This game has been sucking up my time for the past week straight, so I thought I would try to spread the word as much as possible. This game NEEDS to be in every DS owner's collection.

Retro Games Challenge
Platform: Nintendo DS
Price: $29.99 New (probably ~$24.99 used, as it was just released Feb. 10)
Also known as: "My Childhood in Video Game Form"

Seriously, guys: if you own a DS and have an appreciation for the golden age of 80's gaming, give this game a look. Granted that just from glancing at the cover of the game you would think it to be yet another collection of Commodore or Atari games, re-released for the 18th time in yet another price-saving bundle... but you'd be wrong.

The game features eight completely original titles running on an authentic 8-bit engine. To top it all off, there is actually a story that goes along with this to tie everything together and create a cohesive package beyond any other standard game collection.

Basically, there is a goofball named Arino who longed to become a game-playing master, but could never win at any of those newfangled current-gen games that are currently on the market. His anger grew so strong that it actually manifested itself in a digital form within his DS and began haunting other gamers around the world with retro-style game challenges. When you turn on the game, you are transported back in time to 1984 (with an on-screen representation of your child self) and forced to play through a series of titles on a fictional 8-bit system, completing specific goals in order to progress through time and hopefully find your way back home.

Each game is an original creation and includes subtle tributes to a number of popular titles from the time period. You have a Galaga-inspired space shooter, the popular platformer that spawned a number of sequels, the RC Pro-Am style racer, and even a Final Fantasy/Dragon Quest-style RPG. This last one is the most impressive as it is a full title that lasts over 10 HOURS on a single playthrough.

Most "collection" games have a few gems mixed in with a good number of duds that you would never play otherwise, but this is not the case here. Every single game is a winner and begs to be replayed over and over. As you work through the challenges in story mode, you are cheered on by the younger version of Arino (it turns out he had no friends growing up, so he specifically brings you back in order to be his gaming buddy). Once you complete each game's final challenge, you unlock it in free play, where you can replay it any number of times while racking up experience to improve your overall "gamer rating."

The best part about this, though, is the nostalgic factor that is infused into every aspect of the game. The trip through time is enhanced by the in-game "GameFan Magazine" issues that you are allowed to read, which include the old "Tips from the PROS!!" sections of 80's gaming mags. Each game has codes that you discover to grant extra lives/continues/level selects. The game ultimately wraps up in 1989, with the rumored release of a new "super-powerful" 16-bit game console. Looking online, there is actually a sequel to Retro Game Challenge that is coming out later this month in Japan, and it will cover the end of the 8-bit era and the start of the 16-bit era, showcasing over 14 games total between the two systems. There's even a section in the middle covering the release of "the first handheld system," which is an obvious tribute to the original brick-style Gameboy, with a four-grayscale color palette and tributes to MarioLand and Tetris. With any luck the sequel will make its way quickly stateside, since the first title is already scoring ~9.0's from most major gaming review sites.

If the release of MegaMan 9 made you hungry for more classic 8-bit original titles, you must absolutely give this game a try. Every one of the eight included titles hold their own weight as individual games. Pick this one up the moment you find it in your local game store.

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