Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is a recreation of the minigames within championship cartridges during the 90s. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition Review Overview
What is Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition?
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is a compilation of over 150+ challenges across 13 NES games. It features a series of ‘mini-games’ based on the contents of the events’ championship cartridges, which are nowadays some of the most valued gaming-related items in the world.
Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition features:
⚫︎ A selection of 13 retro titles
⚫︎ Various challenges to speedrun
⚫︎ Ghost replay features
⚫︎ A party mode for up to 8 players
⚫︎ Weekly challenges
⚫︎ Collectible pins for cleared challenges
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition's gameplay and story.
 Switch |
|||||
| Price | $29.99 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Priceless Peeks at Retro Titles Accessible Challenges Bigger Party Modes and Online Competition |
Imperfect Controls Limited Speedrunning Options Missing Big Speedrunning Titles |
Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition Overall Score - 70/100
The Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is both part of Nintendo’s attempt at reviving interest in the retro gaming scene and their way of giving modern gamers the experience of what it was like attending their momentous events. Featuring modified contents of championship cartridges, the game is an awesome way to relive the old days for retro enthusiasts.
Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition Story - 5/10
Predictably, NWC does not have a story at all. Though the individual titles may have a tale behind them, none are that of NWC’s.
Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition Gameplay - 9/10
The controls from NES were translated quite well into the Nintendo Switch. However, there’s a noticeable but minor delay in its controls, and the selection of games is quite limited. Other than that, though, the game is great to play with friends and family, and even against others if you’re the competitive type.
Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition Visuals - 8/10
Being able to play the low-resolution retro NES titles wonderfully, even on much larger screens, is a true blessing. While the game often leaves you with only a small window to view your own gameplay, it doesn’t waste the rest of the space with nonsense. Still, though, it would be nice if the game gave you more space to work with.
Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition Audio - 8/10
NWC features engaging tunes to keep you on your toes at the main menu whilst retaining the nostalgic sound effects and tracks from its lineup of games. Sure, it doesn’t do much to make the game sound new, but it does just enough to not make it seem too old.
Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition Value for Money - 5/10
Depending on your preferences, your mileage with the game may vary. While the game technically offers no end to its replayability, that’s only because its only goals are those you set for yourself to begin with. However, even with that, the fact that you not only have to pay for the game itself, but also spend for Nintendo’s online membership fee just to continue having access to its online features (which is essentially half of the game), is a big ask.
Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition Review: Keeps The Party Going
People who have lived in video gaming’s equivalent of the prehistoric age are likely experienced with playing true retro consoles. I don’t mean stuff like the original PlayStation or Xbox. Think way less slick or rounded.
… Okay, maybe not as old as the Magnavox.
Old consoles such as the Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega’s Master System would pretty much trigger fond flashbacks from anybody who has ever dabbled in gaming back then. Unfortunately, as time passes, the cartridges for these consoles have basically disappeared. After all, technology progresses and these old systems simply cannot catch up to modern hardware.
Fortunately, Nintendo, who has been an active participant in the gaming industry since the time when we were still waiting to, well, exist, likes to keep re-releasing their old games (like Donkey Kong). On the other hand, championship cartridges from Nintendo World Championships are different. These are modified cartridges that contain minigames for players to compete in instead of standard levels.
Considering the exclusivity of these events and the closely-guarded nature of Nintendo’s hardware, championship cartridges have become some of the most expensive and rarest things in gaming. Thus, many people now, especially those born after the glory days, will likely never have the opportunity to experience what it was like participating in the Nintendo World Championships.
Until now.
For gaming competitions, speed is often the key to winning. This is especially true for the speedrunning community. They would spend hundreds of hours playing the same game tirelessly just to chase the ever-shrinking time between them and the player above.
While I already respected speedrunners and their dedication to their craft, playing the competitively-centered minigames of NWC: NES Edition really solidified my image of their hard work.
It’s not an entirely perfect experience, though. The game, for one, has a slight delay in its controls. Sure, it may not be noticeable to those who play for fun, it’s definitely something for more competitive players to take note of, especially since just a few missed frames can cause you to fail a jump and start over.
