Happy SNES Classic Edition launch day, folks! If you're reading this you most likely fall into one of two camps - those who were lucky enough to get their hands on a system, and those who weren't and are really, really sore about it. Sadly we can't help if you're in the second camp, but what we can do is show you exactly what the North American SNES Classic looks like.
As you can see in the shots below - snapped by our very own Steve Bowling - it's a perfect replication of the boxy beast which launched in North America all those years ago - while we're sure a great many of our American readers will disagree, we vastly prefer the Super Famicom / European SNES design.
If you take issue with that, why not post a comment below - you know you're going to anyway. In the meantime, browse the images and then let us know if you're SNES Mini has arrived today.
Comments 71
The NA version is cool in its own way. I always thought the cartridges looked way more awesome than the PAL/Japanese ones.
I grew up as a Genesis (Mega Drive) child, so this will be interesting when I get it. The only SNES game I played was Super Mario World.
Mines here. Love it
If I can get my hands on one I may try for the European version. I had the NA version back in the day but find the Euro more attractive. I also like the colored buttons on the controller. The American version is just bland to me. May try stopping by Target to see if I can get the NA version. I won’t be holding my breath.
@NickOfTime90 I do agree. While I grew up with the pal look I still like the look of the system. Except the controllers. The pal and famicom versions win in that part.
Still bitter at Walmart for cancelling my preorder back in July.
@MariOnline I expected the snes box to be slightly larger, this is just beautiful.
Never liked the US SNES its too full of angles, the EU/JPN version with rounded edges is so much nicer
@SilentHunter382 Yeah the four-color controllers are awesome, although I'm curious how the concaved y and x buttons feel.
@MariOnline put the link to your picture within [ img ] [ /img ] (without the spaces in the box brackets) to put in in your post
@NickOfTime90 It is hard to do a comparison as I have not held an American version of the controller.
The best way for you to experience it is to turn your American controller sideways so that your thumb is over the a and b button at the same time.
@Bunkerneath He already had the picture in his post?
@SilentHunter382 Sorry, my last comment was a little unclear. I also grew up with a PAL SNES so I meant the x/y buttons of the american one.
@NickOfTime90 Ah now I get you. I say it would just be the same as the Nes buttons.
Good luck today everyone. We're all gonna need it.
Haha, a Ranma 1/2 game
So excited! Never got the chance to get the NES Classic, but glad I got this one! Super Metroid all weekend!
Got an American (which should be in my hands today) and a European one that was shipped yesterday from Game.UK
I even stocked up on Wii Super Famicom controllers (bought 4 over the course of the summer) so I can save the originals that came with the system (thank you extension cord)
Looking forward to it!
@NickOfTime90 me too. I was worried it was gonna be bigger with the two controls but really surprised and well appy
@NickOfTime90 if they ever do a n64 mini. I can't see them fit it in the box with a controller
I'm currently waiting in front of BestBuy right now, 10th place inline (wish me luck)
@NickOfTime90 Ha, my work computer blocked it
I was 32 out 48 at my locale target. My heart was pounding as the ticket guy got nearer and nearer
@Meaty-cheeky
GOODLUCK!
Mine is travelling, should arrive to pickup point in few hours or so. SO yes I have it. With the horrible Nordic Price. I might be sour if the drop price when more in stock
I live middle of nowhere so I have no chance to buy from stores. Queuing for sucha thing seems exciting (...except when you are first one who doesn't get it)
@SilentHunter382 Wow, never realised that those are the same. Haha case solved!
@MariOnline Haha no, that controller is huge!(And the console itself is bigger than the SNES as well)
@Bunkerneath Silly workcomputers
Can’t believe I managed to get one XD
Heading down to Best Buy to wait in line... fingers crossed, my friends.
Either way, I love the body SNES look, but the super famicom has its merits as well if the buttons on the SFC controller were concave like the NA SNES, it’d be a true champ!
@Finntendo Thanks, and congrats you are now one of the lucky few that will get this classic system.
The NA SNES is the GOAT! Looking forward to picking mine up today!
Yes I do have to disagree I like the North American SNES CLASSIC MINI design so much better and I like that it is not the same design as Japan and Europe's SNES CLASSIC MINI which I think looks like an older wireless router .
The NA SNES for me was life from 91 to 96. I adored every nuance of the system. I still remember being in the playground as I went through Nintendo Power's reveal of the SNES along with concept art for the design.
Today I get my mini, and by next Friday I will have a Euro SNES to have best of both worlds.
Good luck everyone! My local Wal-Mart got 0 lol
Man... I hope my order on amazon.com goes through. I am from Brazil (living in Europe) and this squared version is the one that makes my heart beat a little faster. In any case, I have saved the European version as well B]
@Romeo-75 wirelles router XDXDXDXD I am dying here.... XD
I was able to get mine today this morning without a pre-order, so excited.
Agreed, I find the shape and colors of the SNES JAP/EUR better looking than the American version, although I do have a few friends who disagree, just a matter of tastes.
@Meaty-cheeky I was thoroughly surprised I showed up at 5:30 a.m. At my local Target store and they opened at 8 a.m. they gave us tickets they had 51 in stock, and believe it or not there was 51 people in line at 7:45 am. I was number 9.
I was worried they were going to have like 10 or 15 like when they released the NES classic.
i picked up the NA version in my home state of South Carolina at midnight. Hoping to see a few PAL ones in the wild in June when i come through Dublin, London, and Paris! keep em coming!
Best SNES design. I'll try to snag one at gamestop today. If I can't I can't no worries.
Long live purple.
A miracle happened last night. I actually got one!
