Pokemon Go breaking mobile records isn’t the only newsworthy Nintendo tidbit today, as The Big N confirms the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition for November 11th.
This smaller scale NES console will run you $59.99, plugs directly in to your HDTV via HDMI, and comes pre-installed with 30 NES classics. That’s not all though. Since the controller ports are the same as the bottom of your Wii Remote, the NES replica controller will also work on the Wii U’s Virtual Console, similar to the wired GameCube Fight Pads that released with Super Smash Bros.
Interested in co-op, or just want to use the controller on Wii U instead? The NES replica controller can be purchased separately for $9.99. The NES Classic Edition includes one controller, but there’s plenty of two-player games to make a 2nd controller an enticing purchase. However, the console supports the Wii’s Classic Controller, so you may already have something lying around that can save you some cash.
Sadly, there’s no NES Zapper or Zapper-supported games on the list. Maybe one day.
One interesting addition is the ability to create save states within each of the games, similar to that found in the recently released Mega Man Legacy Collection. Anyone that was alive in the NES generation can attest to losing scraps of paper with invaluable passwords scribbled on them, present company included.
The list of games that come pre-installed is actually quite strong:
- 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: Adventures of Link
I won’t complain about anything on the list, though with the addition of Final Fantasy and Nintendo’s success with the Dragon Quest series, I’m a bit surprised that Dragon Warrior 1-4 aren’t included. There’s also a few notable NES classics missing, like Kung-Fu, Contra, and Rad Racer.
Since the console doesn’t rely on internet access, I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before someone finds a way to expand its internal memory and allow it to read ROMs as well. Fingers crossed!
Thoughts on the NES Classic Edition? It’s a day-one purchase for me, pending I can snag a pre-order. I fully expect this thing to sell out immediately.
Cheap Boss Attack 
Looks great. Best news out of Nintendo for a while!
Now they need to follow-up with a mini-SNES, and a mini-N64 if possible!
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That’d be amazing, along with a GBC and GBA model lol. Give us an inch and we’ll take a mile, right?
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This is gonna be awesome. Can’t wait to replay the OG Super Mario Bros trilogy!
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Yeah, I’m quite happy with the selection of games included.
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I’m still beside myself. Omg StarTropics…I haven’t played that game in years. I watched a let’s play not long ago but ahhh *collapses with joy* And SMB2 was my very first video game obsession!
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I love me some SMB2. I used to know each level inside and out with Luigi.
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Yasss ah I loved the fact that you could use the princess for legit gameplay, and her ability is super useful! It’s a shame it wasn’t as well received. I thought one day they might go back to Subcon, but it was clever how they made it a dream to give themselves an out.
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I never understood the criticisms it received by fans. The idea of 4 characters with different playstyles is awesome and I think I enjoyed it so much BECAUSE it was so different (aesthetically, of course, but also boss fights, the slot machine, the enemies) from the original game. And after playing The Lost Levels, I’m actually glad we got SMB2 USA over that one.
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Agreed. It was such an interesting story/world, too. I’m happy some of the characters like Birdo, the Shy Guys, fuzzies, etc. have made it into other games. As a kid that one fight where the bird head was a boss was quite terrifying, and the phantoms that chased you for the keys were a bit scary, too (I have a chasing issue hehe).
I think some gamers didn’t like it because it wasn’t what they expected, and some people prefer that. I was pleasantly surprised. Also as a young girl it was really awesome to have a female character option! I think that might have been a huge selling point for me, too :)
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Having Peach playable was probably a gateway to gaming for a lot of girls, which is awesome. Grabbing the keys underground and being chased all the way to the door was definitely terrifying, haha.
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