Options like the Sega Genesis found right now at B&H or the supremely affordable PlayStation Classic found at GameStop are all-in-one options for people who want to relive their glory days of gaming. These systems toe the line between functionality and collectibility, and as such you’ll have to weigh how much money you want to spend on them. The cheaper consoles do tend to come with their share of glitches, but the more expensive consoles are usually higher priced because of an artificial scarcity of supply. Read on for our list of the best retro releases you can buy right now. And because the modernized version of the classic handheld system features more power and more storage, Nintendo has also included the second Mario Bros. game (what they’re calling “The Lost Levels”) as well as a novelty Mario Juggling game. There is a clock mode that cycles through 35 classic animations to pay homage to the classic Mario aesthetic. While the system plays well enough, the tiny console and true-to-the-original buttons don’t make for a very comfortable gaming experience. But, that’s not really the point here. This is a novelty piece of merch, meant simply as much an item for your gaming collection as it is an actually functioning device. So, while the price feels a bit high for the functionality, it might be worth it for the true Mario fans out there. Most of the quintessential games are here — things like the original Super Mario Kart and Street Fighter II (arguably the best in the series). You’ll also find first-party standbys like Super Mario World, Zelda: a Link to the Past and the first Star Fox. Technically there are only 20 original games included, because Nintendo also loaded on Star Fox 2 — an installment of the classic space flight adventure that was actually never released. The system comes with two classic wired controllers and connects to your TV via HDMI. While we like what Sega has tried to do with the game-select interface, it does feel a little glitchy at times. And even though it isn’t that much different than the original console, the plastic-y build lacks a bit in the premium category — a problem when you consider that you’ll have to shell out almost $100 for the system. But, for Sega fans, this is a reasonable price for the collectibility offered. If you can stomach that price point, and the original NES experience is that important to you, this classic console will give you everything you’re looking for. There are 30 preloaded titles, and all the greatest hits are here: the original Super Mario Bros, the arcade classic Donkey Kong, the first Legend of Zelda, PAC-MAN, Final Fantasy, Mega Man, and more. In other words, you won’t be wanting for anything in this department, which is good because the locked hard drive means you can’t add more ROMs without hacking the device. You can earmark up to four game saves for each title, but the system only comes with one controller. There’s also some design language in PlayStation’s original releases that support a mini PS console. The first PlayStation Mini was a shrunken-down version of the larger classic, and so the released PlayStation Classic here feels pretty at home. PlayStation has included two classic wired controllers in the box and have given you the option to save on virtual memory cards. The UX and menu experience leaves a lot to be desired, and weirdly, some of the games don’t play quite as smoothly as other systems (most likely a product of poorly conceived emulation software). But, for the affordable price, it’s not the end of the world. The smaller version of the console is outfitted with the visual and physical touches that made the console’s look so famous, including the massive faceplate buttons and the strips of wood paneling. There are two original-style Atari joysticks with the classic, clicky red button. That aspect is great for the nostalgia factor, but because the joysticks are stiff and not terribly responsive, the gaming experience doesn’t feel totally modern. The price is a little high at around $75, but for the number of titles and the attention to detail on the design, this might be okay for fans of the good old days of gaming.
