Experience NES classics in a new way with Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition!
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Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition – A New Take on NES Classics
Rediscover NES Classics with Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition
There are few things I know better than Super Mario Bros. 3. Over the last few decades, I’ve replayed the game across nearly every Nintendo platform, exploring its levels meticulously and uncovering every secret. However, one aspect I consistently overlooked was the timer. My approach was always slow and methodical, ignoring the tiny countdown clock. That all changed with the release of Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition, a collection of NES classics that have been chopped into pieces for the sake of pure speed. This new edition revealed a side to these games I thought I knew intimately, showing them in an entirely different light.
An Innovative Approach to Classic Games
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition takes 13 of the company’s most iconic titles and divides them into over 150 different challenges. Instead of playing through each game in its entirety, you experience brief moments with the aim of completing them as quickly as possible. It’s essentially speedrunning for beginners, transforming familiar games into something faster and more compulsive.
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The Basics of Speedrunning
The initial challenges in solo mode are quite simple. The first challenge I played involved getting the mushroom in the first level of the original Super Mario Bros. After that, I was swallowing an enemy as Kirby, running to the first ladder in Donkey Kong, and collecting the morph ball in Metroid. These early pieces serve as tutorials for the basics of how to play each game. Most challenges last only a few seconds, and you can even watch a short playthrough video beforehand, so you know exactly what the goal is.
Completing a level earns you a score based on your speed and some in-game currency to unlock more challenges. The progression is steady: you start with the basics before moving on to complete entire levels or defeat bosses. Eventually, things get really hard. The structure is quite open, allowing you to tackle games in a given order or jump around as you see fit. I found myself initially sticking to old favorites like Metroid and Mario before braving the clunkier titles like Balloon Fight or Ice Climber.
New Strategies for Old Favorites
Even when doing challenges for a game I’ve played many times before, I found myself playing them differently. The goal is speed, so I had to abandon old habits. There’s no point in wasting time collecting unnecessary power-ups or defeating enemies. Instead, I had to find the cleanest line through a level, usually avoiding almost everything and nailing my jumps. This repetition helped me appreciate other games I previously didn’t have much patience for.
For example, I’ve always struggled with the twitchy sword fighting in The Adventure of Link. The combat challenges were intimidating, but like beating your head against a wall with an Elden Ring boss, I slowly learned how and when to attack and actually got better at the game. The collection hasn’t changed my mind about everything, though. I might hate Balloon Fight even more after attempting some of the “master” challenges.
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A Competitive Twist
Playing solo is incredibly engaging. The screen is divided into two: on the left is your current playthrough, and on the right, a recording of your fastest time. I’m typically not much of a perfectionist, but I’ve been replaying challenges repeatedly to shave off a few tenths of a second and get the coveted S rating. Everything is so immediate; it only takes a second to restart a challenge and try again.
Multiplayer Mayhem
The collection also makes for a great party experience. You can play with up to eight people locally, and things get chaotic, with the screen showing everyone’s gameplay simultaneously. This introduces the added difficulty of paying attention to only your playthrough amid everything else happening onscreen, not to mention the inevitable yelling. There’s also an online component. In one mode, five challenges are available each week, and you can replay them as many times as you want to claim a place on the leaderboards. While I haven’t found this mode as fun as playing solo or with people in person, it’s eye-opening to see how good some players are.
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Rediscovering the Classics
As much as I’ve enjoyed playing the part of a speedrunner, the collection is probably best paired with an actual NES or a subscription to Switch Online and its retro games. Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition has given me a strong urge to replay many of these classics with a new sense of confidence. I might finally be able to beat The Adventure of Link and its skeleton knights, or Super Mario Bros.’ devious sequel with its poison mushrooms. More than anything, though, I’m excited to have a new excuse to play through Super Mario Bros. 3 again — this time with one eye on the timer.
The Launch and Future of Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition launched on July 18th on the Nintendo Switch, bringing a fresh perspective to these beloved classics. The game’s innovative approach is likely to influence future releases and inspire a new generation of gamers to explore speedrunning.
