Every time a classic game gets discontinued, it experiences a sudden surge in its demand. But due to limited supply, most people cannot get their hands on it. Let’s see if reliving nostalgic retro games on an old-school console like the SNES Classic is worth the hype.
In this guide, we will see:
- why SNES was discontinued,
- reasons to buy a SNES classic edition,
- why you shouldn’t buy SNES classic,
- and lastly, we will answer some FAQs about the subject.
Let’s get started.
Why did Nintendo discontinue the SNES classic?
There are many reasons why a game or gaming console is discontinued. For instance, it is not making enough sales, it has overstayed its welcome, or there are hundreds of new options to explore.
Nintendo’s decision to discontinue the classic SNES console in 2018 was not well-received by retro games players. However, the manufacturers have no plans of bringing the classic console back.
According to the CEO and president of Nintendo, Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo does not have enough resources and bandwidth to keep producing the SNES classic edition console. In his interview with the Time, he said:
“From our perspective, it’s important to recognize where our future is and the key areas that we need to drive. We’ve got a lot going on right now and we don’t have unlimited resources.”
Nintendo intended to sell the SNES and NES classic editions for one holiday season. However, the response they got, forced them to restock it for a few more years. But no matter how many times it was restocked, it always sold out as soon as it reached the stores.
Nintendo’s SNES classic was a strategic move by Nintendo, but they are now refocusing on bigger and better things. So, in order to do that, they had to discontinue these retro gaming consoles.
But that raises the question that if the manufacturers have discontinued it, should we invest in the SNES classic edition? Is it worth it? Let’s find out!
Is the SNES Classic worth it?
Gaming is supposed to be challenging but fun, and the SNES delivered that. When you want to determine the SNES worth, it lies in its playability. It offered challenging games, but none of the games were too difficult to stop being enjoyable. If you want to enjoy SNES classic games, the SNES gaming console is worth buying.
Below, we have shared some of the reasons that make investing in a SNES console worthwhile:
Reasons to Buy SNES Classic Edition
The Super NES Classic Edition is the epitome of nostalgic retro games. It offered 21 incredible games, including the Star Fox 2 (it was never released before). Moreover, it comes with a second controller to make multiplayer games like Super Mario Kart more fun.
But, one should buy the SNES Classic only if you want to:
Get Nostalgic
If you have a knack for old-school, retro games, you must not miss your chance to play a SNES classic edition. While some of these games are available on alternatives, they do not offer the nostalgic element associated with playing on old-school consoles.
Access the Best Games
If you want to get access to some of the all-time favorite SNES classic games, get a console as soon as possible. Unlike other consoles, SNES classic offers only 21 games and all of them are certified hits. For instance, Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Mega Man X, and Street Fighter II Turbo. If you are a true retro gamer, you wouldn’t want to miss the chance to play these classics on the original console.
Play Star Fox 2
The SNES Classic also boasts the never-before-released Star Fox 2. This sequel to Nintendo’s famous dogfighting game is only legally available on the SNES classic edition. So, if you want to indulge in a rare SNES game, maybe you should invest in the SNES classic console.
Play with Friends
The SNES Classic has been generous enough to give us two instead of one controllers. It means you can play your favorite multiplayer games with your favorite gaming partner. So, you should definitely invest in this one if you want to enjoy your favorite retro games with your best friend.
Reasons NOT to Buy SNES Classic Edition
While the SNES classic edition was a huge hit, it is not the ultimate favorite of all retro gamers. Below are some of the reasons why someone should not buy this gaming console:
So, you should not buy the SNES classic edition if you:
Don’t Enjoy Waiting
The supply shortage is nothing new for Nintendo, especially after a console is discontinued. So, if you are an impatient person who cannot wait for a local store to restock the SNES classic, you should not invest in it.
Don’t Like Sitting Close to the TV
Luckily, the SNES controller cables are not as short as the NES controllers’. However, they are still not long enough to sit at a reasonable distance from the TV. So, if you don’t want to put stress on your eyes, maybe you shouldn’t buy this one.
Have Alternative Ways to Play Retro Games
There are numerous platforms to play thousands of games online and offline. So, if you are not a true classics fan, who wouldn’t play his Nintendo on any other device, maybe try alternatives for retro games. Most alternatives are not as expensive as the retro consoles, but they do not provide the same gaming experience either. Moreover, the alternative methods may not provide a legal way to play most of the original Nintendo SNES Classic Edition games.
FAQs About the SNES Classic
While our detailed guide must have cleared your confusion about the SNES gaming console, if you still have questions, please read the FAQs below:
The Nintendo SNES classic edition is quite expensive compared to other consoles. The primary reason for this rise in prices is the limited supply and higher demand for these retro consoles. Ever since the company discontinued its production, no one is making the SNES cartridges, leading to their scarcity. As a result, online sellers and local retro gaming stores that still have the stock left raised their prices.
In 2018, the CEO of Nintendo announced the discontinuation of the NES Classic and SNES Classic. So, the production of new SNES classic consoles has been stopped, and it will only be available while its stock lasts, and soon SNES classic availability issues will arise. The decision for discontinuing Nintendo SNES was mainly based on moving gamers towards the modern gaming consoles.
Although Nintendo has discontinued the production of this retro console, players can buy SNES classic online from trustable websites, like Retro vGames. Besides online stores, some local retro gaming stores may have this old console lying around. So, you can search your local stores, ask a friend who has it but doesn’t play it anymore or buy from authentic online sellers.
The original SNES classic had all the essentials in its box. When we opened the box, we would get the SNES Classic Edition system, two wired SNES controllers, 1 USB cable connecting to 1 AC adapter, and 1 HDMI cable. Besides these, a SNES poster and instruction manual is also included.
Conclusion
If we talk about the worth of the SNES classic edition, it cannot be measured objectively, because people invest in retro games for all sorts of reasons. Although they mainly do it for the nostalgic factor, some like keeping it as a collectible that may be worth millions in the future. In a world where some old Disney VHS tapes are being sold for as much as $9,000, who knows what the future holds for your beloved SNES Classic edition?
