The Nintendo NES Classic Mini was warmly welcomed by many a HEXUS reader when it was launched back in the summer. The mini retro console has been very popular and has been in short supply ever since availability (November), with people paying well over the odds for consoles via eBay, and others were simply unable to source one before Xmas 2016.
As sold, the HDMI TV friendly Nintendo NES Classic Mini console offers some controller flexibility with twin controller ports that also accept controllers from the Wii/Wii U era. But for ‘authentic’ NES style play there’s a single Classic Mini controller in the box. Power supply in is via a USB cable (AC adaptor not supplied).
For games software library expandability there is none, nothing at all. There’s no cartridge slot, no download store, and no card slot present. So buyers better be happy with the following selection of 30 games:
While many will be happy with the game selection, above, some retro-gamers might miss one or two of their favourite NES titles absent from the above lineup. The tantalising ability to edit the game availability list, to add some of your favourite NES gaming gems, has thus been a labour of love for various console hackers.
The first reports of a successful general purpose hack, for ordinary folk to install extra games on the NES mini, have been published this weekend. It looks like forum members at GBX.ru are the source of the hack. Since that site is in Russian an English language reddit page has been set up to support would-be modders.
Hacking your NES Mini is a multi stage process, requiring a PC connection, that could give your little console digital indigestion or worse. There is also the question of the legality of shovelling ‘ROMz’ onto a device. However, there are step by step guides available if you have the inclination and time required to fiddle with your console in this manner. If you successfully hack this console it is shown, below, that you can have a list of 60 different games complete with artwork, and save game support.
Reporting news of this hack doesn’t constitute a recommendation. Proceed at your own risk.