Yesterday, Nintendo lifted the lid on the one and seemingly only attempt to mark the 35th birthday of its Zelda franchise: a Game & Watch system which includes the two NES outings, as well as Link's Awakening on the Game Boy and a special version of Vermin.
What's odd is that Nintendo didn't include the original Zelda Game & Watch title, which hit stores shelves in 1989 – the same year that the Game Boy was released. The game used the Multi-Screen layout which would later inspire the Nintendo DS, with the LCD action taking place across two screens. The majority of the gameplay took place on the lower display, with Link battling monsters in a dungeon, while the upper screen was divided into inventory information and another small gameplay window. The game was later re-released as a much smaller keyring version.
While Nintendo has used the same Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch hardware design for this 2021 model, we're a little disappointed that it didn't include the Zelda Game & Watch and simply give players the option to toggle between the two screens. That would have been a happy middle ground, although we would personally have loved to see the original dual-screen design replicated for this modern release. There's just something about those clamshell systems which is strangely comforting.
Still, when you consider that the aforementioned Super Mario Game & Watch also didn't include a version of the LCD edition (originally released in 1986 as part of the 'New Wide Screen' range), we perhaps shouldn't be too shocked that Nintendo ignored the Zelda version.
On the topic of anniversaries, you know what else turns 35 this year? Metroid, which would have made a really cool 'modern' Game & Watch – especially as, unlike Zelda and Super Mario, no 'original' Game & Watch version exists. Do you think Nintendo will continue to release these devices, and will you continue to buy them? Let us know with a comment below.
Thanks to Ashley Day for inspiring this piece!
Comments 32
Including the original Game & Watch would have taken effort. Nintendo doesn't want effort. Just our 50 bucks.
I didn’t know the dual screen ones even even existed until today. But they looks nice.
I still own it, though it doesn't work anymore
http://pica-pic.com/zelda/
You're welcome 😊
Edit: It's also playable within Game & Watch Gallery 4 for GBA, which is available on Wii U eShop if you don't have the cartridge
Why go the extra mile when you can do the bare minimum?
See also: Super Mario All-Stars 3D and NSO.
this is loads of fun and a shame they didn't bring it back. it's the mario game and watch game all over again
It is a bit of a shame. Getting Zelda 2 and Links Awakening makes up for it as an extra for me at least. The original NES Zelda is the important one to me as a pick up and play collectible as I don’t have nostalgia for the game & watch as much.
I’d love a Metroid version with 1 and 2 on it. That’s the big 3 for me: Mario, Zelda, Metroid.
Just makes me think if they did the 2 screen version it could've had the DS games. 😭
I got that 1989 Game and Watch, it is a lot of fun to play still to this day
I hope they keep making them. I really enjoy playing the Mario one, and I think they make really cool little collectors items.
I wish they would include the original G&W Zelda in the one they're releasing. Always wanted to get one but the prices on eBay tend to get crazy.
I had one of these back in the day. The Zelda theme was cool. It was a bit deeper than your typical G&W title but still not really an adventure game.
@everynowandben You're the real MVP.
@Muddy_4_Ever Thank you so much
@everynowandben doesn't that use flash?
@N00BiSH Correct, it uses Flash which presents a problem.
@sleepinglion Funny thing is they actual ported the original G&W Zelda with Game & Watch Gallery 4, a GBA game that only had one screen, and they made it work. It is a pity they didn't include it in this newest release.
@sdelfin How/why does flash "present a problem"?
Looks better than the new one & it's 32 years old 😂
@everynowandben my understanding is that it is a security risk and the software is no longer supported by Adobe and they even claim to block Flash content from running in some way since earlier this year. Flash support has been removed from various browsers as well, so it's not as easy to use as in the past, and that would vary depending on operating system.
I’ve still got my Zelda G&W, incredibly it still actually smells brand new! I remember it had two interesting gimmicks, the first was a continue button instead of the usual Game A and Game B modes of other G&Ws so you could carry on after dying, which was a really nice addition.
The other was that it had an actual ending. Most (all?) other G&Ws would just loop the score back to 0000 after hitting 1999 (or was it 1299? It was a clock you see, so the left digit never went beyond 1 and the next digit beyond 2). Anyway, when you hit whatever maximum score was possible, the game would end and a tune would be played to indicate you’d beaten it. It was refreshing to have something that didn’t loop infinitely until you got bored and died or the batteries got bored and died.
Anyway, I’ll definitely be getting one of these as it’s always nice to add another G&W to the collection! I agree though it is a shame not to include the actual Zelda G&W in there.
@sleepinglion Be careful, the fanboys will get you for this comment!
maybe for the 50th anniversary they'll do this with Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks built in
Now wouldn't it be cool if the next Game & Watch they make actually IS one of these double-screened ones? Some of the most famous ones are the Donkey Kong clamshell Game & Watch systems, so Nintendo, if you're reading this: make it happen!
Yes. I know of that thing's existence. I actually really like it. Pretty much a really fun dungeon crawler-type game. I recommend it.
I've got the original Zelda game and watch, and yes I'll be buying the new one too
They maybe should have put a variation of this in the new Game & Watch rather than the other game they put in.
Still trying to unlock this one on the Game and Watch Gallery for the GBA... hardest task ever!
@MatoFilipovic Cool, bro! I had no idea they included it there, I'll look it up.
@AlienigenX I hear you, it's been years since I last tried on my copy, and I only made it to 110 stars out of the required 160 to unlock it 😖
What a missed opportunity….having links awakening is very cool though
@sleepinglion It is the last game to be unlocked so it might take some time to get there, but it is worth it
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