If you’re a fan of Yu-Gi-Oh! and want to reminisce about the early games in this popular franchise, the Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection offers an engaging experience. This collection gathers a total of 14 games from the roots of Yu-Gi-Oh!, allowing players to journey through dueling across the years. The focus is mainly on card duel simulation titles from the Duel Monsters series, with some unique variations added for variety. As a result, the Early Days Collection provides an intriguing historical tour, featuring games that will surely captivate both nostalgic and new players.
The “Early Days Collection” gathers Yu-Gi-Oh! games ranging from Game Boy to Game Boy Advance, and surprisingly, many of them still play well. The Switch versions run smoothly and look great with the added optional backgrounds in the updated collection. A notable aspect of this collection is that each game’s original manual is included and easily accessible through the menu at any time, a feature that’s particularly useful because there isn’t much tutorial content within the games themselves. I frequently consulted these manuals, as they offer valuable guidance and are an enjoyable journey through gaming history.
Unwrapping the Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection feels delightful, with its user-friendly and visually appealing game selection interface on the home screen. It provides players an enjoyable journey to explore their gaming options before diving into a session. Most of the games are preserved in their original forms, but there’s also the option to customize certain aspects like Deck Capacity, Duelist Level, and Forbidden Cards for a more personalized experience. This allows fans to relive the games as they were first intended or adjust them according to their preference. The inclusion of the original box art adds an extra layer of charm for collectors who desire a piece of Yu-Gi-Oh! history.
14 different Yu-Gi-Oh! games are available, but not all are equally appealing. If you’re seeking to invest substantial time in battling a computer adversary, the Duel Masters series might appeal to you. Despite some issues with progression and difficulty levels in these early games, and occasionally outdated mechanics, they remain surprisingly captivating today. I was astonished by how effortlessly I could spend hours on a game that essentially involves dueling the same characters repeatedly. Remarkably, even those early Duel Monsters installments still hold up well, making it intriguing to play them in sequence and witness their development over time. Although many of the initial titles share similarities, having multiple options ensures players can engage in endless duels, and this is before considering the online PvP option available in Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 4: Battle of Great Duelists.
In the Duel Monsters series, the level of difficulty and progression for duelists can be quite challenging. While this doesn’t necessarily spoil the fun of the duel, some matches are surprisingly easy from start to finish, while others can be incredibly tough right off the bat, making it difficult for players to win enough battles to expand their card decks. The order in which opponents should be confronted isn’t always clear, so duelists might find themselves struggling against an opponent whose deck is far superior to their own. Fortunately, adjusting certain built-in restrictions can help alleviate these frustrations, providing players with a slight advantage when tackling tough NPCs, especially when the starting point isn’t obvious.
In the Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection, it’s not just about simple card dueling games. Some of the more unique titles from the early days of Yu-Gi-Oh! became my personal favorites. For instance, 2000’s Monster Capsule is a peculiar blend of Yu-Gi-Oh! characters with Pokemon and Dungeons & Dragons-inspired gameplay, yet it strangely captivated me with its chess-like battles and Dungeon Master-style encounters. I had trouble tearing myself away from these games to explore the next one on the list. Similarly, The Sacred Cards adds a touch of story to the duel simulation concept. Roaming around as a pixel character, interacting with beloved characters, was enjoyable, but I also appreciated the well-designed dueling system. Resisting the urge to revisit it proved challenging, and I anticipate returning to it frequently.
It turns out that not all Yu-Gi-Oh! games adapt smoothly. Certain entries have visual idiosyncrasies that make them difficult to play. For instance, the background movement during duels in some of the Game Boy Advance games can be disconcerting at best and may even cause motion sickness. The game Destiny Board Traveler, with its engaging board-game concept, is particularly affected by visual issues. The white text on brightly colored backdrops is almost illegible, making the game nearly unplayable. Similarly, Reshef of Destruction, a popular sequel to The Sacred Cards, struggles with an odd cursor blinking issue that turns dueling into a chore rather than an enjoyable experience, which is disappointing given its otherwise appealing features.
All in all, the Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection offers a wealth of entertaining games, some of which may not quite match up to today’s standards. With numerous games to select from, players are guaranteed countless hours of fun, though they might decide to leave some of the less polished ports gathering dust in the virtual storage. The refreshed backgrounds and customization features give a touch of elegance to this collection of vintage games, making it an enjoyable trip down memory lane for Yu-Gi-Oh fans yearning to revisit the roots of the video game franchise. While there are some hurdles when adapting retro games for modern audiences, the Early Days Collection is a must-have for anyone keen on revisiting the early installments in the Yu-Gi-Oh! video game series or experiencing them for the first time.
Score: 3.5/5
The “Early Days Collection” of Yu-Gi-Oh! was critically assessed on the Nintendo Switch. For this evaluation, we were given a preliminary review copy by the publishing house.
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2025-02-24 11:10