NES Remix is a strange beast. It is a collection of 16 classic NES games, each broken down into tiny chunks — a stage, a boss fight, a puzzle — and then compressed into a single lightning-fast challenge. The idea is simple: take something you loved as a child, strip it to its core, and ask you to do it again in minutes. Whether you grew up with The Legend of Zelda or Super Mario Bros., or you are playing them for the first time, this is your chance to see what made them legends.
The result is a game that feels both nostalgic and alien. It respects the source material by using the exact sprites, music and design of the originals, but it also forces them into new shapes that the old hardware could never manage. The remixes are the star, and they are the reason the package still holds attention today.
The Core Collection
The base NES Remix includes 16 games, with a total of 204 challenges scattered across them. Each game is treated as a single entry, and the challenges within are built around speedrunning, survival, and precision. Clear a stage without dying. Defeat a certain number of enemies. Complete a level under a strict timer.
The format is familiar to anyone who has played a recent Nintendo compilation. It is a list of tasks, ranked by difficulty, with a few extra modes mixed in for good measure. What sets NES Remix apart is the remixes themselves, which take the source material and reshape it entirely.
The Remixes
The remixes are the heart of the package. They take classic stages and rebuild them, often with modern graphical flourishes that would have been impossible on the original NES. The examples given in the description are telling:
- A darkened level lit only by a spotlight following the player’s character
- Navigating disappearing platforms in Super Mario Bros.
- Playing a Donkey Kong stage as Link instead of Mario, forced by Link’s inability to jump
These are not simple cosmetic changes. They are new experiences built from the bones of the old games. The Donkey Kong stage becomes a platformer about timing and balance, not strength. The spotlight forces you to watch the ground ahead of you, since the room itself is dark.
The Super Luigi Bros. remix is a standout. It takes the entire Super Mario Bros. game and flips it, reversing the screen from left to right. Luigi, who was not even in the original game, gets his moment in the sun. The description notes that Luigi’s higher jumping ability had not been introduced until the 1986 Japanese sequel Super Mario Bros. 2, so this remix gives him a starring role in a game he barely appeared in.
The Nintendo World Championships Remix is the other big draw. It is unlocked if you also own NES Remix and its save file is present, and it pushes players through three successive challenges in Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, and Dr. Mario. The goal is a ranking score on a new online leaderboards system. It is a direct nod to the 1990 Nintendo World Championships tour across America, a competition that defined a generation of players.
The Fastest Game
Ultimate NES Remix, the Nintendo 3DS version, adds a new mode called Famicom Remix. It is unlocked by getting all the stars in the game, and it presents a select compilation of games and challenges from the first two Wii U releases. The standout feature is Speed Mario Bros., which is the entirety of the original Super Mario Bros. running at a much faster speed.
It is a clever idea. The game you know so well moves too fast to be comfortable, and the challenge shifts from memory to reaction. It is a small addition, but it shows the thinking behind the whole project: take something familiar and twist it until it stops feeling like comfort food.
The Wii U Hardware
NES Remix is a Wii U game, and it uses the console’s hardware to add polish to the old designs. The source material notes that the remix categories are “sometimes by blending in more modern graphical features of the Wii U, for a new experience that may even be technologically impossible on the vintage NES.” That means the remixed stages look sharper, brighter, and more detailed than the originals ever could.
The bird view and side view perspectives are used throughout, giving each challenge a clean, readable layout. The third-person perspective appears in the Donkey Kong stage, where Link’s movements need to be tracked closely. The presentation is clean and professional, a far cry from the pixelated chaos of the original NES.
The Shortcomings
The collection is not without its flaws. Some challenges feel arbitrary, built around a single trick rather than a genuine test of skill. The difficulty spikes can be frustrating, especially on the harder remixes. And the lack of multiplayer support means the online leaderboards are the only way to compete against others.
The pacing can also be uneven. Some games are represented by a handful of challenges, while others get a dozen or more. The Legend of Zelda, for instance, is a massive game, and the collection treats it as a small aside rather than a centerpiece. The selection is subjective, and some fans will find their favorite games underrepresented.
The Wii U hardware is also a limiting factor. The console never sold in the numbers the Switch did, and the library suffered as a result. A collection like this might have felt more essential on a more popular platform.
The Legacy
NES Remix was not a huge success, but it did something important. It proved that classic games could be repurposed for a modern audience without losing their identity. The remixes, in particular, showed that the source material was flexible enough to support new ideas.
The Nintendo World Championships Remix is a direct link to a piece of history. The 1990 tour was a defining moment for competitive gaming, and this mode brings it back in a playable form. It is a small gesture, but it connects the current generation to the players who came before.
The Super Luigi Bros. remix is also a cultural artifact. It gives Luigi, the forgotten brother, a moment in the spotlight. The fact that his jumping ability came from a Japanese sequel is a detail that adds depth to the character’s history.
The Numbers
- Games: 16 in the base NES Remix
- Challenges: 204 in the base NES Remix
- Remixes: The Nintendo World Championships Remix and Super Luigi Bros. are the major ones
- Platform: Wii U
- Release: December 18, 2013, on the Nintendo eShop
The Verdict
NES Remix is a solid, if uneven, collection. It respects the classics while pushing them forward. The remixes are inventive and memorable, and the nostalgia factor is strong. It is not a masterpiece, but it is a worthwhile trip down memory lane.
The score reflects this balance. The core collection is strong, but the pacing and the omissions keep it from greatness.
The game is available on the Nintendo eShop for the Wii U, and it remains a good way to spend an afternoon. If you have the console and a love of the classics, it is worth checking out. Just be prepared for the remixes to surprise you.
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