while less-seasoned tadpoles can be eased into the actionwith an easy mode and rewind feature.
7ToeJam & Earl
This zany alien romp from Johnson Voorsanger and Sega finally saw a sequel with 2019’sBack in the Groove. This retreading of the nostalgic 90s hit for Genesis was mostly well-received and showed the great potential of four-player jammin’. Such a feature would naturally be welcomed for the fan-favorite original, which could easily be added in a remaster.
Moreover, this scant-but-memorable series would seem to lend itself to a compilation—with diverse gameplay styles rounding out the lineup. The sequel, known asPanic on Funkotron, pivots from isometric scavenger hunt to 2D platforming. Meanwhile, the Xbox’sMission to Earth(which is missing from the bare-bonesToeJam & Earl Collectionon XBLA), treads into 3D-adventure territory.
6Bubble Bobble
Sure, it may be obscure for most younger gamers, even after the release of a modern rendition for the Switch, PS4, and PC. Yet, there was a time when this charming arcade game from Taito was one of thebestways to enjoy simultaneous multiplayer. There’s something timelessly fun and rewarding about gathering foes into bubble clusters and popping them all at once for major points.
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And given the popularity of couch co-op as well as online gaming, this bubble-blasting action romp would seem to fit the current gaming scene like a glove. One could get countless hours of bubble-popping fun playing the arcade classic from ‘86 and the elusiveBubble Bobble Part 2, whichremains one of NES’ rarest games.
5R-Type
The 80s and 90s saw a bombardment of shoot ‘em ups spanning a range of settings—though typically residing in the dark void of space—withR-Typeleading the charge. But the genre has fallen out of fashion of late, which makes a return trip to this heart-pumping, celestial ride all the more sensible.
With several awesome titles to its name, gamers of all ages could find something toenjoy in this tough-yet-accessible Shmup. While slim, the two-game bundle/remakeR-TypeDimensionsgave fans a preview of what atrulyfleshed-out, completeR-Typepackage could be like. Add some bells and whistles—online co-op, challenges, rotating events, and leaderboards—and the possibilities are sky-high.
4Final Fight
Many would agree that retro beat-‘em-ups make solid templates for modern compilations, with their timeless gameplay and multiplayer options. This is especially the case with this now-forgotten Capcom classic from 1989.Final Fightpummels players with straightforward-yet-endlessly fun combat and a diverse lineup of fighters with awesome moves. The experience remains accessible despite its age—with accessible controls and mechanics that resemble typical 90s fighting games.
The franchise would fit nicely into the modern scene, with its gritty style—and games likeScott Pilgrim Vs. The WorldandStreets of Rage 4putting the genre back on the map. Of course, there’s also the added factor of obscurity. While the originalFFtrilogy is well known and widespread, rarer titles likeFinal Fight Oneand PS2’sStreetwisecould be polished up and exposed to millions of younger gamers. A remaster could even have characters crossover between games and introduce new ones, as the limited roster marks a rare blemish of this otherwise-great brawler.
3Metroid
This sci-fi hit has been perhaps one of the most desired in terms of modern installments from Nintendo this side ofEarthbound. Even after the release ofMetroid Dreadon Switch, this terrain still feels largely unexplored in terms of potential.
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A polished, juiced-up remaster ofMetroidclassics would make a great bridge to the anticipatedMetroid Prime 4and remind fans what makes this exploration shooter so special. Players can get to blasting and bounty-hunting on hits ranging from the NES original andSuper Metroidto the overlooked spinoffPinballon DS. In an era rife with indie Metroidvanias, it would be great to get a celestial trip back to the epic that started it all.
2Donkey Kong Country
Nintendo’s prized ape mascot has seen no shortage of games since his iconic arcade debut in 1981. Often viewed as a sort of 16-bit renaissance for the mascotandplatforming at large,Donkey Kong Countryhit the scene with a bang; and has itself spawnedmodernsequels from Retro Studios.
But it’s the originalDKCthat continues to shine—with sleek visuals, lovely tunes, lush locales, and tight mechanics that still hold up today. Seeing as these classics are a major draw to Switch’s SNES online service, a modern package of this fan-favorite series would be more sought after than Kong’s banana horde. The bundle could even be fleshed out beyond the originalDKCtrilogy by tapping into the lesser-knownDonkey Kong Landspinoffs on Game Boy.
1The Legend Of Zelda
The Big N’s esteemed fantasy franchise would surely be a coveted one, with a robust library of countless epics dating back decades. Switch’s vibrant remake ofLink’s Awakeningillustrates the huge potential of revamping even a more lukewarm rendition ofZelda.
But even with minimal refinements and additions, a compiliation of peak 80s and 90s Zelda could be legendary. Such a collection would shine like a Master Sword as one ofSwitch’s best, most content-dense adventure games.
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