The Video Game Critic

One of my favorite aspects of XBLA and PSN last generation was the abundance of retro releases. So many games that I hadn't experienced in years, such as Soul Caliber 1, TMNT: the Arcade Game, Simpsons, X-Men, and updates like Super Street Fighter 2 HD, Marvel Vs. Capcom, etc.

Something seems very off this generation. Two years in, I went to the Playstation Store and there wasn't anything that I had any desire to download. Whereas PS3 had PS1 and, to a lesser extent, PS2 Classics, they simply don't exist on PS4. I love the system, but this seems like the same missed opportunity that the 3DS virtual console turned out to be.

....Or maybe I'm too invested in the old games.

There are continued rumors and reports that Sony is planning PS1/PS2 emulation for the PS4. So those PS3 downloads of PS1/PS2 classics and the original discs could soon be usable. Would be an excellent counter to Microsoft's limited 360 emulation when that feature goes public later this year for XB1 owners.

And I'm crossing my fingers that not only does it happen and includes important options like button customization and save states, but that it also renders 3D releases in full HD. It makes such a difference and helps turn back many years. Gran Turismo 3 for instance almost looks like the PS3 releases, minus some of the fancy lighting effects and such.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKQzyI8 ... 8CA5D9632E

That said, I think the Arcade Archives line on PSN for the PS4 is interesting. While overpriced, a full 8 of them which accounts for 1/3 of what's available at the moment, are on my want list for when I make that jump. And several more I'm only skipping since I own them elsewhere, like the excellent Gradius. Nothing there interests you?

There's also Mega Man Legacy Collection, which is slated for retail next year and is already available digitally. And of course Pinball Arcade, which includes the only retail releases that this otherwise digital exclusive has received.

Slim pickings, but at least there's a little bit.

Very true, but it's very surprising that, for example, Sony is pushing Sega for a PSN release of Shenmue, or getting rid of that absolutely ridiculous rental service in exchange for, say, a PS3 Classics line. Legacy Collection, while nice, doesn't interest me because MM has been done to death.

What games would you like to see on the service? Myself, I would kill for the following:

-Shenmue 1 and 2 (I'm really starting to believe that this will never happen)
-A Virtua Fighter Collection
-Carnevil/Time Crisis/Virtua Cop/Lethal Enforcers/basically any light gun game that was either butchered in the home port or never saw release outside of the arcade.
-more Tim Schafer/Lucasarts games (Maniac Mansion, Day of the Tentacle, the rest of the Monkey Island games, etc.)
-The Sega CD FMV games (this will never happen as there is absolutely no demand for it, but a guy can dream!)

If we're talking Sega, I'd love to see the following...

-A golden age compilation with Turbo, Congo Bongo, Monaco GP, and as many other Sega coinops from 1984 and earlier (Some would have to be skipped like Star Trek, I suppose, but most of it is free and clear).

-Seeing Sega's 3D Classics work with arcade classics from the latter half of the 80's brought to consoles in a retail compilation.

-Ports of more Super Scaler racing and flight games like Outrunners, Turbo Outrun, Enduro Racer, etc.

-Sega Super GT, Sega Rally, and Daytona USA 2 ports.

-The ultimate Outrun 2 collection with every last bit of the Outrun 2 family represented in HD, full wheel support, and an additional 15 tracks.

-A SMS/Genesis/32X/Sega CD compilation with all clearable Sega published content on a retail disc.