NES Classic and SNES Classic: Where to Buy and What You Need to Know

The NES Classic – aka NES Mini – came back from the dead on Friday. Remember, it seems already exhausted, but you could be lucky. And we hear rumors that there will be more stock next week too.

The miniaturized version of the 1980s game console was launched in November 2016 and instantly became the impossible gift to find end-of-year parties. Nintendo actually abandoned the following April, even as it was beginning to anticipate for its continuation, the Super NES Classic arrived in November 2017

But you can not keep a good retro console down: Nintendo announced in September 2017 that the NES Classic would be back in stores in 2018 . The arrival date has been confirmed more recently on June 29th.

What's wrong with the resurrected NES Classic? How does he compare to his brother, the SNES Classic? And can you get any of these games on the Switch?

Glad you asked! Here's what you need to know.

Which stores are getting the stock of the NES Classic?

According to our colleagues at GameSpot, you can find the NES Classic on GameStop (no relation), ThinkGeek and Best Buy, among other stores. It should be available online and at brick and mortar sites.

As always, however, the stock should be limited – GameStop will apparently only have about 10 units per store to start with. Online awards will likely sell immediately, and Best Buy plans to use a ticketing queue at its physical outlets. But …

Updated June 29 at 13:35. PT: The major online retailers all seem to be selling at the normal retail price right now, although you might be lucky depending on where you live – and other stocks could appear next week too.

Did the SNES Classic really disappear?

The SNES Classic has never really disappeared. But that has never been particularly easy to find either. It appears occasionally and sells on Amazon and elsewhere. At the time of writing this document, it is out of stock at Amazon itself (but available from some third-party resellers for a small markup), and it appears to be in stock at GameStops in the New York metro area.

Nintendo, meanwhile, says that both consoles "should be available until the end of the year."

Are there any changes to the NES Mini and the SNES Mini?

No! It's exactly the same hardware, the same built-in games – and the same short cable on the NES Mini controller. So, if you already have the "old" versions, there is no FOMO here – they are identical.

Both units include a HDMI cable and a Micro-USB power adapter. They are really plug-and-play: The games are integrated, and there is no online connectivity.

Games included are faithful reconstructions of the originals. They are not widescreen, but you can manipulate the aspect ratios from the settings menu.

The great addition to the experience is to save game slots for every title, so you can save your progress at any time. This is a key addition, because these old games are ruthlessly difficult compared to modern titles.

What is the difference between them?

The NES Mini includes a single controller, and these 30 games for $ 60:

• Fighter Ball
• Bubble Bobble
• Castlevania
• Castlevania II: The Quest for Simon
• Donkey Kong [19659028] Donkey Kong Jr.
• Double Dragon II: The Vengeance
• Dr. Mario
• Excitebike
• Final Fantasy
• Galaga
• Goblins Goblins
• Gradius
• Ice Climber
• Kid Icarus
• Adventure Kirby
• The Legend of Zelda
• Mario Bros.
• Mega Man 2
• Metroid
• Ninja Gaiden
• The Pac-Man
• Punch-Out! Starring Mr. Dream
• StarTropics
• Super C
• Super Mario Bros.
• Super Mario Bros. 2
• Super Mario Bros. 3
• Tecmo Bowl
• Zelda II: The Link Adventure

The SNES Mini includes 2 controllers and these 21 games for $ 80:

• Contra III: The Exotic Wars
• Donkey Country Kong
• EarthBound
• F-Zero
• Final Fantasy III (known as Final Fantasy VI in Japan and by many fans)
• Kirby Super Star
• Kirby's Dream Class
• The Legend of Zelda: a link to the past
• Mega Man X
• Secret of Mana
• ] Star Fox
• Star Fox 2 (a SNES game never published before)
• Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Combat
• Super Castlevania IV
• Super Ghouls # Ghosts
• Super Mario Kart [19659029] Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
• Super Mario World
• Super Metroid
• Super Punch Out
• Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island [196590] 80 Do I Need Accessories?

