Nintendo's NES Remix Pack, a retail compilation of eShop titles NES Remix and NES Remix 2, contains two great games but feels like a bit of a missed opportunity. While both games are quite good, Nintendo has opted to simply package the two together and not made an attempt to make them feel like a cohesive whole. We didn't expect NES Remix Pack to add more content to the already-robust titles, but it would have been nice to see the first entry polished a little to reflect the improvements of its somewhat slicker sequel.
NES Remix takes 16 classic games from Nintendo's 8-bit heyday and breaks them up into self-contained, bite-sized challenges. An early challenge for The Legend of Zelda, for example, is simply to take the sword from the old man. In Donkey Kong Jr., you may be tasked simply with dropping a fruit on an enemy. Based on the amount of time it takes to complete a challenge you can earn up to three stars, with exemplary performance resulting in a shiny rainbow border. Completing each challenge also nets you Bits, which are collected for Miiverse stamps. The big draw of NES Remix, though, is its "Remix" stages, which feature altered versions of games and tough challenges. One level may have Link (who can't jump) playing through a Donkey Kong stage; another may feature an auto-running Mario that needs to be prompted to jump.
The "something's not quite right here" feeling adds to the allure and charm of the remixes, though admittedly some of the games used in NES Remix are better than others. Legend of Zelda is simply a more compelling experience than Pinball or Urban Champion. But on the whole, this is an addictive, fun experience. Be sure to check out our full NES Remix review.
NES Remix 2 features less games than its predecessor, but its 12 titles are generally stronger and more varied. Individual challenges range from simple to thrilling; our favourites were defeating Medusa in Kid Icarus and facing off against Dark Link in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. In addition to the 12 games and Remix challenges, NES Remix 2 also features two supplementary modes. Super Luigi Bros. is a flipped version of Super Mario Bros., with stages beginning on the right side of the screen and starring Luigi, whose jumps and physics are a little different than Mario's. Super Luigi Bros. is a fun diversion and feels like an extended Remix challenge. The other extra is the Nintendo World Championship mode, which tasks the player with collecting an amount of coins in Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3, along with a challenge from Dr. Mario - scores in this mode are saved to an online leaderboard. The developers of NES Remix are also quite active on Miiverse, posting community challenges and contests; for detailed information on NES Remix 2, check out our review.
The presentation in all modes seems relatively uniform, with bright colours, enlarged 8-bit sprites, and great remixes of famous Nintendo tunes. While the NES titles are certainly not "HD" quality, Nintendo has made sure to wrap them in sharp, fancy packaging; Super Luigi Bros., for example, is displayed with a large Luigi-themed border. NES Remix 2 also allows you to save replays and share them so other players can see how you got a high score or cleared a challenge. It's here where NES Remix Pack seems to falter; why not add the replay/share capability to the first title?
Conclusion
We understand that the titles were released individually on the eShop and many months apart, but a retail package seems like the ideal place to fuse the best of both games; if you already downloaded one or both, there's truly no reason to pick this up. For those who haven't played either NES Remix title and are looking for a challenge and to walk down memory lane - or experience these gems for the first time - NES Remix Pack is a guaranteed good time.
Comments 41
I don't know, I would feel like I got a big middle finger if they updated it the way you mention in the article. This is just an option for those who want both games in a physical format that they can physically own to do all the fun things you can do with physical games.
@Tiredman
Pretty much, I would expect an update for the eshop titles to match.
I downloaded both at the times they were released and I also have the 3DS version download and game cart, maybe I'll ad the Wii-U version physical media to the collection.
Still waiting for SNES remix, make it happen Nintendo. Not interested in this one at all.
I got the game for Christmas! Cool game.
They should have included the full games as well. Now that would have been something!
Dear Nintendo: Make this a trilogy with NES Zapper Remix!
I've always found the Wii U NES Remix games to be fiendishly difficult. While Ultimate NES Remix was a rip-off for what it offered ($50 for one NES Remix worth of content when $26 buys you BOTH NES Remix games for Wii U), I've found the "Ultimate" edition to be a much more fun and addictive experience. I managed to complete that (and Famicom Remix Best Choice) 100%, however I cannot see myself achieving that with the Wii U editions anytime soon.
i just wish they would release this in pal regions so i can buy the physical .please..........region restrictions are so stupid.
Shame. Was hoping for the two games to be combined, not for them to simply be separated.
Bought this before Christmas at Best Buy with a 5 dollar off coupon I had earned. I have enjoyed the game a lot so far, and don't really mind that it's 2-games-in-1 by design. The value is pretty good, and the physical release is really attractive. The disc looks like an NES cartridge!!!
I got the 3ds game for Xmas. I don't know what the individual games looked like but I think the presentation seems great with the 3ds. I've been having a lot of fun.
I like alot of these classics but, the Nes remix games just don't interest me at all.
SNES Remix would be awesome. I'd get it.
Rip off cash in game. Not very fun. Remix 1 was released quickly during the Wii U game drought and it shows in its presentation. Remix 2 was released almost unannounced not long after 1st. The "mashups" aren't very fun. This release is an example of bleeding the turnip. If you are undecided, I would recommend the physical copy so that you can get trade in value for it. That would help with the buyers remorse.
