Sure, you might think you're the most hip, cool, finger-on-the-pulse-of-gaming kinda guy having pre-ordered Nintendo's upcoming emulation box, the Nintendo Classic Mini NES. But after you've invited everyone round to fawn over the detail in the Mini NES cartridge slot, served a few light beverages, and begun to feel really good about your choices in life, along comes your older, beardier, always-slightly-more-trendy friend. Tucked under his arm, just in sight, is Nintendo's Japan-only Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer, otherwise known as the Mini Famicom.
Distraught, you begin talking about how your Mini NES comes with 30 built-in games in a vain attempt to cushion the blow, but to no avail. The Mini Famicom with its Japan-exclusive games and import-only cachet has stolen your thunder. Oh yes, check and mate my friend. You've been well and truly out-hipstered.
And why not? Just look at how much more exciting the Mini Famicom is with its chintzy red finish. It even has hard-wired controllers, just like on the original Japanese Famicom that was released way back in 1983 (two years before it was released in the US, and three before Europe). Also like the original, the Mini Famicom is functionally identical to the Mini NES, containing 30 emulated versions of classic 8-bit Famicom/NES games that it spits out over a modern HDMI cable in glorious HD. Multiple display modes—including one that simulates old CRT screens—and save states are also part of the package.
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Kirby's Adventure (Left: NES Classic Edition; Right: Wii U Virtual Console)
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Super Mario Bros. 3 (Left: NES Classic Edition; Right: Wii U Virtual Console)
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Kid Icarus (Left: NES Classic Edition; Right: Wii U Virtual Console)
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Dr. Mario (Left: NES Classic Edition; Right: Wii U Virtual Console)
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Donkey Kong (Left: NES Classic Edition; Right: Wii U Virtual Console)
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The Legend of Zelda (Left: NES Classic Edition; Right: Wii U Virtual Console)
Most exciting, though, is that the Mini Famicom's list of 30 games is slightly different from the Mini NES', meaning a few of them will be exclusive to the Mini Famicom. River City Ransom (which oddly enough did get a release on the original NES in the West) is one, and Final Fantasy III is another. The latter was never released on the NES in the West, and just like those that imported it back in 1990, you'll have to brush up on your Japanese in order to play it. But hey, nothing says l33t gamer more than playing a Japanese version of a game on an imported console that you could just as easily play in English and download on your smartphone. That's true dedication.
If you're in interested in picking up a Mini Famicom, it goes on sale in Japan on November 10 for ¥5,980 (£45, $59), plus another ¥1,000 if you need an AC adaptor. That's not to mention all the relevant import and shipping fees if you bring one over from Japan (maybe £20 or so).
Here's the full list of included games:
- Donkey Kong
- Pac-Man
- Excitebike
- Balloon Fight
- Ice Climber
- Galaga
- Yie Ar Kung-Fu
- Super Mario Bros.
- The Legend of Zelda
- Atlantis no Nazo
- Gradius
- Makai Village
- Solomon's Key
- Metroid
- Castlevania
- Adventures of Link
- Bumping Sumo
- Super Mario Bros. 3
- Ninja Gaiden
- Mega Man 2
- River City Ransom
- Double Dragon Ⅱ The Revenge
- Super Tamashito Luo
- Final Fantasy Ⅲ
- Dr. Mario
- Downtown Nekketsu March Soreyuke
- Mario Open Golf
- Super Mario USA (Super Mario Bros. 2 in the US)
- Kirby's Adventure
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