For many people, Blizzard is associated with many big games in the likes of World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, and Diablo. Like any giants in the video game industry, it started out small three decades ago. In celebration of this milestone, the company is releasing an updated version of its early games.
Blizzard is launching these through an Arcade Collection available for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It’s also going to be released for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S through backward compatibility. The Arcade Collection offers three games that put the focus on personality and fun.
All the games in the Blizzard Arcade Collection are offered in their Original Editions along with the improved Definitive Editions. Each version not only comes with custom key mapping but also allows players to rewind up to 10 seconds. So what are the three games?
Bring in the Commando
One of these is Blackthorne, which tells the story of Kyle “Blackthorne” Vlaros. In addition to cunningness and brute strength, he comes equipped with a shotgun. In the game, players need to fight their way across a futuristic 2D alien world filled with mutant monsters as well as goblin hordes. The Definitive Edition includes a “fog of war” that uncovers as players explore each level. There’s also the “watch mode” where players can go over a playthrough of the game and then start at any point.
Solve Puzzles and Defeat Enemies
In The Lost Vikings, players take on the role of three Vikings named Erik the Swift, Olaf the Stout, and Baelog the Fierce. Players need to use the abilities of these Vikings cooperatively to solve puzzles and beat enemies.
The Definitive Edition offers the best features from the original versions but comes with superior audio and visual experience. Plus, players will get some additional stages as well as cut scenes. This version also supports three players in local multiplayer mode. Like Blackthorne, the game also includes “watch mode.”
A Different Kind of Racing Experience
Rock N Roll Racing puts you behind the wheel and lets you get some over-the-top racing experience. Players can select from a wide range of drivers, each having different talents and customizable cards.
The Definitive Edition is a real treat, especially for fans of the original version since it adds several environmental effects like rain and snow. It also allows a maximum of four players, instead of two, in local multiplayer. Unlike before, the game now has 384 variations of the racetrack and supports 16:9 resolution.
Get the Game Now
For the PC version, the Arcade Collection is offered as part of The Celebration Collection. For those who already have this collection, they automatically get the Arcade Collection.
The console versions are available as well, and you can get them for:
In a statement, Blizzard President J. Allen Brack said that these games served as the basis for the company’s future games and that this collection is a good way to look back at what Blizzard was before. He added that they didn’t only bring back these games for newer platforms but also improved the gaming experience.
So how are you celebrating Blizzard's birthday?
