Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Game & Watch Gallery 3 presents a delightful collection of five classic handheld titles, each offered in both its original LCD format and a modernized reimagining featuring Mario and friends. From the moment you launch the game, you’re free to toggle between “Classic” and “Modern” modes, letting you experience Turtle Bridge, Egg, Green House, Mario Bros., and Donkey Kong Jr. in their black-and-white roots or in full color with updated character art and backgrounds. This dual-presentation not only caters to purists craving authenticity but also to younger players drawn to familiar Nintendo faces.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

The core gameplay loop is simple yet surprisingly deep. In Turtle Bridge, you’ll pass items across turtle backs while carefully balancing speed and timing. Egg transforms into a frantic juggling act, as you catch eggs laid by a hen and deliver them to ovens without letting any shatter. Green House tasks you with swatting away bugs before they reach your precious plants. Each challenge ramps up quickly, demanding razor-sharp reflexes and fluid hand-eye coordination.

Then come the two console classics: Mario Bros. puts Mario and Luigi in a frantic conveyor belt environment, dodging fire-breathing Bowser heads while shuttling packages back and forth. Donkey Kong Jr. flips the script by casting you as the son of the original ape antagonist, navigating vines and cages to gather keys and free his father from Mario’s clutches. Both games retain their arcade-style pacing, with tight controls that reward pattern memorization and split-second decision-making.

For completionists, the “Gallery” format offers extra mileage: play high-score challenges, study brief historical galleries on each game’s origins, and tackle both modes to collect trophies. The Modern versions often add subtle quality-of-life improvements—like wider hitboxes or slightly slower speeds—making previously punishing patterns more approachable for newcomers. Whether you’re chasing your personal best or savoring a bit of retro history, the gameplay strikes a satisfying balance between nostalgia and accessibility.

Graphics

Visually, Game & Watch Gallery 3 shines by celebrating its humble beginnings while embracing a splash of color. The “Classic” mode faithfully reproduces the static black-and-white LCD panels of the original handhelds, complete with the characteristic pre-drawn sprites and segmented animations. This mode oozes authenticity, instantly transporting veteran gamers back to the early ’80s.

Switch to “Modern” mode, however, and you’ll find fully fleshed-out backgrounds, vibrant character models, and smooth frame-by-frame animations. Mario and Luigi sport expressive faces as they hustle, while Donkey Kong Jr. swings with fluid arcs that would feel right at home on a Game Boy Advance. The backgrounds—be it the night sky behind Turtle Bridge or the kitchen setting in Egg—are richly detailed yet never distract from the gameplay.

Small touches elevate the presentation further: subtle weather effects in Green House, glowing embers around hot plates in Egg, and dynamic camera zooms when you rack up large combos. The UI is clean, with legible score counters and intuitive on-screen prompts. Animations remain crisp, even when the action heats up, ensuring you always know exactly what’s happening.

Sound design complements the visuals with jaunty chiptune arrangements and faithful recreations of the original beeps and boops. Modern mode includes updated jingles and character voice samples—Mario’s trademark “Wahoo!” sounds delightfully pixelated. Together, the audio-visual package offers a polished yet respectful homage to Nintendo’s earliest handheld efforts.

Story

As with most arcade-style compilations, Game & Watch Gallery 3 doesn’t weave a grand narrative tapestry. Instead, each mini-game presents a simple scenario: protect, catch, deliver, or escape. In Turtle Bridge, you’re balancing goods across a treacherous crossing; in Egg, you’re cooking breakfast under pressure; in Green House, you’re defending flora from pests. These vignettes require little exposition, focusing instead on the immediacy of gameplay.

The Modern modes lean on the broader Mario mythos for a light thematic layer. Mario and Luigi’s efforts in Mario Bros. tie into their plumbing gig—keep the factory lines moving while avoiding fireballs. Donkey Kong Jr.’s escapades revisit the classic ape-rescue premise, fleshing out the backstory with colorful sprite art and mischievous enemy designs. Though there’s no overarching plot tying all five games together, the inclusion of beloved characters gives each challenge a playful context.

Between rounds, you can flip through a “Gallery” section that offers historical blurbs about each title’s original release date, designer anecdotes, and trivia. This archival element adds unexpected depth, turning what could be a simple mini-game collection into a small interactive museum exhibit. History buffs and completionists alike will appreciate the nods to Nintendo’s pioneering handheld era.

Ultimately, the “story” here is one of evolution: how simple LCD toys laid the groundwork for decades of gaming innovation. While you won’t uncover epic plot twists, you will gain an appreciation for the raw, addictive mechanics that formed Nintendo’s early reputation. The narrative draw is nostalgia itself, celebrated in every pixel and beeper.

Overall Experience

Game & Watch Gallery 3 offers a polished, lovingly crafted trip down memory lane. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran who grew up with the original handhelds or a modern gamer curious about Nintendo’s roots, this compilation delivers bite-sized bursts of addictive fun. The dual classic/modern presentation ensures broad appeal: stick to the original LCD stylings for pure retro charm, or switch to the colorized, character-driven updates for a more contemporary feel.

Replayability is sky-high, thanks to its high-score chasing, trophy collection, and incremental difficulty curves. Each game is perfectly suited for quick sessions on the go, yet deep enough that you’ll find yourself striving for new records over multiple sittings. The built-in gallery—and the simple pleasure of comparing “Classic” runs to sleek “Modern” attempts—adds layers of incentive beyond mere scoreboards.

On the flip side, some players might find the limited variety of only five games somewhat restrictive compared to larger mini-game compilations. And while the modern adaptations smooth out some rough edges, the core mechanics remain unforgiving—be prepared for steep challenges if you aim to master every title.

All told, Game & Watch Gallery 3 succeeds as both a historical anthology and a tight mini-game package. It’s a must-have for collectors and a charming diversion for newcomers. Whether you’re reliving childhood memories or seeking portable pick-up-and-play thrills, this title stands as a testament to the timeless appeal of Nintendo’s earliest handheld classics.

Retro Replay Score

6.7/10