With the NES Classic Mini currently proving to be quite hard to find at retail right now, chances are that the thought of sourcing its Japanese sibling may have crossed your mind. Released at the same time and boasting a design which imitates that of the system that started it all – 1983's "Family Computer", or Famicom – this Japanese variant appears to be slightly easier to obtain, despite the fact that you'll have to order one from abroad. However, should you choose to take the plunge – GameDigga kindly supplied our unit – you'll find a console which is well worth the effort, despite the obvious similarities it shares with the western version.
The biggest difference between the Famicom Classic Mini and the NES Classic Mini is obviously the design. As we all know, Nintendo's 8-bit hardware was redesigned by Lance Barr when it was released in North America, and the cute red-and-white casing was usurped in favour of a VCR-style aesthetic which attempted to distance the NES from consoles like the Atari 2600, which had turned retailers against the industry following the crash of '83. The Famicom Classic Mini looks like a toy, and that's part of its charm; while the NES has an iconic style, it's angular and even somewhat dull in comparison.
Like the NES Classic Mini, this system suffers from very short cable length which forces you to sit right in front of the television. You could argue that in the case of the Famicom, this was the norm – look for any image of Japanese kids playing on the console in the '80s and you'll see them right in front of the TV – but for 30-something players today, the prospect of sitting cross-legged on the floor might be less appealing. Unlike the NES Classic Mini – which has both wireless and wired solutions to this problem – there's no way of overcoming this issue with the Famicom Classic Mini.
The design of the Famicom is replicated so closely that the system features hardwired controllers, just like the original, and these slot onto the sides of the machine when not in use. Because the Famicom Classic Mini is smaller, the pads have naturally been shrunk as well to ensure that they still fit. This is perhaps the biggest bugbear with this system; while the pads are still perfectly usable, those of you with large hands might find them uncomfortable over long periods of time.
Using hardware from overseas usually means jumping through some annoying hoops when it comes to power supplies, but the Famicom Classic Mini is powered by USB and therefore presents no headaches for importers. There's no PSU in the box, but you can use any USB power block you have lying around the house – anyone with a recent smartphone is likely to have several already. You can also use your TV's USB socket to supply the unit with power, if it has one. The console connects to your TV via HDMI and – as was the case with the NES Classic Mini – the picture quality is superb. The same filter options are on offer here, too – in fact, language aside, the interface is exactly the same, as you might expect given that the internal tech is identical across the Japanese and western editions of this miniature hardware. That means save states for each game and scanned manuals which can be accessed online via QR codes, as well as impeccable emulation.
Software
Like the NES Classic Mini, the Famicom Classic Mini comes loaded with 30 games. Here's the full list:
- Balloon Fight
- Castlevania
- Donkey Kong
- Double Dragon II: The Revenge
- Dr. Mario
- Downtown Nekketsu Koushinkyoku
- Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari
- Excitebike
- Mario Bros.
- Pac-Man
- Ice Climber
- Galaga
- Yie Ar Kung-Fu
- Super Mario Bros.
- The Legend of Zelda
- Atlantis no Nazo
- Gradius
- Ghosts 'n Goblins
- Solomon's Key
- Metroid
- Tsuppari Ozumo
- Super Mario Bros. 3
- Ninja Gaiden
- Mega Man 2
- Super Contra
- Final Fantasy III
- Mario Open Golf
- Super Mario USA
- Kirby's Adventure
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
The software lineup is also slightly different, with Bubble Bobble, Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, Donkey Kong Jr., Final Fantasy, Kid Icarus, Punch-Out!!, StarTropics and Tecmo Bowl making way for Atlantis no Nazo, Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari (AKA River City Ransom / Street Gangs), Downtown Nekketsu Koushinkyoku, Final Fantasy III, Mario Club Golf, Solomon's Key, Tsuppari Sumo and Yie Ar Kung-Fu. If you don't speak Japanese then you're naturally going to struggle with some of those titles, and the likes of The Legend of Zelda, which is present on both consoles but is naturally in Japanese on the Famicom Classic Mini.
As you might expect, the revised selection of games is tailored towards the Japanese audience, so while it might seem odd to lose classics like Kid Icarus, Bubble Bobble and Punch-Out!!, games like Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari, Final Fantasy III, Solomon's Key and Yie Ar Kung-Fu are held in just as high esteem in the Far East, hence their inclusion. The differences in software – twinned with the fact that it's not possible to add any more games to either the Famicom Classic Mini or NES Classic Mini – naturally lends weight to the argument that really serious Nintendo fans should own both of these consoles. From a western perspective at least, it's fascinating to see how the library of 30 games has been modified to suit Japanese desires.
