Playable classics contained inside modern games.

[Pantechnicon]

(I suppose this thread could go in either the Classic or Modern gaming forums, but since the end result is about discovering classic gaming experiences I chose to do it in the Classic forum. Please move if deemed appropriate)

So I just finished the Murderworld level of Marvel Ultimate Alliance. Part of this level involves your characters entering and playing full-fledged versions of both Pitfall and Breakout, complete with old-school graphics. Making my buddy Iron Man hop over rolling logs or swing on a vine over the quicksand brings me one step closer the Having Seen It All in this life.

But it got me to wondering what other newer games out there contain classic games inside? I'm not necessarily talking about something you unlock or some sort of background cameo. I'm more interested in finding out what, if any, modern games integrate classic games as part of the experience, utilizing at least some playable functionality?

Along with Ultimate Alliance, the only other one that I know of is Shenmue, where Ryu can enter into an arcade and play fully operational games like OutRun. Any others like this?

[colicub]

I know that Prince Of Persia: Sands Of Time had an unlockable of the original game in it, and that a lot of the old PSX Namco games had you playing their old arcade games whilst they loaded, but I can't think of any others off the top of my head....sorry!

[colicub]

Oh, do the Nintendo history sections in the Wario Ware games count?

[-_-Nintendo-_-]

Donkey Kong 64 made you play the original Donkey Kong and Joust so that you could win two coins which you needed to complete the game.

[mailman187666]

the only things I can think of are the unlockable classics contained on new games such as Ninja Gaiden on Xbox where you could unlock the original trilogy (fucking awesome). Actually there is a part of Super Paper Mario where one of the battles was an old Dragon Warrior style turn based battle. That was kinda cool.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Animal Crossing has a ton of Nintendo games, too.

[cityside75]

Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure was one of the earliest that I recall doing this. You could find the original Pitfall in that game. I guess that would be considered a classic game contained inside a classic game.

Edit - Ooh, I have an obscure one. Didn't Electrocop for the Lynx let you play Asteroids and Breakout? Again not a modern game, but still fits your criteria I think.

[8bitgamer]

Doesn't Donkey Kong 64 have a playable version of the original Donkey Kong somewhere within the game?

Classic Home Video Games 1972-1984 (http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Home-Video-Games-1972-1984/dp/0786432268/ref=sr_1_1/102-4833994-2708962?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180844138&sr=8-1)

[coreys429]

Test Drive for PS2 had Pong on the loading screen. I would play that game just to play pong.

[Kroogah]

Pac-Man 2 had the original inside it, along with Ms. Pac-Man on the SNES version and Pac-Man Jr. on the Genesis version (different from the arcade Jr. Pac-Man)

Day Of The Tentacle has a computer in the game with the original Maniac Mansion, fully playable.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the PS2, Cube and Xbox had a crappy port of the original arcade game as an unlockable.

Tekken 5 on the PS2 includes the first 3 Tekken games and Starblade.

I believe 1 version of Return To Castle Wolfenstein has Wolfenstein 3D as an unlockable.

The Game Boy Camera has a version of Ball (the very first Game & Watch handheld)

Wario Ware on GBA has full versions of Dr. Mario and Sheriff (old Nintendo arcade game) unlockable with Wario graphics.

These doesn't really count, but I thought the 2 hidden Wolfenstein 3D levels in DOOM 2 on PC were brilliant. And I loved how some newer Tony Hawk games included levels from the old ones.

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure was one of the earliest that I recall doing this. You could find the original Pitfall in that game. I guess that would be considered a classic game contained inside a classic game.

Edit - Ooh, I have an obscure one. Didn't Electrocop for the Lynx let you play Asteroids and Breakout? Again not a modern game, but still fits your criteria I think.
Along those lines, in Pac-Man 2 you can play a classic Pac-Man games at the arcades in town. The Genesis version has Ms. Pac-Man while the SNES version has an all new game called Pac-Jr (not Jr Pac-Man) and both versions have the original Pac-Man.

With absolutely no encouragement from Namco, I have been pegging my hopes on a Pac-Man 2 port for the DS that has even more classic Pac-Man games playable in the arcade, especially some of the more obscure ones like Super Pac-Man. God, that would be so cool.


...word is bondage...

[incubus421]

What about Shenmue for Dreamcast? There is an arcade in the city in which you can play some older/classic Sega games I believe.

