Famicom Mini Series 2 Reviewed Following Series 1 U.S. Debut

Thanks to 1UP for its reviews of the second batch of Famicom Mini (NES Classic) series for Game Boy Advance, since "Japanese gamers... are already enjoying their second batch of remakes", following this week's release of eight of the portable conversions from the NES in the States. Intriguing second-batch picks from the almost-complete review set include Ghosts 'N Goblins ("The return of the game that made masochism fun"), Balloon Fight ("Has a simple, universal appeal"), and Adventure Island ("...may well be the most fun you'll ever have running in a straight line from left to right"), and a stuttering IGN has also started coverage of Series 2.

Comments

Why rip?

[Apreche]

Why is everyone ripping on Nintendo for these NES re-releases? Complaints I've heard:

It's an exact port of a game I paid for a long time ago, I don't want to pay for it again!

You can get Mario Bros. for free because it comes with Mario Advance ( this is justified ).

They didn't soup up the graphics and sound.

Listen. I think that Nintendo re-releasing its old NES games for the GBA is the best thing ever. And the fact that they are kind enough to sell them for cheap instead of full GBA price is even better. Not 5 years ago I was complaining that they were trying to shut down all the emu and rom sites because there was no other way to play those games if you couldn't find a working NES. Nintendo has made good and re-released their old games and in a portable fashion. Remember, the GBA goes places. Before now there was no way to play Zelda 1 in your car. Sure it might be the exact same game as back in the 80's. And sure I might be paying for the same game 3 times in my life. But there is nothing I wanted more than the ability to play Mario 3 and Zelda 1 in my car, and I have that ability now.

There is a demand by people like me for the nostalgia to be revived and the old games to be released again in true form. Nintendo is the only company willing to supply and I salute them. You might think its stupid or a waste of money, but that's because the nostalgia is lost on you. It amazes me every day that people not 3 years younger than I grew up with only Playstation. They don't know what gaming really is and their Zelda 1 was Final Fantasy 7. When square re-releases that feature film + leveling treadmill for the PSP you wont see anyone bitching.

Re:Why rip?

[TechniMyoko]

we're 'ripping' on nintendo for not releasing all the games on one cart like other companies.

Re:Why rip?

[MilenCent]

(sigh)

I want to like these, I really do. The original Legend of Zelda is still one of the greatest video games ever made.

But I already have Zelda 1 on the Gamecube, as part of the four-game collectors' disk they made available to people who bought enough other Nintendo games. (For me, they were Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga and Mario Kart Double Dash.)

As noted on the linked-to sites, Mario Bros. is available as an eCard set, as an extra in Animal Crossing and, in a graphically-upgraded version, in *five* other GBA games. Super Mario Bros. has been remade several times.

Also consider that the original ROM sizes of these games were so miniscule that the entire game, plus an NES emulator, could be quickly sent over the pipe from Animal Crossing, and fit entirely in the GBA's built-in RAM.

In short, while some of the games are really cool, $20 is too much for only ONE ancient NES game. And few of the games are worth shelling out *any* money for. If all these games were available on *one* GBA card, which given their miniscule memory footprints could have easily been done, then maybe. As it is... no.

There is only one exception. A gamer who never got to play the original Zelda might be better served getting this than playing it on the Gamecube compilation (or the secret Animal Crossing item made available with a cheat device) for one reason: it'll probably come with a full manual. Zelda is a game that needs its manual. The booklet that came with the Zelda retrospective disk gave it two scant pages! Not a smart way to introduce gamers to one of the highlights of your company's history....

Re:Why rip?

[MilenCent]

Heh, has it ever occured to you that I might be both a collector *and* a fanboy?

Of course no one's making me buy it. But if they had put a little more effort into it, I might consider it.

Re:games i miss/want

[MC Negro]

i'd really like them to release dragon warrior, final fantasy and faxanadu

Dragon Warrior I & II were released a while back, as was Dragon Warrior III. Final Fantasy has already had some stints on the GB/GBC/GBA, but the first two are on their way to coming to the GBA as well (albeit, in Japan first)

I don't think we'll see vanilla versions released like the recent releases from Nintendo, due to licensing issues.

Did you miss E3?

[Inoshiro]

FF1 and 2 are being remade (again) for the GBA. To encourage you to buy a game you probably own 3 copies of, they're even throwing in a new dungeon that has bosses from newer games in FF1 (you can fight the Phantom Train from FF6!), and FF2 is getting a new story via the 'Soul of Rebirth'

This has been reported everywhere, both in Japanese and English! How'd you miss out?

Don't forget also River City Ransom EX, Virtua Fighter Quest, RE 4, the Mega Man collections for GBA and GCN, and Shinning Force coming to the GBA! It's not the horrible Shinning Soul dungeon crawler ;P

Dr. Mario

[88NoSoup4U88]

If someone plans on buying the (excellent) Dr. Mario, consider shelling out a little bit more for Wario Ware Inc. , and get Dr. Wario as a free mini game within this (also excellent) game.

Re:Dr. Mario

[Gothic_Walrus]

Just one warning: the Dr. Wario version of the game is single-player only.

If you want the multiplayer support, go for the Classic NES version, as it's the only one with it. If it doesn't matter to you, go with Wario Ware instead.

Some people just can't see the bright side

[Syncdata]

I agree with your post, and I myself wonder why people complain about Nintendo's response to the ROM question. I don't think many of them really wanted the solution solved, because it would undermine the main argument for using ROMS (Commercial inavailability)

That said, I picked up zelda for my SP yesterday, and it's great finally being able to play it again legally, and with proper handles. But why, I ask, why did Nintendo include the slowdown when 7 or so enemies are on screen? The GBA is capable of handling that many sprites, and a "pure" emulation is already off the table, due to the screen format. It just seemed like an odd decision, that had to be actively made, to not clean up technical issues. Still, I'm glad they didn't spruce up the graphics, or make Link say "Ha!" Everytime he swings his sword.

And for those curious, Zelda 1, when played with proper handles, is still one of the best games ever. Easily in the top 5. I thank Nintendo profusely for re-releasing it.