Review – Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection

The arrival of Switch 2 and PC marks a special moment for fans of the classic card game from. Developed by Digital Eclipse, the collection brings together no less than 14 titles, many of them unpublished outside Japan, and brings out not only the nostalgia of Game Boy duels to Game Boy Advance, but also raises discussions about preservation, accessibility and the evolution of the franchise. For players like me, who grew up with Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh!

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the card game, this can be considered a true time capsule, as for the first time new fans are being allowed to know the origin of the franchise and that veterans recall striking duels. The inclusion of games never released outside Japan, such as Monster Capsule GB, expands access to previously restricted experiences, while for Konami, it is a tribute to the history of Yu-Gi-Oh! and a strategy to keep the memory of the first digital duels alive.

It’s time to remember the duel

This collection impresses with the variety, but is already alert that not all titles have aged well, after all we have a job of gathering the games and not redoing them, with remaster or remake, keeping many of the repetitive mechanics, archaic interfaces and lack of tutorials, in a somewhat dated package that can frustrate players accustomed with more modern games, especially current card games. Even so, there is room for fun, especially for those seeking an authentic experience of the 2000s.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection delivers a robust collection, ranging from the pioneer Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (1998) up to 7 Trials to Glory: World Championship Tournament 2005. The title selection has been wide and copper from the early days of the game boy to the Game Boy Advance’s gold era. Games such as The Sacred Cards and World Championship Tournament 2004 still stand out for its depth and loyalty to TCG, while experiments such as Monster Capsule and Dungeon Dice Monsters offer variety and show Konami’s boldness to test new formulas. The most beloved card game simulators are also present, such as The Eternal Duelist Soul and World Championship Tournament 2004, which remain references for those who want to learn or revisit classic rules.

Although most games keep only single-player mode, the collection already supports online matches on Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 4: Battle of Great duelist and World Championship Tournament 2004, promising future updates to other titles, but not yet expected to happen. The absence of online multiplayer in much of the collection can be viewed as a negative point, especially for those looking to duel with friends around the world. Add this to the fact that more than ten games are based on the same gameplay system, with loops based on the characteristics of each opponent and you can get sick quickly at one or two games.

With an eye on updates focused on quality of life, developers added the rewinding function (Rewind), which allows you to go back in wrong moves, making duels less frustrating, and we can speed up the game to speed up slower matches, making life easier for those seeking a more dynamic experience. Save State, nonexistent in original versions and required the end of matches or even championships to save progress, allows you to save your progress anywhere in the game, making life easier for those who do not have time to play long sessions and allowing you to resume duels exactly where it stopped. Making pair with improvements, yu-gi-oh! Early Days Collection offers cards, characters and the removal of prohibited deck and card restrictions, making the game even more accessible and flexible, and allow each player to adjust the experience to their taste and customize their gambling.

Nostalgia with time marks

The digital eclipse sent very well in the matter of historical preservation by adding a digital gallery with original cash and manual arts, but went beyond and left out the concept arts or historical documents that would further deepen the experience and knowledge about the franchise. However, they were concerned with making the art direction maintain the pixelated charm of the original games, with simple menus and border and filter options that help adapt the experience to current standards.

Following in the steps of the visual nostalgic rescue, Yu-Gi-Oh’s soundtrack! Early Days Collection is one of the most striking elements of the collection, preserving the sound essence of the games originally released for Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance. The work done in this edition was remastering, raising the quality of audio to current standards without misunderstanding the original compositions, which already stood out for the creativity even with the technical limitations of the laptops of the time. Even in its simplicity and focus on functionality, without much exclusive content or more elaborate interfaces that carry the franchise’s visual wealth, players will always be with traditional chiptunes, living screens and vibrant colors.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection is, above all, an indispensable product for nostalgic fans and collectors, but not inviting for newcomers or who expects a modern and polished experience. Its greatest merit lies in the preservation and accessibility of historical titles, but the lack of whim in extras, the absence of online multiplayer in almost every game limits its potential. It is a collection that fulfills its tribute role, but makes it clear that time does not forgive certain mechanical even to iconic titles and has moved a card game market. For those looking for a trip to the past this is the perfect game, but for the general public, perhaps it is just a historical curiosity and a reminder that not every duel must have an hour to happen.