Super Mario Bros turns 35 this year, and Nintendo is introducing a bunch of new products to celebrate… including a handheld game console with the game pre-installed.
The new Super Mario Bros Game & Watch is modeled after Nintendo’s first handhelds, which were single-game device released in the 1980s before the Game Boy was introduced. But the new model has a color display and more advanced graphics.
It also has a few bonus games pre-installed.
In addition to the original NES version of Super Mario Bros, the device comes with Super Marios Bros: The Lost Levels, and a Mario-themed Game & Watch: Ball game.
You can also use it as a clock.
The Super Mario Bros Game & Watch will be available November 13th for $50.
Honestly, that seems like a bit much for a device designed to play a 35-year old game that runs well on pretty much any smartphone or other mobile device. But the device measures 4.4″ x 2.6″ x 0.5″, making it smaller than a phone, and it weighs just 2.4 ounces. Nintendo says it should get about 8 hours of battery life and charges via a USB-C cable.
Nintendo’s retro consoles also have a history of being hackable, so maybe somebody will find new users for the new Game & Watch.
I don’t think it’s over priced for a collector’s item. It won’t have mass appeal… I say that and I feel Nintendo thought the same about the NES mini…
Still have one of the original Game & Watch handhelds somewhere. Iirc, it took small watch batteries, so this would be a nice nostalgic upgrade. Kinda wish they had both a platformer and RPG like Zelda as titles. $50 is a bit overpriced, but apparently, my Super Mario Bros one from 1986 is now worth a small fortune.