Gimmick! Special Edition Reviews
Switch-bendingly tough though it is, Gimmick is a salient example of what made the 8-bit era so wonderful: a razor-sharp, thoughtfully illustrated action adventure full of creativity and imagination. Just be warned that when people talk about 'old-school difficulty', Gimmick is a cut above what they usually have in mind, and to that end may prove frustrating for those unable to steel themselves to the challenge.
Gimmick! Special Edition deserved a wider audience back in the day and is well worth your time if you are a fan of old-school platform hopping fun.
Challenging and fun 2D platformer that is finally getting a worldwide release
Gimmick! Special Edition still holds up after all these years, but there’s just not enough beyond the main game to entertain players. This little green guy deserved so much more, resulting in what is a one-and-done type of title with little reason to go back.
Gimmick! SPECIAL EDITION is a delightful NES classic and its rewind feature is essential seeing as it can be one brutal adventure.
Gimmick! Special Edition represents a small victory for fans of the NES era, who can finally get a feel for (and physically own) one of the great little titles lost to time and localizations. A painstakingly crafted platformer that is still enjoyable today, even in the face of a decidedly high difficulty that could deter many players. New content and countless QOL tweaks allow this version to be the best way to approach a title that is historic in its own way. Of course, those who do not appreciate such hardcore retrogaming may not enjoy the youkai adventure.
Review in Italian | Read full review
"Rare visitor from the past."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
I'm really glad that Gimmick! Special Edition exists as it's such a fantastic game and deserves a wider release. With its physics-based gameplay and wealth of secrets, it was ahead of its time and really is one of the all-time best NES platformers.
Still, outside of that infuriating input bug, this is still a really good port of the Japanese Gimmick; the godly OST is perfectly intact, the input lag is very minimal, and the QOL with rewind and save states make this a great version for newcomers like myself to experience this outstanding Sunsoft gem, and I am so happy to have played it and have had as much fun as I did. I just wish this release had a bit more extras and the PAL version of the game was included.
Despite the fact that I would have liked to see Gimmick! get the full special edition treatment, Gimmick! Special Edition is a winner in my book if only because it brings such an important game to the West after all these years. While it’s undoubtedly a game of its era, Gimmick! holds up well as a charming, imaginative platformer that is still a ton of fun to play today. Even better, thanks to the new enhancements, its extreme difficulty will no longer stop players who aren’t up to the challenge from seeing all the wonderful things it has to offer.
Gimmick! Special Edition brings an interesting charm with the global ranking to a title known by few. Still, it's worth giving it a chance, mainly because of its gameplay, which remains different even today.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I’m always pleased to see any retro game get a second chance at life on modern systems. Since Gimmick! Special Edition really didn’t get much attention this is a great opportunity to hop on a retro gem. Gimmicks approach to 2D platforming feels fresh and different even all these years later. Its only barrier to entry is its tough difficulty which will not play well with some. Far from a gimmick, this is a gem well worth playing.
While it has a great retro look and sound, the slippery surfaces and ineffective attack make this for people seeking punishment only