@theberrage I respectfully disagree. Yes, it was released during a games drought as you have mentioned, but it takes a cellphone game type ethos to Nintendo's pretty rich legacy and I like that. It's something you can pick up and put down, and it's generally not to expensive. I thought the presentation was quite good - and they generally didn't have to add the Miiverse interaction. So, yeah. Plenty of blood in that particular turnip and its sequel.
Meh....I've got both already so not bothered unless there's something new really. That last remix level on 1!!!
How can this score less than the individual games? <.<
I'm still sitting here hoping for SNES Remix, then MAAYBE N64 Remix
These games are uber fun, I don't care what anyone says. And I usually can't stand playing NES games nowadays (aside from Mega Man and Mario), but I love playing this.
Bought both digitally, then got the physical releases on 3DS and Wii U. So glad they released retail versions of these games.
I'm still one of the bitter people that picked up NES remix 1 as a rewards thingy, and then they announce the disc package is coming to the US. I always prefer discs, so I'll be bitter until next year when remix 2 is hopefully a rewards offer!
However, I can't deny that I enjoyed Remix 1. A lot of fun, and I still couldn't be that last balloon fight challenge!
I will be amazed if we don't see a SNES Remix some time soon.In fact if I was guessing,I'd say they'll announce it during the next Direct.
Am I the only one complaining about the score?! A 7?!
NES Remix got a 9.
NES Remix 2 got an 8.
NES Remix + NES Remix 2 for a retail price get a 7. Could someone please explain me the logic? All they did was put the two games together and set it out for retail; they did not modify the game in any way, nor should they even modify the game in any way. They shouldn't make the first NES Remix more similar to the sequel, because that wouldn't make any sense.
@Obito_Tennyson from reading the review it seems that the slightly lower score is due to the fact that it doesn't integrate the two titles in any way, they've just stuck the two releases on a disc as they are.
It's a game you've already played, exactly the same and charged at more than if you purchase both games from the eshop; they're not just reviewing the games as is, they're rating the entire package and giving it a monetary value ...
Well that's how I read into it anyway.
@Obito_Tennyson Agree, tis a silly score, maybe there not as good now as when first released?? only justification in fairness. Either that or if the price was higher but its not, but hey I've seen the reviewers here bump up games in hindsight so who knows this could get a 9 a few years down the road!!!
I bought this compilation and I'm really enjoying it. Some of the challenges are so short, though, that it relies more on reflexes than skill. But it's a great way to revisit some old classics that i had forgotten about in snack-size bits. I had almost forgotten how hard SMB: TLL was!
It's very strangely addictive as well. I've played for a couple hours at a time when i only meant to play for twenty minutes.
I got this for Christmas from my brother and you can bet I am looking forward to trying it out!
Great time for me to get this then. I always wanted to get remix since it was announced and never ended up getting either of them.
I've never been that interested in NES Remix. The only way I could see myself getting this collection is if they included some of the actual original games, like that Genesis collection that came for Xbox some years ago. I think this would have been an inexpensive measure that would make customers feel better about spending the money for a retail title here.
@Obito_Tennyson None of the original reviews were written by Lee Meyer, and in the end a review is a personal view on a product.
Its exactly what I expected: Remix 1 and 2....on a disc! Hopefully it also comes to Europe, at a decent price. I always prefer discs over downloads!
I really enjoyed this! I was going to download them at some point but the physical copy sealed the deal for me. There are some great sections and in certain games like Zelda and Kid Icarus you get to play through most of the major parts of the game. The remix levels were probably my favorites. The game gets a little hart at times but I wouldn't have it any other way. The one real complaint I've got is that they included a bunch of the black box sports games which could be really difficult and extremely boring.
It comes on a disc and not a cartridge..............that works on a NES : P
I was waiting for a good time to play both of these on the eShop, like, a discount or something ($15 for each? And I have other games to play? Ouch). Once I heard a retail release of BOTH was coming, I tossed it right into my GameFly queue and won't be paying one extra cent. Since I didn't miss anything the first go around with these, I won't be feeling cheated, so I'm looking forward to playing these.
SNES Remix I would get immediately. But this... Still waiting for a huge sale to get any one.
@Spoony_Tech
lol same here 😝
It's a shame nintendo just doesn't release a greatest hits collection from its past consoles. They could make various discs from the new heydays and even more from the super nes, n64 and gamecube eras! That would be more money for them and I'm sure that they'd sell pretty well! Even better would be to release these discs with an exclusive amblio figure!
UK release?
where the hell is the PAL release
I finally bought it, that CD art is beautiful.
You know their is an saying in this world. The fence is narrow and small but outside of that fence is an great big field.
I hate re-releases. What I hate the most is how people re-release something by jumping the fence/shark.
Seriously I mean okay great lets play "Punch-out" or "Super mario Bros" with smaller extra graphics even more lamer then any extra graphics of "Super-Gameboy".
Is this still not available in the UK?
Tap here to load 41 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...