Nintendo first unveiled the NES Classic back in July, causing a whirlwind of nostalgia for the company's most ardent fans. The NES Classic is a miniature version of the original Nintendo Entertainment System released back in 1985 in North America.
Nintendo preloaded the NES Classic with 30 of the most beloved games on the console back in the day, also throwing in a full-sized classic NES controller into the mix. Nintendo knows well to pump this console generously with a retro and nostalgic vibe, loading it with aesthetic features that will let users experience games in different display styles.
Everything about the console screams "old school" down to the TV filter that mimics retro CRT TVs. Several reviewers have already got their hands on the unit ahead of its forthcoming release date, and they all have nothing but nice things to say about the console.
"Nintendo's got a gift for repurposing," TechCrunch's Brian Heater said, noting that the company is well-versed in rounding up elements of its franchise and tidying them up to be re-released in the modern era. It can be said that one of the major reasons why Nintendo is still a hardware company is because of, ironically, its software.
Unlike Sega, who gave up on manufacturing their own consoles way back, Nintendo's still trying to make its own platforms to this day, and people continue on purchasing them for a number of reasons, the most significant of which is the games. Nintendo houses just about the most memorable and iconic mascots in the gaming community. Mario. Zelda. Metroid. Kirby. Just some of the examples in the broad pantheon of beloved Nintendo characters and franchises.
Nintendo's wise to bank on that nostalgic appeal, and it's expected that the NES Classic would be a hit, even 30 years later. You'd think Nintendo would put a hefty price tag on these plastic builds of retro overdose, but no. It comes with a surprisingly cheap price tag at $59.99 a pop, with extra controllers for two-player modes at $9.99 apiece. Just another reason why the company is so beloved: it knows how to bank on its appeal, but it doesn't go overboard.
The 30 games that come with the device aren't just mediocre, third-party shovelware, too. They're top-tier legitimate and popular Nintendo titles that were swarmed by players back in the day. While the console doesn't say much on the portability front, it does offer something mobile games don't: playing the games as they're meant to be played. The controller adds to this experience, which feels as if you're playing with the original.
There's not much to go on about the actual NES Classic console aside from sporting an HDMI port that makes it compatible with almost any modern TV with an HDMI connection. It mirrors the original in aesthetics, even the cartridge slot, though the slot itself stays closed. The real selling point of the console is the games, which include Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, The Legend of Zelda, Pac-Man and more.
Digital Trends' Mike Epstein said that the ports stayed pretty much faithful to the original, so fans would be pleased to know that if they ache for nostalgia, they'll very much likely get it with this console.
The NES Classic Edition comes out Nov. 11.
