Advanced Search Beta »
Basic Search Fields
Retro Game Challenge DS
Retro Game Challenge Image
Metascore
77 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critics What's this?

User Score
9.0 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 11 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
Rate this:
  • Summary: Retro Game Challenge is a throwback to the 1980’s era of video games. Based on the popular Japanese GAME CENTER CX TV series, this title reinvents how classic games are played by having the player complete mini challenges in a wide-variety of games, reminiscent of all of your favorites from the 80s. With in-game magazines offering cheat codes and fake news stories, Retro Game Challenge is an original experience for both the seasoned gamer looking for 80s nostalgia or a player experiencing classic 8- bit game play for the first time. [XSEED Games]… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 30
  3. Negative: 1 out of 30
  1. The A.V. Club
    91
    Feels like the first time.
  2. games(TM)
    70
    The challenge concept gives Retro Game Challenge a sense of longevity and compulsion that's been missing from real-life compilations like Namco Museum, but is not without its own problems. [May 2009, p.116]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Gaming Age
    42
    In the end, the humorous aspect of the game and the unique story are not enough for me to continue playing. With boring retro type games, which RGC is centered on, and the need for me to unlock the games by playing challenges of which some are very difficult; I feel this game really isn't worth my time and I suggest you take a pass even if you are really into retro games.

See all 30 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. JesseW.
    10
    Retro Game Challenge is retro gaming bliss. The best retro game collection released in decades is made up entirely of fake games, many outright clones of titles you may have grown up with. Scandal? Hardly. The brilliance, and at times abject parody, not to mention the quality of the designs, art, music, even the dialog (dialog in a retro collection? yes, and it's great!), add up to what would have been my game of 2008 had it released mere months ago. I find it hard to imagine anyone spurning such a joyful bundle of gaming goodness. Even those with no memories of the NES era will find plenty to enjoy. Each of the games feels complete and fulfilling on its own, and the addition of a framework of challenges and unlockables functions as a carrot to draw the gamer deeper. Where I found myself, in other collections, hopping from game to game aimlessly, here, I'm gently prodded into learning the intricacies of each selection, and it's immensely satisfying. The freeplay mode, with its more subtle incentives, became a surprising favorite, but beyond that, the shell of sitting down, virtually, with a childhood pal, searching through fake game magazines (with great shout-outs to real life editors you might remember), even getting yacked at by your friend's mom ("Are you two still playing? Control yourselves!") adds up to one of the most charming experiences I've had in gaming. As for the games themselves, they're the best Famicom titles that never existed. The crown of the collection, at least for me, is the epic (10-15 hour!) RPG, Guadia Quest, but there is more than something for everyone, the focus being on action. In truth, I've never had so much fun with shooters before; I actually like Cosmic Gate more than, say, Galaga. To paraphrase Bono, "Even better than the real thing." And that's truly just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. The designs borrow happily from the past (each game's influences can be dissected like the best of loving tributes) but never get bogged down in the tedium or problems of our actual retro libraries. In other words, they're coated with enough modern game philosophy (but not too much!) that they don't end up making you remember what you hated about the halcyon 8-bit days (hey, nostalgia covers over a multitude of sins).… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. KeithB
    10
    Wow. This game needs to get way more attention. On the face of it, it's essentially a series of eight games, all with 8-bit level graphics, sound and controls - but it's really so much more than that. Read any other review for specifics - the mechanics and design of the games are all brilliant and solid as hell - but this game has taught me some even more important things. … Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. Lifespan
    10
    Based on the fantastic Japanese gaming show Game Center CX, this embodies all that is great about retro gaming in to a collection of original, though heavily inspired, NES era games. Each game has its own set of unique challenges, cheats, and tactics to keep the game fun and fresh from beginning to end.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 6 User Reviews