In Hindsight, Activision Anthology Was the Perfect Retro Collection
These days, when someone mentions Activision, they usually think of the drama surrounding the company. The Cosby suite. Bobby Kotick. The mistreatment of Blizzard employees. The closed studios. There’s just so much to unpack.
But in their early years, Activision created a wondrous game legacy. Thanks to David Crane and company, they created some of the best early third-party games out there. And, at one point, it celebrated these feats with the perfect retro collection. Yes, I said it.
That’s because Activision, working alongside Barking Lizards, created a PlayStation 2 compilation that couldn’t miss. Not that every game was excellent, mind you, but the sheer variety of titles was off the charts; and the extras were absolutely abundant.
The package included favorites like Pitfall!, Megamania, Freeway, Barnstorming, River Raid and countless others, as well as several Imagic games like Moonsweeper and Demon Attack. Of course, there were other variations that had other games as well, like Bloody Human Freeway (not sure what inspired that one, but okay) and Skate Boardin’. Obviously some licensed titles, like Ghostbusters II, were left out of the mix, but the collection that remained was something else. The games were perfectly replicated too, complete with the options that you’d find on the ol’ wood-grain 2600.
The interface is awesome, resembling an old-school bedroom with TV options and the ability to select your cartridge from a nearby holder. But there’s so much more than that. You could unlock new “badges” to add to your collection (these were a thing you could actually get from the company back in the day), along with unlockable commercials (Jack Black in the original Pitfall! ad! Peaches!), and other bonuses. What’s more, it had a classic 80s soundtrack, featuring favorites like “It’s My Life” by Talk Talk, “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister and “No More Words” by Berlin, among others.
Again, the perfect collection.
It just bugs me it didn’t get more love from Activision in later years. It did go on iOS and Android for a little while, but, outside of that, Game Boy Advance and PC, it went nowhere. None of the new consoles. And that makes no sense. A collection like this would absolutely kick butt on the Nintendo Switch, selling like hotcakes.
Maybe once Microsoft completes the acquisition, Phil and company will give Activision Anthology a second chance at life on the market. It’s an absolutely stellar collection that, after all this time, still holds its weight in gold. There are so many playable games here, along with songs, unlockable content and more which simply encapsulate the 80s. I do hope we see it again at one point, if only because I’m still trying to get that perfect time on Keystone Kapers. (I wouldn’t mind getting that badge for it.)
Enjoy the trailer below, and have a great week, all!
