Topic: NES Ambassador Games Edition

[NWR_insanolord]

The Nintendo World Report staff gives you their take on all 10 NES games available to 3DS Ambassadors.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/recommendations/27937

In this special edition of Nintendo World Report's Virtual Console Recommendations, we cover all the games currently available free of charge to those who purchased a Nintendo 3DS in time to be eligible for Nintendo's Ambassador Program. Which games stand the test of time and which ones aren't worth the trouble? Read on to find out.

[TJ Spyke]

I have to disagree with some, I think Metroid has aged so badly that I think it can only be enjoyed if you enter a password to get all weapons and invincibility. NES Open Tournament Golf is the worst golf game I ever played (not that I like golf games to begin with).

[StrawHousePig]

Well, I guess I shouldn't download some of these then...

*pssh* As if.

[Nemo]

One other option for a map in Metroid... I'd go to the home menu, then the web browser and google a map. This would bad for anyone's first time through, but since I spent probably hundreds of hours playing this as a kid, nothing is spoiled for me.

[Tanookisuit]

Yeah, I was excited about Golf, but I can't even manage to hit the ball for some reason.  That game makes me feel like an idiot.

[UltimatePartyBear]

It took me around ten minutes to figure out how to hit the ball.  Then I started trying to understand the mechanics.  I was treating the game more like a Rubik's cube.  I finally got a grasp on most of it, but just couldn't develop a good feel for how wind and spin together affected trajectory.

As a golf game, I don't like how impossible it is to make a controlled short shot.  Chipping the ball onto the green sometimes turns into an endless back and forth of overshooting.  This may be the only golf game I've ever played, come to think of it.

[Bman87301]

Umm...  Since they're all FREE and you don't get a choice of any other games to choose from, what exactly is the point of having a recommendation page for this? As long as you're an Ambassador, they're all yours regardless so this seems completely redundant to me.

Also, I find the recommendation of Metroid to fans a little inconsistent since if I remember correctly, it wasn't recommended for anyone when released on the Wii Shop. Why the change of heart?

[SilverQuilava]

The best part about this version of Super Mario Bros is that the original glitches are still intact! I was able to go to World -1 many times over.

[Bman87301]

NES Open Tournament Golf is the worst golf game I ever played (not that I like golf games to begin with).

You apparently haven't played NES Open's predecessor, Golf. We're actually quite lucky  NES Open is the golfing game Nintendo chose to give us... it could have been A LOT worse.

[NWR_Neal]

Also, I find the recommendation of Metroid to fans a little inconsistent since if I remember correctly, it wasn't recommended for anyone when released on the Wii Shop. Why the change of heart?

Individuals are different! It's crazy!

[ejamer]

Also, I find the recommendation of Metroid to fans a little inconsistent since if I remember correctly, it wasn't recommended for anyone when released on the Wii Shop. Why the change of heart?

Individuals are different! It's crazy!

I (and therefore, everyone else) refuse to believe this statement.

[Mop it up]

I agree with the recommendations of  these games:
Donkey Kong Jr.
Ice Climber
Metroid
NES Open Tournament Golf
Super Mario Bros.
Wrecking Crew
Zelda II

I disagree with these games:
The Legend of Zelda (too obtuse for non-NES fans)
Yoshi (if it's fun in short bursts it's at least worth it for fans of puzzle games)
Balloon Fight (too wonky for non-NES fans)

Since they're all FREE and you don't get a choice of any other games to choose from, what exactly is the point of having a recommendation page for this?

Some of them are not worth spending time on.

[MegaByte]

Umm...  Since they're all FREE and you don't get a choice of any other games to choose from, what exactly is the point of having a recommendation page for this?

Eventually, they'll be part of the normal Virtual Console for non-Ambassadors.

[ejamer]

...

I disagree with these games:
...
Yoshi (if it's fun in short bursts it's at least worth it for fans of puzzle games)
...

I thought about this one too, but had to agree with the "not recommended" rating in the end. As a free diversion, it's not terrible and can be fun in short bursts. But when the game is released to the public later it won't be free. In that case, there are many games available from the DSi store that are very cheap and very enjoyable.


It is strange to try and assess these games though. Many of them are wrapped in nostalgia for me, and playing through again is easy because they are so familiar from my youth. In those cases, I'm simply not able to assess the games fairly because my play experience with them won't mirror that of someone who hasn't already spent hours with the games.

[xcwarrior]

I love NES Open Tournament Golf. Probably been playing that the most out of the games thus far. Not sure why all the hate on it. Saves a decent amount of data for an NES title.

I agree Yoshi good in short bursts. Type B at least makes things interesting. I'd put DKJr. in that category as well. Not the best game, but I enjoy what there is.

Some of these though I'd feel differently about if they weren't free.

Still waiting for when we get the GBA games. Feel like we'll get them either Black Friday or Xmas Eve at this point.

[LittleIrves]

@xcwarrior: You took the words out of my mouth. I was seriously about to defend both NES Open Tournament Golf and Yoshi...  strangely, the two games out of all the Ambassador titles I've played the most of. (Pardon the dangling preposition.) Metroid is worth it for the music alone; that title theme is still haunting, especially if you let it play for awhile until it returns to the ambient three-note opening. I've enjoyed trying Ice Climbers, Balloon Fight and Wrecking Crew as something of a history lesson, and will probably come back to the latter two on occasion. These earlier, more arcade titles are probably better portable games than even the much-lauded Zelda, just due to their levels being short and simple. But, you know, Restore Points...   anyway, I'm close to rambling. Hope people try out the less recognized games, as you might just be charmed by 'em.

[Crimm]

When I first started on NES Golf I thought "wow, this is the least competent golf game in the last 30 years.:" However, I forced myself to spend a decent amount of time with it and by then I "got" club control. I still toyed with Not Recommended.


I'd say it is a soft Recommend for Fans - but we don't have that level of granularity. Like I say in the conclusion: you could play it on a cell phone to kill a few minutes and not feel bad. Well you could do the same on a 3DS.


Now if/when this game costs money: never ever buy it ever.

[Ceric]

If I could hit the stinking ball in Golf it might be a good game.

[Mop it up]

NES Open Tournament Golf doesn't really provide an explanation for how swinging works. The thing is that there are three button presses. Press it once to start the meter, then press it again once the meter reaches the desired power level. From here, the meter will slide back to the left, and then press it again when it reaches the white line to hit the ball straight.

[oohhboy]

I have a nasty tendency to "Swing" late meaning I almost always Hook the shot.

Feel free to change the club to something with a little more range when available as the recommended club is based off the assumption you will make a perfect swing. Back spin for a more controlled landing, forward for more distance. Unless you must or have good timing, don't use the fast swing, use a bigger club. Having a slower swing allows for more precise swings.

All the basics of a golf game are there, but the presentation isn't. It means judging the lay of the land is much, much harder especially if you have played any 3D golf game. Most 3D golf games give you a lot more tools to place a shot, like ballistic arc projection, terrain grid overlays, more precise wind, ground roll prediction. NES golf gives you some spartan range data, flat terrain outside of the green and hard abstract gradients.

It was the premier golf game back in the day, but technology left it behind a long time ago. It's still a good game, but there are bigger and better out there. I definitely agree with Crimm on a soft recommend for fans. But I can't give it a Not Recommended since it plays pretty well and is near infinitely better than the god awful Yoshi game.

[Ceric]

Thanks to Mop it up Golf School I went from a 23 Swing to a 7 Swing in just one hole.