Let's say you're ten years old and your parent just asked that you tag along with them as they run some errands. You hesitate at first, but realizing you have no real choice in the matter, you reluctantly go along for the inevitable ten minute, turned hour, turned three hour long ride. After being ever so patient, fiddling on your Gameboy Advance and messing with your parent's radio presets, you spot it: the big electronics department store in town. You plead and beg to go. Surprisingly, it works. You step inside and immediately head to the video games section, playing demos as your parent decides to stock up on ink cartridges, batteries, and bargain bin flicks. Then, you decide to grab a game, or two, or three, and bring them to your parent. Maybe this time will be different. Maybe, this time, they'll buy one for you.
And, this time is different. Although, not in the excepted manner. Upon checking out, your parent notices a selection of jewel CD cases all claiming to contain thousands of games for one extremely low price. They purchase it for you, asking you to return the games you picked up to the cashier so they can return them to the display. You feign excitement, but are disappointed. You've been lied to by the covers of these game collections before.
Now, imagine if Nintendo made one of these game collections. And they polished it. And, in the process of polishing it, left a few noticeable blemishes. That, in a nutshell, is Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics.
The games contained within range from the familiar to the novel, all accompanied by trivia to be learned and medals to be earned. My first few hours playing, I was hooked. I dove right into some of my favorites, from checkers, to Nintendo's own free-domain version of Yahtzee, to Wii-like bowling. There were also some newfound favorites I learned quickly thanks to the rules accompanying all games and the tutorials alongside those which are more complex, such as shogi and hanafuda.
Nonetheless, as I continued to explore the selection of games presented to me by the guides within, a variety of annoyances began to appear: the UI - though pretty - does not provide a solid user experience, the local play - while great in theory - tends to drop out and end games much too soon, and the restrictions on customization and rule sets are outright aggravating.
However, for every time I found myself bewildered at a design decision, it was made up for by a serendipitous round of golf via online matchmaking or a game of darts with friends. Not every game contained within is conducive to extended play nor is every game going to appeal to everyone. Some games have clearly had more time put into them than others, and some can hardly even be classified as games.
Oddly enough, that's what makes Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics a worthwhile - if fairly imperfect - endeavor: while not a masterpiece, it's a quirky yet meaningful game collection bursting with personality that has a little something for everyone.
Content: Single-Player, Local Competitive, Online Competitive
Difficulty: N/A (Several)
Source: Nintendo Game Store
Input: Joycons, Touch
Display: TV Docked, Portable, Tabletop
Audio: TV Speakers, Console Speakers
Location: Home
Audience: Solo & Accompanied
Tweaks & Mods: N/A (None)
And, this time is different. Although, not in the excepted manner. Upon checking out, your parent notices a selection of jewel CD cases all claiming to contain thousands of games for one extremely low price. They purchase it for you, asking you to return the games you picked up to the cashier so they can return them to the display. You feign excitement, but are disappointed. You've been lied to by the covers of these game collections before.
Now, imagine if Nintendo made one of these game collections. And they polished it. And, in the process of polishing it, left a few noticeable blemishes. That, in a nutshell, is Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics.
The games contained within range from the familiar to the novel, all accompanied by trivia to be learned and medals to be earned. My first few hours playing, I was hooked. I dove right into some of my favorites, from checkers, to Nintendo's own free-domain version of Yahtzee, to Wii-like bowling. There were also some newfound favorites I learned quickly thanks to the rules accompanying all games and the tutorials alongside those which are more complex, such as shogi and hanafuda.
Nonetheless, as I continued to explore the selection of games presented to me by the guides within, a variety of annoyances began to appear: the UI - though pretty - does not provide a solid user experience, the local play - while great in theory - tends to drop out and end games much too soon, and the restrictions on customization and rule sets are outright aggravating.
However, for every time I found myself bewildered at a design decision, it was made up for by a serendipitous round of golf via online matchmaking or a game of darts with friends. Not every game contained within is conducive to extended play nor is every game going to appeal to everyone. Some games have clearly had more time put into them than others, and some can hardly even be classified as games.
Oddly enough, that's what makes Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics a worthwhile - if fairly imperfect - endeavor: while not a masterpiece, it's a quirky yet meaningful game collection bursting with personality that has a little something for everyone.
Content: Single-Player, Local Competitive, Online Competitive
Difficulty: N/A (Several)
Source: Nintendo Game Store
Input: Joycons, Touch
Display: TV Docked, Portable, Tabletop
Audio: TV Speakers, Console Speakers
Location: Home
Audience: Solo & Accompanied
Tweaks & Mods: N/A (None)