Nintendo shocked the gaming world today by
unveiling its new console – and no, it's not the NX. It's the NES.
Yes, that NES –
the same classic Nintendo Entertainment System from the mid-80s,
only now shrunken down to palm-sized shape and with 30 blockbuster
games built right into the thing. And the Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment
System (a.k.a. the NES Classic Edition in the States) is
cheap, too, with a holidays-friendly release coming on 11
November.
Call it a nostalgia grab, but it's one that
appears to be done incredibly well, with all the tiny details
perfected, a blistering selection of classic games, and a price
point that can't be beat. It even has those classic, boxy NES
controllers – and no, those haven't been miniaturized.
In fact, even with the Xbox One S and possibly PlayStation 4K due out by the end of the year,
Nintendo's retro revival might be our most anticipated console on
the horizon. Here's why.
image:
http://images.cdn.stuff.tv/sites/stuff.tv/files/styles/big-image/public/brands/Nintendo/NES-Classic/original-nes.jpg?itok=Qtb1c8Cv
When it comes to mining nostalgia, especially
the games and hardware many of us experienced for the first time as
kids, it's essential to honor the source material. Calling it the
Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System and then
popping it into any other design would have been a huge
misstep.
Luckily, it looks like Nintendo nailed the
landing here. At a glance, the Nintendo Classic Mini truly is the
original NES (seen above), although now you can hold it up in your
hand. True, the controller ports a little different and the
cartridge slot probably doesn't open - or if it does, it won't take
your old games - but the retro look still warms our hearts.
And that's not all: check out the packaging
below. By maintaining the classic appearance of the box on store
shelves, Nintendo set this console up to bring back those
decades-old memories of craving the thing every time we went
shopping with mum. But this time around, we have a little something
called disposable income. Hooray for adulthood.
image:
http://images.cdn.stuff.tv/sites/stuff.tv/files/styles/big-image/public/brands/Nintendo/NES-Classic/classic-mini-uk-box.jpg?itok=MuXNJCmE
Not only does the smaller frame make for
what's surely a cheaper console to produce and purchase, but it
also makes the Nintendo Classic Mini ultra-portable. You can pop it
in a bag and bring it to a mate's house or a hotel when traveling,
or quickly transport it around your flat with minimal hassle. It
just uses an HDMI cable to plug into your TV and a USB cable for
power (adapter sold separately, unfortunately).
And since the games are all built into the
box, you don't need to worry about crating around loads of dusty
old cartridges – or blowing into the slot when they don't work.
True, it would be nice to run your treasured carts, but that would
make for a much more expensive device here. The Nintendo Classic
Mini hits the ideal balance of price and functionality.
The device comes with one of the new NES
controllers, plus you can use a Classic Controller or Classic
Controller Pro from the Wii if you prefer (or for the second
player). And additional NES gamepads will be available for just
US$10 (about S$13), amazingly, so your total spend here for a
two-player experience won't be far off from a single new Xbox One
or PS4 boxed game.
image:
http://images.cdn.stuff.tv/sites/stuff.tv/files/styles/big-image/public/brands/Nintendo/NES-Classic/super-mario-bros-3.png?itok=gaNlnB1g
We're a bit stunned by the game selection, really.
Nintendo has been selling classic NES games on the Virtual Console
for a few quid a pop for years, but the Nintendo Classic Mini drops
30 big games into one box – hardware included – for a grand total
of US$60 (about S$80). It's a steal.
And the list is packed with essentials. You've
got Super Mario Bros. 1-3, The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II:
The Adventure of Link, Metroid, Donkey
Kong, Punch-Out!!, Castlevania I-II, Final
Fantasy, Kirby's
Adventure, Mega Man 2, and so many
more. It's your childhood in an affordable, easily-transported box.
Consume!
True, we can think of a few games we would've liked
in there, including Tetris, Contra, and Dragon Warrior, but it's
hard to complain when you look at the total package here.
image:
http://images.cdn.stuff.tv/sites/stuff.tv/files/styles/big-image/public/brands/Nintendo/NES-Classic/nes-classic-inhand-white.png?itok=I9LRmveZ
One of the greatest consoles of all time in a
modernized package with 30 classic games for US$60 (S$80)? We can't
pass up that deal. It doesn't make up for the Wii U's sad demise or
the delayed look at the NX, but this is something else – something
special too, we think.
The Xbox One S isn't the most exciting console
upgrade on the market this year, while the PlayStation 4K could be
an impressive and worthwhile buy even for PS4 owners – but likely
at a hefty price considering the higher-end hardware within. We're
still excited about that.
But the sweet spot of price, quality, and quantity
here just seems unbelievable. It's a perfect stocking stuffer for
anyone who appreciates games of any sort, not to mention an ideal
piece of hardware for introducing kids and other more recent
players to this seminal legend of a console.
So long as the emulation quality is on point and
everything looks good via HDMI on your flat screen, Nintendo ought
to have a winner here – and another atypical success story for the
company in 2016 following Pokémon
Go. And if we all buy the thing,
then maybe we'll get a mini Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64 in the
coming years. We can dream, right?
Read more