I've decided that over the course of 2025 I'd like to experience some of the Nintendo classics so I've done a bit of research and am just outlining my thoughts re: what to get. As a kid I had a BBC B, MegaDrive, Amiga and PC - I did play a bit of SNES and N64 with the kids a couple of doors down but that was more Mario Kart, SF2 etc. I've not really sat down and played through the Zelda games for example and only partially the Mario/Super Mario.
Ideally, I'd like to play the main Mario Games, Zelda and Mario Kart plus maybe a few standout games from the various generations. I don't own a Switch, I'll maybe get the Switch 2 later this year since it's backwards compatible but the focus for this thread is mostly Retro gaming on the appropriate hardware (not emulation save for SNES and NES mini and not interested in piracy either.)
Portable Systems
Not a priority really but the jist of it is that I gather the DS Lite covers everything going back from it to GBA and (not retro but for the sake of completeness) the 3DS covers everything going back to DS.
So perhaps just need to buy 2 portable devices - though there are some GameCube games that use the GBA I guess.
Main Consoles
NES and SNES - I have no interest in the original UK hardware because of the PAL issue, didn't realize it as a kid that we were playing slow/crippled versions of games made for the US/Japan but no need to tolerate it now.
I own a NES and SNES mini which solves this issue - plays the games at 60Hz and HDMI out... I think that's me sorted for the moment as they each have the main Mario/Zelda games + classics like SF2 and F-Zero on SNES.
(Not really interested in the NES beyond classic Mario + Zelda but I guess if there are other SNES games worth trying and not included in the SNES Classic bundle then either importing a US SNES + upscaler or an Analogue Super Nt second-hand + US NSTC carts are probably the only good options here - though this is only a "maybe" and certainly not a priority.)
Solution - stick with NES/SNES Classic
N64 - PAL issues apparently not as bad with the main titles as they've adjusted game speed to deal with 50Hz output + letterboxing, but still a couple of classics I would want beyond Mario/Zelda though are GoldenEye and Star Wars Rouge Squadron which I read do have issues - so I guess either import one from the US or look at getting the new Analogue 3D console + US NTSC carts.
Solution - compromised option - cheap UK N64 from eBay, ideal - US import N64 + upscaler or Analogue 3D
Game Cube - Bizarrely these are more expensive than the Wii but I'm not sure there is any point in getting one given the Wii is backwards compatible.
Solution - don't bother; buy a Wii
Wii - UK version supports PAL60 (480i + 60Hz) and 480p output via component - I have a good CRT monitor at parent's house (surprisingly, similar one goes for £500 on ebay lol) or could get a component -> HDMI upscaler - seems like a no-brainer for playing Game Cube games given it shares hardware with the Game Cube, can take the controllers and most are backwards compatible.
Solution - buy a Wii
Wii U - Another iteration of the previous two, technically backwards compatible with both, in theory, this should be optimal and render both the Wii and GC pointless but in reality, it seems the upscaled HDMI output is just some basic upscaling, lacks full RGB etc.. (see here: YouTube Wii vs Wii U comparison) and it doesn't take Game Cube disks even though it could play the games. So I'm better off with the original Wii for Wii + GC games which is a nice cheap option.
Secondly, (slightly off-topic) the main Mario/Zelda Wii U games are also on the Switch (and therefore Switch 2 when it comes out). Back to retro; there are however two HD remakes of classic Zelda GC games; The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. The latter also has an original Wii version released at the same time as the GC one which some say is better (has motion control etc.) - I understand the Wii U HD version is based on the GC game and also the former has rumours of a Switch version being made. So not sure there is much point in a Wii U - maybe the controller screen with inventory items might be nice etc..?
Solution - don't bother; buy a Wii for Wii and Game Cube games (and Switch 2 for recent Switch/Wii U games when released).
