Judge

"Each player depresses his button."  --Judge instruction manual

Developer
Nintendo R&D1

Release Date
4th of October, 1980 (Japan)

As we close out the initial "Silver" series of Game & Watch titles, it must be observed that the run has not been without a certain amount of repetition. Understandably so, for a company attempting to establish a template for working with a new technology. And true to form, Judge does utilise one of these existing templates - namely, the four button layout of Flagman. Yet with this familiar scheme the development team manage to add one more string to their bow: competitive multiplayer.

At first blush, one might assume that Judge is a game of pure chance (particularly those familiar with Mr. Game and Watch's moveset in Super Smash Bros.). After a short timer count, the two fighters hold up placards featuring a random number from one to nine. The fighter with the highest number has the strongest attack. So far, Judge would appear to have all the competitive nuance of the Electronic Love Tester.

But by giving each player two buttons - two options for action - Judge becomes something more. As soon as those placards are raised, each fighter must choose to either attack (if their number is higher) or dodge (if their number is lower). This almost completely strips away the element of chance and turns Judge into a game of both reflex and risk/reward assessment. By giving extra points to your opponent when the incorrect action is taken, the hesitant player may come off best against an over-eager opponent.

Though Game A allows a lone player to take on a computer opponent, Judge is first and foremost a multiplayer experience. Its instruction manual makes no bones about the fact that computer response times are predetermined, shattering the illusion of a thinking adversary and relegating Game A to a secondary concern. This is a game to be shared, a feeling enhanced by the fact that both players must hold the same game unit to play. Game & Watch just went social.

It is almost a surprise that it took Nintendo this long to get here. Social gaming is a common thread through-out the company's long history, from their origins in Hanafuda to their latest home console which launched under the slogan "Together. Better.". Even their short-lived stints investing in taxis and love hotels fit this pattern of bringing people together. Yet so far their electronic games have not quite held true to this ethos, with the Color TV Game series providing the only simultaneous multiplayer experience to this point. In a sense, Judge is not so much about ending a line as it is foreshadowing things to come - a time where electronic games are shared.

Unfortunately, the launch of Judge was not without difficulty. As enthusiasts of competitive multiplayer gaming won't hesitate to let you know, one of the hardest things to perfect is balance. It might be difficult to imagine how a game as simple as Judge could suffer from balance issues, but it was soon discovered that the launch units held a bias towards the left player. This came from an aberration in the scoring system - the left player would be rewarded with two points if the right player mistakenly dodged, whereas the right player would only be rewarded one point in the same circumstance. This bug was "patched" out for future sales and foreign market units, with the green case changed to purple to distinguish the two versions. A second example on the trot of Nintendo's commitment to correcting mistakes that rub against their design philosophy - for people to play together, they have to play fair.

So thus ends the first sub-series of the Game & Watch range. Looking back, each of the five games fulfilled their role as a diverting electronic toy, while demonstrating that constant and creative thought was put towards enhancing the player experience. Though there have been similarities amongst the titles, and none have risen above providing a singular simplistic mechanic, playing them in sequence gives one the sense of a team constantly refining their art and striving for improvement.

And by striking out into social gaming territory Judge opens up a whole new branch for this team to follow. It is proof, if we needed it, that the Game & Watch series still has a lot more to offer.