We've previously seen Afterburner and Lemmings re-tooled, to make them suitable for our favorite portable. While both of those titles are enjoyable, there is still a ton of gold to be mined from the past, then reshaped into something grand and new. With that in mind, I thought it we'd do a public service, and remind publishers of some of those titles. Here they are in no particular order:

• Bionic Commando
• Contra
• Lunar
• Streets of Rage
• Splatter House
• Bonk
• Strider
• Double Dribble
• Golden Axe
• Shinobi
• Out of this World
• Zombie Ate My Neighbors

Those are a few of the titles we'd like to see. But what does our opinion matter? Let us know what games we missed, or what classics you'd like to see resurrected on the PSP.

When we first wrote about Impossible Mission we were told it would be out in January and wouldn't be in 3D. Well, it's past January and the game isn't out yet and now we know it'll include some 3D objects. What other new info is there on Impossible Mission?

• You play a secret agent trying to stop the evil Profesor Elvin Atombender
• Players sneak into Atombender's base and try to collect parts of the system password
• You must avoid Atombender's deadly robots in a race against time
• The game will feature new graphics, new sound effects, new music
• There are 3 main characters to choose from
• There is a tutorial mode now to help new players learn how to play the classic
• There are now 3 game modes: new, original and hybrid (old gameplay with updated graphics)
• The PSP version will allow players to send a full version of the game to another PSP owner wirelessly so they can try Impossible Mission for themselves
• Epyx now expects to have the game available before the end of quarter two

[Via DCEmu]

I can't remember a time in a system's life when it had more retro compilations than the PSP is seeing right now. And with games the likes of Sega Genesis Collection, Metal Slug Anthology and EA Replay releasing this week, it's a veritable wet dream for us old-school gamers out there.

And Modojo has gone through each title and decided which are worthy of your purchase and which are worthy of the trashcan.

We're Not Worthy!

• Namco Museum Battle Collection
• Midway Arcade Treasures: Extended Play
• Gradius Collection
• Capcom Classics Reloaded
• Metal Slug Anthology
• Salamander Portable
  

It's Not Worthy!

• Taito Legends Power Up (Import)
• Activision Hits Remixed
• Sega Genesis Collection
• EA Replay

I gotta say I don't agree with his choices for Sega Genesis Collection and EA Replay. In fact, I think Sega Genesis Collection may be the greatest compilation to ever be released. How would you fellas rate these games?

[Thanks, kukyfrope]

Sega recently announced Sega Genesis Collection is now available in stores ... on the PS2. In the press release, Sega said the PSP version will ship later this month.

This really surprises me, because I've been expecting the two versions to ship simultaneously, and even IGN still has the PSP version with a Nov. 7 ship date. However, if we can believe Gamestop, they have the game set at a pre-release date of Nov. 16.

Sega gave no reason for the delay, but did mention the game will be rated "T" for Teen. I guess 15-year-old Genesis games can be too much for those 12-year-old kids out there.

Back when we first posted about Activition Hits Remixed's existence, Andrew told you about the game's "modernized front-end graphics." Well, Activision has just released a ton of new screens from the game and even some that show off those fancy schmancy front-end graphics.

The game packs more than 40 Atari 2600 games onto one UMD. And while I'm sure Activision probably could have fit a lot more, Gamespot said "these properly emulated golden oldies will be wrapped up in a visually appealing and easily accessible package with some nice goodies thrown in on the side."

Besides the game having no load times (Thank you, God!), Remixed features unlockable content like old-school commercials, songs, box art, manuals and even an achievement system similar to the Xbox 360's. Get ready to be rocking with Thwocker come Nov. 14.

Of all the classic games in Sega Genesis Collection, Altered Beast is probably the one I have the most fond memories of. I remember, as a wee lad, going over my cousin's house to see him play it on his new Sega Genesis. Back then, the graphics were so unbelievably awesome, and when I saw the main character transform into a werewolf, I just about died with excitement. It's truly a classic.

And the Vectorman series is a classic in its own right. In Vectorman 2, which was released in 1996, you are charged with battlng mutant insects and ultimately saving the world by defeating the Black Widow Queen.

Never to be left out when it comes to beating a dead horse/stealing your money/delivering the goods on past franchises, Capcom is getting in on the retro kick by releasing Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded, which is based on the PS2 version, Oct. 24.

The game stuffs nearly 20 of Capcom's greatest arcade games, like Street Fighter II and Ghost 'N Goblins, onto one tiny UMD, and IGN recently got their grubby little mitts on a copy and thought it was a pretty solid title, giving it an 8.0.

While they had generally nothing but good things to say about the collection, they did note that "the game does run into the same noticeable flicker and aliasing issues present in the PS2 disc (in all the shooters), while the transparency effects are hindered by some obvious interlacing troubles."

Aside from the obvious things like how well the games play, a classics collection really benefits from additional and unlockable content, and Capcom didn't skimp out here. "In fact, there are almost 900 different collectibles that can be uncovered over the course of your play-through, and an interesting slot machine mechanic is used to find them (you're awarded tokens for playing through individual games which can then be gambled with to unlock secrets," IGN wrote.

