UPDATE Nintendo Announces NES Classic Edition With 30 Games

UPDATE: Added a new image for size perspective along with a FAQ at the bottom.

While we (impatiently) wait to hear anything about NX, Nintendo announced this little fella this morning. I think it\’s pretty cool—an official mini NES with some of the console\’s best games for the price of a retail game at $59.99. You’ll also be able to pickup additional NES style controllers for $9.99 a pop. The system includes HDMI output and is compatible with existing classic controllers as well as classic pro controllers used on Wii. It also comes bundled with one Classic Controller which can be used for Wii and Wii U virtual console titles when hooked up to a Wiimote. Personally, I think the idea of hooking a controller up to a controller to make it wireless is dumb. Just give me a wireless Classic NES controller and I\’d be all set. Check out the full press release below.

[divider]

\"NESClassicEdition_photo_01__png_jpgcopy\"
\"81s7B+Als-L._SL1500_\"

REDMOND, Wash., July 14, 2016 – If you see a Nintendo Entertainment System on store shelves this holiday shopping season, you haven’t entered a time machine. (Unless everyone around you is wearing acid-washed jeans and neon leg warmers. If that’s the case, you may have unknowingly walked through a rift in the space-time continuum.) The most likely scenario is you are setting eyes on the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition, launching in stores on Nov. 11 at a suggested retail price of $59.99. That’s right: The NES is back! But this isn’t the same NES that you fondly remember. This new nostalgia-fueled system is a near-identical, mini replica of Nintendo’s original home console and plugs directly into your high-definition TV using an included HDMI cable. The console comes complete with 30 NES games built in, including beloved classics like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Donkey Kong, PAC-MAN, and Kirby’s Adventure.

“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,” said Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime. “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.”

The system comes packaged with an HDMI cable, an AC adapter and one NES Classic Controller, which is patterned after the iconic design of the original NES controller. But you really just want to know the full list of 30 games, right? Feast your eyes on the fantastic collection of NES classics included with each and every system:

Balloon Fight™
BUBBLE BOBBLE
Castlevania™
Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest™
Donkey Kong™
Donkey Kong Jr. ™
DOUBLE DRAGON II: THE REVENGE
Dr. Mario™
Excitebike™
FINAL FANTASY®
Galaga™
GHOSTS’N GOBLINS®
GRADIUS™
Ice Climber™
Kid Icarus™
Kirby’s Adventure™
Mario Bros. ™
MEGA MAN® 2
Metroid™
NINJA GAIDEN
PAC-MAN™
Punch-Out!! ™ Featuring Mr. Dream
StarTropics™
SUPER C™
Super Mario Bros.™
Super Mario Bros. ™ 2
Super Mario Bros. ™ 3
TECMO BOWL
The Legend of Zelda™
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link™

There’s a little something for everyone: a nice mix of timeless favorites, cult classics and maybe even some games that you never got around to playing. Each is sure to bring back memories and produce plenty of new ones. You can even enjoy playing several of these games with two players by attaching a second NES Classic Controller, which will be sold separately at a suggested retail price of $9.99. A Classic Controller or Classic Controller Pro can also be used (each sold separately).

When connected to a Wii Remote controller, the NES Classic Controller can also be used to play Virtual Console NES games on a Wii U or Wii system. Playing these retro games using a retro controller makes the experience that much more authentic. And if you ever need to step away from the NES Classic Edition in the middle of a tough level (or take a break to call one of Nintendo’s helpful Game Counselors*), don’t worry about losing any hard-earned progress. Each game has multiple suspend points, so you can start where you left off at a later time, no passwords needed.

What’s old is new again with the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition. Relive past glories. Finish off that boss you never beat. Save the galaxy and rescue the princess!

*Please only call if you have indeed entered a time machine. The Game Counselor program no longer exists in 2016.

[divider]

FAQ (from Polygon)

Will this play NES carts?
Nintendo: No. The console is a standalone device, and does not use physical media of any kind.

Will there be anyway for Nintendo to sell or add additional games to the system down the line?
No. The console is a standalone device, so it cannot connect to the internet or any external storage devices. The 30 games included with the system were chosen to provide a wide variety of top-quality, long-lasting game-play experiences.

What sort of storage does it use?
We aren’t discussing technical specifications. However, it does not connect to any external storage devices.

Is this running via an emulator?
We aren’t discussing technical specifications.

How will saving work?
Each game has multiple suspend points, so you can start where you left off at a later time.

Will it support a video emulation mode like scan lines or crt emulation?
We will confirm these details later.

What are its dimensions and weight?
We aren’t discussing technical specifications, but it is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.

What outputs does it have beyond HDMI?
The console outputs video only via HDMI.

Does it support expanded memory?
No.

Does it have a USB port?
Technically, yes, but that port is only used to power the system with the included AC adapter.

Will it support other NES controllers like the original, Nintendo remakes or wireless controllers?
In addition to the NES Classic Controller, the Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro are also compatible with the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition. Both can be plugged directly into the console; however, when using two controllers, one of them must be the NES Classic Controller.The new NES Classic Controller has a different connector than the original NES controllers and accessories, so they are not interchangeable.

Are there plans for coming out with other mini systems like the SNES?
We have nothing to announce at this time.

Do you have to blow on it to get it to work?
Some things are best left in the ’80s!

Antonio Worrall
Antonio Worrallhttps://antonioworrall.com
I'm a Senior IT Support Engineer, every day tech geek, gaming enthusiast, world traveler, and foodie living with my wife and cat in the NY/NJ area.

Must Read

Mastodon