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Ultimate NES Remix

Name: Ultimate NES Remix
Item: Ultimate NES Remix
Rating: 4
Author: Marc Saltzman

Game review by

Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media

Common Sense says

age 9+

(i)

Fun, engaging collection of retro Nintendo classics.

Nintendo 3DS
$29.99
2014

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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this game.

Positive Messages

Collection of quick arcade mini-games doesn't have positive or negative messages.

Positive Role Models & Representations

No story ties these mini-games or characters together. With no backstory or plot, it's hard to say whether characters are positive role models.

Ease of Play

Simple controls, easy to play.

Violence

Limited violence, such as boxing, zapping aliens, shooting at creatures. No blood; fallen enemies disappear.

Sex

Language

Consumerism

Based on classic Nintendo games, such as The Legend of Zelda, Mario Bros., Metroid, and others. Can connect to Nintendo eShop for users to download full versions of classic games on which mini-games are based.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Ultimate NES Remix is a collection of mini-games based on classic Nintendo characters and video games. The game features mild fantasy violence in the context of classic game sequences, such as boxing, shooting aliens, and attacking fantasy creatures; there's no blood, and enemies disappear when defeated. Gameplay is easy to learn and get into, but parents should be aware that the game provides access to downloads of the classic titles the mini-games are based on. Thanks to the nature of these games, parents may wind up purchasing and downloading more games than they expected.

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What's it about?

Consider ULTIMATE NES REMIX a "best of" compilation of two previous games, NES Remix and NES Remix 2; it's now playable on the portable Nintendo 3DS system. This collection of mini-games stars many classic Nintendo protagonists, such as Mario, Link (from The Legend of Zelda), Samus (from Metroid), Kirby, Boo, Donkey Kong, and others. You must accomplish a number of tasks, such as shooting down aliens, racing to a finish line, knocking out a boxing opponent, and many others. Once you complete a challenge, you can compare your score with others in your region via online leaderboards. Gamers also have the option to connect to the Nintendo eShop to download full versions of these classic games.

Is it any good?

This suite of retro mini-games should be especially enjoyable to those with fond memories of playing pixelated 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) games back in the '80s. Some are better than others, as you'd expect with any compilation of this kind, but some standouts include Donkey Kong, Excitebike, The Legend of Zelda, and the granddaddy of all platformers, Super Mario Bros. 3. The 3DS controls are comfortable and responsive, so you can easily leap into any challenge in seconds. Plus, the extras, such as unlockables, extra challenges, and leaderboards, add even more charm to this delightful collection.

Speaking of challenges, these mini-games get considerably more difficult over time, so don't think the oldies will be a cakewalk. That said, kids might not "get" the appeal of these 2-D adventures or understand why they're so popular. Still, overall, Ultimate NES Remix is a solid collection of remixed classics you can play anywhere life takes you.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about the impact of violence in games such as Ultimate NES Remix. Is the impact lessened because of the mini-game format? Does the gameplay not seem as violent because of the older visuals compared to the more realistic images of today's games?
Discuss gameplay. Does a game need to have a story or a plot to be fun? Can you fully enjoy a game that you play for seconds at a time, or do you need to invest a lot of time to be fully engaged?