WP App Review : vNESLight Pro

vNESLight Pro (Version 1.2)
Nudua
$0.99 / Free

It's funny how even with the latest gaming technology, people tend to have the desire to play some old school games. I grew up in the era of the NES so these classic games have a special spot in my memory. With vNESLight, playing almost any NES classic on the go is possible.

Downloading the app gives you access to two free ROMS which you can play, but a quick online search can give you access to the whole library of NES games which you can download and are for the most part playable through this app. I won't go into details on where to get these ROMS but a simple Google search should yield plenty of results.

ROMS are easily added to the app via SkyDrive or a direct URL. Using SkyDrive is simple enough; add a folder to your SkyDrive account online and add the ROMS. Open up the app, sign into your account, and select the ROM which you wish to add. Everything syncs smoothly and for the most part, games load without a hitch. I did encounter a crash or two but only in the beginning when I was initially adding ROMS.

I added plenty of classics games and would say that 9 times out of 10, the game would load problem-free. One game that doesn't seem to work however is Tetris. I tried several ROM versions but the game screen blacks out when you try to play. Hopefully the developer adds the proper game profile to make it playable in the near future.

Game play is extremely smooth on all the ROMS I've tested - Contra, Castlevania, Super Mario Bros. 3, The Legend of Zelda - they all play lag-free and the controls feel nice and solid. If the vertical position is a little too cramped for you can also play games horizontally as well.

Since you'll likely be playing your NES classics in short bursts, there is a convenient "save" and "load" option available anytime during game play. Also available on the main start screen is a handful of your most recently played apps for quick access which is a nice feature if you happen to have a lot of games and don't feel like scrolling through a long list.

If you're a fan of NES games and want the ability to play a variety of games on the go, this app is a no-brainer. There's also a free version available if you can't afford the $0.99 ... but seriously, this app gives you the ability to play a whole bunch of games for free once you find the ROMS.

There is also another emulator called Purple Cherry which gives you the ability to emulate Game Boy Color games. If that game system is more your style, I would check that one out as well since it seems to receive decent reviews. Whatever you choose, if you're into nostalgic games, getting these emulator apps is a must.

Pros : Easy to use, 99% of ROMS work, smooth gameplay, solid controls
Cons : Tetris is unplayable, initial random crashes