The Super NES Classic Edition system probably looks familiar. Not only did you likely have one in your room when you were young, it’s probably making you wonder if you’ll experience the same frustrations the last time a mini console was released by Nintendo.

Z over at GeekDad reviews the system in depth, and mentions that Nintendo President Reggie Fils-Aime has promised that production for the SNES Classic was increased to keep the system from being scarce. That doesn’t mean it’s easy to find, however. If you’re on the fence about taking on the hunt for this mini console, here are a few reasons why it would be worth your time.

Play New-To-You Games…

Even though video and game rental stores were everywhere in the 1990s, they didn’t carry every SNES game you wanted to get your hands on. (Most, but not every one.) The SNES Classic puts a library of Super Nintendo games at your fingertips immediately. While it’s not possible to add or remove games from the system, with such a well-rounded variety of games, you shouldn’t have to.

When you pick up the SNES Classic, you’ll get the chance to fill in the gaps in your SNES gaming history. I never had the chance to play A Link to the Past (gasp!), so now I’ve finally settled in and played the one Legend of Zelda game that’s always been missing from my Zelda history.

… And One Completely New One

And even if you scoff and say, “Well, your rental store was terrible, because I’ve played them all!,” Nintendo has a surprise for you. The SNES Classic comes with Star Fox 2, available in North America for the first time ever. All you have to do to unlock it is complete the first level of Star Fox, and then an entirely new game is opened up to you.

If you’re a gaming completionist, don’t miss this chance to play a new classic.

(Full disclosure, I’d love to tell you how Star Fox 2 plays, but my ability to play Star Fox has not improved over the last 20 years and I haven’t been able to finish the first level.)

Share Old Favorites With the Kids

No longer will you have to begin your stories with, “You kids don’t know how lucky you have it with video games these days,” because after they take a turn on the SNES, they’ll know firsthand. You can share some of your old favorites like Super Mario World and F-Zero, and even those that you spent weeks playing in the time before maps and walkthroughs on Google like Final Fantasy III.

If you’ve always wanted to share a little of your childhood gaming favorites, this is the easiest way to do it–just plug it into the TV, and you’re ready to play.

Scratch the Nostalgia Itch

You don’t have to share with the kids if you don’t want to, though. Once you see the familiar shape of the console (as tiny as it is) and hold that SNES controller in your hand again, you’ll be transported back to the ’90s immediately. You might as well cue up some C&C Music Factory and settle in for a gaming marathon that’s a blast from the past.

It’s Just So Darn Cute

And when I say it’s tiny, I mean, it’s adorably small. The SNES Classic looks and sounds exactly how you remember it, down to the clack of the Reset button when you bat at it out of frustration.

The SNES Classic also addresses the cord issue that plagued the NES Classic; while the cord length is longer, you may want to use an extender or a wireless controller to really get the most out of the mini console.

The SNES Classic is not easy to find, but online retailers like Amazon and even ThinkGeek should carry it again soon. Keep an eye out if you’re truly longer to capture the 16-bit magic of your childhood and share it with your kids as well.

All Images © Nintendo

GeekMom received a promotional sample for review purposes.