Yu-Gi-Oh! turned 25 last year, making many fans, myself included, momentarily feel their age. To mark this notable milestone, Konami decided to keep the celebration going with what they’re calling a ‘Quarter Century’ tribute to the iconic card game. The focal point of this commemoration is the Yu-Gi-Oh! The Early Days Collection, a video game ensemble featuring around 14 classic titles from the series’ infancy, spanning the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance. As someone who still actively enjoys playing Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, I approached this collection with a sense of curious nostalgia. While the memories of these games were somewhat indistinct, I remembered them as being more about capitalizing on the anime’s popularity than catering to card game enthusiasts. My instincts were spot on, though the surprise wasn’t as disappointing as anticipated. For many, revisiting these classic Yu-Gi-Oh! games may come off as more of a quirky trip down memory lane than a riveting experience, but true fans of the series will likely find some hidden gems if they dig deep enough.
Let’s tackle the notable aspects first. This collection boasts a total of 14 complete Yu-Gi-Oh! games that debuted between 1998 and 2005. It includes everything from the very first releases on the DMG Game Boy, which were available only in Japan until now, to the Game Boy Advance’s more ambitious world championship series, and even some out-of-the-box experiments. Initially, that sounds like a treasure trove, but there are a few caveats. Early Game Boy titles are essentially minor updates to the card game’s evolving rules of that era. Take Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters II: Dark Duel Stories, for example, which simply added new rules and card sets to refresh the decks. The Western adaptation, Dark Duel Stories (known as Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 4 in Japan), merely included an additional zone for trap cards. From a historical viewpoint, it’s intriguing to see how swiftly the game evolved, driven by hardware constraints and the card game’s development, especially in Japan. However, to most players, engaging with these titles one after another would probably feel repetitive. Observing the game design’s progression, particularly its UI and UX, caught my interest, but truth be told, after a single match in one title, I quickly shifted my focus to the more accessible options within the collection.
Duel Monsters 3 was the real revelation for me. This game, previously exclusive to Japan, follows the Monster World arc where Yugi’s friends are transformed into monsters trapped within a tabletop RPG, with antagonists as the Dungeon Masters. The game ditches the traditional trading cards, instead placing monsters on a grid resembling a simplified strategy game akin to Fire Emblem. Each monster bears its unique attack patterns and gains benefits from the tile it occupies and its proximity to allies. Consequently, every encounter presents itself as a mini puzzle. Success in attacks depends on the roll of two ten-sided dice, which also influence the appearance rate of random foes during boss battles. It’s a clever system, distinguishing it from other titles in the collection. However, Dungeon Dice Monsters and Destiny Board Traveler didn’t leave the same impression. These spin-offs embraced a boardgame-like format. Dungeon Dice Monsters, for instance, translates a largely forgotten spin-off game into a digital format, but with little guidance. With no tutorials to assist players, you’re left grappling with a convoluted manual each time you play. It’s at this juncture that I began noticing some significant drawbacks in this collection. While the quality of life features were decent, they fall short in some areas. Every game’s manual resets to the first page when reopened, posing a challenge when trying to grasp the intricate rules, particularly in titles like Dungeon Dice Monsters. Add to that the esoteric type chart in the earlier games, which includes types absent from the main card game, like ‘dreams’ and ‘shadow.’ While you can rewind up to a minute at any point, there’s no fast-forward option, which would have been particularly helpful in the GBA’s duel simulators, where the CPU takes its sweet time contemplating moves.
Then there’s the online aspect, or rather the glaring absence of it. Only one game, Duel Monsters 4, supports online dueling and card trading. This decision feels a bit odd, given that Duel Monsters 4 was originally Japan-exclusive. Even more puzzling are the built-in cheat menus in all these games, designed to bypass card unlocks and duelist point limits. This might not pose a problem if Duel Monsters 4 weren’t split into three separate versions (each catering to Yugi, Kaiba, and Joey’s decks). Therefore, while inter-version dueling is possible, there’s little incentive to do so. It would’ve made more sense to provide online support for titles like Stairway to the Destined Duel or World Tournament 2004, which remain popular among veteran Yu-Gi-Oh! players. Perhaps this feature might be added later, but as of now, the online component feels like an afterthought, failing to significantly enhance the overall experience or appeal of the collection.
Moreover, the inclusion of Duel Monsters 6: Expert 2 seems somewhat odd. Promoted as a favorite among Japanese fans during Yu-Gi-Oh!’s peak, it’s understandable why it’s part of the lineup. However, unlike the rest of the collection, Duel Monsters 6: Expert 2 is presented entirely in Japanese. While one might argue its content was later incorporated into the Western release Stairway to the Destined Duel, adapted to the English card game’s rules, its presence here as a standalone title with no translation just feels out of place. While other games also have their original Japanese versions available, with language options in the main menu, this title stands alone, creating a bit of confusion.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection reflects two sides. On one, it offers a nostalgic dive into the series’ peculiar origins before it became an established card game, heavily influenced by the animated series or respective duel simulators. While the sheer number of games is impressive, the collection could have benefited from more attention to detail. It sometimes feels like a half-hearted anniversary offering. Despite having quality-of-life features, they lack polish, making certain games challenging without frequent manual consultation. Not to mention an untranslated game inclusion and limited online play options. Additional extras, like artworks or concept documents, could’ve added meaningful value for true Yu-Gi-Oh! aficionados. Amidst the collection, there are some gems like The Sacred Cards, Duel Monsters 3, The Eternal Duelist Soul, and 7 Trials to Glory. Yet, most games represent either minor evolutions of the series or deviate entirely from the true essence of the card game. It’s more of a historical artifact but unfortunately displays limited reverence for its storied heritage.
Who’s the Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection for, you might ask? Those eager to revisit Yu-Gi-Oh!’s classic era might find some fleeting enjoyment. On paper, the game count appears impressive, but in reality, these titles might struggle to maintain your interest. I found myself gravitating towards a few games when seeking casual experiences. The process of reorganizing decks and testing new strategies with slightly altered rules quickly grew monotonous by the GBA entries. It could’ve been entertaining with a friend, but given that only one game supports online play, it’s hard to recommend even to the most loyal Yu-Gi-Oh! fanatics. Going in with tempered expectations and an open mind, especially with some of the collection’s unique titles, might result in some enjoyment. However, more likely than not, you’ll conclude relieved to have outgrown these early gaming days.
