Author Topic: NES Classic Edition Review  (Read 3068 times)

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Offline NWR_Neal

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NES Classic Edition Review
« on: November 08, 2016, 07:46:23 AM »

Now you're playing with a tiny cord.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/43635/nes-classic-edition-review

As time goes on and emulation of old games on modern displays becomes more important, products like Nintendo’s new NES Classic seem bigger. For years, we’ve seen middling retro knockoffs and poorly emulated ports. With the NES Classic, Nintendo brings superb emulation to HD displays, showcasing 30 fun and mostly essential NES games from the ‘80s and early ‘90s. For the most part, the NES Classic is a showcase for what we should hope happens with all of our old games.

Unfortunately, the shortened cables limit the usability of this novel little device. The controller, one of which is included with the system, has a cord that only measures about two-feet long. To add insult to injury, the included HDMI cable isn’t much longer. This pint-sized NES is woefully tethered to your TV out of the box, and if you want to play it, you need to be almost on top of your TV to do so. In my moderately sized living room, I had to push chairs up to my TV to sit comfortably and play it in a fashion that’s the opposite of the issues with room size people have had for VR experiences. You’re almost better off in a studio apartment with the NES Classic.

You can get around this in a number of ways - a longer HDMI cable, a controller extender, third-party wireless controllers - but those are just bandages on an irritating design choice. That issue is more exasperated by the fact that everything else about the NES Classic is fantastic. The emulation is some of the best I’ve seen from Nintendo. The four save states for each game, while a little quirky to sort through, are a fantastic way to save your progress in password-based games or games with no saving option. The game selection isn’t without its clunkers, but it’s a wide, varied list of everything from essentials like Super Mario Bros. 3, The Legend of Zelda, and Mega Man 2 to mildly deeper cuts like Bubble Bobble, StarTropics, and Double Dragon II. After spending hours across the entire library, I’ve come away with a deeper appreciation of Ice Climbers and a tenuous dislike for arcade ports like Pac-Man and Galaga.

If the NES Classic is the first in a line of many “Classics” systems, sign me up. The games are fantastic and the emulation is top notch. Hopefully in the future, this whole “short cord” thing is figured out. For better or worse, the NES Classic is a rad retro system restricted by tiny cables.

Neal Ronaghan
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Offline Mop it up

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Re: NES Classic Edition Review
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2016, 07:02:59 PM »
At least the short cords is the only problem. I already have other HDMI cables so I can deal with it.

Can you use a Classic Controller with this? It would be nice to not have to buy a second controller for 2-player games, and I also may want to use it over the boxy NES controller.

Offline ejamer

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Re: NES Classic Edition Review
« Reply #2 on: November 09, 2016, 08:13:32 PM »
The short cords are kind of baffling - the product seems so good, but having to huddle up to your TV is pretty ridiculous in this day and age.  But outside of that it seems like consistent praise for the NES Classic.  Especially glad to hear the emulation is (apparently) top notch.
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Offline rlse9

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Re: NES Classic Edition Review
« Reply #3 on: November 09, 2016, 10:35:56 PM »
Why does Nintendo always do this?  It seems like so many times they've come up with something really good but with one really dumb, obvious flaw.  I want one of these but to have to deal with something that is almost unusable with what's in the box is crazy.

Offline ejamer

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Re: NES Classic Edition Review
« Reply #4 on: November 09, 2016, 11:14:54 PM »
Why does Nintendo always do this?  It seems like so many times they've come up with something really good but with one really dumb, obvious flaw.  I want one of these but to have to deal with something that is almost unusable with what's in the box is crazy.


Not a good justification, but I think the reasoning probably goes like this:
(1) controllers can double as Wii classic controllers, which don't need long cords; personally, I like the fact they aren't super long because it makes the controllers more useful in different contexts
(2) longer replacement HDMI cables are something Nintendo can leave for customers to purchase; what's in the box is workable and anyone who wants more can easily find a replacement


Luckily, the obvious flaw in this case is both easy and inexpensive to fix. :)
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Offline ThePerm

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Re: NES Classic Edition Review
« Reply #5 on: November 10, 2016, 03:35:56 AM »
Also, if you have a desktop monitor setup like I do and probably the developers do,you're not going to care.

And even when you were a little kid you were forced to sit close to the TV.

Now all we need is wood frame hdmi zenith style tvs. Man it's hard to find my tv model. I remember it being a zenith, but i could be wrong.It had ablack knob for volum and a number pad with an led number display.
« Last Edit: November 10, 2016, 03:42:58 AM by ThePerm »
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Offline rlse9

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Re: NES Classic Edition Review
« Reply #6 on: November 10, 2016, 09:24:57 PM »
Not a good justification, but I think the reasoning probably goes like this:
(1) controllers can double as Wii classic controllers, which don't need long cords; personally, I like the fact they aren't super long because it makes the controllers more useful in different contexts
(2) longer replacement HDMI cables are something Nintendo can leave for customers to purchase; what's in the box is workable and anyone who wants more can easily find a replacement


Fair enough, but two feet is just silly, that's too short to even have the system sitting on the coffee table and sit back comfortably on the couch, at least the way my living room is set up.


And even when you were a little kid you were forced to sit close to the TV.


When you're a little kid, you don't care about things like that.  Sitting on the floor two feet in front of the TV is something you do by choice, even when your parents tell you not to.  As an adult in your 30s, which is the demographic they're going after, that's not so appealing anymore.


I realize it's not that big of a deal but it's still a bad decision in my opinion and all of the reviews and podcasts discussing it seem to agree.

Offline ThePerm

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Re: NES Classic Edition Review
« Reply #7 on: November 11, 2016, 06:15:17 PM »
when you're a little kid you WANT to sit next to the TV though.

if it's a problem

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NINTENDO-Wii-NUNCHUK-CONTROLLER-EXTENSION-CABLE-/251958710873
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Offline TheXenocide

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Re: NES Classic Edition Review
« Reply #8 on: November 12, 2016, 12:09:58 AM »
it's possible the short chord is to force an upsell, as there is a 6 foot extension cable for sale that is listed as specifically for this. Nintendo knew the short cable was an issue...

Offline Graynold

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Re: NES Classic Edition Review
« Reply #9 on: November 12, 2016, 03:09:11 PM »
The short cable definitely sucks.

The fact that these are apparently impossible to actually buy is a bigger problem.

Come on Nintendo, how about for once you don't muck up a release of something.

How about hiring new analysts that can better predict the number of people willing to purchase your product if you would only manufacture enough?