A week ago we all learned about the NES Classic Edition, the pint-sized NES reproduction that will let you play 30 classic NES games in HD. It comes with a retro-style controller that is cross-compatible with the Wii U, apparently. Both the NES Classic and its controller are arriving November 11th. Now Nintendo has a very 80s commercial for the little NES, complete with "NOW YOU'RE PLAYING WITH POWER!"
That's cool and all, but the NES Classic Edition still isn't everything I want. It's a completely standalone unit; the 30 packed in games are all it will ever be able to play. It can't take original cartridges (it's too small!), it doesn't have an SD card slot and it can't even connect to the Virtual Console to download more. In that respect it's inferior to the cheapo Sega and Atari reprint consoles you can find in grocery stores around the holidays. Those can at least play original cartridges, albeit often badly and only in composite video.
The NES Classic's ability to output these 30 baked in games in HD is impressive, but higher class unlicensed clone consoles like the Retron 5, or the vastly superior Japan-only Retro Freak, can do that too and play original carts.
I don't mean to hate on the tiny NES--I really do love the idea and nostalgic angle. But as usual, Nintendo just didn't take the concept far enough here. They could have created a versatile, officially licensed product that would take the retro community by storm. Instead they made a fun, if gimmicky novelty that might work as a rather expensive stocking stuffer. Let's hope the inevitable SNES Classic is more robust.
