Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Intellivision Greatest Hits: 20th Anniversary Edition delivers a remarkably faithful recreation of classic Mattel Intellivision titles. Each game, from Astrosmash’s frantic meteor-blasting action to Shark! Shark!’s charming fish-eating mechanics, retains its original pacing and control feel thanks to the use of authentic emulation code. You’ll find the timing, responsiveness, and quirks exactly as they were on the 1980s hardware, making for an instant nostalgia rush if you’ve played these titles before.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

The compilation offers two versions—one featuring 10 games and another boasting 25—so you can choose between a concise sampler or a more exhaustive anthology. Regardless of which package you pick, all titles behave identically to their original cartridges, complete with the same scoring systems, difficulty ramps, and level designs. Whether you’re dodging lasers in Space Armada or wrestling your way to victory in Body Slam: Super Pro Wrestling, the gameplay holds up surprisingly well, offering bite-sized challenges that remain addictive decades later.

Multiplayer support is a welcome inclusion, especially for two-player head-to-head classics like Super Pro Football and Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack. Even with modern controllers or adapters, the button layouts and numeric keypad functionality are faithfully recreated on-screen, so there’s minimal setup fuss. While some games feel simplistic by today’s standards, the collection’s variety ensures there’s always a fresh challenge—be it a high-score chase in Motocross or a cautious exploration in Night Stalker.

Graphics

The visual presentation maintains the blocky charm of early 1980s console graphics. Each pixel is rendered crisply, with no attempt to “modernize” or alter the original art, which will please purists who want an authentic experience. On large-screen HDTVs, the graphics can look surprisingly sharp when displayed at the right resolution or with a suitable scaling filter. Pixel edges remain clean, and color palettes are spot-on; Astrosmash’s bright explosions and Night Stalker’s eerie green corridors come through just as vividly as the originals.

Intellivision Greatest Hits also includes optional display modes that simulate vintage CRT scanlines and phosphor glow. These filters add a warm, nostalgic hue to the visuals, making gameplay feel as if you’re peering into an old living room console. If you prefer a purely pixel-perfect look, you can disable all filters and play in “raw” mode. The flexibility allows you to choose between retro authenticity and modern clarity.

Between games, the compilation’s built-in galleries showcase original box art, cartridge labels, and advertising materials in high resolution. These bonus features are presented in an easy-to-navigate interface, complete with historical write-ups on each title’s development and release. For fans of video game history, these artwork supplements are almost as compelling as the games themselves, offering a visual time capsule of early gaming’s marketing aesthetics.

Story

As a compilation rather than a single narrative-driven game, Intellivision Greatest Hits doesn’t offer a unified “story” in the traditional sense. Instead, it presents a broader tale: the rise, evolution, and cultural impact of the Intellivision console in the early ’80s. The included historical essays and developer interviews chronicle how Mattel challenged the arcade norms and introduced home gamers to innovative titles that balanced accessibility with depth.

Each game carries its own simple premise—battle asteroids, race motorcycles, or survive the haunted maze—but the real narrative arc lies in seeing these varied genres side by side. You get a sense of how Intellivision’s software library spanned sports, action, puzzle, and simulation experiences, appealing to a wide audience. The story told through this collection is one of experimentation and creativity during a pioneering era of game design.

Supplementary materials—such as original concept sketches, marketing posters, and developer anecdotes—deepen the contextual backdrop, painting a vivid picture of the people and processes behind these classics. Whether you’re reading about how Shark! Shark! was inspired by arcade fish-eating games or how Super Pro Football attempted to innovate with plays and formations, the narrative woven through the bonus content enriches your appreciation for these titles beyond mere button-mashing fun.

Overall Experience

Intellivision Greatest Hits: 20th Anniversary Edition is an outstanding tribute to a seminal console and its games. The flawless emulation ensures that both longtime fans and curious newcomers can experience these classics without hunting down vintage hardware. The two offerings—10 or 25 titles—provide flexibility for budget-minded buyers or completists seeking the full roster.

The compilation’s user interface is intuitive: select your game, tweak display or control settings, and dive right in. Extras like the historical galleries and developer commentary add real value, marrying gameplay with context. While some mini-games inevitably feel primitive today, the collection’s overall quality and historical importance make each session feel like a window into gaming’s formative years.

For collectors and retro enthusiasts, this Anniversary Edition stands as a must-have. It not only preserves the look and feel of the original Intellivision experience but also packages it with insightful background material that honors the console’s legacy. Whether you’re reliving childhood memories or exploring gaming history for the first time, Intellivision Greatest Hits: 20th Anniversary Edition offers an engaging, well-rounded journey through vintage interactive entertainment.

Retro Replay Score

null/10