T E S T E D N I N T E N D O G A M E & WAT C H : S U P E R M A R I O B R O S
Plumbing around again To celebrate the original Game & Watch turning 40, Nintendo’s new handheld goes big on period-correct nostalgia £45 / stuff.tv/GameWatch ■ Yes, we’re going to start with the box. No, we haven’t lost it – and that’s because the box exemplifies the entire experience of this device. Slide off a plastic sleeve and the overly busy modern packaging design is gone, leaving you staring at something that would pass for a 1980s Game & Watch box. ■ Open the flap and images of Mario and Luigi say: “Special thanks to you.” It’s clear Nintendo is sweating the details and turning up the charm – and if you’re of a certain vintage, what you find inside will plaster a massive grin all across your (sagging) face. ■ This anniversary edition is almost identical to a unit from four decades ago, from the rubbery action buttons to the sturdy frame, with just a couple of concessions to the modern world: it charges via USB-C and there’s a vibrant 2.36in colour LCD display.
Plumbs a time The digital clock plays 35 animations through the day, including guest appearances from Mario’s friends and foes.
■ There’s also a clock mode (as promised by the name), featuring animated characters bounding about. But this leads to our first disappointment: the old Game & Watch included a wire kickstand, and this version doesn’t have one.
n Plumb as you are
Despite the tiny screen bordering on squint-o-vision, it’s sharp. The D-pad is responsive and the buttons, while a bit odd, are OK. Things can get crampy after a while, but you can pause a game and pick it up later.
n Plumb on Eileen
We’re less impressed with the selection of titles. Ball has a brainless charm, but it gets old quickly and makes you wonder why Nintendo wasn’t more generous when the NES Classic Edition got 30 games.
■ Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels and the Mario version of Ball are all bundled and there’s no disputing the sheer quality of the original title, which remains a superb platformer that’s hugely replayable. It’s also a smart introduction to the franchise for younger gamers without forcing them to raid eBay.
Tech specs Screen 2.36in colour LCD Battery life Up to 8 hours Connectivity USB-C Dimensions 112x76x12.5mm, 68g
STUFF SAYS Beautiful and packed with detail, but a bit of a missed opportunity HHH✩✩ It’s stingy with its games, so we’re stingy with our stars
Craig Grannell
It’s hard to know who the new Game & Watch is for. It’s a beautiful piece of hardware, albeit a curious mashup of NES and original Game & Watch bits. As a collector’s piece, it’s a nice item to own or gift to someone, despite the lack of a stand for when the thing’s propped on a shelf. As a handheld, it’s lacking… but if Nintendo had only bundled more games, we’d feel a lot more generous about that. 61
K1 Tested game and watch.indd 61
10/12/2020 14:14
