September 1, 2011 by

Still not sure whether or not you're getting your money's worth?

Well, it’s here. All 10 NES Ambassador Games are now available for FREE download on the 3DS eShop, and a day early, too! So, what do you think about the game selection? Are you wondering if this is all worth that $80 bucks you paid extra for that glasses-free 3DS? I did write a blog about something like this a few weeks ago, but now that we have our games, why don’t we try them out and see how much they’re REALLY worth? I know I am.

What I’m going to do with this blog is very simple: talk about how I feel about each game at a MODERN STANDPOINT and place a numerical price tag value for them. Keep in mind that these are MY opinions, and that yours may (and probably will) be different. Also, all release dates, impressions, and price tags use MEASUREMENT IN THE UNITED STATES. So, without further ado, let us begin:

1. Super Mario Bros.

Original Release: 1985

Super Mario Bros. just doesn’t seem to grow old. It is playable on almost every Nintendo console in one way or another, and is still as fun as the modern “New” Super Mario Bros. There’s not much to say about this game, as almost everyone in the world knows about it, but the game’s value is still quite high. The game has 32 levels, short of the 80 levels NSMB had, but the game still plays as well as most other modern platforming games.

Modern Value: $8

 

2. Donkey Kong Jr.

Original Release: 1986

Donkey Kong Jr. is the strange sequel of the world-famous original Donkey Kong. What’s strange about this game is that you play as Donkey Kong Jr., and Mario is the bad guy. But whatever, it’s still an awesome game right? Sure. But it’s extremely short – there are only 4 levels. Yeah. Looks like I’m not going to play this game for very long.

Modern Value: $1

3. Balloon Fight

Original Release: 1986

Balloon Fight is a very simple game for just about everyone. I mean, who doesn’t like popping the balloons of your floating opponent and watching them fall into the ocean below? Okay, maybe Balloon Fight isn’t the best game out there, but it’s still really fun to play in short bursts. Unfortunately, like most NES games of its time, the game is overly repetitive and lasts for only a short amount of time – 16 levels, to be exact. Though the multiplayer is sure to be a blast to play through, Balloon Fight unfortunately is not as fun as it used to be.

Modern Value: $1

4. Ice Climber

Original Release: 1985

Ice Climber is a very charming little game. Lead your little Ice Climber up 32 different mountains bashing blocks and smashing enemies. Of course, 32 levels is not very long, but if you’re willing to play some co-op with a friend, this game may last longer than most other NES games on the Ambassador list.

Modern Value: $2

5. The Legend of Zelda

Original Release: 1987

The Legend of Zelda was such a great game, and still is today. One of the longest of the NES Ambassador games, The Legend of Zelda includes 18 different dungeons (9 in the first quest, 9 in the second quest), which include nonstop action and clever puzzles. This game will easily last you several hours.

Modern Value: $10

6. Metroid

Original Release: 1987

The first Metroid game is one of the first action-adventure platformer games, and it still is one of the best. There is tons of exploring in this game, enough to fill you up for several hours. And even after you beat the game, keep on exploring and you will find more and more secrets that the game has in store. With its action-heavy gameplay and huge amounts of exploration, this game continues to be one of the coolest and best of its kind.

Modern Value: $5

7. Open Tournament Golf

Original Release: 1991

When I first heard that Open Tournament Golf would be on the Ambassador list, I groaned. I have never played a golf game that worked on a 2D plane before, so I was skeptical of whether or not this game was any good. And boy was I surprised. The game is so deep and contains a plethora of game modes. 2-player mode in itself lasted me and my brother for several hours. If you want a top quality golf game, this is surprisingly one of the top golf game I’d recommend.

Modern Value: $6

8. Wrecking Crew

Original Release: 1985

Wrecking Crew is another game that I overlooked upon its announcement. I mean, Mario is a carpenter… what are you supposed to think? I’m glad that this game is all-in-all very good though. With a total of 100 levels and 4 slots to save custom levels, this game is worth more than what may at first meets the eye. And it isn’t a bad game at all. The gameplay is solid and the puzzles are very clever. It’s not the best game on the list, but it still is able to hold up on its own.

Modern Value: $3

9. Yoshi

Original Release: 1992

I don’t care what you think. Yoshi is f*cking fun. It’s a great little puzzle game that can be as much fun as Tetris. Yeah. It CAN be. But unfortunately this “great little puzzle game” is way too “little,” and as much as I love the game, Yoshi just isn’t worth that much.

Modern Value: $1

10. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Original Release: 1988

Zelda II is so strange, and personally, I don’t like it very much. It’s just too different, and I found it hard to get into the game. Honestly, I played 2 minutes of Zelda II, and then spent the rest of the hour on the original Zelda. But my opinions aside, this game does pack a lot of value. Though a bit shorter than its predecessor, Zelda II still contains 7 main dungeons and a large amount of exploration. It’s full of content, and though Zelda II is not my favorite, it’s still a good game nonetheless.

Modern Value: $6

 

Well, there you go. All the 3DS NES Ambassador games placed at a monetary value. Let’s review:

Super Mario Bros.: $8

Donkey Kong Jr.: $1

Balloon Fight: $1

Ice Climber: $2

The Legend of Zelda: $10

Metroid: $5

Open Tournament Golf: $6

Wrecking Crew: $3

Yoshi: $1

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link: $5

TOTAL MODERN VALUE: $43

 

That’s not bad. I honestly didn’t expect all these numbers to even add up to $20, let alone over $40. And I didn’t expect game like OTG or Wrecking Crew to appeal to me at all. In fact, I wasn’t even enthusiastic at all about the NES games (GBA games, please come soon)! It’s great to have all of these surprises on my 3DS, and I plan on enjoying them for quite some time. Remember, we still have 10 fantastic GBA games coming, and most of them are great game that, to the 3DS haters, NOT even a decade old. Until then, I’m going to be playing some Yoshi. Haters gonna hate, yeah?

Yeah. That&#Array;s right.

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