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But Wait! Do You Actually Need Japan’s Mini Famicom Instead of the NES Classic?

A tough choice between nostalgia and bragging rights.

We’re all* excited about Nintendo’s NES Classic Edition (*based on the fact that infinity people clicked on it), with its library of built-in classic NES games and notable improvement over your original NES that it has an HDMI connection/didn’t get sold at a yard sale 15 years ago. But, Nintendo is, of course, introducing the Japanese version as well, which mimics the look of the Japanese console that would become our NES. Now we have options, and options are hard.

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Sure, you’d have to import the mini Famicom from Japan, but with built-in games and plug-and-play functionality, that’d be a lot easier than dealing with an actual import console and import games. Like me, you may have been too young while playing the NES to have any concept of regional console differences, but now you, too, can get the truly original Nintendo 8-bit experience! That is, if you’re willing to forgo your own nostalgia in the process—or if you’re some kind of fancy-pants who can afford both.

Or maybe you’re just a completionist, because the mini Famicom actually comes with a slightly different library of games (compared to the NES classic), including River City Ransom and Final Fantasy III (via Ars Technica):

  • 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

The mini Famicom goes on sale November 10 in Japan for about $59 plus import costs.

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(via Ars Technica, image via Screenshot)

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Author
Dan Van Winkle
Dan Van Winkle (he) is an editor and manager who has been working in digital media since 2013, first at now-defunct <em>Geekosystem</em> (RIP), and then at <em>The Mary Sue</em> starting in 2014, specializing in gaming, science, and technology. Outside of his professional experience, he has been active in video game modding and development as a hobby for many years. He lives in North Carolina with Lisa Brown (his wife) and Liz Lemon (their dog), both of whom are the best, and you will regret challenging him at <em>Smash Bros.</em>

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