Captain what?!?
I am a sucker for old arcade collections. I grew up an arcade fiend who loved to toss quarters into machines for just about every genre. The Visco Collection might not sound familiar, and once you see the list of games, it doesn’t get any better, but fans of the Neo Geo are sure to see a few familiar faces here. Visco never really made an impression and most people do not recognize the name, but that doesn’t mean these games are not a blast to play.
Let’s start with what is included. There are seven games included and each one has the usual bonus features these collections are known for. Going alphabetically, we start with Andro Dunos which is a horizontal space shooter which is also the first game created by Visco for the Neo Geo. Next up we have Bang Bead which is a 1v1 game in the same vein as Windjammers. We follow that up with Captain Tomaday where you play as a transforming tomato in a vertical shooter with outlandish enemies and stages. It is a lot better than the description, but admit it, it sounds rad.
MSRP: $19.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $19.99
Next on the roster is Flipshot, which is a futuristic pinball game. Then we have Ganryu, a standard side-scrolling hack and slash game featuring a sumo wrestler. Yeah, these games are eccentric for sure. No classic arcade collection is complete with a sports game. Visco brings us Goal! Goal! Goal!, which as you guessed it, is a soccer game. Finally, we get Neo DriftOut, an isometric racing game which rounds out just about every genre. This collection contains a little of something for everyone.
The collection of games is excellent, and I had a great time diving into each one. I had played more than half before, but it was still fun revisiting them and having them in one collection is great. The packaging around these games though is what makes it interesting. The main menu mimics an arcade setup with a selector on the right that cycles through each game. Then the game is displayed on an arcade cabinet. Think of it like a budget version of Capcom Arcade and you get the idea. It is a neat way to present each game and give you an idea of what it is all about before diving in.
The extra features are minimal at best. There are the usual screen filters including CRT, Curved, Smooth, etc. These can be changed from anywhere with a quick menu. I wish there was more in the way of extras, this is basically just the games with some screen effects. Some history or old arcade artwork would have been greatly appreciated.
The one big addition is the online multiplayer and lobby system. Being able to enjoy these titles with others has always been a highlight. There are local modes for most and online for some, and while it is a neat feature, the community is simply not there. I waited a long time for some matches and without crossplay the wait would continue to be even longer. It is a nice feature, but unless you know someone else who has the game, you might be waiting forever to find a match.
While Visco is not a household name, these games are just as fun as titles everyone knows by name. I like obscure collections like this as it brings some great, unknown titles to the front once again. Nothing here is awful, all seven games are a blast to play, I just wish the extras were a bit more fleshed out. I love the history of gaming, and discovering the more obscure titles is always the best. If you have a sweet tooth for classic arcade games, this collection is a no-brainer. Grab it now!
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
