With the recent re-release of the SNES classic Super Mario All-Stars, as well as the announcement of Super Mario 3D All-Stars for the Nintendo Switch, Mario is becoming quite a buzz-worthy topic among retro and modern gamers alike. Thanks to Nintendo, players are able to experience the best the character has to offer.
Replaying the first All-Stars game has many players scratching their heads and asking "why don't more franchises do this?" Honestly, they're right. There are plenty of classic franchises, inside and outside of Nintendo, that deserve rereleases or full-on compilation packages that players old and new would positively adore.
10 Pac-Man
Although titles like the Namco Museum series already exist, there needs to be a propper compilation dedicated to all things Pac-Man. The yellow ghost-gobbler has been a video game icon since the 80s and deserves the full package treatment, including some of his 3D releases. Games like PacMania, Adventures In Time, and Championship Edition. From the original arcade classic to the phenomenal Pac-Man World, there are dozens of players itching to get back to the maze.
9 Gauntlet
If there had to be one RPG series on this list, it's Gauntlet. In its day, the original Gauntlet was the undisputed king of dungeon-crawlers and it only got better with age.
Legends, Dark Legacy, and Seven Sorrows alone are worthy of rereleases, especially on Switch due to their colorful design and layout. The 8-bit originals were great, but its shift to 3D was so unabashedly fantastic it would make a dungeon master's head spin.
8 Kirby
Where are the classic Kirby titles? Yes, Kirby's Adventure and Triple Deluxe got virtual console releases, but what about some of his later platformer games?
Although Kirby's Dream Collection did give the Dreamland series a package deal, what about some of his bigger and brighter titles? Where are games like Nightmare in Dreamland and Squeak Squad? It just feels awkwardly unbalanced.
7 Prince of Persia
If it weren't for these titles, gamers would not have the sensational Assassin's Creed series they know and love today. While the package in mind might not include the original game, the prince's jump to the third dimension was what made him a gaming mainstay.
Starting with Sands of Time, it would be more than sufficient for fans of the series if his Playstation titles came remastered and repackaged for newer consoles.
6 Doom
With the popularity of the remake series, there should definitely a compilation of at least the first three games at the bare minimum. Doom and Doom II were pillars of the FPS genre, and, while they can be bought individually for modern consoles, it feels like more of a cash grab to sell them separately than as a package. The fans would certainly be happier if they had access to their demon-blasting madness all in one place.
5 Capcom’s Disney Games
Games inspired by films and TV have always had it rough, but that wasn't the case with the marriage of Disney and Capcom, especially since Virgin employed actual Disney animators to work on the game design on many projects.
With the release of the Disney Afternoon Collection and the Aladdin and Lion King bundle, why not go all the way with the idea? It doesn't have to be a gigantic collection, but something akin to the SNES/Genesis era would be much appreciated.
4 Pokémon (Red, Blue, and Green)
The original game series that started the entire Pokémon phenomenon might have gotten ports to the 3Ds, but what about the Switch? These icons of the gaming industry certainly deserve to be played both on the go and on the big screen.
In fact, why not do the Mario route and rerelease the Gameboy Advance versions of the games in all their 16-bit glory? Nostalgia heavy they might be, but a package of games players would battle for.
3 Mario Kart
Undoubtedly the spinoff game that launched an entire franchise, a Mario Kart package would thrill nearly any gamer. Even if it just consisted of the original title and Mario Kart 64, the package would sell faster than a trip down Rainbow Road.
The series has always been a hit with all gamers, not to mention a great game for parties. How has it not gotten a compilation release sooner?
2 Super Mario World
Although there was an All-Stars + Super Mario World released for the SNES, gamers forget that Super Mario World isn't a stand-alone title, but the first of a series. Its sequels were released onto the Gameboy, and, while they were only available in three color hues, the games were still sharp, unique, and fun. Who wouldn't want to see Mario explore a giant clockwork version of himself?
1 The Legend of Zelda
Along with the release of Windwaker, the Gamecube once had a Legend of Zelda collection that came with the console. Due to the series growth in recent years, it would definitely be possible for not one but two compilation packages to be released, each containing either 3D or 2D titles.
Granted, the latter would be the most logical and practical to create, but there seems to be no reason Link shouldn't get his own 3D All-Stars collection.