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Is it possible for a video game to achieve near-perfect performance across both docked and handheld modes? Having spent 41 hours—and counting—immersed in this enhanced version of what many consider an all-time classic, I can confidently say yes. It runs exceptionally well, and I mean exceptionally. Not once did I experience a single drop in performance, whether I was playing on my big screen TV or curled up on the couch with the handheld unit. That kind of consistency is rare, and it’s something that, as someone who’s been reviewing games for over a decade, I don’t say lightly.
From the moment you boot it up, the snappy load times are impossible to ignore. We’re talking about transitions that feel almost instantaneous—no staring at loading screens, no awkward pauses pulling you out of the experience. I kept a mental tally during my playthrough, and I’d estimate load times averaged around 1.2 to 1.5 seconds for area transitions. That might not sound like much, but in a game where pacing is everything, it makes a world of difference. And saving? It’s just as quick. I never had to wait more than a fraction of a second for the game to record my progress, which is a godsend when you’re trying to squeeze in a quick session during a lunch break.
But performance isn’t just about speed; it’s also about fluidity. The animations in this title are consistently smooth, whether you’re navigating dense, particle-effect-heavy environments or engaging in high-speed combat. I noticed zero frame rate dips, even during the most chaotic moments—and trust me, I went out of my way to create chaos just to test it. The game maintains what feels like a rock-solid 60 frames per second, though I’d need proper tools to verify that. What I can verify, though, is how good it feels. The precision of input recognition, especially for timing-based Action Commands, is spot-on. There’s no lag, no guesswork. When you press a button, the game responds exactly as you’d expect, and that level of polish is what separates great ports from truly exceptional ones.
I’ll be honest—I went into this experience with a bit of skepticism. So many "enhanced" versions of classic games end up feeling like cash grabs, with minimal improvements and a handful of new features tacked on. But this? This feels like a labor of love. The developers didn’t just upscale textures or tweak the UI; they went the extra mile to ensure the core gameplay experience is as seamless as possible. And in my opinion, that’s where the real value lies. It’s one thing to make a game look prettier, but it’s another thing entirely to make it feel this responsive and polished across the board.
Now, I know some purists might argue that no re-release can truly capture the magic of the original, and in some cases, I’d agree. But here, the enhancements don’t detract from what made the classic so beloved—they enhance it. The buttery-smooth performance actually made me appreciate the game’s design even more. I found myself noticing little details in the animation I’d missed before, and the precise controls encouraged me to experiment with timing and combos I might have otherwise ignored. It’s a testament to how technical excellence can elevate art.
Of course, no game is perfect, and if I had to nitpick, I’d say the audio mixing in handheld mode could be a tad better—sometimes the music overpowers the dialogue. But that’s a minor gripe in the grand scheme of things. When the core gameplay is this refined, it’s easy to overlook small flaws. And let’s be real: how many games can you name that run this well in both docked and handheld modes without any noticeable compromises? I can count them on one hand.
So, is this as good as it gets for an enhanced version of a classic? In my view, absolutely. The combination of snappy load times, instantaneous saving, smooth animations, and precise controls creates an experience that’s not just nostalgic—it’s genuinely modern. It sets a new benchmark for what these re-releases should aspire to, and I sincerely hope other developers take note. Because at the end of the day, a great game deserves to be played in its best possible form, and this version delivers exactly that.