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Plumbing around again

To celebrate the original Game & Watch turning 40, Nintendo’s new handheld goes big on period-correct nostalgia

■ 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.

■ 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.

■ 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.

Plumbs a time The digital clock plays 35 animations through the day, including guest appearances from Mario’s friends and foes.

■ 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. £45 / stuff.tv/GameWatch

■ 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. 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.