VideoGame Fun design if you're into the NES games
NES Remix does what it says on the article page competently. The remixes don't by-and-large change the base game much, most of it is interface screws (albeit some very cool ones) or fairly simple changes, nothing like full-conversion fanmade mods, and about 2/3rds of the game are not remixes at all. But that's not what this game's chiefly about. It's about taking NES games and presenting strings of bite-size challenges within them, rewarding stars (unlocking more games and more remixes) based on how quickly the run is completed. If that's what you want, there's a good amount of content here for $15, and fun to be had.
On the downside, some challenges are less fun than others. Some of them are justified in that they recreate cool moments from their games, but those and others just feel far too simple to execute, especially since there's a little unskippable break between each mission. Thankfully, there are plenty of more involved moments to play through, too, and it can be surprising just how hard it is to nail those rainbow-outlined stars on even some of the shorter challenges. Find your favourites, and compete with your friends for the fastest time (in hotseat format as the game is strictly one-player).
Of course, they're holding back with the game list. Many of the NES games are lesser ones (YMMV), and Super Mario Bros and Legend of Zelda are the only legendary NES games in the pack. Fortunately, the way NES Remix works enhances the lesser games since you're playing small runs at a time (generally the good parts) and hopping between games.
I'll give this game 2.5 out of 4, because some players won't enjoy playing short pieces of these antiquated games, but personally I'm enjoying almost all of it, even with long play sessions. For enthusiasts of the original games, don't be afraid to purchase this one. It relies on nostalgia, but it also presents new challenges out of old material and keeps track of how quickly you can do them. Much of the charm comes from the fact that you're playing them just like on a Virtual Console. It's not just WarioWare's 9-Volt section; it's actual NES games being played with different objectives, and sometimes different visuals and rules. It's not a big-budget production, but it's not a cheap cash-in either.
VideoGame So much potential, but really needs to be realized
NES Remix is very frustrating. The concept behind it is fantastic - take NES games and then change things in them, even creating crossovers, to create unique experiences.
You start out just doing simple challenges in the games themselves. However, those are appetizers for the main course: the remixes.
The remixes are a mixture of dumb ideas and great ones. Some of the really dumb ideas include having to complete a challenge while the screen slowly pixelates, or challenges where you're forced to run to the right automatically, with your only control being to hit the jump button.
But there are some good and even brilliant ideas in there. One remix of Super Mario Bros. 2 turns the regular world into subspace, with the black-and-blue silhouette normally seen in subspace, and the player having to go to the left. Entering a door created by a potion swaps subspace with the "real" world temporarily. Another remix of Super Mario Bros. 2 has a light glow around Mario, while the rest of the world (which already took place at night) is dark, limiting your vision to only what's around you, while you have to make tricky jumps on moving birds.
A funny Super Mario Bros. 3 remix has you playing as the Princess, and rescuing the Princess. It shows the game's actual ending but with the dialog's pronouns flipped to indicate the Princess congratulating herself for rescuing herself. And one of the more brilliant crossovers takes Toad from Super Mario Bros. 2 and puts him in a Zelda II cave, where he can use his abilities to pick up and throw enemies and items to fight Zelda II enemies.
My main problem is not the annoying tally screen inbetween challenges and the time it takes. Instead, it's that these remixes are short!! They average maybe 20 seconds. There are some that are over a minute, but when you have 80 remixes, it doesn't add up to much. I really wanted to see the great ideas expanded upon. Like, why not have Toad play through an entire Zelda II dungeon? At least something substantial.
That is the game's main flaw. Sure, it's an inexpensive game. But I'd rather have fewer challenges that last longer, than a bunch of mostly lame ideas that last only a few seconds each.