Time for a retro throwback. SUNSOFT is Back! Retro Game Selection is a selection of games from the developer from the past. However, it is a selection of three games. Was this a good choice? Are these games good games to be part of this selection? Let’s take a look at our review.
SUNSOFT is Back! Retro Game Selection
Developer: SUNSOFT, Red Art Games
Publisher: Sun Corporation
Platform: Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox, PC (Reviewed on PS5 and Switch)
Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this product from https://www.keymailer.co
Intro:
SUNSOFT is Back! Retro Game Selection is a nostalgic love letter to fans of classic gaming and a fantastic introduction for newcomers to the iconic titles that defined an era. Released in 2024, this collection brings together a curated selection of SUNSOFT’s most beloved retro games, remastered and optimized for modern platforms while staying true to their original charm. While this is a nice thing as SUNSOFT had quite an extensive library in the past, this is only a selection, so it is only 3 games. Keep that in mind. Additionally, keep in mind that these games are ly released in Japan, so this is the first time these games have ever been seen outside of Japan.
Gameplay:
Each of the three games plays differently. The three games in the SUNSOFT Game Selection are The Wing of Madoola, Firework Thrower Kantaro’s 53 Stations of the Tokaido, and Ripple Island. The Wing of Madoola is sort of an adventure RPG. Players have to explore, find power-ups, and get through each area while taking on enemies. Firework Thrower Kantaro’s 53 Stations of the Tokaido is a side-scroller-type game. Players have to get from Point A to Point B while defeating and avoiding enemies. Finally, Ripple Island is very similar to a point-and-click adventure game. Players have to navigate each area to complete their task while solving each puzzle that stands in their way.
Each game in the SUNSOFT collection provides its challenges. However, one thing is very clear while playing them. Each game has aged horribly. They are difficult not only because of the challenges each game brings but how difficult it is to play each game in itself. It is not just simply how difficult the games are, but how sluggish each game plays. I know in other retro classics, the gameplay is improved to make it much tighter. In this SUNSOFT collection, it seems they were just ported.
Audio and visual:
Audio and visuals for SUNSOFT is Back! Retro Game Selection are 1:1 in terms of their original counterparts on their original platform. They look and sound the same. The new exception is the English text in each game.
Fun Factor:
SUNSOFT is Back! Retro Game Selection is not fun. I did not have fun, simply due to the difficulty and sluggishness of each game being played. Each game was bad in its way. I wish at least the gameplay was updated to current standards.
Conclusion:
SUNSOFT is Back! Retro Game Selection is a throwback to three classic games that were never released outside of Japan. However, with sluggish gameplay and only being three games (SUNSOFT has a large selection of classics) I feel is insulting to SUNSOFT themselves. I grew up playing SUNSOFT games on the NES and other platforms. I hope there is a large Collection that does come out in the future as some of those games were classics.
– Until next time, Mgs2master2 out!
Score: 5/10 – SUNSOFT is Back! Retro Game Selection deserves better. The gameplay is sluggish, with only three games, and not much effort seems to be put into this selection of games.