[Pilotwings]

I remember playing snake or something in timesplitters 2.

[Pantechnicon]

Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure was one of the earliest that I recall doing this. You could find the original Pitfall in that game. I guess that would be considered a classic game contained inside a classic game.

That's all right, too. It doesn't have to necessarily be a "modern" system, just so long as there is some playable functionality to it.

BTW, Is what you're describing only in one port of The Mayan Adventure or in multiple versions? I think I've got the Genny version and it would be fun to go look for this.

[dlopez9069]

I know Rampage: Total Destruction has the arcade versions of Rampage and either universal or world tour. i can't remember.

[Arasoi]

Legend of the Mystical Ninja (Goemon) on SNES had an arcade with Gradius and a few others playable.

[Dire 51]

Legend of the Mystical Ninja (Goemon) on SNES had an arcade with Gradius and a few others playable.
Unfortunately, only the first stage of Gradius is playable. Same thing with the second Goemon game on the SFC, except this time it was stage 2 (I think) of XEXEX.

Contra: Legacy of War (PS1) has a couple of reimagined classics in the "Bamboo Arcade", if that counts: Gyruss and "Pac-Tank". I spent more time with those than the actual game. I'm not sure, but I think they're both available in the Saturn version too.

[Blitzwing256]

in super mario rpg there is a small part where you have to climb up inclined slopes avoiding barrels being thrown by "manky kong" the ape.

mario rpg also has that centipeedesque minigame you can buy for 500 coins/

the new castlevania game has sotn unlockable as well as the classic version of drac X as well as the "wrong card" version of drac x.

klax on nes has a bizzzare "Squash ball" game thats playable

[thetoxicone]

A few edition of Madden have older versions of madden playable with the current rosters. I know Madden 2002 for N64 has this option but I don't recall which other ones do as well (I know one of the PS2 version does this as well)

[Keir]

Here's a similar thread:
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11454

Mostly lists unlockable games, as opposed to classic games integrated with the main game's gameplay, but it should be helpful anyway.

[Wolfrider31]

Not sure if this counts but Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution has an "old school" mode which basically "skins" the game to look and play like VF1 and 2.

[mezrabad]

Metroid Prime linked via GBA to a completed Metroid Fusion lets you unlock the original NES Metroid.

[cityside75]

BTW, Is what you're describing only in one port of The Mayan Adventure or in multiple versions? I think I've got the Genny version and it would be fun to go look for this.

I'm fairly certain it's in both the Genesis and SNES. Look for the hidden 2600 Scorpion lurking in the trees.

[Ed Oscuro]

It's in the SNES version for sure. I found the scorpion there on a ledge in a city ruins-like area. Hard to miss, although it's a bit complicated getting up to that point (I actually didn't need to look up how to do it, though).

Also, Elite Force II (I think) had a Super Mario Bros. - like level. Trippy stuff.

[suckerpunch5]

Pool Paradise by Ignition Entertainment on GCN has Archer McClelan's Drop Zone as a fully playable game inside the game.

[ScourDX]

The new Castlevania: the Dracula X Chronicles allows you to play original Rondo of Blood and remaster Symphony of the Night.

Other one


Doom 3 Collection Xbox allows you to play Doom 1 & Doom 2
House of the Dead 3 Xbox has extra game where you can play House of the Dead 2
Metroid Zero GBA has unlockable NES Metroid once you beat the game
Metal Gear Solid 3 Subsistence has classic Metal Gear 1 & 2 you can play
Mortal Kombat 3 Arcade has Galaga game if you reach battle 100
Mortal Kombat 2 Arcade has Pong game if you reach battle 250

[starchildskiss78]

BTW, Is what you're describing only in one port of The Mayan Adventure or in multiple versions? I think I've got the Genny version and it would be fun to go look for this.

You can play the original 2600 version by doing this as well:
Wait for the title screen, and then press Down, then press A 26 times, then press Down again.

On the Super Nintendo version:

Press Select, A, A, A, A, A, A, Select, Start on the title screen.

[kazuo]

What about Shenmue for Dreamcast? There is an arcade in the city in which you can play some older/classic Sega games I believe.

Yeah, you can play Space Harrier, Hang-On, and something else. I forget what.

I have a savefile that starts right outside the arcade, and I have like a bazillion yen so I can just play Space Harrier whenever I feel like it. :)