Otherwise, the entire game was fun, although slightly off-putting. Considering the limited number of minigames you can play, the game essentially becomes a weekly reminder to pay for your Nintendo Online membership because you can’t participate in any of its online features without it.
Pros of Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition
| Things Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition Got Right |
|---|
|
Priceless Peeks at Retro Titles Accessible Challenges Bigger Party Modes and Online Competition |
Priceless Peeks at Retro Titles
Original physical copies of NES titles are some of the rarest gaming items out there in the market. Thankfully, the release of games such as the Nintendo World Championship: NES™ Edition or consoles like the NES Classic somewhat allows the NES games to live on, allowing you to play them on official systems.
Accessible Challenges
Speedrunning NES titles isn’t the most accessible thing to do. You’ll either have to find someone selling their console and a compatible television, or surrender yourself to emulating the software.
Or, y’know, buy an NES Classic.
At the very least, with the release of the Nintendo World Championship: NES™ Edition, you’ll have more options for speedrun challenges available to you within the comfort of modern hardware, even if the selection is quite limited.
Bigger Party Modes and Online Competition
Instead of the usual 4-player party mode for in-house games, Nintendo World Championships can support up to 8 players in one lobby. Honestly, that might be its best feature, as it gives the game much more longevity than its solo speedrun and global championship modes can provide.
Aside from that, if you're brave enough to take on the world, you can even match against other players' times during the weekly challenges.
Cons of Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition
| Things That Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition Can Improve |
|---|
|
Imperfect Controls Limited Speedrunning Options Missing Big Speedrunning Titles |
Imperfect Controls
While Nintendo has certainly managed to translate the NES’ controls over to the Switch well (aside from binding certain functions to inconvenient keys such as the - button), it’s not done perfectly. In particular, there’s a slight delay between pressing a button and actually getting feedback from the game. While this may not be much of a problem for more casual challenges, it can be quite frustrating for fast-paced games such as Super Mario Brothers where your jump window is only a few frames.
Limited Speedrunning Options
Due to how the game only allows you to play with customized minigames, there’s only so much you can actually play with. Sure, there are a dozen challenges for each title (more or less). But even then, you’ll still be stuck with their selection without the option to create your own.
Missing Big Speedrunning Titles
While thirteen titles may sound like a lot, that’s actually not the case. A handful of these titles come from the same franchise and some of them even share the same gameplay. At that point, it’ll feel like you’re essentially playing the same challenges.
They would have been able to create a more diverse lineup by adding titles such as Punch Out!!, Castlevania, Tetris, and Ninja Gaiden instead of direct sequels.
Is Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition Worth It?
If you’re into retro games, definitely.
Unfortunately, the appeal of retro titles in gaming is pretty niche. You’re welcome to try if you’re interested, but if you’re not, then I suggest looking for another party game to purchase. However, if you are, then this game is a definite must if only to get a glimpse at how Nintendo held their events during the early 90s.
| Switch |
|||||
| Price | $29.99 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition FAQ
Does Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition have multiplayer?
It has a party mode that you can play with up to 8 friends or family.
How many games does Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition feature?
There are thirteen games featured at release, including:
⚫︎ Super Mario Bros.
⚫︎ The Legend of Zelda
⚫︎ Metroid
⚫︎ Donkey Kong
⚫︎ Kid Icarus
⚫︎ Super Mario Bros. 2
⚫︎ Excitebike
⚫︎ Ice Climber
⚫︎ Balloon Fight
⚫︎ Super Mario Bros. 3
⚫︎ Zelda II - The Adventure of Link
⚫︎ Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
⚫︎ Kirby's Adventure
Game8 Reviews
You may also like...
Nintendo World Championships: NES™ Edition Product Information
 | |
| Title | NINTENDO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: NES EDITION |
|---|---|
| Release Date | July 18, 2024 |
| Developer | Nintendo |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Supported Platforms | Nintendo Switch |
| Genre | Action, Platformer, Racing |
| Number of Players | Single-System(1-8), Online(1) |
| Rating | ESRB E |
| Official Website | Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Official Website |
