The LJN era of Nintendo Entertainment System games was…a bit rough. That’s putting it lightly. We ended up with awfully bad fare like Back To the Future, The Uncanny X-Men and Pictionary – and all one after another. That said, the company did have its bright spots. The Punisher was a damn good shoot ‘em up for its time. And I’ll be damned if Friday the 13th’s weirdness didn’t grow on me. But then there’s Jaws, a suitably good adaptation of the classic Steven Spielberg film. If you missed out on it before, well, here’s your chance to rediscover it with Jaws: Retro Edition.
Produced by Limited Run Games, it brings the NES experience back. And you know the story. The shark’s out there, and you have to go after it before it chows down on tourists. But I’m happy to report there’s more to this re-release, and that’s where the Jaws: Enhanced Edition comes in.
This features a number of improvements over the original NES game, including a bunch of new content that makes it worth rediscovering. The gameplay is surprisingly good with this particular version, especially when it comes to recreating aspects of the film. Not to mention it never gets old shooting sharks. It just doesn’t. There are other goodies as well, including a music player (good chiptunes!) and gallery.
It’s still Jaws, so how much you got into the NES game may weigh heavily here. But I think Jaws: Retro Edition is worth a go, especially given its budget price. Limited Run Games treats the material with respect, and gives players a lot to do between two versions of the game. You’ll love the head, the tail, the whole damn thing.
Sink Your Teeth Into Jaws: Retro Edition
There are two different ways to enjoy Jaws: Retro Edition. The first is with the original NES game, nicely ported through Limited Run’s Carbon Engine technology. It’s not a bad game, but obviously it comes up a bit short on content. It’s an NES title from the 80s, so that’s not a huge surprise. But I was pleased with how authentically it came across. It’s nice to have if only to draw comparisons to how much better it gets with the second inclusion – the Jaws: Enhanced Edition.
Limited Run did its homework here, adding just the right amount of content with this mode. This includes an expansion upon the adventure that doesn’t just honor the first film, but the legacy. (Yes, Jaws: The Revenge as well. Pay attention, enthusiasts!) It also provides you an HP bar, so you can last a little longer now. (Just be careful, yeah?) There are also additional missions and quests, expanding upon the original game without insulting its nature. So it’s Jaws, but not overboard Jaws. There’s a fine balance here.
The game still blends exploration and action pretty well, though you’ll get more mileage out of the Enhanced Edition. Still, it’s nice to have both options here so you get the full picture – where the release came from and where it ended up going. It’s a great comparison to have. How you play is completely up to you. And there are upgrades aplenty. Bet Robert Shaw’s character wish he had those.
Even if you tired quickly of the original Jaws game, there’s enough fun content here to give it another shot with Retro Edition. The Enhanced content is wondrously presented, and you get other cool extras as well, including a museum and music player. Given its affordable price, Jaws: Retro Edition is an ideal catch – just like the original shark.
There’s Goodness In Jaws: Retro Edition’s Presentation, Too
Now, this is an 8-bit release, so don’t expect something photo-realistic like with Jaws Unleashed (which, to be honest, also needs to return). But Jaws: Retro Edition retains that old-school charm throughout, right down to that first-person showdown with the beast itself.
The original game looks polished enough, but obviously the Enhanced Edition is the way to go. It features better screen filtering and animation, and the new content is quite fun to see. Just remember, it doesn’t go above and beyond its 8-bit roots. Nor does it need to. I’m also a fan of the CRT filter included here, so you can go back to your NES ways if preferred.
I also enjoy the old-school chiptunes music, which pays loving tribute to John Williams. The sound effects aren’t bad either, though obviously not…deep? Sorry, open water joke. And as I mentioned above, having a music player will be a treat to some.
A Dun-Dun Deal
Here I am reviewing an LJN game in 2026 and…giving it praise? Maybe I need to lie down. Or maybe it’s the fact that Limited Run has given Jaws: Retro Edition some much-needed respect. It’s not a bad game adaptation, and they went and made it better with key additions and extra features. And all for a very reasonable price.
I want to see more enhancements like Jaws: Retro Edition got. Imagine a Punisher port that looks just as bad-ass as the comics. Or, gasp, a version of Back To the Future that isn’t maddening. The possibilities are wide open, and Jaws leads the way. That’s a good shark.
GAMERHUB RATING: 4 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Overload PR for providing us with a review code. Jaws: Retro Edition is available now for Steam/PC/Steam Deck, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch/Nintendo Switch 2!
Need more old-school monsters? Check out our review of Bubble Bobble: Sugar Dungeons!
