There's a way cooler version of the tiny $80 Super Nintendo - but you won't be able to buy it in the US

Ben Gilbert

Jun 27, 2017, 01:12 IST

Europe's already full of gorgeous old buildings, the world's finest art, and millions of beautiful people. Does it deserve a better looking Super Nintendo as well?

In September, Europe's getting the much cooler-looking version of Nintendo's new $80, miniature Super Nintendo - the Super NES Classic Edition. Just look at this thing:

Nintendo

Super fresh, right? Agreed.

Nintendo announced the Super NES Classic Edition on Monday morning; there are two near-identical versions coming to North America and Europe on September 29. The one big difference? Appearance.

The European version of the Super NES Classic Edition has the quartet of early-'90s Nintendo symbols (the green/blue/yellow/red icon in the upper right corner). It's got the adorable little 1 and 2 next to each controller port. It's got the power switch, and the massive eject button. It's got the retro-futuristic vibe of a device ripped from "Blade Runner."

But in the United States? We get the rectangular box we all grew to know and love:

Nintendo

I grew up with the Super Nintendo model seen above.

It was slightly larger, and it took cartridges - the Super NES Classic Edition is small enough to fit into a palm, and only plays the games that are built into it (no cartridges) - but it was basically what you see above. And, like many of you, I loved my SNES.

But also, as a long-time Nintendo fan, I saw the European model of the SNES and was insanely jealous. That jealousy extends to the European version of the Super NES Classic Edition. Even the box looks better!