BlizzConline this year replaced BlizzCon’s most classic face-to-face event for the global COVID-19 pandemic. A somewhat scarce appointment in Blizzard news and more in the case of the 30th anniversary, but it served to update the information of Diablo IV, with a fourth class – the rogue – and competitive multiplayer, the expansion Burning Crusade for World of Warcraft Classic, the update for Shadowlands of WoW, maps of Overwatch 2 and content of Hearthstone. Two were the theoretical surprises, known by rumors and leaks: Diablo 2: Resurrected, a remastering or remake of one of the most important titles of the company, and the compilation Blizzard Arcade Collection.
Activision and Blizzard are no strangers to the profitability that can be taken from nostalgia. Crash, Spyro, Tony Hawk, Call of Duty, Diablo, WoW All of these sagas have returned in recent years with remakes, and in this case Blizzard has looked far back at the first three projects before being known for Diablo II: The Lost Vikings (1993), Rock n’ Roll Racing (1993) and Blackthorne (1994). We are talking about a collection with the usual characteristics that we have seen in other similar products, that is, exact versions of the originals, filters that simulate different screens, background or not for the sides, loading and saving, rewinding, see a gameplay full of The Lost Vikings Y Blackthorne to enter the game when we want an option for those who know the games and wish to avoid the beginning, for example – and the art galleries, music, interviews and manuals. There are small exceptions in specific cases: in the gallery you cannot listen to licensed music from Rock n’ Roll Racing, this game also does not have automatic saves, and the final versions do not include the option to gameplay automatic or rewind, but in essence this is what it offers.
So far, nothing out of the ordinary. Nevertheless, Blizzard Arcade Collection -a curious name, since none of their games were born in arcades-, it also includes several versions of each game, highlighting the definitive ones, which become the best way to enjoy these games, whether you were a fan of the titles or if it is the first time you play them. In practice this assumes that most players will only enjoy the Definitive Edition because there is no real incentive to try more limited versions in content, graphics or sound, which leaves the collection somewhat sparse when compared to other types of compilations from Capcom or Konami.
The Lost Vikings
Probably the best known of the three games since it also had a sequel in 1997 that sadly is not in this collection. The Lost Vikings is a puzzle platformer starring three Vikings lost in different times. The mechanics that make the game special and that inspired the saga Trine– are the different abilities of these Vikings, since Erik can jump, run and ram enemies or walls, Baleog is equipped with a sword and bow, and Olaf is accompanied by a shield that he uses in various ways, either to avoid projectiles or to support other companions. The goal is to reach the exit of each level with all three – exchanging control and collaborating to solve obstacles. Added to the Super Nintendo and Mega Drive versions Definitive Edition, what promises the best of both games like Mega Drive bonus levels with SNES graphics- and texts in several languages including Spanish-, and a local cooperative multiplayer for three players.
How has he aged? Well reasonably well. It is not an excessively fast game nor does it require a lot of precision since the real interest is in solving the traps that we are finding. Its graphics aren’t the most attractive we’ve seen in 16-bit games, but the right touch of humor still makes it endearing, and many of its challenges are ingenious. Give it a try if you haven’t done it before.
–Rock n’ Roll Racing
Gun driving games have always been there, and Silicon & Synapse, the former Blizzard Entertainment, developed this speed game in which anything goes: mines, missiles, lasers. A very badass game in a good way- inspired by rock and heavy metal, not only because of the cast of characters and dark settings, but because of the careful soundtrack with themes from Steppenwolf and Deep Purple, among others. Any fan of this music, and even if it is not, will immediately recognize themes like Born to be wild The Highway Star that in a few minutes you will be humming, even with the sound that the consoles of the time could offer.
In addition to the pretty bad Nintendo and Sega console versions, it has to be said – we have a choice of local multiplayer for four players on split screen or against AI, and the Definitive Edition, what is the most improved revision of this collection: 16: 9 screen, new special effects, graphics win a lot, looks like another game-, revised interface, and yes, now licensed music or voices sound CD quality, just as you might expect today. The only downside is the absence of Paranoid of the group Black Sabbath, but in exchange others are added such as Breaking the law by Judas Priest the Red Barchetta de Rush.
–In addition Rock n’ Roll Racing still giving a lot of fun; We do not know if the new generations, accustomed to polygons, will see with good eyes a driving with isometric view, but Definitive Edition It has hooked us and ensures good spikes with four controls. It looks like a new game when compared to the 16-bit originals.
Blackthrone
Blackthrone closes the collection with three different versions: Super Nintendo, 32X and Definitive Edition basically SNES but with a map of the level and translated texts. As a curiosity, this is the first time that a game released for the 32-bit Sega console has been adapted to new systems. The adventure, which combines platforms, puzzles and shooter, you can remember games of the time like Flashback, though Blackthrone did not reach the fame of that. It also stood out for some excellent animations that made use of rotoscopy, use of actors to trace their actions – that was so fashionable Prince of Persia, although this detail is lost in 32X that uses characters with pre-rendered graphics – the animation is still good, but it is not the same.
–This is the weakest game of the three and the one that has aged the worst, both for development and control. But in any case it is great news that Blizzard considers it for a collection of this type and that a version is rescued that surely many fans of the company could not enjoy: the game in 32X shows different graphics and a soundtrack of more quality. This is the only case in which you can doubt between Definitive Edition and the original 32X, since they are different.
–Conclusions
Rock n’ Roll Racing and more now with its final edition- and The Lost Vikings They are the two jewels of the Blizzard Arcade Collection and may well justify your purchase; Blackthrone It is not a bad game and at the time it received positive reviews, but without a doubt it is for which the years are most noticeable in the playable part, even though it is the most modern of the three. However, we think its inclusion is great because if the collection needs something, it is more games preserved in modern systems.
Except for the final versions, as a collection it offers the minimum required in these cases: the different platform games the differences between SNES and Mega Drive / 32X were not limited to graphics and sound, sometimes also in content – television filters and multiplayer expanded in the case of The Lost Vigkings Y Rock n’ Roll Racing, but no online gaming or other features that will extend your life beyond collecting; Finally, the selection could also cover more games, such as RPM Racing, The Lost Vikings 2 The Warcraft: Orcs & Humans. With everything, Blizzard Arcade Collection It was a pleasant surprise at BlizzConline 2021 and allowed many players to discover a part of Blizzard’s past before it was known worldwide for Diablo Y World of Warcraft.
We have performed this analysis on PC with a code provided by Ziran Comunicacin.
– .
