With a miniaturized version of the 1985 Nintendo Entertainment System already anticipated for November 11, a similarly small edition of its Japanese equivalent, the Famicom, is now on its way for November 10.
Originally launched in 1983, the Family Computer video game console became Nintendo's first major, worldwide success.
The Famicom brought Mario from video game arcades into the home. On a global scale it was the world's best-selling home console for a 10 years and then some.
Sold in North America and Europe as a redesigned Nintendo Entertainment System, its retail performance records remained the gold standard for Nintendo home consoles until 2006, when the Wii finally outdid it. "Super Mario Bros.," "Duck Hunt," and "Super Mario Bros. 3" were among its best-known games, coming free with the console at various points in time.
Fast forward to June 2016, when mobile sensation "Pokémon Go" was at its height. Nintendo reminded the world of its historic roots and introduced the Nintendo Mini Classic.
The palm-sized remake of the NES would arrive in North America and Europe on November 11, it was announced, and, though the $59.99 Mini NES wouldn't accept game cartridges for the original NES, it would include a retro-style controller (extras cost $9.99 each,) an HDMI cable for modern TVs, and 30 games built-in.
The same is now true of the ¥5,980 Nintendo Classic Mini: Famicom, Nintendo of Japan announced on September 29, and due November 10.
The regional variants both include "Mario Bros." and the first three "Super Mario Bros." games, the first "Legend of Zelda," "Metroid," "Castlevania," "Donkey Kong" and "Balloon Fight" on their roster.
There are, however, a few differences between the two Classic Minis.
A different shape reflects the Famicom's unique regional design, and it comes with two controllers rather than one.
Like the EU's Mini NES, it doesn't come with an adaptor, so owners will be supplying their own -- a mobile phone charger, perhaps.
Finally, although most of its 30-game shipment is shared between NA, EU and JP Mini NESes, seven are now exclusive to the Japanese Mini Famicom.
Most notable is "Final Fantasy III," exclusive to Japan for 16 years after a 1990 release, and never internationally released for the NES itself.
Others like "Atlantis no Nazo," "Tsuppari 艑zum艒," and "Downtown Nekketsu K艒shinkyoku" remain Japanese exclusives to this day.
The remainder -- "NES Open Tournament Golf," "Solomon's Key" and "Yie Ar Kung-Fu" -- were released outside of Japan but make way for "Donkey Kong Jr.," "Bubble Bobble," "Castlevania II," "Kid Icarus," "Punch-Out!!," "StarTropics," "Tecmo Bowl" and the first "Final Fantasy" on NA and EU editions of the Mini NES.
