NES Classic Mini hackers manage to add lots more games

by Mark Tyson on 9 January 2017, 15:31

Tags: Nintendo (TYO:7974)

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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:

Balloon Fight

BUBBLE BOBBLE

Castlevania™

Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest™

Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong Jr.

DOUBLE DRAGON II: THE REVENGE

Dr. Mario

Excitebike

FINAL FANTASY®

Galaga™

GHOSTS‘N GOBLINS™

GRADIUS™

Ice Climber

Kid Icarus

Kirby’s Adventure

Mario Bros.

MEGA MAN™ 2

Metroid

NINJA GAIDEN®

PAC-MAN™

Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream

StarTropics

SUPER C™

Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario Bros. 2

Super Mario Bros. 3

Tecmo Bowl™

The Legend of Zelda

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

 

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.



HEXUS Forums :: 4 Comments

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Might have to give this a try with my mini NES :)
Whilst I'm sure this sounds pedantic, doesn't Hexus have a policy of not allowing hacks, mods or warez information to be shared?
Lucio
Whilst I'm sure this sounds pedantic, doesn't Hexus have a policy of not allowing hacks, mods or warez information to be shared?

Yeah, crossed my mind as well. Seems a little bit odd.
If only Nintendo could add more games in the future themselves, maybe his an online update or something. At least they'll have a chance to do something similar in the (potential) upcoming SNES Mini