Nintendo’s Latest Portable Is Better Than a Game Boy

Included: Punch-Out, Donkey Kong, Mario Bros. and more

July 14, 2016 9:00 am

Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start (or “select, start” if you were playing with a friend).

Had it not been for the now-ubiquitous “Konami Code” that in-the-know Nintendo gamers started using in 1985 to unlock all the power-ups in Gradius, it would have been impossible to pilot the Vic Viper to victory.

And come November, the Vic Viper — and attendant cheat code — will fly again.

In a move that may send its stock skyrocketing even higher, Nintendo just announced the NES Classic Edition, an HD-compatible replica of the original NES that will hit shelves on November 11th.

The miniature console — which comes with 30 pre-programmed vintage Nintendo games and uses a rectangular controller just like the original NES — can plug directly into your television via an included HDMI cable.

In addition to optimizing the cartridge-free system to work in the high-definition era, Nintendo has modified the games to include new checkpoints so that you can stop playing and then picking up where you left off without leaving your console on under a blanket all day while you’re at school work.

The Classic Edition will be available for $59.99 and an extra controller will only cost $9.99.

Here’s the full list of the games in alphabetical order: 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.

While we’re a little disappointed Mike Tyson won’t appear in Punch-Out!!, getting the chance to use Bo Jackson in Tecmo Bowl again dulls the pain.

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