Why am I so obsessed with these threads? I'm not sure but I'm starting to feel like this is some of my best work on these forums so far. Perhaps that's why. This is beginning to seem like it could be a handy resource for the future as I gather more info and recommendations for these games together in one place. Happened upon an old NWR article on 3DS Virtual Console which got me checking out what NWR's opinions were on these games. I'm surprised Insanolord didn't comment more in this thread before given some of his burning takes like his short review on Baseball.
Of the 25 games this thread covers, here is the list of them with the corresponding NWR grade and a link to the article for that mini review. (Some of these articles covered multiple games so you may have to scroll to find the actual title for the link you click on.)
Adventure Island –
Recommended For FansAlleyway –
Not RecommendedAvenging Spirit –
Recommended For FansBalloon Kid – N/A
Baseball –
Not RecommendedBionic Commando –
Recommended For FansBurgerTime Deluxe – N/A
Castlevania: The Adventure –
Recommended For FansCatrap – N/A
Donkey Kong ’94 –
Recommended For EveryoneDonkey Kong Land –
8.5/10Donkey Kong Land II –
7.5/10Donkey Kong Land III –
7.0/10Double Dragon – N/A
Dr. Mario – N/A
Fortified Zone –
Recommended For FansGame And Watch Gallery –
Recommended For EveryoneGargoyle’s Quest –
Recommended For EveryoneGolf – N/A
Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters –
Recommended For EveryoneKirby’s Block Ball – N/A
Kirby’s Dream Land –
RecommendedFor FansKirby’s Dream Land 2 –
4.5/10Kirby’s Pinball Land –
Recommended For FansKirby’s Star Stacker –
7.0/10A few other points to mention. After 2012, NWR seems to have ended their old recommendation format and instead began grading games individually on their regular review scale. Hence why some games have a review score point total and some have the recommendation listing. As well, NWR did not get around to reviewing every game released on the 3DS VC. So, if you want to be an NWR Contributer, here's your chance to by making a review for those titles and filling in those blanks for NWR's eternal records and reference.
I do think there are a couple notable omissions like Balloon Kid, CATRAP, Dr. Mario and even Kirby's Block Ball. The common theme for most games is Recommended for Fans most likely due to the aging of these games.
When compared to Nintendo Power which did 19 reviews for the 25 games listed, NWR did reviews for 18 of them so one short. However, NWR did review the 6 games that NP was never able to get to when they shut down while NP reviewed the 7 games that NWR did not when these were first getting released so together they help can fill in the blanks for each other. NP had 13 games that got their top recommendation and 6 with their middle recommendation while none got the worst recommendation. With NWR, it's a bit more difficult to break due to the switch in game grades and how people view scores on the 10 point scale. Is everything 7.5 and higher a great recommendation whereas 7.4 - 5.0 is middle and everything below 5.0 is not recommended or should that 10 point scale break down in a different way? For myself, that is how I'm going to view it to make this quick comparison which means that NWR had 6 games with their top recommendation, 9 games with their middle recommendation and 3 games getting their lost recommendation. Those three games? Alleyway, Baseball and..... Kirby's Dream Land 2?!?! That's right. The game with the second most votes in the poll (just 1 behind Donkey Kong '94) was considered crap by the reviewer NWR used. So, for those looking for ammo to dismiss the reviews done by this site, there's a bit more fuel for you misplaced anger.
Of the games both NP and NWR gave their best recommendations, only 3 games crossover on both of those lists at the top and they are: Donkey Kong '94, Game And Watch Gallery, and Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters. However, a large number of NP's highest rated games are the ones that NWR did not cover so who knows how much more crossover between the two could have happened? Perhaps Balloon Kid or CATRAP could have been part of that select few.
And, in addition to the little blurbs, sometimes there are further comments in the TalkBack threads on these games so even more feedback can sometimes be found on these titles.