Darius Cozmic Collection (Switch)

Darius Cozmic Collection is now available now in the West split into two versions: Darius Cozmic Collection Console and Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade. Overall, they float somewhere between the barebone lack-of-care ports like the Psikyo ZeroDiv releases and the passionate ocean of love that are M2's ShotTrigger ports.

With its save-states (though limited), replay function, controller configuration (again limited), and selection of games, it's ahead of the competition, although M2 has since proven it can do much better with the excellent ESP Ra.De Psi. This release does fall short of the gold standard set by its ShotTriggers brethren – but if you're a fan of shmups or have even the slightest degree of affection for Darius, this remains a recommended purchase.

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Collection of Mana (Switch)

What you've got here are two of the finest examples of the genre, accompanied by a third likeable entry which is also well worth a look. When you consider how many titles Konami is packing into its Anniversary Collection packages – and that their retail price is almost half what Square Enix is demanding for the three games included here – it's impossible to not question the value of Collection of Mana. However, there's no denying that Secret of Mana is one of the finest RPGs on the SNES, and even though it's readily available elsewhere, playing it on Switch is like wrapping yourself up in a warm and familiar blanket; it's just right somehow.

We could argue that Secret of Mana is merely the appetiser for the real star of this collection: Trials of Mana. It's nothing short of a masterpiece and finally getting the chance to play it officially in English is a landmark moment for SNES and RPG fans alike.

Double Dragon & Kunio-kun Retro Brawler Bundle (Switch eShop)

Double Dragon & Kunio-kun: Retro Brawler Bundle goes well beyond a standard ROM compilation due to proper curation of the source material, and it successfully shines an overdue spotlight onto a sizeable selection of 8-bit Kunio masterpieces that most Western players never had the chance to experience.

Contrary to what the title may suggest, the NES games included end up being merely filler, while the real thrillers are undoubtedly the Famicom games, accessible to non-Japanese gamers for the first time here. Do not be surprised to find most of these decades-old Famicom games among your go-to choices when you have friends around.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy (Switch)

Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a wonderful love letter to a classic series, keeping everything that made the original games what they were, but slapping on a fresh coat of paint for the HD era. There are a few creaking bones showing their age here and there, but only due to the developers’ desire to keep things as accurate as possible.

The Switch version looks absolutely stunning and runs surprisingly well, so if you’re looking for a classic 3D platforming experience, you should definitely give this a look-in.

Castlevania Anniversary Collection (Switch eShop)

Despite the sheer volume of solid gold hits in the series, Castlevania Anniversary Collection is a somewhat mixed bag from Konami, with stone-cold classics sharing the spotlight with a couple of undead clunkers that really should have remained dead and buried. Still, even with the questionable inclusion of Simon's Quest and Castlevania: The Adventure, the 'highs' on offer are among the highest points in the entire franchise, and a Western debut for Kid Dracula is a lovely treat for retro gamers looking for something new.

As long as you’re willing to ignore the lesser titles in this package and you're not too bummed out by the omission of other classic entries, then you’re going to have a very good time with what’s left – and there's always room for Castlevania Anniversary Collection 2, we guess.

Aleste Collection (Switch)

This is unlikely to be the Aleste collection anyone wanted. Those interested in the early days of Aleste will quickly notice the lack of the MSX2 games and the omission of Musha, Dennin (AKA: Robo), and Super Aleste will disappoint those fond of the most popular entries in the series.

M2's Aleste Collection still contains five great shmups and represents excellent value for money, especially when you consider this package costs much less than some second-hand cart-only auctions do for single games contained within it – and that's before you even consider GG Aleste 3's very welcome addition.

Capcom Arcade Stadium (Switch eShop)

Capcom Arcade Stadium is a very good package filled with brilliant games, each updated with modern functionality and a dusting of modern convenience. For purists, it doesn’t rival the quality of original hardware (or the likes of M2’s sublime individual ports of arcade masterworks as seen with the release of Esp.Ra.De Psi).

Yet, with a launch price of £30 for thirty-two games — and with debut console ports of Progear and 1944: The Loop Master — Capcom's legacy makes it well worth investigating, warts and all.

Mutant Mudds Collection (Switch eShop)

Sneaking into our 'three-games-make-a-collection' qualification thanks to the inclusion of puzzle game Mudd Blocks, Mutant Mudds Collection gives Nintendo Switch owners the chance to own two fantastic platforming games in one handy, portable package, as well as the nice extra of the aforementioned puzzler.

The difficulty of these games may well put a reasonable amount of players off — Mutant Mudds Super Challenge in particular is one nasty fiend — but the overall quality of the two original titles places this collection amongst the best within its genre that the eShop can offer.

Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol.1 (Switch eShop)

A strong showing for the Neo Geo Pocket Color, this is an eight-game compilation with seven avowed recommendations. That's a pretty high ratio, and Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 is a great little compilation made all the better if you didn't buy all the previous standalone releases. If you did, is it worth the money? We think so, yes, but we totally understand if you wish to quietly seethe about the financial imposition.

There's also Vol.2 to consider, although the selection isn't quite as strong in our opinion.

Castlevania Advance Collection (Switch eShop)

It’s mostly Aria of Sorrow that’s doing the heavy lifting with Castlevania Advance Collection, as it really is one of the best in the entire Castlevania series. Circle of the Moon and Harmony of Dissonance are alright but on the lower tier of the other Metroidvanias, while Dracula X is middling even on its own standards.

These are still very much worth playing, though, and this collection makes for an essential purchase for both longtime Castlevania fans and newbies.

Sonic Origins (Switch eShop)

Sonic Origins is simply more of the same, which is both its greatest strength and weakness. On one hand, it’s a near-definitive way to experience four stone-cold classics that represent some of the highest peaks of Sonic's career. The cutscenes, museum elements, and missions are all very pleasant but they're also the minimum you would expect for a series this prestigious and popular.

For players ready to experience these classics for the first time, Sonic Origins is the go-to way to experience Sonic’s 2D heyday. You can also get Sonic Origins Plus which includes 12 Game Gear games and a playable Amy.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection (Switch)

TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection is indisputably the best thing Konami has released in a long while, meeting all expectations and then some. Bar absent difficulty settings for the arcade games, it’s an anthology that finally gets it totally right.

Digital Eclipse and Konami have done the fans justice, offering a comprehensive library that doesn’t hide content behind a paywall, while going above and beyond in terms of features and bonuses. With online functionality and rollback netcode being the icing on the cake, this is the gold standard for retro collections.

Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration (Switch)

That this is called Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration rather than 'collection' is a substitution of phrases that couldn’t be more apt. With its smooth, fast, and perfectly-pitched interface, and rich, thoughtfully created content, Atari 50 truly honours the company that founded the industry. It's so thorough and engrossing a retro gaming tunnel, akin to exploring a virtual museum, that it transcends its more 'seasoned' target audience somewhat thanks to its incredible presentation.

For those interested in video gaming’s history, the unearthing of the past, and for gamers not afraid of what today is considered rudimentary, there’s a great deal of enjoyment to be had in this trip down memory lane.