are these classics worth a 2nd look, an NES remix review

Note: all screen shots were taken my me using a Roxio gamecap device. While I take credit for taking the shots, all the images belong to Nintendo the creators of NES remix

Late last year Nintendo announced something in there Nintendo directs about something called NES remix. I was curious when I heard people like Screwattack give it rave reviews so I decided to give it a download. So what is NES Remix, well it’s in a way Nintendo trying to cash in on the nostalgia that the 30 and up video game geek crowd. But it’s done in a way that doesn’t feel like selling out, but rather Nintendo telling us why people my age fell in love with them in the first place.

Well it’s a collection and ROM hacks of a bunch of first generation of NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) games. The game collections consist of a few big hits like Super Mario Bros, and the Legend of Zelda. Donkey Kong, DKJR, Wrecking Crew, Mario Bros, Balloon fighter and Excitebike are also smaller but still great games that are remixed in this collection. We of course get 4 not so great games. I can forgive Golf which was way better then what the Atari gave us, and Pinball being here because back in 1985 having a video game simulation where the ball was round sphere and not a cube was a huge step up, but both have aged like milk compare to modern takes, and definitely are not has fun now has they were back in 1985. However Ice climbers and Clu Clu Land have no redeeming qualities they are some of the worst games Nintendo ever made period. They both have horrible controls, lame gameplay, and there challenges aren’t fun regardless of how they try to dress it up. Still 10 out of 12 is still a really good score.

The menus are easy to navigate each game you unlock will be on the top and the challenges they have will be on the bottom. Beat a challenge and the one underneath it unlocks. Each game also has stars and bits to unlock based on your score. Also depending on the day you can get bonuses for playing certain games to unlock new stamps. While it may not be achievements or trophies it does help bring you back when your done playing through the challenges.

For the normal games these are for the most part just challenges taken from the original games. Nothing really goofy or weird about them, however the challenges can be quite hard. I mean they all start out easy find vines, grab mushrooms. But a few can be tricky like clear out a room full of ropes without getting hit in Zelda. A lot of these are challenges often times you would think up has a kid to challenge your friends during the millionth play through on a game, and they work to bring back that old school charm, and it’s always interesting after you beat it to see exactly what opens up and pops up next for you to play next.

Ahh the game remixes these are really for the people who have played through the old school ones so many times that they can speed run them blindfolded. So you think your good at Super Mario Bros wait until you try out these remixes. While a few of them are short and easy like running around invincible until you kill a certain amount of enemies. Or one of my favorite one plaything through 1-3 while the screen gets blurry, ironically eating the mushroom in the middle of the stage turns the visuals back to normal for a bit. A lot of them however do make the game more challenging. If your an adult remember how hard world 8-1 was when you first got into that stage has a kid. Well try stage 5-1 has an auto runner, no way to stop or even slow down you have to jump fast and watch your jump or else you will die easily. In other games you get treated to power going out and making the whole screen black, or running through Donkey Kong’s first stage has Link and not having the ability to jump. Or in another Donkey Kong remix stage shortly after words having the trampoline Donkey Kong throws at you on the 2^nd stage (and yes I know it was the 3^rd on the arcade) coming down on you constantly while having to dodge barrels on the first stage. Both of these stages are good because they make you rethink the way you play this old game and that’s not bad. Playing has Link stresses patients and timing you will have to wait on a ladder or a safe zone until he throws a barrel in a different direction and run. While the trampolines are just move even if it’s not forward keep moving because standing still will get you squash. It’s these kinds of challenges I love about Retreo Remixed.

NES Remix is a great time with some old games. It’s kind of like breaking out some of the old toys you use to play has a kid and see that there are new features and way of playing with them that you never knew before.

If your someone new to the Wii or Wii U and missed out on NES goodness it’s not a bad way to try out a smorgus board of classic NES games that are available on the virtual console.

NES remix is available in the Wii U eshop for 15 dollars.