I love using the Nintendo Switch for its portability and suitability for my young kids. However, they don’t seem to love retro games. They find the graphics a little blunt, and the gameplay can be more challenging than modern experiences. Accordingly, when I was offered Rugrats: Retro Rewind Collection to review, I didn’t think they’d enjoy it. Thankfully, I was wrong as each of the 6 old-school titles offers unique pros and cons. Therefore, they enjoyed the varied gameplay and the step into the past.
This 6-game collection was developed by Mighty Rabbit Studios and published by Limited Run Games. This eclectic collection blends exploration, platforming, puzzle, and mini games to great effect. Moreover, if you adore the cartoon franchise, you’ll be amused by the settings, characters, and familiar dialogue. My kids have never watched the cartoon, so they enjoyed the OTT action, the characters, and the blend of retro and modern mechanics.
Rugrats: Retro Rewind Collection offers 6 different experiences.
Each of the 6 games embodies different platforms and stories. Additionally, there is an array of genres to enjoy as you play some classic games from the late 90s and early 2000s. There is The Search for Reptar, The Rugrats Movie, Time Travellers, Studio Tour, Rugrats in Paris: The Movie, and Castle Capers.
I was familiar with each of the games, and I was genuinely thrilled to replay each title again. Moreover, it was great to let my kids enjoy some of the games I played when I was younger. Although the 3D elements are clearly dated, I like the modern touches. There is the ability to rewind the action, save anywhere, and you can fit retro screen filters. These are quality-of-life features that won’t blow you away, but they make things just a bit better.
Rose-tinted spectacles.
Rugrats: Retro Rewind Collection is a 100% rose-tinted spectacles collection. I can’t remember any of the games being this easy. However, they are all ridiculously short and lacking in depth. This wasn’t a problem for me as my kids could play them with relative ease. Yet, if you wanted something that’ll test you without the cliched plot, you may want to look at other 90s/00s franchises.
Sadly, the level design, visuals, and action fall way short of modern standards. Subsequently, newcomers to the franchise may be bitterly disappointed. If you play this for the retro hit, you will enjoy every moment. Thankfully, my kids didn’t mind the simplicity or the relatively quick completion rate. Instead, they were amused by the easy-to-understand action and the forgiving mechanics.
Rugrats: Retro Rewind Collection is rough around the edges.
On one hand, I must applaud the developer for staying faithful to the original experiences. However, on the other hand, I would have liked some modern polish. The 3D elements have seen better days, and the animation is blocky, clunky, and extremely underwhelming. Therefore, it is best to remember that this is a faithful rebuild of a classic gaming franchise.
The audio is as refined and blunt as you’d expect. Each soundtrack uses the cartoon as its foundation, and snippets from each film can be enjoyed in the relevant games. The result is an upbeat but repetitive soundscape that won’t wow modern gamers.
Sluggish controls.
The controls are not as responsive as I’d have liked. This causes some frustration, and I can’t remember the original games being this clunky. However, once you get into the swing of things, each of the 6 games is easy to play, and my kids mastered the controls in no time.
Replay value and longevity are restricted. You’ll enjoy a total of around 20 hours to tackle and complete each of the games. This doesn’t seem like a lot, but more may have been tedious. Therefore, it gets the balance just right.
Rugrats: Retro Rewind Collection is one for nostalgia hunters.
If you’re not into retro gaming or you haven’t tackled the original games, Rugrats: Retro Rewind Collection will not appeal to you. It is a collection that is aimed at fans of the franchise or gamers who want to relive their youth. Although it is fun, it is remarkably simple and lacking in depth. Accordingly, it won’t be for everyone, but I enjoyed it and recommend buying a copy here! Do you want to relive The Rugrats in the 2020s? Choose your favourite game, control some babies, and take a walk down memory lane.
