As fans wait for next year's arrival of the NX, Nintendo is looking to keep fans of all ages happy with the announcement of a new console that isn't all that new: a miniature version of the classic Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).
The announcement comes at a time when Nintendo has been banking heavily on nostalgia to boost its market cap. Just last week, the company launched Pokémon GO for Android and iOS, which has since become the top-grossing app on the App Store in the United States, as well as holding the top position in the "Free" category. In fact, the game has done so well for Nintendo that it has caused the company's value to rise to the highest point it has been in quite some time.
Called the NES Classic Edition, the console sports the same general feel and look as the original Nintendo, but with new age implementations. To start, the console will come with 30 pre-installed games (in other words, no cartridges), such as Super Mario Bros. 1, 2 and 3, The Legend of Zelda, Punch Out, Final Fantasy, Donkey Kong and Bubble Bobble — each with multiple suspend points, in case things go hairy or the user wants to take a break.
Furthermore, the console will use an HDMI cable to plug directly into HD TVs, and will come with Wii and Wii U-compatible controllers patterned after the iconic design of the ones that were shipped with the original NES back in the early 1980s. If multiplayer action is what you're looking for, then another controller can be purchased for $9.99.
"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," explained Reggie Fils-Aimé, president and COO of Nintendo's American arm, in a press release. "The Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition is ideal for anyone who remembers playing the NES, or who wants to pass on those nostalgic memories to the next generation of gamers."
In addition to that, the NES Classic Edition will provide an experience akin to what was offered with the original NES, without any new age mumbo jumbo. There won't be any way for players to connect the games to their Nintendo accounts or any online connectivity. Similarly, the controllers don't have any wireless connectivity, instead being relegated to wired connections, just like in the good ol' days.
The NES Classic Edition will arrive on Nov. 11 — six weeks before Christmas, and all but ensuring that it becomes a hit during the holiday season — for a suggested price of $59.99.