The Verdict
So, should you invest in the Famicom Classic Mini if you're struggling to get hold of the NES edition? That really depends on how you feel about not being able to play some of the more text-heavy titles, and your opinion on some of the Japanese-exclusive games. The Famicom Classic Mini is perhaps best seen as a companion piece to the NES Classic Mini in this respect; there are just enough differences between the two – both cosmetic and in terms of software – to ensure that both are worthy of place under your television. It's just a shame that the controllers are so small and that the cables are so short; without a means of solving these issues via third-parties accessories, the Famicom Classic Mini is more of an acquired taste – but one that a great many Nintendo fans will want to sample nonetheless.
Thanks to GameDigga for supplying the Famicom Classic Mini used in this review.
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Comments 47
Kunio tips the balance, Famicom Mini wins over NES Classic.
I seen one of these in the flesh a few weeks ago. Guy was wanting over 100 quid for them. I couldn't believe the size of the box,it's tiny.
@Shiryu I agree with you, but for me it's the addition of Mario Club Golf (although I would've also been swayed by a Nekketsu sports title).
Ours is definitely the better version. As their controllers are too small and tethered to the console.
A few also popped up a week after the "launch" of the NES mini in Switzerland.
But a 120chf (£96) console with some games I won't be able to play because of the language barrier is a bit much.
They were all sold within hours though.
@World Kunio turned 30th this year and I am not seeing enough respect for the dude.
I guess that only reason I want the Famicom Mini over the Classic is because I've never seen a famicom, and it'd fit nicely on a desk! (although that could go for both 😛)
Being an owner of both versions, I can say that the controllers are REALLY uncomfortable to play and the language barrier makes difference only on the RPGs titles. Anyway, I bought the Famicom mini just as a collector item and turned on just to check if it was working, instead of the NES mini, which is played three or four times a week.
I want both, but not for the prices scalpers and play asia are asking.
I own a OG famicom but i can't tune the thing in. Not confident in modding it either :/
@Shiryu Agreed! Tokyo Rumble was an (overpriced) letdown as far as 30th Celebrations go, but I feel I've done my part in tracking down a physical copy of Ike Ike! and loading my Christmas wish list up with Kunio sports titles I don't physically have yet
(Uh, except Nekketsu Street Basket. Obviously.)
They're both bad.
@World I had to pick between writing a feature with every Kunio game on Nintendo systems or Mira: One year Later. Never enough time...
Also another big plus for the Famicom Mini despite being a sports title that is obviously targeted at Japanese gamers:
Ridicously fun and addictive, as any good Famicom game should be.
@Shiryu I think you chose well. I'd personally get more out of the Kunio retrospective, but I'd say there are more fans of XCX out there (at least on this site).
Yeah! I noticed the sumo game there and wondered. It's not one of heard of that I can remember (or maybe just ignored). Looks fun though!
This looks amazing but it's a completely impractical dust magnet in reality. For collectors only me thinks😉
Softline lineup?
Did you mean software or is that a term I haven't heard.
Edit: it's fixed now.
@World The series continued with a enhanced version for the PC Engine CD and later peeked with the very best Sumo game ever on the Super Nintendo.
Scratch that: Best Sumo game on any system, ever!
The review doesn't mention that a few of the titles, like The Legend of Zelda, are the Disk System version and thus have different music and sound effects!
I was in Japan when this was released and scoured so many stores in Akhibara/Shinjuku/Shibuya to get what felt like must have been the last one at the time. Still haven't opened it and not sure I will, but they do look great and such a great collectible novelty.
@Shiryu Nice! I don't have a PC Engine, but I might see if I can get this for the Famicom. It's super cheap anyway.
You know, the only sumo game I really knew about before this was the Wiiware version in this series (which I thought was standalone until just now).
Bet they're not having stock shortages.
Famicom Mini: a design student's nightmare, now smaller.
@Shiryu Looking forward to reading your contributions to the 'Unofficial NES Compendium'.
@Solid_Stannis
Please understand. It was 30 years ago. Nintendo might have not realized the cool design of Famicom yet. The USA version looks prettier than Japan version in my opinion.
@Loui Sadly I was not invited (but did join the Kickstarter and looking forward to getting that book!).
Playasia sell these for just over a £100, I'd rather wait to see if the European Nes come back in stock! I could buy two for that price....
Oh I am tempted to get a US version I love that box art.
"impeccable emulation"
Mario's sky is purple...
Also, @Damo, you're mistaken. Downtown Nekketsu Koshinkyoku is not Crash n' the Boys: Street Challenge. It's a game in the Kunio series that never made it out of Japan.
@Shiryu Oh, I thought I saw a snippet by you in the running sheets?
