Video: Digital Foundry Puts the NES Mini Up Against Retro Rivals

I just want to be able to purchase one for the MSRP.... come on Nintendo.

...3 months after the thing releases.

I only care about the nitty gritty of how to find one of these dang things!

I managed to pre-order one but am curious has Nintendo actually ever restocked this thing? It seems like they've just stopped bothering and are focusing on the Switch.

I bought one on launch day, but have never seen one in store since. Still haven't been able to get a second controller.

My honest opinions on each of them NES compatible hardware:

Original NES = Too old and problematic but good video quality if works.
NES Top Loader = Nice but with mediocre video quality.
NES CE Mini = Difficult to find, easy to hack.
Analogue Nt = Too expensive for features you probably don't care about.
HiDef NES = Too complicated unless you got a good modder.
Retron 5 = Too cheap and not very well emulated.
Retro Freak = A good back-up and play system but too foreign, only support Famicom out of the box.
Raspberry Pi = Cheap but customizable.
Retro Engine Sigma = Not out yet.
RetroUSB AVS = Awesome and affordable.
Super Retro Trio = Good but not too compatible.
Retro-Bit Generations = NES emulation is hit or miss, could play most NES/Famicom games.
Retron 3 = Same as SR3.
Retron 2 = Good compatibility but bad controller.
Super FC3 Plus = Nice compatibility, too bad it use a crappy proprietary controller.
FC Mobile = Don't bother, this thing broke the moment you drop it.
Retro Duo = Good compatibility but awful video quality.
Retro Port = Okay compatibility but cheaply made.
FC Twin = Same as RetroDuo and Retron 2.
Generation NEX = Works good but is no longer in production.
Sharp NES TV = Expensive, hard to find, and lacking quality.
Retrode = Not in production anymore
Virtual Console = Cheap games, too bad the emulation sucks.
Ouya = Use as emulation box, probably the only reason to own one
PowerPak = Works great even with hack, it came with a price though and only support outdated Compact Flash cards.
EverDrive = Same as Power Pak but support SD card instead.
Mobile Phone = No buttons is lame, good luck playing with interruptions coming at any moment
PSP = Nice but lacking multiplayer.
Dingoo = Nice if you actually know what the thing is.
PC = Forget all the above even exist.

Surprised they compare it against the ps4 pro.

"...3 months after the thing releases."

@Mega_Yarn_Poochy Probably took them that long to get one.

I only got mine on Tuesday. I was so lucky. They're still like gold dust in Ireland. One I'm keeping sealed, the other I will play.

The 2 issues I had with the NES Classic Mini were only 30 games and the really short controller cord. Both issues can be overcome.

@retro_player_22 You forgot FCE Ultra GX on Wii Homebrew and nesDS on the Supercard.

The emulation on the NES Classic really brings home just how terrible the emulation is on the Wii U Virtual Console. The quality of the Wii U VC is inexcusable, NES games look washed out and blurry even over HDMI. It's some of the worst looking emulation around.

@retro_player_22 So, the RetroUSB AVS is the way to go if you're gonna use original carts, and the NES Mini is the best choice if you just want to keep it all really simple and official.

With a much longer controller cord, a simple way to return to the main menu (such as pressing Star and Select together), and maybe even the option to plug original carts into the top, I think the NES Mini would have been a no-brainer all-round.

I just wanna buy it

I have a Nes mini but there's no way I'm modding it haha

@SLIGEACH_EIRE nice one glad you finally got yours! I was lucky to get mine delivered on the day of release from The Game Collection, and an extra controller from GAME. I've yet to see one in the wild lol.

The fact that they created a shortage on purpose and just stated that the demand for it was "Greater than we anticipated", was just a sleazy thing for them to do. They knew that a large portion of fans and normal consumers alike wanted it. The worst part is they'll probably never restock it, and give some asinine reason why they didn't. I wouldn't be surprised if they did the exact same thing to a Snes Classic Edition, if that ever comes to be.

