Nintendo NES Mini: Nostalgia Fans Rejoyce With Re-Release Of Iconic Gaming System

Riding the coattails of Pokémon GO!’s enormous success on smartphone devices, Nintendo has recently announced the release of a mini-replica of its 1985 NES gaming console, a device that might be more familiar to the parents of this current generation of gamers. Dubbed the NES Mini, the console will feature 30 classic games for the system, including both Legend of Zelda games, Donkey Kong, Castlevania, and of course, Super Mario Bros. And that’s a steal because for the price listed users would not be able to get so many retro Nintendo games anywhere. One can simply plug in the console via HDMI into a modern television set, and the NES Mini requires external power through an AC adapter. With neither internet accessibility nor external media slots, you won’t be dusting off those game cartridges anytime soon. All of the games are stored in onboard memory, so users can’t add any more games. Sadly, this also means that the Chamber Lid stays shut.

Players can use a Wii Classic Controller Pro to interact with the console, and the ‘Classic Edition’ comes with a controller in the same original style as the 1985 console (although NES owners will not be able to use their old controllers). With Nintendo staying largely silent about the hardware of the upgraded device, the most notable bit of information is the announcement of ‘multiple suspend points’ allowing the user to pick up the game from where they left off. Any details on hardware have been left out of any recent company statements.

Players can use a Wii Classic Controller Pro to interact with the console, and the ‘Classic Edition’ comes with a controller in the same original style as the 1985 console (although NES owners will not be able to use their old controllers). Either controller can also be used for two-player games. With Nintendo staying largely silent about the hardware of the upgraded device, the most notable bit of information is the announcement of ‘multiple suspend points’ allowing the user to pick up the game from where they left off. Any details on hardware have been left out of any recent company statements. Players can expect the console to come with an NES Classic gamepad, an AC adapter and an HDMI cable. Purists who want a second Classic gamepad for another player can purchase one for $10.

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Nintendo of America president, Reggie Fils-Aime, spoke with Daniel Victor of The New York Times about the  motivations behind the anticipated release. “We wanted to give fans of all ages the opportunity to revisit Nintendo’s original system and rediscover why they fell in love with Nintendo in the first place,” he said.

Nintendo, needing to bolster its sales, has joined a trend of other video game giants relicensing the arcade game fare that made them household names. Sega just recently licensed its hardware and software to create a console-on-a-chip (i.e. a mini-device with preloaded games that can plug directly into a television set) and has revived iterations of its famous Atari system with The Atari Flashback. Nintendo’s decision to follow the trend might mean a shift away from the computer emulators used by nostalgic players, and more towards retooled systems for contemporary use.

The NES Mini ‘Classic Edition’ arrives on Nov. 11.