Nintendo is bringing back the original Nintendo Entertainment System, and it is smaller than ever before.
Today Nintendo announced it will be releasing a handheld NES system, dubbed NES Classic Edition (we’ll call it the NES Mini). The system will come with 30 pre-installed games, all from the original NES library featuring Nintendo franchises as well as some third-party franchises. The system, which fits in the palm of your hand, connects to your HDTV through an HDMI cable (no more RF units needed) and will come with a controller designed like the original rectangular shaped NES controller. The new controller will also be able to connect to a Wii Remote, meaning you can now play those NES titles on your Virtual Console with an authentic, NES controller (finally, as if you need another controller for your Wii or WiiU collection).
There are some real gems in the line-up, including Mega Man 2, Tecmo Bowl, Ninja Gaiden, and Double Dragon II to go along with the standards you would expect like all three Super Mario Bros. titles, both Legend of Zelda titles and some of more classic titles like Balloon Fight, Excitebike, Donkey Kong, Ice Climber and Metroid. You even get Punch-Out, but not the version with Mike Tyson. Better yet, there are some sleepers in this game library, like Star Tropics, and the first Final Fantasy title released on the NES. On the flip side, there is no Castlevania or Contra but we do get Castlevania II and Super C.
This is quite gimmicky but should appeal to a good number of gamers aching for some nostalgia, because you can never have too many options for playing Super Mario Bros. What would be nice to see would be some way to add games from a Virtual Console purchase on the Wii or Wii U (or 3DS?) and save that to this miniature NES, but this is Nintendo we are talking about. They may be on the verge of a potential renaissance, but that may be too much for Nintendo to handle. This unit, however, will surely be a collector’s item for some, and I can honestly say I’d love to have one on my desk.
The NES Classic Edition will hit stores on November 11 for a suggested retail price of $59.99. If this is a success for Nintendo, could a miniature Super NES be too far behind (yes please)? It may be the best way to get Earthbound in your hands, literally.
