In the year 1990, the first-ever Nintendo World Championships were held. Now, after more than thirty years and a number of subsequent competitions, that experience has come to a new generation of fans on Nintendo Switch: “Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition.”
Though retro video game challenges have been part of previous collections such as the “Wario Ware” and “NES Remix” titles, one major aspect distinguishes this game: a focus on speed-running each game as quickly as possible.
Thirteen classic titles from the Nintendo Entertainment System make up more than 150 challenges. The games featured include all the original “Mario” and “Zelda” games, the original “Metroid,” the NES port of “Donkey Kong,” 1987’s “Kid Icarus,” 1985’s “Ice Climber” and “Balloon Fight,” 1993’s “Kirby’s Adventure,” and the original “Excitebike.”
The challenges can be played on your own as well as in a recurring online tournament. Some challenges are as simple as getting the sword in “The Legend of Zelda” or the Morph Ball in “Metroid.” Others are far tougher, with the peak arguably getting the fastest clear time in the original “Super Mario Bros.”
While you will definitely get more out of this collection and its challenges if you have a working knowledge of the NES and its library, it still makes a fun experience even for relative newcomers in the retro gaming space. The presentation of all the challenges is simple enough to pick up and play, yet tough to get all the best ranks and rewards.
Overall, “Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition” is a difficult yet satisfying introduction to speed-running for new players and an entertaining challenge to longtime 8-bit Nintendo fans. It’s great for “playing with power” – and with speed.
At a glance:
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo EPD/Indies Zero
ESRB Rating: E
Rating: 4/5
