NES Mini - Specs are OUT

Sounds like a great controller so I don't blame you for hanging on to it. Also, it'd be the perfect controller (with the SNES adapter) for SNES classic.

I'm still on the fence about sending my SNES classic back and completing the return, because I've been having fun playing Super Metroid. The scratched (supposedly brand new) 3DS XL (and no way to replace it through Dell without returning the whole package) had me on the fence about returning it. Going to see if I can swap (buy & return) the 3DS for one in mint condition from Best Buy. 

This is a good site (that's been around a while and fairly reputable) for buying console hardware, computers, and electronics. It's tax free (outside of NJ & NY)! Maybe a good site to buy the Switch.
www.bhphotovideo.com/

Target is the place to buy a new 3DS XL (this week at least), because 2 models (3DS XL galaxy and 3DS XL black) are on sale for $174.99.
www.target.com/s?searchTerm=nintendo+3ds+xl+galaxy

B&H for the "new" 2DS XL, because no taxes! Important note to anyone interested in buying a 2DS or 3DS, be sure to look for "new" in its name (on the box) because it's the latest model with the faster processor and "C" stick, which is like a 2nd mini-analog control used for some current & future games.
The new 2DS LX is probably the better buy (over 3DS XL) because they say most ppl turn off the 3D anyway. Also, 2DS XL includes the charger (3DS XL doesn't). From the reviews I read, the new 2DS XL offers the exact same experience as new 3DS XL (minus the 3D effect).
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1335913-REG/nintendo_jansbaab_2ds_xl_black_turquoise.html

The primary reason I chose 3DS (over, say the Switch) is because of its huge library of highly rated games (including backwards compatibility with DS's catalog of games). imo, Switch needs another year or so to develop its library of games... or when they the release the new Metroid Prime (sequel) and bundle it with the Switch, I might just be sold at that point.

Regarding the borders issue w/ SNES classic... I have to admit, this was partly due to user error or just my TV not being very user friendly, depending on how you look at it. The borders still exist at top and bottom, but their size reduced quite a bit by changing my TV's settings.

The issue I found was that my TV's "Game mode" kept reverting back to "Standard mode"... until I found an obscure setting on my TV that set input types to for various devices (setting the "HDMI 1" input to type = "Game" fixed it). After that change, "Game mode" set in place (without automatically reverting to some other mode) as you'd expect and the borders at the top & bottom of the screen are now only 1/8" (practically nothing).

Don't know if the scratch is Dell's fault or not. If it's new in the box and Dell never opened it, the scratch could have originated from the factory in China. What i found irritating (about Dell return/exchange policy) was the inability to exchange individual items that came with the package deal (at least, their online site doesn't allow it). 

yeah, with your monitor though, it's easy to lay blame on them (since their name is on it).

I found an old Stargate SNES game that I'd never heard of before. The game itself is loosely based on the movie (much like the Jurassic Park game), but the animations of your character are pretty impressive for a 16-bit 2D game, at times they look almost motion captured. The gameplay reminds me quite a bit of the Super Star Wars games but not nearly as good. It's kind of hard to play too, due to poor controls.

Not surprising. Movie based games tend to suck. They're usually just cash-in's relying on a popular IP to drive sales, rather than developers making the best use of their own creative talent and inspiration.

Yeah, I hope they get it right in the case of Star Wars. Who wants to be known for f***ing up Star Wars (besides George Lucas with his prequels)? Legions of Star Wars fans would be out for blood (with devs names are in the games' credits, they could be found). 

I've tried speed running, I think I beat it once in 56 minutes. You have to play perfectly from the start, every second counts. That means never stopping for anything and avoiding taking damage on the way to boss fights. If you are going up that shaft near the beginning of the game and miss a step and fall back down, you've already messed up the speed run.

*edit* I found this one, it's shown in that other video:



It's pretty awesome, this guy's wall jumping for the entire game, using that speedball glitch and doing shinespark (when you crouch while using speedboost) then holding onto it to get past parts quickly. 25:18 the powerbomb doesn't complete destroy the obstacle above and it seems like he glitches through it to get past. Also towards the end (37:30) he somehow glitches past those red glass/liquid barriers in the room leading to the final boss. Also seems to use the shinespark jump (diagonally) to go all the way up this shaft and glitches through stuff that would normally stop it. There are many glitches and exploits in this game that are pretty hard to pull off, but they are there. I was reading about one where you can open those super missile barriers that move up and down from the wrong side if you shoot it just right.

