Gimmick! Special Edition

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.

If you enjoy platformers, aren’t turned off by an extremely high difficulty level, and think you’re going to get something out of going for all the secrets and playing all the modes? Yes, absolutely. It’s a Sunsoft game from Sunsoft’s prime, and that alone is a recommendation. Be warned, however, that the game has serious teeth that even modern conveniences can’t completely mitigate.

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.