The Famicom Mini is mildly way better than the NES Mini, it gives you a better game selection and instead of waterdown versions of Castlevania, Legend of Zelda, and Metroid, it gives you the better Famicom Disk System version which had save functionality and a superior soundtrack. The controllers are quite nice as well and you get two of them instead of one like the NES Mini. The only thing that may turn down foreign players is the short cord, small controller size and the fact that you can't change them as they are hardwired into the system.
I know many are pissed at Nintendo for making the cords too short on the NES Classic Mini but at least there are solutions for those whereas the Famicom Mini doesn't had any solution, odd thing is the Japanese audience seems to be okay with the Famicom Mini and is enjoying the system whereas audience overseas are ranting over something that could easily be remedy on their NES Classic Edition.
Solomon's Key is, in my opinion, one of the finest games ever made. Outside of DK94, I don't know if any other game that balances platforming and puzzle gaming so perfectly.
I'd literally only want it for the asthetics, since it doesn't have the best game ever made... Tecmo Bowl!
Man I wish we got final fantasy 3. In the west we only got this game as a ds release years after the original release. I have always wanted to play 2 and 3 in their original forms.
The NES mini is by far the better version: detachable, normal-sized controllers and better game selection. The Famicom mini doesn't even have Punch-Out!!, lol? All the fighting games on the Famicom mini really don't appeal to me, in fact it has way to many fighting games.
@Shiryu I can't stand kuniokun, but he has like half a dozen games on 3DS in Japan. Including a compilation of 11 games that just came out a couple of weeks ago in Japan, so he had quite the 30th anniversary celebration, at least in Japan.
@retro_player_22 what do you need the in-game save system for when you have suspend points...so that's a mute point of your's. also I wouldn't necessarily call the disk system soundtracks superior to the cartridge ones. they are just two different instrumentations for the same sheet music. tbh I like the LoZ cartridge instrumentation better than the disk system one. with Metroid and Castlevania it's the other way around.
The real question is : is there the same awful latency in the famicom mini's games as in the nes mini's ?
Not really any point unless you can read Japanese tho I like the idea of having the Japanese version as it looks cool
@manu0 Well, he is my favorite video game character of all time, so... guess we agree to disagree. And yes, I played all those games when they were new, they were so much fun with friends. I would really love to get all the new ones localized, a shame they are not being released over here.
@Loui Hmmm... wonder if Sam printed something I said on social media or something... oh well, we will find out soon. ^_^
@smashboy2000 I have no latency on my NES Classic Mini. As I have told most people, make sure you're TV/LCD/Monitor is set to GAME MODE. For instance , by default Samsung LCD have picture mode on DYNAMIC by factory default. Every picture processing mode will delay the image being displayed causing that lag, it is not the systems fault.
Anyone know if Nintendo did anything to change how you kill Pols Voice in this version as the second controller doesn't have a microphone?
I'd definitely prefer the Famicom over the NES as the Japanese versions of some of the games are easier. Double Dragon 2 for instance can be beaten on easy or normal, it doesn't require you to play hard. Likewise Super Contra has a 30 lives cheat that was taken out of the US version. On the flip side though, Rockman 2 doesn't have an easy mode... 😉
@smashboy2000 there is no (noticeable) latency, must be your setup
"but for 30-something players today, the prospect of sitting cross-legged on the floor might be less appealing."
I take exception to that generalized statement. I like to sit cross-legged on the floor. Not that I glue my eyes in front of the screen, however. It certainly helps me concentrate more. And I feel it's better than playing while slouched on a couch like some lazy drone.
@Shiryu I've just had another look, you're definitely in there talking about the NES and Kunio. That's pretty cool!
@Loui Most Excellent!
@Gauchorino Thanks, will update. And Mario's sky being purple has nothing to do with bad emulation: http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=11846.0
@Damo 1. Sure thing.
2. No post in that link gave a definitive answer as to whether or not the OP's issue was an emulation problem. Every response simply speculated that it wasn't.
Nintendo seems to have been using the same NES emulator since the Wii VC days for all of their digital NES game distribution. Theirs causes games to appear darker and more drab than they do on original hardware and unofficial emulators, regardless of screen settings. This causes SMB1's sky to appear light violet and Mario's skin to appear pale yellow and his moustache green, for example. This issue has been attested by many people for years, such as by users in this thread: https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/virtual_console/are_usa_nes_virtual_console_games_darker_than_their_nes_counterparts
Also, compare SMB1's visuals as displayed from the Famicom Mini ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GQ02nXQQiM&t=1m20s ) to how they're properly displayed ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qirrV8w5SQ ).
I did end up getting this instead of an NES Mini for Christmas, and I'm really glad I did! Awesome, I love this thing, looks so cool and I actually have no issue with the controllers on this (and you get two built-in).
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