Brett Weiss, author of the SNES Omnibus books, and the NES Omnibus, Volume 1 is back — this time, with the NES Omnibus, Volume 2! Below are my thoughts on this new read.

Publisher’s Summary

Volume 2 of the NES Omnibus is a fun and informative look at ALL the original Nintendo Entertainment System games released in the US starting with the letters M–Z. More than 360 games are featured, including such iconic titles as Metroid, Super Mario Bros., and Tetris, as well as such hidden gems and cult classics as Mighty Final Fight, Trog!, and River City Ransom. In addition to thorough gameplay descriptions, the book includes box art, screenshots, reviews, fun facts, historical data, memories from the author, vintage magazine ads and quotes, and, best of all, nostalgic stories about many of the games from programmers, authors, YouTube celebs, filmmakers, and other industry insiders. Contributing authors include “8-Bit” Eric, Chris “The Irate Gamer” Bores, and John “Gamester81” Lester, among many other noteworthy gamers. Each game gets at least one full page of coverage in this gorgeous hardcover coffee-table book.

• An in-depth look back at the Nintendo Entertainment System, one of today’s most iconic gaming platforms

• More than 360 NES games are described and reviewed in great detail

• Includes nostalgic NES stories from YouTubers and programmers, as well as more than 2,000 full-color images

My Thoughts

As with the first book in this series, I love Volume 2. Brett is a great historian whose love and passion for retro video games comes through on every page.

The bite-sized, yet comprehensive, information on the massive amount of games in this book makes it a great read when you have as little as five minutes of spare time. Want to read for longer? This book has plenty to sink your teeth into.

The retro advertisements, the notable quotables, the memories shared by the author and his contributors, the essays at the end of this impressive tome — all of this results in a detailed and satisfying chronicle of a pivotal moment in video game history.

The NES Omnibus, Volume 2 is a breath of fresh air during these wild times we’re living through. Video games provide us with a great escape from the stresses of daily life, and this book does the same. Crack it open, immerse yourself in its grandeur, and then fire up some NES games. Game on!