Retro game lovers, brace yourselves: Nintendo is re-releasing the NES… sort of. Today Nintendo gave us all a wonderful surprise to wake up to, announcing that it is releasing the (redundantly titled) Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition. This is a miniature NES replica that comes pre-loaded with 30 of the most popular NES games; games like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Donkey Kong, PAC-MAN, Kirby’s Adventure, and more. “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.
Judging from some high-res pictures, it doesn’t look like the cartridge door opens at all, so don’t expect this thing to run your old games or accept a new line of unannounced carts from Nintendo. What comes pre-loaded in the box is what you get. This is a great deal, though: considering the average NES game costs $5 USD on the virtual console, you’re saving almost a hundred dollars by buying this package, which comes with an incredible NES replica and an NES controller that plugs right in. You may notice the two controller ports on the front are the same as on the Wii Remote, and yes, the Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro are compatible with this device. You can use them for two-player fun with some games, or buy a second NES controller, sold separately. Alternatively, you can plug in the NES controller that comes with the box into a Wii Remote and use it to play any NES games on the Wii or Wii U virtual consoles. These are going to sell fast, so we’ll be sure to let you know when pre-orders go live. The NES:NES Classic goes on sale November 11 for $60.