Thunder Hoop Collection – Two Games, Two Different Games…
…Add the excellent Pixel Perfect presentation, a solid trophy list and two pieces of arcade history in one package, and this turns into a collection that retro arcade fans should certainly take a look at.
Thunder Hoop Collection – Two Games, Two Different Games…
Thunder Hoop Collection brings together two retro arcade platformers, and while both games certainly have their qualities, there’s a pretty clear difference between them. One is a genuine classic that still holds up remarkably well, while the other looks fantastic but ultimately feels a bit shallow.
The first Thunder Hoop is easily the highlight of the collection for me. It’s a proper old-school arcade classic with solid level design, cool enemies and some awesome bosses. The gameplay still feels good today, with satisfying weapons and platforming that keeps things moving at a nice pace.
There’s just something about the first game that works. It has that classic arcade feel where everything comes together nicely without trying to overcomplicate things.
The second game ( which is actually called: TH Strikes Back… ) is a different story.
Visually, it’s a huge step forward and looks really good, but underneath all that graphical polish I found it considerably more shallow than the original.
It’s certainly not a bad game, though, and the addition of two-player local co-op is a very welcome touch. Playing together with a friend definitely adds some extra value and makes the sequel more enjoyable.
The emulation and presentation options are also worth mentioning. I ended up using the graphical filter called Pixel Perfect, and wow, what a difference that made!
The game looked absolutely brilliant with it enabled.
The usual alternatives are here too, including CRT-style filters and smoothing, but Pixel Perfect was easily my preferred option. If you’re playing on a modern display, I definitely recommend giving it a try.
Both games appear to have been treated with respect rather than simply dumped into a bare-bones package. They’ve been touched up and presented in a way that honours their arcade past while still making them comfortable to play today.
The trophy list is another positive. It’s a solid list with a good Platinum trophy to chase, adding another reason to spend some time with both games rather than simply blasting through them once and forgetting about them.
It also has to be said that these two games come from Gaelco, the publisher behind the magical Biomechanical Toy (developed by Risky Woods developer Zeus Software), as well as the legendary World Rally Championship by Zigurat Software.
Gaelco was also responsible for another arcade game I absolutely loved back in the day, Radikal Bikers.
Hopefully, we’ll eventually see more—if not all—of Gaelco’s classics make their way onto PSN. Most importantly, though, I hope they receive the same care and attention as Thunder Hoop Collection, because this is exactly how classic arcade games should be brought back to life.
Thunder Hoop Collection Is A Very Solid Retro Compilation.
The first game is easily the star of the show thanks to its excellent enemies, bosses, weapons and platforming, while the prettier sequel doesn’t quite manage to reach the same heights. The two-player co-op certainly helps, though, and there’s still fun to be had with it.
Add the excellent Pixel Perfect presentation, a solid trophy list and two pieces of arcade history in one package, and this turns into a collection that retro arcade fans should certainly take a look at.
” Should You Buy It? – One very good game, one not-so-good game, but together they make for a surprisingly solid retro package “.
” Should You Buy It? – One very good game, one not-so-good game, but together they make for a surprisingly solid retro package “.