They close by saying, "Reloaded is a solid PSP anthology that's better than its predecessor and one I'd easily recommend for old-school gaming fans everywhere." Mark me down for being totally excited for this one. Knights of the Round is one of my all-time favorite beat 'em ups, and to have it available on the go, has me giddy like a school girl.

We've been receiving a steady stream of Sega Genesis Collection videos the past few weeks, and with each passing video, my anticipation grows. Today's video features Super Thunder Blade, which was inspired by the 1982 film Blue Thunder.

In the game, you begin the level in a third-person view behind the helicopter, and you'll eventually switch into a more-traditional, top-down view. According to the game's Wikipedia page, the Genesis version didn't feature the smooth control of its arcade predecessor, Thunder Blade, and was plagued by jerkiness and repetitive gameplay. However, the gameplay seems pretty fun from the video and should be great for a few minutes of play every now and then.

See also:

Gain Ground and Golden Axe 3
Ecco Jr., Shinobi and Phantasy Star IV
Decap Attack
Virtua Fighter 2, Sword of Vermillion and Bonanza Brothers
Phantasy Star 2 and Golden Axe
Kid Chameleon
Ecco the Dolphin and Columns

Two more Sega Genesis Collection videos have been released, and here are more games I have yet to ever play. Actually, I do believe I've played Golden Axe 3 before, but I'm positive I've never even heard of Gain Ground.

But never playing most of these games before is exactly what makes me so excited for this collection. I'll be able to revisit these classics on the PSP's big, beautiful screen anytime I want.

Sega Genesis Collection will be available Nov. 7. God, I can't wait.

See also:

Ecco Jr., Shinobi and Phantasy Star IV
Decap Attack
Virtua Fighter 2, Sword of Vermillion and Bonanza Brothers
Phantasy Star 2 and Golden Axe
Kid Chameleon
Ecco the Dolphin and Columns

It seems like Sega Genesis Collection, EA Replay and Metal Slug Anthology have been getting all the attention lately. However, some of you may not know that Taito is throwing their hat in the ring with Taito Legends.

Legends packs in 25 classic Taito games ranging from Space Invaders to The Legend of Kage. And although the game won't feature multi-player support, players can share up to 21 games wirelessly with other console owners via the PSP's game-sharing function. Also, Cameltry, Crazy Balloon, Balloon Bomb, and The Legend of Kage have each received graphical upgrades along with being adapted to the PSP's widescreen.

Gamespot, who just recently previewed the game, said "It's also a shame to see that little effort has been made to expand Taito Legends beyond including emulated versions of classic games. It's good to see that the PlayStation Portable's features have been used to allow wireless game sharing, but aside from the games themselves, there's little to keep you going for a long time."

It looks like the retro compilations are starting to pour in, but I think companies will have to do more than stuff a bunch of their old games onto a UMD and send it out the door for them to be successful.

We might as well call today retro-Thursday what with all the old-school news that has been posted on the site today. I always was more of a Nintendo gamer back in the day, so I don't feel so terribly noobish that I haven't played Decap Attack, which is one of nearly 30 retro games in Sega Genesis Collection. Hell, to be perfectly honest, I've never even heard of it before.

Well, I've done me some research and learned the game's protagonist is Chuck D. Head, an aptly named mummy who throws his decapitated head at his enemies. In the game, you must travel across a skeleton-shaped island throughout beautiful locales like Abdomainland and Armington to battle it out with the evil Dr. Frank N. Stein.

See also:
Virtua Fighter 2, Sword of Vermillion and Bonanza Brothers
Phantasy Star 2 and Golden Axe
Kid Chameleon
Ecco the Dolphin and Columns

I never got the chance to play Peter Molyneux's Syndicate back in the early 90s, even though it was released on nearly every platform imaginable. However, thanks to EA Replay, I'll be able to finally do so anywhere I want, even if it's nearly 13 years after its release.

If you had any questions about Syndicate, this video will show you pretty much everything and then some. The game combines several different genres like real-time tactics, shooting and simulator into something that was pretty ahead of its time when it was released.

You'll be able to get your hands on Syndicate and 13 other classic EA titles when EA Replay ships Oct. 31.

The Sega Genesis Collection videos just keep rolling in. There's already been four games shown, and now we get to see even more great games in action with Phantasy 2 and Golden Axe.

Are you guys as excited for this badboy as I am?

[Via IGN]

Seeing Alex Kidd was good and all, but now we're talking with new videos of Ecco the Dolphin and Columns that will be crammed into Sega Genesis Collection.

I know there are a lot of young gamers around these days and some of you may not be old enough to have experienced the greatness of these two games. That's why I'm so excited Sega is releasing this collection of almost 30 Genesis games.

It's kinda funny because Sega's old slogan - "Genesis does what Nintendon't" is so fitting. You see, Sega has put all their classic games onto one disc, while Nintendo forces gamers to buy all their NES games separately. For shame!