+- Tendo City (https://www.tendocity.net)
+-- Forum: Tendo City: Residential District (https://www.tendocity.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=5)
+--- Forum: The Somewhat-Monthly Review (https://www.tendocity.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=46)
+---- Forum: Nintendo (https://www.tendocity.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=7)
+----- Forum: GameBoy Advance Reviews (https://www.tendocity.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=20)
+----- Thread: Game and Watch Gallery 4 (/showthread.php?tid=331)
Game and Watch Gallery 4 - EdenMaster - 22nd February 2003
Standing proud, outwardly defying that sound and graphics make a game, is the Game & Watch series. Going on 20 years old, they still provide a fun factor that can still be unmatched by many games on next-gen consoles. I defy anyone to play Fire, Chef, Manhole, or Octopus and not get addicted. They're deceptively simple in gameplay with usually only two controls for movement, yet they can be maddeningly difficult on the higher difficulty levels and when things get hectic. They made the handheld game what it is today, but now with the onset of better handheld consoles, these gaming gems are slowly and unfortunately falling into obscurity. Not if Nintendo has anything to say about it, and with that in mind, they release <i>Game & Watch Gallery 4</i>, which showcases these gaming legends for all to enjoy once more.
You start out with 6 games, the ability to unlock 6 more, and I've heard rumors you can unlock games you see in the Museum part of the Gallery. If true, this brings the total to over 20 games, not a bad deal for the same price as any other GBA cartridge which includes but one game. The games you start with are Boxing, Rainshower, Mario's Cement Factory, Donkey Kong Jr, Donkey Kong 3, and the most popular game of all, Fire. Each game includes the classic black and white, frame-by-frame game as it used to be (they even make it more realistic by making it appear to be an LCD screen by shading the unoccupied frames gray). The beeps and boops from the games remain as well. If you're looking for something a bit more visually and audibly pleasing, they've also included Modern versions of every game, starring famous characters, catchy music, and of course beautiful graphics. Boxing pits Luigi against Wiggler, Boo, and even Waluigi, while Fire has Peach's castle on fire and you must save falling Toads, Yoshis, and Donkey Kongs.
Controls are very responsive, for the most part. One complaint I have is in Modern Boxing. It can occasionally be difficult to switch Luigi's punches from upper to lower blows. Other than that though, they are flawless, which is necessary considering the sometimes quick movements you must make in order to win. Music in the Modern games is quite catchy, and I found myself humming some of the songs to myself on just the second day I had the game.
If you need a break from the old-school games, you can take a trip to the Gallery, where you can access the Museum, which showcases more Game and Watch games (as I said, I've heard <u>rumors</u> you can unlock these to play too, but I don't know for sure), also you can play all the music from the game in the music room, or you can visit the present room where Mario and Mr. Game and Watch (who looks exactly like he did in Melee) gives you what you've unlocked.
<i>Game and Watch Gallery 4</i> took me back to when gaming was simple yet enjoyable, and when Nintendo made games because they wanted to entertain people, not to compete with other company's sales. I rate this game an 8.0!