Joe & Mac Retro Collection brings three prehistoric platformers back from the 1990s, presumably because humanity hadn’t suffered enough already. Featuring colourful dinosaurs, cavemen and kidnapped cave ladies, this package offers a nostalgic trip through gaming history. Unfortunately, nostalgia is doing an awful lot of heavy lifting.
Gaming Heaven
All three Super Nintendo titles are included, with American, European and Japanese versions available. The colourful graphics, amusing animations and lively environments retain their original charm, while the boss encounters provide some entertaining challenges.
There are thoughtful extras, too. An art gallery and interactive presentation of original boxes, cartridges and instruction manuals are welcome additions. You can even flick through animated manual pages, which is considerably more exciting than it sounds. Boss Rush mode also provides an additional challenge for anyone who hasn’t yet developed a sufficient dislike of prehistoric reptiles.
Save states, rewind functionality and a CRT filter offer some useful modern conveniences, although the games themselves remain largely untouched.
Gaming Hell
The biggest problem is that these games haven’t aged particularly gracefully. The platforming can feel clumsy, difficulty occasionally becomes excessive, and the first and third games are surprisingly brief. Joe & Mac 2 offers a tougher experience, although not necessarily one you’ll thank it for.
The collection also restricts itself to Super Nintendo versions, leaving arcade and other console editions behind. Some sound effects are muffled, and the gameplay offers little beyond the repetitive business of jumping, fighting and trying not to throw your controller.
Final Judgement
Joe & Mac Retro Collection is a competent preservation package, but preserving something doesn’t automatically make it enjoyable. The presentation extras are excellent, yet the games themselves feel dated, uneven and occasionally irritating.
Fans of the originals might appreciate the trip down memory lane. Everyone else may wonder why these cavemen couldn’t simply negotiate a peaceful resolution.
