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Setup & Timing
While it's not impossible to navigate, Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits has one of the more complex interfaces of any game in the Nintendo DS library. After accessing the menu and choosing the "Select Game" option, the host selects a game and then has to switch to the "Maniac" Menu in order to gain access to all of the wireless options. The opening credits are rather short and the download times vary, but all are around average.
Menus & Navigation
The menu system, even though it takes a while to get used to, is mostly acurate, though it can be oversensitive from time to time, taking taps the user hadn't intended. Some of the options are small, but everything is labeled and locatable.
Ease Of Use / Play Control
All of the games are direct ports of classic Konami titles from the 8-bit era. All of the games use only the button inputs the game originally had in the arcades. The difficulty will vary from game to game as the controls and the games themselves vary, but overall, everything works exactly as expected. Because this is a compilation of older games for nostolgic purposes, there were no new additions or control scheme variations to compared to the original in-game offerings. In other words: anyone that played these games back in the day already knows exactly how to play them.
Content
Both in look and in sound, the games of Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits are straight out of the 1980s' 8-bit era: they won't wow anyone into high definition gaming, and they're not supposed to. What they are supposed to do is remain true to their original releases in almost every way, and - both graphically and audibly - they succeed. Every game maintains the original's multiplayer (two-player simultaneous or turn-based, depending on the game), offers a downloadable Demo, makes playthrough videos available, and offers up control to a second DS system via "Dual DS Game" play.
Overall Fun
I've had Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits for quite a while now, but haven't reviewed it before because of the enormous amount of time needed to review it. The title contains fifteen (15) classic Konami arcade games (not all of them are classic to North America because of Japan-only releases), all included in their entirety. As I suspected, this review was likely the longest I've ever done (due to the repeated testing and long instruction lists). Am I glad I finally reviewed it? Of course. Am I glad to have spent so much time playing it? Absolutely
This compilation features a little bit of everything. This provides great variety, even though not all players will like all of the titles. I personally remembered three or four of the originals by name-recognition, and a few more after playing them. The games are fundamentally accurate and add a plethora of wireless options. Every game has a Demo. Every game has "Co-op Game" (which could be Co-op Play or Vs Play and can feature multiplayer where the players play simultaneously or take turns). Every game has "Dual DS Game" (where the host DS provides the screen, but the controls are handled by a second DS), though I don't know why anyone would really use this feature, unless they have two DS systems - one with a broken screen and one with messed up buttons. Finally, each game has the ability to send gameplay replays to another person via Single-Card Download.
One of the best features is the Instant Replays... what better way to explain how to play a game than to show them? Plus, you get strategy out of ther deal. This collection is fantastic. I couldn't think of anything missing besides more games and multiplayer up to 4(+) players. I can't recommend this compilation enough. You have some spare time and some mindless gaming to help out? Look no further!
Simplify the menu system.
Repair the menu system's sensitivity.
Clarify some of the labels within the menu system.
Overall Single-Card Download Rating: 91 / 100 (a.k.a. 45.5/50)
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