Yu-Gi-Oh! turned the big two-five last year, and fans who have been with the franchise from day one suddenly felt those years. To keep the momentum going, Konami decided to extend the celebration of this ‘Quarter Century’ milestone with a special release: Yu-Gi-Oh! The Early Days Collection. This isn’t just any collection; it’s packed with nearly 14 classic games from the franchise’s foundational era, spanning the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance. As a die-hard Yu-Gi-Oh! enthusiast, the idea of revisiting these titles stirred a mix of nostalgia and apprehension. Although I had yet to experience all of them prior to diving into this review, my hazy recollection suggested they were more about capitalizing on the anime’s buzz than the actual card gameplay. Turns out, my memory wasn’t too far off, but the surprise was gentler than I feared. This trip down memory lane might be more of a curious detour for some, but true fans might find a gem or two if they dig in deep enough.
Let’s address the elephant in the room first. Yes, this collection boasts 14 full-fledged Yu-Gi-Oh! games released between 1998 and 2005. From the series’ earliest days on the Japanese Game Boy, inspired directly by the manga, now fully available in English for the first time, to the Game Boy Advance’s competitive world championship games aspiring to be authentic duel simulators, there’s a lot to sift through. Though it sounds like a plethora of content at first glance, there are some snags. Early on, those Game Boy games don’t stray far from incremental updates, introducing new rules and cards as they developed. Take Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters II: Dark Duel Stories, for instance—it simply adjusts card rules and balances decks. The Western release added just a single new trap card zone. While it’s fascinating to see these evolutionary steps and the constraints of ’90s hardware and game design, playing them consecutively feels repetitive. The evolution, especially in design and interface, does intrigue me, but I found myself quickly hopping around to uncover more engaging titles.
Duel Monsters 3 caught me off guard. Only previously available in Japan, this game delves into the Monster World arc, where Yugi’s friends morph into monsters trapped in a tabletop RPG, guided by their Dungeon Master foes. No trading cards here. Instead, players position monsters on a grid similar to a stripped-down Fire Emblem. Each creature’s attack varies, leaving each encounter to turn into a tactical puzzle. A roll of two D10 dice determines the outcome of strikes and random enemy confrontations, making for a novel take that truly distinguishes itself from the pack.
Sadly, the same novelty doesn’t extend to Dungeon Dice Monsters and Destiny Board Traveler. These spinoffs opt for a board game approach to Yu-Gi-Oh!. Dungeon Dice Monsters attempts to digitize an oft-forgotten spinoff but falls flat with an isometric gameplay devoid of guidance. Without tutorials, players are left grappling with a daunting manual—a real barrier to entry and enjoyment. Here lies the collection’s Achilles’ heel: its quality of life updates are decent yet incomplete. Manuals reset to their first page on every game reopen, complicating things for those struggling to align with challenging rule sets, particularly with games like Dungeon Dice Monsters. And then there’s the type chart used in earlier games, which incorporates new types like ‘dreams’ and ‘shadow’ not present in the main card game, adding layers of confusion since there’s no streamlined overview available.
Online support is underwhelming at best. Just one game, Duel Monsters 4, allows for online dueling and card swapping—a quirky choice since it was only released in Japan. With cheat menus readily unlocking cards and waiving duel point limits, the fragmentation across its Yugi, Kaiba, and Joey-themed versions weakens the multiplayer appeal. It’s a missed opportunity; offering online play for games like Stairway to the Destined Duel or World Tournament 2004 would have resonated more with long-time fans passionate about classic formats.
Adding to the collection’s peculiarities is Duel Monsters 6: Expert 2. Promoted as a hit during Yu-Gi-Oh!’s peak in Japan, it’s odd to see it in full Japanese amidst a translated lineup. Yes, it did evolve into the western-adapted Stairway to the Destined Duel, but its discrete placement feels unnecessary, diverging from the rest where players can choose languages seamlessly. Leaving this gem untranslated seems baffling.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection is rife with dichotomies. On one hand, it lets players dive into the quirky beginnings of this legendary franchise before it became mainstream. While the sheer number of games is a feat, the collection sometimes feels like a hasty anniversary effort. The crispness expected in these quality-of-life components, such as easier game mechanics understanding and broader online options, falls short. Collectors are left pining for art and behind-the-scenes goodies which could offer more fan value. Within these games, there are a few standouts like The Sacred Cards, Duel Monsters 3, The Eternal Duelist Soul, and 7 Trials to Glory. But many lack enhancements or bear little resemblance to the core card game mechanics. It stands as a historical record, missing the heart and attentiveness expected in preserving the era it represents.
So who exactly is the Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection for? Those aiming for a nostalgia trip might find some satisfaction here. Although the game volume seems impressive, keeping one’s attention proves challenging. I’ve found myself returning to a handful for casual sessions. Once I reached the later GBA titles, reconstructing decks and rethinking strategies became a test of patience. Multiplayer could have been a blast if more games supported online play, leaving me hesitant to fully endorse this to hardcore Yu-Gi-Oh! enthusiasts. However, lowering expectations and diving into the obscure parts of the collection might still offer some amusement. By the time you’ve explored the lineup, there’s a good chance you’ll appreciate just how far the franchise has come from its early days.
