How does the NES Classic Mini fare against the original?
21.11.2016
Translation: machine translated
Nintendo launches a new console and everyone goes crazy - well, it's actually 30 years old and comes with fewer games than the original. Is the hype surrounding the NES Classic Mini justified and is it better than the original?
Note: The NES Classic Mini and the controller cannot be ordered from us for the time being. Only when we receive larger deliveries and can process the existing orders will the products be made available again.
30 years after the European launch of the NES, Nintendo presents the NES Classic Mini. A palm-sized version of the cult console with 30 pre-installed games. The run on it probably surprised even Nintendo. Shortly after the market launch, over a thousand francs are being forked out on eBay for something that costs a fraction of the price to manufacture.
I'm one of the lucky pre-order customers who have already received their NES Classic Mini. I placed my order right after the announcement. No digitec preferential treatment or anything. I had to queue like everyone else. Unfortunately, I haven't received the second controller yet. Countless of you are still waiting impatiently for your new toy. Nintendo has assured us that new deliveries should continue to arrive until Christmas. So you can still hope. But is all the hype justified for something that is really nothing more than a limited emulator? I dared to compare it with my dusty original NES
.
What does it look like?
If you see the Classic Mini in a photo without comparing its size, you can't see the slightest difference. It's only when you see it in real life that you realise how cute and small the console really is. It's a real little thing. Nintendo has got the finish and the look perfect.
What can the controller do?
The controller is also a dead ringer for the 30-year-old original. Everything is arranged in exactly the same way and feels the same - in other words, great. Just in non-yellowed fresh grey. There is only a small discrepancy on the back. While the original was manufactured in Japan, the new one says "Made in China".
Is this the whole cable?
Okay, unfortunately there is one major difference to the original controller. The cable is far too short! No idea what Nintendo was smoking when they commissioned a cable that is half the length of the original NES. Even if you play on a PC monitor, the cable is still almost too short. Incomprehensible. I've heard that Japanese homes tend to be small, but even there hardly anyone sits an arm's length away from their huge flat screen. And of course it's not a normal USB cable, but one with the proprietary Nintendo connection.
What can this thing do?
First, what it can't do: The flap for the games is a dummy and can't be opened. So you can't play your old NES games on it. They are almost the same size as the whole console anyway. But the reset and power buttons work just like they did back then.
When you start the Mini, you land directly in the menu from where you can start one of the 30 games.
Press the reset button to return from the game to the overview menu. If you then press the up button on the D-pad, your progress will be saved. Gone are the days when you had to leave the console switched on for days to avoid having to start all over again. There are four save slots per game to choose from. However, you can also use the original save functions.
Which games are included
- "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"
How many two-player games are there?
You can play 16 games with two players. It even has an extra filter so you can find them faster. Here is the complete list:
- "Balloon Fight"
- "Bubble Bobble"
- "Donkey Kong"
- "Donkey Kong Jr."
- "Double Dragon II: The Revenge"
- "Dr Mario"
- "Excitebike"
- "Gradius"
- "Ice Climber"
- "Mario Bros."
- "Pac-Man"
- "Super C"
- "Super Mario Bros."
- "Super Mario Bros. 2"
- "Super Mario Bros. 3"
- "Tecmo Bowl"
What is included
- The game console
- A controller
- HDMI cable
- USB cable for power supply (without power adapter)
- 30 pre-installed games
How do I connect the device?
The Mini is simply connected via an HDMI cable. Power is supplied via the included USB cable. There is no power adapter included.
Which console looks better on a modern TV?
I think the comparison picture says more than a thousand words. Games look perfect on the Mini. Just like you remember them. Razor sharp. No problem on gigantic flat screens. The original NES, on the other hand, looks terrible. This is partly due to the analogue connection, which in my case goes to the TV via Scart, but also to the various filters and sharpeners, which you could switch off. But until you find the perfect setting, time will pass while you're playing games on the Mini and even then it still looks better on the Mini. The picture is a revelation for someone like me who doesn't have a CRT monitor at home, which makes the old consoles practically unusable.
On the Mini you have the choice between three picture modes: CRT, 4:3 or original resolution. The names are somewhat misleading, as only original resolution (256x240 at the time) is not in 4:3 format. CRT adds a filter that makes the picture look artificially worse. Original resolution shows pixels almost too sharp and a smaller image. I left it on the default settings and the picture looks the most balanced.
Can I connect an original controller?
No. The connections for the controllers are not the same as back then. However, there is a adapter from a third-party manufacturer with which you can also use your old controllers (with the long cable).
Can I connect Wii or Wii U controllers?
If you still have Wii controllers like the Wii Classic lying around, you can also connect them. The Wiimote or Wii U Gamepad, on the other hand, are not compatible as the Mini has neither Wi-Fi nor Bluetooth.
Wouldn't I rather buy the original for the money?
Unless you pay hundreds or even thousands of francs on eBay for the Mini, the remake is clearly the better deal. Good selection of games and easier to connect to modern TVs. Unless none of your favourite games are included or you're a real fan, it's no longer worth the effort with the original NES.
Conclusion
The NES Mini Classic really is a brilliant little toy. The price is fine and it works perfectly. The games shine in the most beautiful old-school splendour and can also be played perfectly on modern TVs. It's just a pity that you can't buy new games or load them onto it using a memory card. The biggest faux pas, however, is the controller cable, which is far too short. Epic fail is all I can say. Unless it turns out that the Yakuza and the Triads control the copper and plastic trade, this is inexcusable. Apart from that, the NES Classic Mini is the best toy for nostalgics and those who missed out on the NES era.
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chBeing the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.
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