My local target had 42 in stock this morning. I got there right when they opened and there were 6 people waiting in line. Situation already looking better than the NES Mini. Glad I got one from a store at the actual retail price. I never once saw the NES Mini available anywhere. I hope all the scalpers choke on their purchases.
The stock in my town is a lot better than the NES Classic Edition. Assuming Nintendo provides restocks at some point it may not be too hard for someone to buy one this holiday season.
Crap! Royal Mail tried to delivery my SNES Mini but because no one was in, now I have to wait an extra day before I can pick it up from their depot.
I’ve been unsuccessful in getting one. I was planning to stand in line last night or this morning, but of course I’ve been terribly ill the last few days and can barely leave bed.
Sitting here playing SMW on our mini right now.
There were only 3 people in line at my local gamestop when it opened and 13 available. A much smoother and more fun experience then I expected, there is definitely more stock this time around than for the NES mini but I imagine it's going to be harder to find as a day rolls on.
I had a European SNES Classic preordered way back at the beginning of summer because you guys got preorders first. But I cancelled it the moment I secured a Canadian preorder for the North American SNES Classic. As cool as the other design is, the North American version is the one I grew up with playing at friends' houses (I never was lucky enough to have my own SNES). So this is pure nostalgia for me. Plus hopefully my cancelled Amazon UK order meant somebody in the UK was able to get one. Picked up my preorder this morning and I cannot wait to go home after work and start playing some Secret of Mana!!!
Why do you keep posting blasphemies like this NintendoLife? The American version is the only design acceptable for that device.
I got an snescem luckily but i had to wait in a storm for it. (so worth it) The storm stopped when i got it.
Should have posted some images with the US and UK ones next to each other for comparison.
I always liked our US SNES more than the PAL one, but preferred the colorful buttons over our bland buttons. Luckily, my Ascii Pad (my favorite third party controller, ever), had the multi-colored buttons. I thought our carts looked better too.
The search begins...
I always liked the US design better. I love the purple buttons too!
I'm from small town, Wisconsin....found quite a few SNES minis. Quite the difference from the NES mini...I've never even seen one of those!
There was a line of 20 or so people at our Gamestop this morning. Everyone got one, so no one was salty.
I must say, I had a really positive experience getting my SNES Classic. Best Buy handed out tickets at 7, a few hours before they opened. I had my girlfriend hold a spot in line until I finished my shift.
I was the 25th person in line to get a ticket. From what I heard from someone else in line, the same store only handed out 24 NES Classics, so it made me feel like Nintendo truly did a better job stocking their product this time.
So I left for two hours, then came back before the store opened, and they were still handing out tickets! They opened the doors and I was in and out in 3 minutes. Granted, I was the fifth person in line this time, but this was a painless, and ultimately enjoyable experience. I hope more people had an easy time getting their SNES Classic.
I always liked the PAL/Japanese SNES/Super Famicom better than ours here in North America. Mainly I liked the look of the controllers with the 4-colored buttons. But, that being said I grew up playing the NA version so it grew on me. I got mine this morning at my local small town Walmart. They only got 24 but I was first in line. Can't wait to play level 1 of Star Fox so I can unlock and finally play Star Fox 2!
Actually, I bet most NA consumers prefer the SF style. I would have much preferred to get the PAL version but I'm lucky enough to have scored #39 of 45 at Walmart last night. So no complaints here!
On a side note, my buddy was one of those guys who imported a Super Famicom before the SNES released in NA and I always coveted it! Nintendolife, would be cool to do a poll of NA users which they prefer!
(Update) I got one!
@Danrenfroe2016
Same here man I was thinking my store would only get like 15 or 30 units max, but shockingly we got over 60 systems. Nintendo wasn't lying that they were making more systems this time around.
Also congrats by the way.
I was impressed by the game mag pics of the Super Famicom just before it was released, disappointed by the box we eventually got in the US.
Ah, Ranma ½: Chougi Rambuhen, a sleeper hit of a fighting game for me, I gotta say. I need to re-purchase it at some point.
@Meaty-cheeky awesomeness!
@AcesHigh I love the NA version.
I'm with Damien. I'm an American and I hate the US Snes design. The super famicon design looks much better, especially the colored buttons
Got mine this morning at Toys R Us. Just arrived 15 minutes before opening. I was 40th in line with stock of 45. Very few people turned away. Nintendo actually made a fair amount of product this time!
@Bunkerneath The non-North American version looks like the underside of a vacuum cleaner.
As an original SNES owner, I'm more impressed by the games in the pictures. 0_0
I like them both, but it makes sense since purple is one of my favorite colors. I still kinda wanna get one because if I move to Japan like I'm hoping it will be cool to be unique
I like them both, but I owned the American one, so I'd be throwing out a ton of nostalgia value if I skipped it. In some subtle ways (but especially the boxiness), it feels like a natural progression from the NES, while the other version feels (naturally) like a progression from the Famicom.
The NES was huge in the US, so tying in the style probably felt more important there.
In person, of course, they are all so much fun. They are cute and cool all at once and functional. The controllers are what really bring me back. Right down to the squishy select and start and the way the texturing on the controllers makes them slide over a smooth surface like skates on ice. (My kids already made the mistake of trying to set them on the console and did the old reactionary dive to catch them like I used to do).
The best part, is that my brain gets all the old stimuli from holding that controller and watching for the cues in games, so the old neural pathways I burned in just start doing their thing (muscle memory). Before I even consciously recognize some of the Star Fox enemies I find myself already falling into patterns to defeat them.
USA SNES is probably the ugliest console design of all time.
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