All the stuff about the Analogue NT and not even a word about the RetroUSB AVS, seems strange.

So many Retro machines during 2017...

@Dangerous25 Thank you!

I got a classic 2 weeks after launch but could never find an extra controller. In January, I happened to walk in my local Walmart and they had 30 systems, but no controllers. I bit the bullet and bought another mini, only because of scalpers jacked up prices on 10 dollar controllers. My main point is that finding a classic is only half the battle because the controllers seem to be more rare.

@retro_player_22 what is the Dingo?

@GoneFishin That DF Retro video seemed to be a shill for the Analogue nt. At least that's how I took it.

I just want Nintendo to restock the bloody thing so I can stroll in, pick it up and run home excitedly to play it. But nooo Nintendo can't make things that simple for anybody! I swear, it's like they hate making money.

They regularly restock it at their Nintendo NY store. They send out tweets letting you know it's available and always sells out within an hour.

Lovely close up picture of someone pulling ear wax out with tweezers. Just what I needed over breakfast. 🤢

When he said there was a mid-range option I was expecting the RetroUSB AVS to show up, but instead we get the original NES... Weird...

I prefer the retrousb AVS to my mini. Just looks better. Colors pop, original pads, any game.

@FragRed I work at a Target store, and we've received an average of one shipment of NES Minis every week since they launched.

Seems to be the same at all local competitions too...but it's newer enough.

We generally get 5-10 units total, but people are lined up for them before we open.

It's nuts that they're still trickling in so slowly.

First time that I've watched one of these videos and while sone of it was interesting, certain parts of this guy's comparison had me confused. "Look at these two barely indecipherable screenshots. The one on the left is obviously superior!". The part with the Virtual Console was pretty shocking, but it's not something I've noticed playing the games without comparison

I just want the controller to play with my Wii hooked to my 24" CRT. I've got a most of the games I want on cartridge to play on my NES but... well honestly I just want to play Lost Levels with a real NES controller in 240p with Scanlines.

I wish they would have included emulation on the Original Wii both Virtual Console and homebrew in the Video. I've never been able to find an in depth analysis on either option.

@Tanooki12 I wrote it wrong, it's called a Dingoo and was a Chinese handheld that came loaded with emulators. It looks like a PSP but with crappy controls and button layout. You can buy one at AliExpress for under $90.

Even though I haven't opened it up or even tried it, I think it's better than the rivals, since it's actually made by nintendo themselves. The rivals usually have cheap controllers...which break very easily, or...like the Sega retro one I have with the top loading game cart and 80 preloaded games (which only 40 were actual Genesis titles...other 40 were cheap old PC games), the top loading cart doesn't even barely work, and you have to press the reset button numerous times just to get one game to work. Glad I have the original Genesis, and since I own the original NES, that's why I never opened up the Mini yet. Other than that, the vintage retro systems are usually cheaply made and break very easily. Going online and seeing customer responses can show most of that.

I need to stop watching Digital Foundry video's, since Nintendo will never be on top specwise, so all video's about Nintendo hardware will be: "it's not as [insert adjective] as [insert competitor product]" on all aspects except maybe price. But I see 30 (overall) good games for €60 in a plug and play box. No hassle with settings, just cheap fun!

I don't agree with that guy, he's too nit-picky.

@th3r3ds0x BrickSeek

@FragRed Target stores by me have been getting either 3 or 4 every few days. have to be there before store opens & wait in line.

I just made a driver for a nes controller and play emulators. Nintendo makes trying to go the legal route useless and way to expensive.

@Biffclaven

I agree, especially in light of his excuse for not mentioning this option. He says he didn't because he doesn't have access to one. Fair enough, but fishy sounding when one realizes that he went out of his way to mention the similarly FPGA based Analogue NT Mini.

That one isn't even available yet, but he still mentioned it.

Anymore, I pretty much exclusively use the Retron 5 for my NES needs. It has a much sharper picture and more options/save states than the Wii U VC.