Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition review

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition review

As a gamer who grew up in the 80s, I can’t express enough how Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition has taken me back to my roots and reignited my love for classic gaming. The moment I picked up a controller and started playing this minigame collection, I was instantly hooked and found myself competing fiercely against anyone who dared challenge me.


In no time at all, I found myself deeply hooked and highly competitive while playing Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition. Almost everyone who joined in was met with determined opposition from me.

If you grew up in the 1980s, playing this collection of quick, challenging mini-games will bring back fond memories and awaken hidden reflexes within you, which have been dormant for years. It includes more than 150 carefully chosen micro-games from 13 popular Nintendo Entertainment System games. Players can compete against each other both online and offline in a fast-paced format, making it an unexpectedly fun social activity for the summer season.

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition review

To begin with, you’ll be asked to pick an avatar from a diverse selection of easily identifiable Nintendo characters and icons, as well as the option to choose your preferred NES/Famicom game from an extensive catalog of both Western and Japanese games. This process is similar to creating a profile in a contemporary Street Fighter game. Subsequently, you’ll have the opportunity to tackle various challenges derived from the initial three canonical Mario titles, the challenging Lost Levels, the contrasting 8-bit Zelda games, and individual games such as Balloon Fight, Kid Icarus, Ice Climber, Kirby’s Adventure, Excitebike, Donkey Kong, and Metroid.

As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of video games, I can tell you that there’s nothing quite like the thrill of overcoming new challenges and unlocking fresh content. It’s a sense of accomplishment that keeps us coming back for more.

As a devoted fan, I’d say: The solo mode in Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is doable, but the true magic lies in the multiplayer experience. The screen divides itself into numerous sections for an elimination round where only the top players survive until one remains. This pits you against ghosts from all over the world, and though the silver edition might be manageable, the gold level calls for A++ or S ranks on almost every challenge. Additionally, there’s a Party Mode that rewards points based on your speed and overall placement in five pre-selected challenges, with the player amassing the most points crowned as the champion. You can even race against ghosts of past challenges to better yourself. Online tournaments and rotating challenges provide opportunities to test your skills against the best in the community.

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition review

As a longtime Nintendo fan, I’m in awe of their dedication to inclusivity. Even though I’ve been playing their games for over three decades, there are entire generations who haven’t experienced the joy of Morph Balling with Samus or wearing a Tanooki suit. The pre-challenge instructions are a godsend, guiding both newbies and old-timers like me on which buttons to press. And let me tell you, even this aging gamer picked up some new skills during the process!

The main critique of the package is that there are a couple of games that, whilst rightly considered important in the Nintendo pantheon, just do not stand up well to modern play due to the controls, physics, and inertia which make them frustrating to play and can easily derail a otherwise great attempt at winning a party runthrough. The worst offenders are undoubtedly Ice Climber and Donkey Kong. I have never been fond of the former, with its strange, inconsistent jumps and unforgiving gameplay, whilst the oddly precise ladder climbing of the substandard Kong arcade port is also an annoying lowlight. I can’t criticise Kirby too much – after all the cute pink spherical guy has been good to me over the years – but good lord, the NES game is far more tricky than I remember – especially with the virtual gun-to-the-head of having to blast through it in inhumanly quick times, potentially against other actual humans in the room.

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition review

I’ve got to admit, there have been a few outdated titles in this bundle, but let me tell you, the majority of the games are absolutely brilliant and fit perfectly with the handheld format. Their timeless design and addicting gameplay make them true gems, as one would expect from Nintendo. The presentation is nothing short of exceptional – it pays homage to the past while also drawing in new fans with its innovative approach.

Based on my extensive experience as a dedicated gamer, I wholeheartedly agree that there is ample room for more exciting games to be incorporated into this platform in the future. In fact, my creative mind has already conjured up over a dozen game ideas that would fit perfectly and feel right at home here. One such game that comes to mind is the classic “Punch-Out.” With its unique blend of skill, strategy, and adrenaline-pumping action, it would undoubtedly be a fantastic addition to this collection. Growing up, I fondly remember countless hours spent playing “Punch-Out” and the thrill of knocking out my opponents one by one. The nostalgia alone makes me eager for its return!

As a big fan of Nintendo games, I can’t help but rave about the latest addition to their multiplayer collection: Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition. This game has been one of the best discoveries of the year for me, and with its affordable price tag, it’s a must-have in any gaming enthusiast’s library.

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2024-07-17 15:16