NES Remix 2 includes 12 titles this time around, but the smaller roster of games is hardly a problem, since the new release comes with some of the best games to ever release on NES. Dr. Mario, Ice Hockey, Kid Icarus, Kirby's Adventure, Mario Open Golf, Metroid, Punch-Out!!, Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels, Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. 3, Wario's Woods and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link are all included in NES Remix 2, and many gamers will have already played these games in the past and will be familiar with the titles, though several of the games include tutorial missions to complete just in case.
It seems pretty funny to think all Nintendo had to do for the release of NES Remix 2 was add even better games to the mix than what was included with the first NES Remix to make the game an even bigger success, but luckily for fans of the classic games, there is plenty of additional content that adds even more fun to the new release. Each of the games includes between six and sixteen different challenges to complete before unlocking any additional content. These levels are based completely on the original games and typically highlight some of the coolest moments in the game before having a showdown with the game's final boss. It's a pretty addictive process that will leave many gamers wishing they could play more of the original game without switching consoles.
Arguably the most fun gamers will have with NES Remix 2 though is in the Remixed levels. There are twenty different stages for each game for this part of the new release, and there are plenty of great new ideas that completely change the way players experience these classic releases. Some of the coolest remixed levels have players facing off with multiple bosses at a time, speed running through endless levels or using characters in games they weren't originally designed for. We don't want to spoil all of the surprises in the special levels of the game, but needless to say, there is plenty of special content included that will greatly satisfy old school gamers the first time they see the levels in action.
One other cool feature for players to try out is the Championship Mode unlocked only through owning both NES Remix 2 and the original NES Remix. The special mode imitates the real life 1990 Nintendo World Championship, where players attempt to complete a series of tasks within a certain time limit. The objectives stretch across multiple games from the two Wii U collections. The event includes goals for the original Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3 and Dr. Mario, so players need to be familiar with several different titles in order to succeed. The mode is pretty distracting and will have players shooting for the world record for hours at a time, but it soon loses its allure, as players either learn they're good enough to accomplish the goal and lose interest or simply stop playing the mode after discovering it's too difficult.
The other content in the game includes some new stamps to use in Miiverse, but the star rank system and other gameplay mechanics remain almost exactly the same. Most players that pick up a copy of NES Remix 2 will be sure to aim for the highest star rating across all stages to 100% complete the game and unlock all of the hidden items the game has to offer. This can take quite a lot of time to accomplish, so NES Remix 2 has high replay value. Though some of the missions can be difficult, they're never impossible, and their is a good variety of mission types in the game including puzzles that can usually be solved with the assistance of a friend or searching for solutions online or platforming objectives that can be completed to perfection with enough retries.
NES Remix 2 doesn't make any vast improvements to the game's main presentation. Many of the same menus and animations make up a large part of missions, and the classic NES titles are unchanged from their original versions in many missions as well. This also means NES Remix 2 has a pretty killer soundtrack with classic 8-bit blips and bloops that make up some of the most beloved themes in all of video games. NES Remix 2 does suffer from a few problems not seen in its predecessor, most notably some lag issues that occur during some of the most insane missions in the game. It's not a major problem, but it does make a few missions less special, and it's definitely strange to see games that have been played for hundreds of hours on the NES suddenly start lagging all of these years later.
Ultimately, NES Remix 2 is worth a pickup for fans of classic Nintendo games. Many gamers that own a Wii U will have undoubtedly grown up with the NES and these classic games featured in the new collection, and NES Remix 2 offers one of the best ways to go back and play each title for a single purchase. NES Remix 2 suffers from a few problems including a smaller library of games to choose from, some control issues and some lag, but these problems are pretty easily overlooked, as the majority of the game works as it should and is tons of fun for all gamers. Don't hesitate to pick up a copy of NES Remix 2 only on Nintendo Wii U!
NES Remix 2 is now available exclusively for Nintendo Wii U and can be purchased for $14.99. NES Remix 2 is rated E by the ESRB for Mild Fantasy Violence. For more information on the game, check out the official NES Remix 2 website.
Game Features:
- Single Player
- Features 12 Classic NES Titles
- Remix Levels Like Never Seen Before
- Earn Star to Unlock New Games and Levels
- Unlock Stamps and Other Content for Miiverse
Game Information:
Developer: Indies Zero
Publisher: Nintendo
Available exclusively for Nintendo Wii U (reviewed)
Release Date: April 25, 2014