Anyone still caring about these things at all after a few months?

Funny you should say that. I haven't played it for a few months.

However, I do believe there are reasons ppl want them. The games are old but gold... a few of them anyway, like Super Metroid, Zelda: ALTTP, and Super Castlevania (which has one of the best soundtracks ever for a 16-bit game).

F-Zero isn't too shabby either. Although the game doesn't have much depth, Nintendo nailed the gameplay (not easy for racing game relying on a simple directional pad) and they achieved just the right level of difficulty.

Don't entirely agree with Zombie about the quality of the hardware though. It's cheap hunk of plastic (compare that to the portable amps I bought recently, which are encased in solid metal and built to last - not much of price difference either). My main gripe is the cover for the controller ports. It's connected by nearly paper-thin plastic and could break off without much effort. Also, it (the controller port cover) is one piece for both controller ports... meaning, if you play 1-player most of the time and connect only 1 controller, the 2nd controller port is open and dust would eventually accumulate in it. Of course, you could solve that issue by putting a piece of scotch tape over it.

On the plus side, it has a small form factor - uses little power, compared to firing up emulators on your PC. And the emulation is good. The games play the way you remember them, and without slow-down (at least, none that wasn't present when playing on the original hardware). An example is Super Ghouls and Ghosts. I owned and played this game on the original SNES, and the slow-down in certain parts of the game (including the 1st stage) was how the game actually played on the original hardware. It's interesting that (through emulation) they can copy the games so well that even the flaws are preserved, including the purposeful gawd-awful gameplay of a game like Super Ghouls and Ghosts. "Purposeful" in a literal sense, since the game devs deliberately designed the game that way, in an apparent attempt to make the hardest platformer of all time. But the game wasn't hard through challenging gameplay or level design... it's hard through sh!tty gameplay. Basically, I'm saying that the game still sucks in all the same ways.

Yeah, I agree. I made no effort to acquire the mini NES. The graphics haven't aged nearly as well as SNES.

It was a good system for its time. Games like Bionic Commando, Double Dragon 2 (especially 2-player co-op), Contra, and the original Zelda were lots of fun. I think we could credit the NES for reviving the video game industry in the 80's, even though I don't feel that the more recent hype for mini NES is warranted.

My 8Bitdo bluetooth receiver for the mini SNES came today, just got done testing it out with my SNES30 controller and it works GREAT. I sit a good 8-10 feet away from my TV and there is no noticeable lag or anything. The bluetooth receiver even came with a USB connector that lets it pair on PC as well.  The battery lasted pretty good, I played for 2 days for several hours each before having to charge it again.

I'm glad I didn't get the "Pro" version of this controller, I was reading reviews on Amazon (currently rated 3.5 stars) and a lot of people are complaining about the analog sticks getting stuck with videos showing it. People say you can fix it by loosening 1 or 2 screws on the back but these controllers should not have been released like that, it's a huge quality control issue.

*edit* I do agree about the cover for the controller ports on the mini SNES, they could have easily made that part much better. As for the rest of it, I think it looks and feels very much like the original SNES, just in a very small form and (sadly) missing the cartridge slot. If Nintendo had made these with the actual cartridge slot too, I would've gladly paid more.

Aside from the analog sticks (which are also buttons) it also has 2 sets of shoulder buttons so it's laid out exactly like the Playstation 3 and 4 controller which means it should handle any modern games just fine too. On that note, the 8bitdo bluetooth receiver I got also supports PS3, PS4, Wii Mote and Wii U Pro controllers.

I got the SNES30 controller specifically to play SNES games, though I have played Tekken 7 on it and it worked quite well for that game. It's also awesome to play Cuphead with it.

I don't understand the need for lights on the controllers, especially not on the back so it's pointing towards the screen. I actually put a sticker over the red led lights on the back of the PS3 controller because in a darkened room, the light would reflect off the screen, driving me nuts...

Could cover up the light with some black tape or something maybe.