When it was announced earlier this year, I thought I might be able to resist the maddening urge to seek out a NES Classic Edition.
In hindsight, that’s pretty funny.
A year ago, I wrote about the Christmas of 1989 and what was possibly my favorite Christmas memory (the year I was pining for the original NES). It was almost certainly the onset of my passion for gaming.
Just thinking about it, and looking at that very same NES (which still works and is hooked up to the television), makes me weirdly happy. Sure, it was a simpler time, and sure, I had my whole life ahead of me, so it’s easy to allow all that fondness to wash over me and color my thoughts about this new, teeny tiny NES, but I’m excited about it on its own merits, too.
Back in the day, and I think a lot of us who grew up in the ’80s can attest to this, getting a new game was a milestone. It didn’t happen often (for most of us). You had a handful of games and you played the crap out of them. I can’t tell you how many times I played through Super Mario Bros. 2. I can’t tell you how many hours of my life have been spent playing Bubble Bobble or Dr. Mario. I played so much Tetris that when I went to sleep at night, I’d see tetronimos falling gracefully while I arranged them into place.
That being said, there are classic games from that era that I never had and somehow never rented, and this new NES Classic Edition would be the price of entry to play those iconic games.
I’ve never played so many of these! I’ve never played a Kirby game; how is that possible? I’ve never played the original Legend of Zelda. I’ve never played Metroid. I’ve never played StarTropics, or Ice Climber, or Punch-Out!! The price point for the Classic Edition is $59.99 and I have to say, for all the games included and for the sheer nostalgia overload of that bite sized NES, it’s a package I can’t pass up.
How often do I feel like playing Bubble Bobble?
Often.
How often do I feel like playing Dr. Mario?
Super often.
My only concern is if I will actually be able to get my hands on one. This week I received an email from Amazon letting me know exactly when it would be available on the site. I know demand will be high for this little joy machine, and I’m hoping I’m one of the fortunate folks who get to see one in their living room.
I’m also going to need to get a second controller, but I don’t even want to worry about that until I know for sure I’m getting the system, itself.
So, this afternoon, I will be feverishly refreshing Amazon in hopes of getting a shiny and new NES Classic Edition for myself. And if I do, I’m going to play the heck out of it on Christmas day, just like I did back in 1989.
Are there any particular games or systems you are hoping for this holiday season? Will you also be trying to get a NES Classic Edition? What are your earliest gaming memories?
Categories: games
Rebekah Lang 
Hey Rebekah! Always like taking that trip down memory lane. My earliest memories are on the SNES; Super Mario. Not getting any gaming systems this year. I may pick up a few games when the Black Friday sales roll around on Amazon. I want to get both Mafia 3 & Deus Ex; right now, they are both too high, imho! Especially when it comes to the used versions. Also, I’m looking at the 2017 releases & planning as to which games I really want to “invest” in. Thoughts?
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It can be a fun trip!
Oh gosh, I keep forgetting that Black Friday is right around the corner. Oof.
Oh yeah. I think I have five games on pre-order for next year, but there are a few at the top of my interest including Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Ghost Recon: Wildlands.
What are you most looking forward to in 2017?
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Agreed! For me, For Honor & ME:A are day pne purchases. Also, I’m considering Ghost Recon, Horizon, & Tekken 7.
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You will be having a very Ubisoft 2017!
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My first gaming memory was when I got the N64 for Christmas as a kid. I don’t think I plan on getting any games or systems during the holidays but I’ll check what sales are happening.
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Ahh consoles for Christmas!
I am going to try my best to not give in to sales…try being the operative word.
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Rebekah, that’s if things turn out ok with limited bugs. Things haven’t been going that smooth with Ubisoft releases. I think they can turn the tide with previously mentioned games. Thoughts?
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I think other than the disaster that was AC: Unity, most of their releases have been decent. But I’m definitely going to wait until the bugs with this title are patched.
When I hear “game breaking bug” I get off put.
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Hey Rebekah! Couldn’t agree with you more. Nothing like game breaking bugs. Did you run into any issues with RoTR? I had a few issues with Battlefield 1. Like guns floating in midair or someone getting stuck coming thru a door.
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I think I had one hard crash with RotTR which made me restart the system, but otherwise, I think the game was mostly smooth.
I have some hilarious screenshots of silly things happening in Destiny. I just love absurd glitches.
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Hey Rebekah! Did you experience your glitch in RoTR when exploring the Geothermal Valley after getting the Atlas? That’s where I had to restart the game. Ijs!
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Oh man, now I’m struggling to remember where I was when that happened. Maybe? Actually, I think it might be. Like right as I had the campfire in sight? I wish I could say for sure.
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Got my NES Classic Console this morning! Yeah!
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Also, one word: StarTropics!!
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I’ve never played it! I want to!
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OMG REALLY?! I super hope I get one through Amazon. I’m bracing myself for not getting one, though. I’ve been reading all day about people who weren’t able to get them through retailers.
I’m glad you got one!!!
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I got to Target this morning right at opening hours, and somehow there was already a long line! The rush is all incredibly silly, but I’m glad I was able to get one. This is the first time I have ever stood in line for a console. Usually I wait much longer after a console’s release.
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I believe it! Stories I’ve read have people waiting outside of retailers who only got 8, 10, or a dozen to sell.
I think getting it now was a good call! If you’d waited, who knows if you would have gotten one?
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Zelda II was the first new, not-Super-Mario-Bros-or-Duck-Hunt game I got; for my birthday, nine months after getting a NES. I remember sitting on our family room floor…and getting in trouble for not giving anyone else a turn.
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While I don’t advocate not sharing, that sounds pretty great. I quite enjoy imagining a smaller version of you plopped on the floor and gaming like crazy.
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I’d imagine this will be a hot item for the holiday season, I hope you get one soon.
My brothers and I got an NES as a Christmas gift when we were kids. It came with Super Mario Brothers/Duck Hunt and a zapper, and would become the catalyst for our love of gaming that has been going strong to this very day.
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That zapper pack was so awesome! And I love that the NES started you both off on your gaming journeys.
I remember wondering HOW that zapper worked. I wanted to know how the tech even existed.
And thank you, I’d really like to be able to get one. I was weirdly disappointed when my Amazon plans were set aflame.
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I’m kind of in the same boat with the NES Classic Edition, I thought I could resist the temptation but seeing the whole package for the price is looking too good to pass up. I happened to see one in a Gamestop last weekend, but I thought it might have been a preorder awaiting pickup; reading this makes me wish I had asked. Hopefully around Christmas more will be available.
My first console was an NES which I still have and works. I got it for Christmas and it was my favorite Christmas gift ever.
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Oh man! You saw one! Shoot. I hope we both get one!
Aww, I can definitely relate. What an amazing present. Such memories.
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