Game & Watch Gallery 2
Review by MTyler
"Reliving those Nintendo 80's handheld classics has never been more fun!"
GAME: Game & Watch Gallery 2
CHALLENGE: Moderate to Extremely Difficult
SAVE: Yes
During the early 80's when handheld games and the Atari 2600 became chic, Nintendo released a series of handheld games featuring digital clocks. Almost everyone owned a game and watch classic. Back then, it was considered taboo and unhip to not own some handheld object that went blip or bloop all night. Now, it is 1999 and it can be almost considered a cardinal sin for GBC owners who experienced the original version of the game and watch games not to purchase this nice classic.
GAMEPLAY: There are five different games to began matters (Parachute, Chef, Helmet, Vermin and Donkey Kong), all testing your ability to respond quickly and accurately. Each game features this basic premise, but yet each is distinctly different. Furthermore, each games has two levels of difficulty (easy/hard) and two different versions (easy/hard). Earning 1,000 points in any modern day version game opens up very hard difficulty level. Thus, this leads to a huge variation and nice gameplay value (see below).
GAME DESCRIPTIONS: G&WC2 offers the following games:
CONTROL: For any game that requires incredible reflexes, incredible controls are required as well. Taking this fact into account, G&WC2 lives up to those expectations. (9/10)
GRAPHICS: While G&WC2's original classics maintain their original appearance, their modern day counterparts are represented well. And considering gameplay is more important than graphics in any game and watch type game, backgrounds, which stick to mainly primary colors, and characters are nicely rendered in this modern day classic. Yoshi, Mario, Bowser, Princess Toadstool, etc. are nicely represented here. (7/10)
SOUND: The soundtrack for the modern version counterparts is very good. But remember, gameplay is the most important aspect in any game and watch type game. And in G&WC2, there will be plenty of blips, blops, bloops and gloops in the original versions. G&WC2 offers the option to turn off background music in modern mode games. Or you can jam to G&WC2's finest tunes by visiting the music jukebox. (8/10)
REPLAYABILITY: The two greatest factors that add to G&WC2 replay value are: (1) ability to open hidden treats such as the museum game gallery and theme music ensemble and (2) the simple concept of demolishing a previous high score, a concept many modern day games lack. A star is earned for every 200 points. You can earn up to five star for each specific game version and level (easy/hard only). By earning X amount of stars, a new feature or game is added. For example, the music gallery opens as five stars and a shortened version of credits appears at 50. Better yet, a code can be entered to erase all saved data. A sixth game called Ball with several modern versions can be earned as well. (10/10)
OVERALL: Recommendation to anyone wishing to purchase Game & Watch Gallery 2: If you hate simplistic, challenging and repetitive gameplay, simply avoid G&WC2. However, if you're looking for a reactionary challenge or wish to relive the great handheld classics from the early 80's, then any GBC without G&WC2 is missing a nice little treasure. And to be a nice little treasure, G&WC2 contains huge replay value and spectacular variety.
Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99
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