Game & Watch Gallery 3

"It’s all coming back to me...."

Ah, yes. Once more, Nintendo out does it self. Here, we have yet another collection of some of the greatest games of the early 80s. You won't find harrowing quests, gargantuan monsters or vast worlds to save here. No, what you will find is gaming at its best: Plain, simple and, most of all, fun. Game & Watch Gallery 3 is made up 10 different games, each with a Classic Mode (where the game looks and play just as it did back in the 80s) and a Modern Mode (same games, updated graphics, music and Mario based characters). But, it doesn't stop there, each mode has 2 difficulty levels. All in all, its much like having 20 different games in one game pak (plus one demo game that I'll let you find out about yourself!).

Gameplay: 10/10
Classic Mode: Not very complicated. What your usually doing is moving back and forth across the screen in an attempt to accomplish a task repeatedly with gradually growing speeds. Although the game can be paused (and also saved, so you can come back later to finish your game), there is no in game break in the rhythm of play, only brief slowdown periods, one very short (were talkin, like, 3 seconds here) every 100 points and a longer one ever 200 points. This all goes on until you ‘miss' (that is, lose a life) 3 times (and in some cases, 4 or more). In the game Mario Bros., the object of the game is for Mario and Luigi to pass boxes along a series of belts until the box is wrapped up, thrown into a truck and shipped away.

Modern Mode: Same as the Classic Mode for the most part, but with little extra something to add to the difficulty. Bowser is at the top of the belt chain and, every now and then, he will pound the ground to reverse the direction of the belt (usually during peak speed points). Basically, it's a whole new way to play an old game.

Graphics: 10/10
Classic Mode: Stick figures! Well, much more than that. Though the technology may be primitive, the characters and scenery (as little as there is) is attractive and charming. Mix in smooth animation and you have simple yet visually pleasing experience.

Modern Mode: Improved graphics, music, Mario characters. The GBC's power is pushed to its limits as it pours out bright vivid colors and busy animations.

Sound: 10/10
Classic Mode: Same as the last 2 versions: Beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-bEEp-bEEp-BEEP! I imagine your thinking ‘that sounds annoying…'. Well, it can be, true, but closer observation shows that the beeping reviles the rhythm of the game and can be used to your advantage.

Modern Mode: Little tunes that add to the happy atmosphere of the game. Although, there is one downfall: In this mode, the music has its own rhythm and doesn't help that much, if at all. Actually, it can hinder you more than help. At speed up points, the music picks up speed, faster and faster until you hit a slow down point, almost to an irritatingly unnerving level.

Replayability:
No limit. Once you unlock all the games and things to see, set a few goals for your sell. Each game has 2 difficulty levels per mode, with a max score of 9999 for each mode. 10 games x 2 modes of play per game x 2 difficulty settings per mode = 40 potential ways to play. The only limit is your own imagination. See how high you can get in all the games!

Final Recommendation:
If you liked the last two G&W Galleries, you'll love this. Everything that was good about the last two versions has returned in all its glory, better than ever. If you're new to the series, don't be shy, give it a shot, you'll like what you see.

Overall Score: 10/10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 08/07/04