Three classic The Legend of Zelda games are releasing on a special Game & Watch system this year. Nintendo’s first foray into the gaming sphere came with the original pocket-sized LCD (liquid crystal display) Game & Watch systems in the early 1980s. Each handheld came programmed with one game with two different play styles (usually presented as two different difficulties) as well as a digital clock. The first Game & Watch, Ball, centered around juggling with Game A having the player keep track of one ball and Game B adding two more balls onto the screen. The Game & Watch was invented by game designer Gunpei Yokoi who also worked with Shigeru Miyamoto on arcade classics Donkey Kong and Mario Bros. Yokoi would go on to create the Game Boy, which ended up in the hands of millions of people all around the world.
Last year, a special Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch system was released as a part of Mario’s 35th anniversary. Like the handhelds of the 80s, Super Mario Bros. featured an LCD display, the game, and a clock; however, the system had a color screen. These Mario-themed Game & Watch systems were only available for a limited time and were difficult to get a hold of. Since its release, Super Mario Bros. would sporadically appear at retail price on some online storefronts.
The Legend of Zelda Game & Watch system was announced during Nintendo’s E3 Direct presentation as a part of the series’ 35th anniversary. Three classic Zelda games from the Nintendo Entertainment System (The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link) and the original Game Boy (The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Adventure). A reskinned version of Vermin, another Game & Watch released in 1980, is also included in the system featuring Link as the player character. This handheld and will cost $49.99 and includes a black case.
Like the Super Mario Bros. 35th anniversary pocketable, the NES Zelda games and the watch will be presented in color. Link’s Awakening and Vermin will be featured in their original black and white versions. The clock in this Game & Watch will be interactive with miniature levels from the original Zelda playable on the “Watch” half of the system.
Like the Super Mario Bros. released last year, fans should expect difficulties procuring a Game & Watch this fall. Fifty bucks for four older games (two of which are already available in their original form and one remade fresh on Nintendo Switch) is a pretty steep price. This is not likely to affect the sales of the product though. Even though it was disappointing that The Legend of Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma’s announcement that Nintendo does not have any other Zelda titles in the works for its 35th anniversary besides expansions for last year’s Age of Calamity and the ongoing development of the Breath of the Wild sequel, the release of the Game & Watch in November is a little treat to keep us busy between Skyward Sword in July and the next mainline Zelda in 2022.
Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda will release on November 12, 2021.
Source: Nintendo