FAQs about Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition
What is Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition?
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is a collection of 13 iconic NES games divided into over 150 speedrun challenges. Instead of playing through the entire game, players complete brief moments as quickly as possible, introducing a new, fast-paced experience to classic titles.
How many games are included in Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition?
The collection includes 13 of Nintendo’s most iconic NES games, chopped into more than 150 different speedrun challenges.
What types of challenges are in the game?
Challenges range from simple tasks, like collecting a mushroom in Super Mario Bros., to more complex goals, such as defeating a boss in Metroid. The challenges start easy but become increasingly difficult as you progress.
Can I play Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition with friends?
Yes, the game supports local multiplayer for up to eight players. The screen displays everyone’s gameplay simultaneously, adding a chaotic and fun element to the experience. There’s also an online component with weekly challenges and leaderboards.
What is the main focus of the game?
The primary focus of Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is speedrunning. Players aim to complete challenges as quickly as possible, competing against their own best times or those of others online.
How does the scoring system work?
Your score is based on how quickly you complete each challenge. Completing a level also earns you in-game currency, which can be used to unlock more challenges.
What new elements does Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition introduce to classic games?
The game introduces speedrunning to classic NES titles, requiring players to complete challenges as quickly as possible. This approach changes how players interact with the games, emphasizing speed and efficiency over exploration and thoroughness.
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How does Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition handle difficulty progression?
The game starts with simple, tutorial-like challenges to teach the basics of each game. As players progress, the challenges become more difficult, eventually requiring advanced skills and strategies.
Is there a tutorial in Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition?
Yes, the initial challenges act as tutorials, introducing players to the basics of each game. Additionally, you can watch short playthrough videos before starting a challenge to understand the goal.
How does the game encourage replayability?
The game encourages replayability by challenging players to beat their own best times and achieve higher scores. The immediate restart feature makes it easy to retry challenges and improve your performance.
Can I see how my performance compares to others?
Yes, the game includes leaderboards where you can see how your times compare to those of other players. The online mode also features weekly challenges that players can replay to improve their rankings.
What classic NES games are included in Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition?
While the full list of included games isn’t specified, it features some of Nintendo’s most iconic NES titles, such as Super Mario Bros., Metroid, The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, Kirby, Balloon Fight, and Ice Climber.
How has Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition changed the way I play classic NES games?
The game has forced me to adopt a new, faster approach to playing these classics, focusing on speed and efficiency. This has led to a greater appreciation of the games’ mechanics and a newfound competitive spirit.
What makes Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition a great party game?
The game’s local multiplayer mode allows up to eight players to compete simultaneously, creating a chaotic and fun party atmosphere. The simultaneous display of everyone’s gameplay adds to the excitement and challenge.
Is Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition suitable for beginners?
Yes, the game is designed to be accessible to beginners. The initial challenges are simple and act as tutorials, making it easy for new players to learn the basics before tackling more difficult challenges.
How does the game incorporate online play?
The online mode features weekly challenges that players can replay to improve their times and rankings on the leaderboards. This mode allows players to compete with others globally, adding an additional layer of competition.
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What is the release date for Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition?
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition was released on July 18th on the Nintendo Switch.
Can I play Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition on other platforms?
As of now, Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.
What makes Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition unique?
The game’s unique approach to classic NES titles, focusing on speedrunning and brief, intense challenges, sets it apart from traditional re-releases of retro games. It offers a fresh, fast-paced experience that appeals to both longtime fans and new players.
Conclusion
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition breathes new life into beloved NES classics, transforming them into a collection of speedrun challenges that test your skills and speed. Whether you’re a veteran gamer looking to rediscover old favorites or a newcomer seeking a fresh gaming experience, this collection offers something for everyone. The blend of solo and multiplayer modes, combined with weekly online challenges, ensures that there’s always a new challenge to tackle and a new record to beat.