The Game & Watch is a fantastic line of handhelds starting from the early 80s. Nintendo produced many variants, but now in 2020, we finally have a new one! Is the Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch worth buying? Let's take a look.
Unboxing & Build Quality
The box itself mimics the original Game & Watch packaging from back in the day, which is a wonderful touch. Once opened, the device reveals itself as a beautiful piece of hardware. It mimics the widescreen Game & Watch line. But this time with a real display. The build quality is exactly what you'd expect from Nintendo.
Controls & Battery
The D-pad is nice, resembling a larger version of the Donkey Kong one. The rubber A and B buttons feel authentic. A massive upgrade over the originals is the rechargeable battery via USB-C. (Trust me those battery covers and tiny batteries on the original handhelds are so annoying to deal with!) It lasts around 8 hours, which is plenty. Unless you want to play Super Mario Bros. For 8 hours straight.
Games & Features
Included on the system are:
- Super Mario Bros.
- Super Mario Bros. 2 (The Lost Levels)
- Mario Themed version of Ball
The screen looks fantastic with excellent viewing angles and colors. The built-in speaker is surprisingly loud and clear. There are also tons of secrets to discover, like the Mario Drawing Song and playable Luigi in Ball.
Verdict
Overall, the Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch is a wonderful piece of Nintendo history. With its quality build and solid game selection, it's a must-have for fans. Hopefully, this opens the door to more, maybe a Zelda one? (Update: There was!)
