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3.29 average rating based on 56 ratings
Game and Watch Gallery continues the excessively repetitive loop of previous Game and Watch games with games that aren't quite as solid and Modern versions that don't stick the landing as well.
There isn't much that's new here - the graphics look somewhat moreso like the original Game and Watch Gallery (and in color!) but nothing really stands out. The game has up to 150 stars from up to five stars in each mode at 200 points each. That still adds up to having to play the game up to 1000 points, which is more boring than challenging.
The games in question are more complex in design - Turtle Bridge is built on Helmet, Greenhouse is built on a two-screen setup, Mario Bros has a split control scheme that will get that pat-head-and-rub-belly confusion going, Egg is built on some very tricky timing, and Donkey Kong Jr has the titular ape jumping with slight delays up and over various obstacles and just at the right moment to reach the goal. Some of the Modern versions improve things (Yoshi's Egg version is much more gentle on the timing and Turtle Bridge picks up the pace), but things like Greenhouse and Mario …
Game and Watch Gallery continues the excessively repetitive loop of previous Game and Watch games with games that aren't quite as solid and Modern versions that don't stick the landing as well.
There isn't much that's new here - the graphics look somewhat moreso like the original Game and Watch Gallery (and in color!) but nothing really stands out. The game has up to 150 stars from up to five stars in each mode at 200 points each. That still adds up to having to play the game up to 1000 points, which is more boring than challenging.
The games in question are more complex in design - Turtle Bridge is built on Helmet, Greenhouse is built on a two-screen setup, Mario Bros has a split control scheme that will get that pat-head-and-rub-belly confusion going, Egg is built on some very tricky timing, and Donkey Kong Jr has the titular ape jumping with slight delays up and over various obstacles and just at the right moment to reach the goal. Some of the Modern versions improve things (Yoshi's Egg version is much more gentle on the timing and Turtle Bridge picks up the pace), but things like Greenhouse and Mario Bros get much too hectic on faster paces and there seems to be a bug on the Modern version of Donkey Kong Jr (must be double-checked with others who played).
As for the unlockables, there are five Classic-only games of varying quality and an Easter Egg which is...Fire in reverse. Not too exciting. Flagman plays out a Simon Says routine, Judge is a somewhat fun multiplayer edition where you anticipate your opponents moves based on the numbers that appear above your heads, Spitball Sparky is a more infuriating version of Arkanoid, Lion is another dual-control setup game much like Mario Bros, and Donkey Kong II takes the double-screen setup and attempts to attach Donkey Kong Jr to it for what feels like the most complex Game and Watch game I've played.
Most of these games come together as less of the more classic games that Game and Watch fans have come to enjoy and more just feels like a hodgepodge of varying quality. It feels important to preserve these games in a sense, but the way that they're presented with brain-melting loops and hit-or-miss Modern versions make this feel like the weakest of the Game and Watch Gallery series.
It’s neat that they included both a classic and a modern version for each of the games in the collection, along with difficulty options. I owned both 2 and 3 as a kid, and I think that 2 was more memorable for me. Hoping to see all of these games on switch.