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So I think my next steps for this exploration of the main Nintendo classics from each generation this year is to first play through the Mario and Zelda games on the NES/SNES mini this month and next then look at getting a Wii (and come back to the N64 after that)... will try and update + please feel free to share any thoughts, I've shared views here based on research done online but happy to hear suggestions etc..
Ideally, I'd like to play the main Mario Games, Zelda and Mario Kart plus maybe a few standout games from the various generations. I don't own a Switch, I'll maybe get the Switch 2 later this year since it's backwards compatible but the focus for this thread is mostly Retro gaming on the appropriate hardware (not emulation save for SNES and NES mini and not interested in piracy either.)
Portable Systems
Not a priority really but the jist of it is that I gather the DS Lite covers everything going back from it to GBA and (not retro but for the sake of completeness) the 3DS covers everything going back to DS.
So perhaps just need to buy 2 portable devices - though there are some GameCube games that use the GBA I guess.
Main Consoles
NES and SNES - I have no interest in the original UK hardware because of the PAL issue, didn't realize it as a kid that we were playing slow/crippled versions of games made for the US/Japan but no need to tolerate it now.
I own a NES and SNES mini which solves this issue - plays the games at 60Hz and HDMI out... I think that's me sorted for the moment as they each have the main Mario/Zelda games + classics like SF2 and F-Zero on SNES.
(Not really interested in the NES beyond classic Mario + Zelda but I guess if there are other SNES games worth trying and not included in the SNES Classic bundle then either importing a US SNES + upscaler or an Analogue Super Nt second-hand + US NSTC carts are probably the only good options here - though this is only a "maybe" and certainly not a priority.)
Solution - stick with NES/SNES Classic
N64 - PAL issues apparently not as bad with the main titles as they've adjusted game speed to deal with 50Hz output + letterboxing, but still a couple of classics I would want beyond Mario/Zelda though are GoldenEye and Star Wars Rouge Squadron which I read do have issues - so I guess either import one from the US or look at getting the new Analogue 3D console + US NTSC carts.
Solution - compromised option - cheap UK N64 from eBay, ideal - US import N64 + upscaler or Analogue 3D
Game Cube - Bizarrely these are more expensive than the Wii but I'm not sure there is any point in getting one given the Wii is backwards compatible.
Solution - don't bother; buy a Wii
Wii - UK version supports PAL60 (480i + 60Hz) and 480p output via component - I have a good CRT monitor at parent's house (surprisingly, similar one goes for £500 on ebay lol) or could get a component -> HDMI upscaler - seems like a no-brainer for playing Game Cube games given it shares hardware with the Game Cube, can take the controllers and most are backwards compatible.
Solution - buy a Wii
Wii U - Another iteration of the previous two, technically backwards compatible with both, in theory, this should be optimal and render both the Wii and GC pointless but in reality, it seems the upscaled HDMI output is just some basic upscaling, lacks full RGB etc.. (see here: YouTube Wii vs Wii U comparison) and it doesn't take Game Cube disks even though it could play the games. So I'm better off with the original Wii for Wii + GC games which is a nice cheap option.
Secondly, (slightly off-topic) the main Mario/Zelda Wii U games are also on the Switch (and therefore Switch 2 when it comes out). Back to retro; there are however two HD remakes of classic Zelda GC games; The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. The latter also has an original Wii version released at the same time as the GC one which some say is better (has motion control etc.) - I understand the Wii U HD version is based on the GC game and also the former has rumours of a Switch version being made. So not sure there is much point in a Wii U - maybe the controller screen with inventory items might be nice etc..?
Solution - don't bother; buy a Wii for Wii and Game Cube games (and Switch 2 for recent Switch/Wii U games when released).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So I think my next steps for this exploration of the main Nintendo classics from each generation this year is to first play through the Mario and Zelda games on the NES/SNES mini this month and next then look at getting a Wii (and come back to the N64 after that)... will try and update + please feel free to share any thoughts, I've shared views here based on research done online but happy to hear suggestions etc..
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