Nintendo announces the mini NES Classic Edition and here's why it's brilliant

Nintendo announces the mini NES Classic Edition and here’s why it’s brilliant

Videogame hell has frozen over and something tons of Nintendo fans have been clamoring for for years has finally happened. Nintendo will be releasing a TV game version of their classic NES console called the NES Classic Edition on November 11. It will be a miniature version of the iconic boxy NES design that forgoes the cartridge port for 30 built-in (and truly legendary) first and third party titles. Instead of composite output it will support HDMI out, and instead of two original style controller ports it will have Wii compatible ports. One classic style controller is included, which presumably will also work on the Wii or Wii U.

NES Classic Edition and optional second gamepad

I admit that while I always said this would be a way for Nintendo to make easy money, I didn’t expect them to actually go through with it because it would cannibalize sales on their Virtual Console digital store for their modern platforms. Unfortunately for Nintendo, the Wii U hasn’t sold and the 3DS is in its inevitable decline, so this holiday season was looking pretty bleak outside of external initiatives like Pokémon GO. With the NX not coming out until at least March 2017, this is the perfect product to help with the continued rehabilitation of the Nintendo name leading up to that new system’s release.

Outside of the so-called Nintendo faithful, who are passionate about Nintendo’s first party games, there hasn’t been a lot for other gamers with more diversified tastes to feel good about the brand in recent years. The NES Classic Edition is a brilliant nostalgia play that should sell millions this holiday season and create good vibes all around until Nintendo launches the NX. That’s wonderful momentum and something I’m not sure Nintendo could have gotten any other way.

While there are obviously a plethora of ways to play classic NES games, from emulation to excellent clone systems and everything in-between, there’s something special about a Nintendo-led product. I mean, just look at it! And for $60, and no doubt slightly less during holiday sales and specials, it goes near impulse buy territory.

Perhaps the best part about this upcoming release is that it points to TV game versions of the SNES and other Nintendo consoles, and perhaps even a dedicated portable version of the classic Game Boy, just with a modern screen that’s actually enjoyable to use. This to me is the Nintendo that everyone – not just the Nintendo faithful – can feel good about. The prospects for a successful NX launch increased dramatically in the past week.

Here’s the full game list: