Game & Watch Gallery 4

"Games, the way they used to be."

Let's take a trip back to the 70s, shall we? A time in gaming when there where no princesses to rescue, dragons to slay or hidden treasures to uncover. Yes, these were simpler times of gaming. Well, Nintendo has brought these times back. This little collection contains some of the best of the 70s with a little new age flare.

Game Play: 10/10
The game consists well over 12 Game & Watch games. Each game has two modes, Classic, where the game is played just like it was back in the 70s, and Modern, where you play the same game a new way, with updated graphics, sound and Marioverse characters. Each mode has 2 difficulty settings (plus one more if you're good enough to earn it). Each mode and difficulty setting is so different from the last, it's like having 7 different versions of the same game.

I'll bet you're thinking “Oh, pfft. They can't be as hard as you're making them sound.” Don't kid yourself. The games start out slow, but get progressively faster as more points are accumulated. You'll earn yourself a 10-point break every 100 points (it lasts for around 10 seconds or so). Rest assured, these games take time and patients to master.

Each individual game has it's own set of rules and controls, both of which are fairly easy to understand and follow. Not only that, but the rules and controls are a bit different between Classic and Modern modes. This keeps the action fresh, as you'll have to get use to several different methods of play to gain a mastery.

Graphics: 10/10
Depends on which mode you're playing in.

Classic mode: Black and white. Stick figures. Sound like fun? It is. No, now wait, come back here! It's not as bad as it may first sound. Black and white, yes, but crystal clarity accompanied by smooth animation that examples just how advanced Game & Watch was for its time.

Modern mode: The marvel of modern technology, featuring bright, vivid backgrounds and colorful characters.

Sound: 10/10
Also depends on which mode you're playing in.

Classic mode: A series a beeps and boops. Yeah, I know, sounds annoying, right? It's anything but. The music in this mode reveals the rhythm of the game, which can be used as a mastery tool. Plus, it's kind of cute.

Modern mode: Each game has it's own theme song, which plays from the time you start until you finish. The music speeds up or slows down based upon how fast you're playing, which can give you a hint as to when things are going to get out of control. Although…it is rather…unnerving to have the music suddenly jump to some insane speed while closing in on that ideal score.

Replay Value:
Infinite. Try and see how high of a score you can get in all of the difficulty settings of all the modes in each game. Other than the games you start with, you can earn more games by obtaining high scores. But that's not all. Through hard work, you can gain access to a gallery section, where many different Game & Watch games are on display. As a plus, if you work hard enough…well, no, I'll let that be a surprise.

Final Recommendation:
If you liked any of the first three Game & Watch Gallery games, then this won't disappoint. If you like simple, fun, addictive games to whittle away the time at, then I would suggest giving this a try. If you're new to the whole Game & Watch thing or just looking for a bit of a challenge, then I would suggest renting this at least once. You just might be surprised at what you find.

Overall Score: 10/10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 12/21/04, Updated 12/30/04