GENRE
	Retro Compilation
	DEVELOPER
	Nintendo
	PUBLISHER
	Nintendo
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1
	CONNECTIVITY
	No
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In the early 80's, Nintendo was looking to break into the video game market. The late, great Gunpei Yokoi was the brain behind the system that would sell over 30 million units worldwide. No, it's not the Gameboy (although Gunpei Yokoi designed that too); I'm talking about Nintendo's Game & Watch handheld LCD systems. Prior to the NES and the Gameboy, Nintendo produced several different games on multiple versions of G&W; hardware. Rather than letting the classics die, Nintendo re-released some of the G&W; games with updated graphics, sound, and quests in 1997 in the form of Game & Watch Gallery. For your reading pleasure, I'll be reviewing the second installment of the retro series Game & Watch Gallery 2.

Included in this series are the classics Parachute, Helmet, Chef, Vermin, Donkey Kong, and a secret sixth game that I'll let you have the pleasure of unlocking (ok, so I haven't either). Each game has a classic mode and a modern mode to play in order to win stars, which help you unlock secrets.

Classic mode is direct port from the LCD classics. Graphics remain constant in the translation, meaning they only use 3 or 4 colors max. Modern mode, on the other hand is a whole new story. All new graphics with a ton of color are used in place of the old black blotches. If you want to get full play value out of this title, you'll have to play through both classic and modern modes to win all the stars, but if you're just playing for fun you can't be bothered to even give classic mode a try. And it's all because of the graphics. Compared to other dual compatible titles, G&W; 2 shines like the stars you've got to collect.

The music is a big part of this game, and luckily Nintendo didn't screw it up. Happy tunes quickly become furious as the game progresses, giving you a big adrenaline boost if you're really into it. Sound effects are great as well, but it's the music that sets the tone of this game. Crank it up!

G&W; 2 has a ton of replay value if you have the patience. Some of the new generation of gamers (the one's with short attention spans and attention deficit disorder) won't enjoy this title due to it's repetitive nature. That's ok. The original game were laced with monotonity like cheap cocaine is mixed with baking soda, and this title keeps up the tradition. There is some variety though, as there are six titles included to keep you busy.

The main point of the game is to play each game to it's fullest, getting the highest scores in order to win stars, which come along every 200 points. The more stars you win, the more secrets will be revealed (including the elusive sixth game, which I myself have yet to unlock).

Each game, save a couple stinkers, is enjoyable and rewarding. In Parachute, members of the Mushroom Kingdom are being hurled from an airplane (or airship depending on which mode you're in) and it's your job to save them before the mean sharks can eat them. In Helmet, you must avoid various heavy articles that a Lakitu is throwing at you and get to the open door on the other side of the screen. In Chef (one of the stinkers in my opinion), you must flip a variety of breakfast foods in the air as long as possible (or until Yoshi eats them in modern mode). In Vermin, players must defend themselves or their eggs in modern mode from oncoming moles or Shy Guys (in classic and modern respectively). Donkey Kong is included as well, and I'm pretty sure you all know what Donkey Kong is about by now. It's not nearly as fun as the Super Gameboy version of Donkey Kong released a couple years prior, but it gets the job done. As for the sixth game, who knows?

N/A

If you've got a nice long attention span and an open mind, the nostalgia bug will bite your neck, swim through your blood and lay eggs in your heart. If not, you might want to avoid this title. All in all, this game more than does the original Game and Watch games justice. A great game for playing on the road.

9.0/10