Nintendo NES to return as a mini console, riding wave of Pokemon nostalgia

The palm-sized console will come with 30 classic games and an equally mini controller

(Nintendo)

In an announcement that surprised many, Nintendo has revealed that it’s bringing the NES console back to stores.

The NES was originally released in the 1980s and Nintendo plans to bring it back in what it’s calling a “familiar-yet-new” form – the most immediately obvious new aspect being that it’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.

The NES Classic Mini will be launched globally on November 11th and will plug directly into a high-definition TV using an included HDMI cable.

It even comes with a mini NES controller and for those who want to play two player titles, the controllers will also be able to be purchased separately.

The mini controllers won’t just be compatible with the NES console, either, with Nintendo stating that they’ll work with classic titles on the Wii and the Wii U.

As far as games are concerned, there will be 30 in total and they’ll all come built into the console, so there’ll be no need for blowing on cartridges this time around.

The titles include some of Nintendo’s most famous classics such as The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros, Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and Castlevania.

This news has come in a week where Nintendo has been very successfully playing the nostalgic heartstrings of gamers with the mobile augmented reality game Pokémon Go. The mobile game has become a huge hit with adults who loved the franchise in their childhood and brand new fans alike.

“We wanted to give fans of all ages the opportunity to revisit Nintendo’s original system and rediscover why they fell in love with Nintendo in the first place,” said Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime in a press statement. “The Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition is ideal for anyone who remembers playing the NES, or who wants to pass on those nostalgic memories to the next generation of gamers.”

There hasn’t been any UK price point released yet, though the console will reportedly be priced at $60 in the US.

Between this console, Pokémon Go, and the upcoming next generation console the Nintendo NX, it appears that Nintendo is aiming to appeal to every kind of gamer on the market and they might just succeed.