NES Classic Edition: Everything you need to know

Nintendo has a fairly busy schedule to keep next year with the spring release of its new Switch – a two-in-one games console that can be played at home on a television screen or on the go.

However, before creating the future of gaming, the manufacturer will be pushing nostalgia this Christmas, re-releasing one of one of its classic games consoles.

The Nintendo Classic Mini is a scaled-down tribute to the original Nintendo Entertainment System from the 1980s. It's designed to look and feel exactly like the NES, but it's small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and has a couple of alterations to keep it fresh for 2016.

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Bundled with a selection of classic NES games, it could be a popular stocking filler this Christmas. Here are all of the details so far.

What does it come with?

Gamers will get a NES Classic Mini controller, which will also be available to buy separately for multiplayer games. Unlike the console, it's the same size as the original game pad you may have used back in the day.

As Alphr points out, other Nintendo controllers, such as the Wii's Classic Controller Pro, can be used too.

Linking the NES controller to a Wii remote allows you to play an emulated version of the bundled NES games on Nintendo's modern consoles as well.

While the gadget looks virtually identical to the 1983 original, it does have modern ports attached. You can link it to your TV through a HDMI cable while there are USB ports present, too.

Nintendo has confirmed an AC adaptor will also be bundled in the box. You'll get a HDMI cable thrown in too.

What games can I play on it?

The original system had 713 official games, but this one will come with just 30 of them built in. Most of the NES's biggest titles are present and accounted for, though, including Super Mario Bros 1, 2 and 3, the first two Zelda games, Donkey Kong, Castlevania and Final Fantasy. A full list has been published on Nintendo's website.

Can I get any new games?

Unfortunately, you'll have to be pretty sold on the 30 choices Nintendo has made if you want to buy the NES Classic Mini.

Despite coming with modern ports such as a HDMI slot, the console cannot connect to the internet so you won't be able to download from the NES system's extensive back catalogue.

The flap for cartridges is merely an outline, too. It neither moves nor contains hardware for reading games, so there's no chance whatsoever of a rollout of classic miniature cartridges for the system.

However, you will be able to buy additional controllers to play with your mates. Nintendo will ship spare, modernised NES controllers specially made to work with the NES Classic Mini. Priced at £7.99 each, it means you'll be able to enjoy some of the games saved to the system with a friend.

What will the games look like?

ArsTechnica says it should be an absolute treat for fans who want to play classic games on modern televisions and displays, with the system expected to be much better than using the official NES Virtual Console re-releases for Wii, Wii U and the handheld 3DS.

While there's often noticeable colour-matching issues and blurriness with the NES Virtual Console emulator on Nintendo's modern consoles, the purpose-built Classic Mini shouldn't suffer the same issues.

Nintendo has released a trailer of gameplay and the games appear to be crisp, sharp, full-HD versions of the originals.

The site has put together a gallery comparing screenshots of some of the gameplay with similar images taken from emulated versions running on the Wii U console. The result? The Classic Mini's games look far better, with brighter, more vivid colours.

Nintendo has confirmed games will be playable in three screen modes. The first will be "Pixel Perfect", where every pixel is a perfect square so you'll play the games as crisp as they come and exactly as they were designed. The other two are retro filters.

You can play the system with a 4:3 output, so they're stretched slightly like the original games, or even through a CRT filter mode for the most authentic classic experience possible.

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Can I save my games?

You won't have to ditch games when turning off the console and start from the beginning every time. The titles all have four suspend points and you can resume your game from any of them.

When is it coming out and how much is it?

Nintendo will miss the holiday season slot for its NX console, but the NES Classic mini is set to fill in this Christmas.

It will cost £49.99 in the UK and be available from 11 November.

Can I pre-order?

Yes, you can pre-order a NES Classic Mini at most major games and entertainment retailers. Game still has stocks, but you'll have to wait for the likes of Amazon, the Game Collection and Zavvi to get new units as they've already sold out.

Alternatively, you can order it directly from the Nintendo store with some free perks thrown in, although at the minute, the company has it listed as out of stock.

Is it any good?

Reviewers have had hands-on time with the mini NES and it gets a general thumbs-up.

CNET says it'll probably be "one of the biggest toys of the holiday season" and while a retro console, the modern additions and perks - such as the ability to pause and save games - are welcome and the interface feels polished and easy to use.

The site highlights the fact players won't be able to expand on the 30 titles built into the box, but feels they won't be disappointed. "There isn’t a dud game in the collection", it says, and overall they could represent great value.

Polygon's take on the NES Classic Mini is pretty positive too. The site says it's easy to be cynical of the retro console, given it won't connect to the internet and you'll never be able to build on the games library, but it feels like "the company is trying to do right by its fans" with the re-release while the old-fashioned display modes are charming.

More in-depth reviews will go up once the console is released next week.