  All you need is a TV with a free HDMI port.

  If you get the NES Classic, consider a set of controller extension cables (the third-party models are correct), as well as a second controller, but do not pay more than 10 dollars for the # 1. 39 one or the other.

  too, that a replacement Wii Classic controller will work with both models. And SNES Classic controllers will also work with the NES Classic

  Third party wireless controllers are available for both units, but we only recommend them for hard drives.

  Will these games be released? In fact, many of the NES games are on the Nintendo Switch ($ 299 at Amazon.com) via the Switch Online service, which will be launched in September 2018 for $ 20 per year. This service – think Xbox Live Gold or PlayStation Plus – allows to play online for Switch titles as the next Super Smash Bros. Ultimate . But it also gives you the ability to download a selection of classic NES games at no extra charge.

  The initial list of NES games is 20 titles, half of which have been announced by Nintendo:

  • Balloon Fight *
  • Dr. Mario *
  • Donkey Kong *
  • Ice Climbers *
  • The Legend of Zelda *
  • Mario Bros. *
  • Football
    ]
  • Super Mario Bros. *
  • Super Mario Bros. 3 *
  • Tennis

  Those marked with an asterisk are also available on the NES Classic.

  Nintendo says that these games come with "online game added for the first time." That sounds great if it involves a face-to-face game on Mario Bros. or Tennis, but we do not really know what it means for solo games like The Legend of Zelda

  

  Nintendo says more NES games will eventually hit Switch's online service. So, the short answer is: Yes, a decent piece of the NES Classic 30 game can hit the Switch this year or later, and they will be accessible for as little as $ 20 a year.

  But unlike the Virtual Console old Nintendo boxes, you will not be able to buy these a la carte games for $ 5 per pop. Just like the "free" games with Gold (Xbox One ($ 450 at Amazon.com) ) and PlayStation Plus (PS3, PS4 ), they disappear if you stop paying your On the other hand, $ 20 a year is a very good price, and putting them on the switch means you can play them on the go or your big-screen TV, while the mini-consoles are TV business only

  It is also not known if or when any of the SNES games would hit the Switch – thus making the SNES Mini a "safer" purchase for Switch owners.

  How about 2DS / 3DS?

  but not all) of these games are available on the 2DS / 3DS platform, but would cost you much more than $ 60 or $ 80 if you bought them separately. For example, we calculated that it would cost $ 130 to obtain the 26 games out of 30 available on NES Classic for the platform 3DS in 2016.

  Be honest: Will I play OK, #realtalk: For most CNET editors who have purchased one or both, the NES and SNES Classics have migrated to a library, plus a nostalgic trophy that a system of active game. And for some of you – those who buy the Ultimate Editions of games, and who can not wait to get that helmet edition of Fallout 76 – that may be part of the point.

  To be honest, some of these games have not aged well. Playing 10 minutes of F-Zero or Super C is probably all you need. But Super Metroid, Yoshi's Island and Mega Man 2, to name a few, are always fun, and these game save slot machines are lifesavers on other titles that you might want to explore.

  

  Parents will also enjoy child-friendly games in a plug-and-play box that works without the need to download patches or ongoing membership fees.

  Bottom line: There is a lot of value in both boxes. Just check that you will actually play the games in question.

  If I have to choose, which one should I get?

  CNET gave high marks to both products – read NES Classic Review and the review SNES Classic . But we gave higher ratings to this latest model because its 16-bit games have generally aged better, and the second included controller means that it's ready for face-to-face play. His games should not touch the Switch anytime soon.

  That said, if you like one of the original NES games, you can hang them in a convenient package for the same price you will pay for one. title on a game console today

  Should I hold on for the N64 Classic?

  That, my friend, is only a rumor right now – even though it's based on . But yes: We agree that looks awesome – assuming that the rights of Goldeneye 007 can be established in any way or any way. another.

  E3 2018 :

  Nintendo forgot to talk about his paid online service to E3 : Unanswered questions from the E3.