Getting a video game console was a big feat in the ‘80s and ‘90s. It was a whole lot of sucking up to relatives abroad; hard-selling them the console as a ‘mini computer’. We saw giants like Sega and Atari fall, as newer Nintendos, Xboxs, PlayStations and PCs pushed the classics into the dust. Years later, you feel that pang, as you talk about the good old days of gaming while wrenching Fortnite out of your kid’s hand.
Nostalgia is a powerful marketing tool; just ask Nintendo. Ever since they launched the Nintendo NES Mini, it has been constantly out of stock. That little piece of our youth opened the floodgates to a whole host of classic mini consoles. Several of them have already been launched, with many in the pipeline. The best part: all of them are around $100 and come preloaded with the popular games of that time, besides having HDMI capabilities so you can run them on your fancy HDTVs. Here are a few that allow you to show your kids what you experienced at their age:
PlayStation Classic
Sony just revealed the PlayStation Classic a few weeks ago, in a surprise announcement that left everyone who grew up in that era frothing in the mouth. A mini replica of the original PlayStation down to every detail, minus that CD drive. What you get inside are 20 games, out of which what was revealed were Namco’s Ridge Racer Type 4, Tekken 3 and the legendary Final Fantasy VII. The PlayStation Classic launches on December 3, 2018. Points to those of you who recognise that date, for in 1994, on that same day, the original PlayStation launched in all its 3D glory. Oh, and you get two classic controllers and you can speculate all you want on what the other 17 games will be.
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Classic Mini
One of the most beloved generations in gaming was when the Nintendo Entertainment System launched back in 1985. Letting us play games like Mario and The Legend of Zelda, that have laid the foundation stones for the console generations to follow. It was only fitting that the NES Classic Mini would kick-start another rage. Preloaded with 30 classic games including Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong and Metroid. If you do happen to know someone in Japan or anywhere in South East Asia, you can get the Japanese Famicom version in all its red-and-cream glory.
Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) Classic Mini
The Super Nintendo era gave the world the best games. It was a time when games became more technical and pushed the boundaries of epic. If you think otherwise, just pick up a copy of Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy VI, which till today will leave you speechless with their storytelling. Available in both the purple-and-grey iconic US variant, the Japanese Super Famicom, as well as the European one, both with the classic grey rounded console with the iconic four-coloured button controller. All three regions have some games unique to them. What’s common to all is Final Fantasy VI, Mario Kart, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Metroid, Super Mario World and the arty Yoshi’s Island and a whole bunch more, making it a total of 21.
Neo Geo Mini
It’s okay if you don’t recognise the name Neo Geo, but give yourself extra points if you do. If you’ve gone to the arcades in the 90s, we in India had a lot of Neo Geo machines and chances are you’ve played them, even if you don’t realise it. Responsible for games like Samurai Shodown, World Heroes and The King of Fighters series, the Neo Geo home console unfortunately never made it here, which is a shame, because it was powerful and had a roster of incredible titles. Well, the Neo Geo Mini has finally launched in Japan and it is the best-looking of the lot. It has its very own screen and it is in the form of a tiny arcade machine. So tiny it will fit in your hand. Perfect for playing on the subway or placing it on your desk for a few quick rounds of Samurai Shodown. It is also the priciest of the lot with the Japanese version only out now, with the second controller sold separately. There is a worldwide version coming out soon, bundled with 20 games, all of them Neo Geo favourites. this is one console you have got to have.
Atari VCS
A household name that was once the hottest product out there has gone through it's share of up's and downs and now is prepared to launch it's own Mini Classic console. Where the Neo Geo Mini looks unique, the Atari VCS looks classy with an incredible take on the original product design, which was also classy for its time. You also get the iconic joystick, as well as a very snazzy-looking PC-compatible controller, with that same Atari aesthetic. The VCS is a not only the revival of a classic, but it aims to be a full-fledged home entertainment system, capable of running streaming services with a completely customisable OS, so if you want you can load homebrew software and emulators for all the above consoles on it. It runs a version of Linux and has an AMD Radeon running inside. It’s up for pre-order now on Indiegogo and it costs a whopping $329, though you can buy just the gamepad or joystick separately. Launching in 2019.
Sega Mega Drive Mini
Before Sony’s PlayStation descended, Nintendo and Sega were the two big consoles duking it out for gaming supremacy. To Countering Nintendo’s white SNES was Sega’s black Genesis, also known as the Sega Mega Drive; and it comes forth once more to battle its 16-bit nemesis, this time in mini form. Also launching in 2019, the Sega Mega Drive Mini is actually a second attempt by Sega, previously launching the Sega Flashback through a company called AtGames, that did not gain much ground. Very little is known of the console, but Sega has revealed that they’re launching 15 games on the Nintendo Switch, which includes Sonic the Hedgehog, Phantasy Star and Thunder Force IV. So perhaps, these will be part of the Sega Mega Drive Mini as well.
C64 Mini
The Commodore 64 launched in 1982 and was a home computer, with gaming capabilities. While it has faded into obscurity, there are still enthusiasts that keep their 64s alive with its 64KB of RAM, which was a big deal then. The C64 Mini is a scale replica of the original, which has a big keyboard, with a joystick. You can plug into the TV, but you will need to plug in a USB keyboard to use C64 BASIC, the command-like gateway to your world of gaming. It’s available for $79.99 and you will need to ship it from abroad.
Nintendo Switch NES Virtual Console
The hottest console in the market is now the Nintendo Switch, and it’s a hotbed for incredible ports. As of now, Neo Geo games have made their way onto the console, with Sega games following suit. Now, with Nintendo Online, there’s a whole host of NES games dropping for you to play on-the-go, and to give you that full feel, Nintendo has launched a new NES edition JoyCons. The controllers that attach to the sides of the Switch are actual NES controllers to be used when playing Virtual console games, and they look great.
