World news – US – Nintendo’s new & game proves the company is on its own way

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It was a busy week with video game equipment. This week saw the launch of two next-generation platforms, with the launch of PlayStation 5 and the Microsoft Xbox Series X and Series S consoles. Each platform is designed around new developments such as ray tracing and fast-loading SSDs. Meanwhile, Nintendo is launching today. . . An hour where you play Super Mario Bros. It may sound strange timing, but it is also very much in line with Nintendo’s history: It’s a company that always goes its own way..

New game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. It is an exceptionally fine piece of hardware. It is modeled after the classic handheld Game & watch – which was a precursor to the Game Boy – with a color scheme inspired by the original Japanese Famicom console. In terms of functionality, the device is incredibly straightforward. It has three built-in games, most notably the first SMB game. There’s also Super Mario Bros. 2, known in the West as The Lost Levels, is a truly sinister sequel that remixes the first game with deceptive features like deadly mushrooms.. Complementing the lineup is the ball, a simple but surprisingly fun version of the 1980 LCD juggling game, this time starring Mario.

All games are solid ports, the screen is nice and bright while the mobile has a cool D-pad. I’ve found myself picking up the Game & Watch regularly to sneak a level or two whenever I have a few extra minutes.. The lack of frills is almost a nice thing: I can really focus on just playing the game. It even has save states, so you can pause the game and return to the same place whenever you want. Outside of games, the main function of the Game & Watch is to be a watch. One of the face buttons simply reads « Time », and pressing it will return a Super Mario-themed watch with a plumber running and bouncing across the classic Mushroom Kingdom territories.. The playing time of the day changes as the real world changes.

If you’re being honest, the device is pretty modern. There are better and easier ways to play Super Mario Bros. And check the time. But Game & has the right blend of nostalgia and functionality to make it worth checking out for me. I definitely don’t need it, but I do. It’s similar to Nintendo’s line of mini consoles, which started a surprisingly long-standing trend after the release of NES Classic Way back in 2016..

Here’s the thing: Only Nintendo will release a new, innovative device the same week that its biggest competitors release ambitious home consoles. The situation is indicative of Nintendo as a whole. While Sony and Microsoft focus on each other’s external maneuverability, Nintendo is in its own world, separate from concerns like frame rates, 3D audio, or 4K graphics..

This isn’t always a good thing. Oftentimes, Nintendo’s solo nature leads to outright failures, like the previous Wii U. But for now, the company’s distinct focus is clearly a positive. Just yesterday, Nintendo revealed that the Switch has been the best-selling console in the US for 23 consecutive months, and that its global lifetime sales will soon surpass the Nintendo 3DS.. Meanwhile, Animal Crossing: New Horizons – which was only released in March of this year – is already the Switch’s second best selling, with over 26 million copies sold..

It is not clear how long this momentum will last. Perhaps one day Nintendo will finally release the 4K switch, as has long been rumored. For now, though, the company’s current philosophy works – that a lean tablet with great games is the best experience for most people -. And it looks like it won’t change any amount of intimidation from next-generation devices.

Nintendo, Mario series, Super Smash Bros.. Ultimate, Game & Watch series