Games

The gaming watch is back: Remember these classics?

As the video game on your wrist returns we look back at some classic console timepieces.

Written by Ben Sillis

6 min readPublished on 27.07.2016 · 3:13 UTC

Android Wear: The game watch is back — The gaming watch is back: Remember these classics?
© Google/Nintendo/Capcom/Red Bull

Android video games aren’t just headed to your TV or your sunglasses: they’re now on your arm too. The first smartwatches running Android Wear, Google’s operating system designed for your wrist, have gone on sale, and with them have come the first Android Wear apps – and Android Wear games.

First out of the gate is Flopsy Droid, an inevitable take on the smash hit, super frustrating Flappy Bird, which switches out the doomed avian for Google’s Android mascot. Cheap clone it may sound like, but with its simple controls (Er, tap-to-flap) it’s actually well suited for the small screen of a smartwatch.

Flopsy Bird might be the advance guard of a new Android gaming invasion, but video game watches are anything but new. Back in the 1980s and 1990s, video game watches were all the rage: many of the biggest gaming franchises of the day were licensed out to manufacturers like Nelsonic and Tiger Electronics. Today’s kids may have tablets and smartphones to play on, but a quarter of a century ago they had Nintendo timepieces too. Join us as we look back at some of the greatest game watches from yesteryear – which of these would you like to see make a return on Android Wear?

Tetris

While most of these Nintendo watches were pale imitations of their NES and SNES counterparts, Tetris on your watch was the real deal. Okay, it wasn’t quite as wide as a regular Tetris grid, but otherwise this was the full-fat thing, with smooth falling tetrominoes and even a Next Block hint at the top of the screen. Easily the best video game watch ever made, and just as fun today as it was 25 years ago. Who needs Flopsy Bird?

Current eBay value: These were pretty popular back in the day, so used ones go for under $20 on eBay. New and boxed will cost you over $100 however.

Donkey Kong

Back in the early 1980s when Mario was still Jump Man, Nintendo’s breakout hit was the barrel dodging Donkey Kong, but it took 13 long years for Nelsonic to turn it into a game watch, one of the last it worked on with the Japanese gaming giant. It was also one of the least entertaining. While the layout draws closely from the Mario Bros. 3 watch, the two button controls are far less addictive. Purists are much better off with the Nintendo Mini Classic keyring version of the game, or the Game and Watch classic which would go on to inspire Nintendo’s DS and 3DS handheld line.

Current eBay value: These are relatively rare on auction sites, but not in that demand. If you see one, expect to pay anywhere between $30 and $70.

The Legend of Zelda

The first Nintendo game watch is now a sought after commodity. Though Nelsonic partnered with arch-rival Sega in the early 1980s to produce a Frogger interactive timepiece, it wasn’t until the close of the decade that its big competitor muscled in on the action with blockbuster fantasy franchise Zelda. Nelsonic did a surprisingly good job of emulating Nintendo’s famous series: you progress through the caves of a dungeon, collecting your sword and boomerang as you go, and taking down dragons to collect the piece of the Triforce. It may not be up there with A Link To The Past, but it’s certainly better than the diabolical Philips CD-I Zelda games: Do yourself a favour and don’t Google them unless you want nightmares tonight.

Current eBay value: Expect to pay between $75 and $100.

Super Mario Bros. 3

Many gaming veterans consider Nintendo’s NES classic the greatest game of all time, and the watch version it inspired was arguably Nelsonic’s finest hour too. The 1990 game watch featured a seriously catchy, Nintendo-esque chiptune alarm, a layout just like a proper Mario level and surprisingly sophisticated controls: you could grab the star for invincibility or even the leaf to give Mario his raccoon tail. The goal was to jump over the goombas and fireballs while working your way around the level (warp pipe included) using the four directional buttons, then knock Bowser off his perch. Complete the level, and you go back to the start, moving faster and faster. The only problem? Once you figured out the kinks in the timing, it became rather easy to complete and max out the high score on the game, killscreen style.

Current eBay value: Relatively cheap as game watches go, Super Mario Bros. 3 can be picked up for under $15.

Street Fighter

It wasn’t just Nintendo riding the video game watch sensation: Nelsonic’s rival Tiger Electronics teamed up with Japanese studios like Tecmo and Taito to produce playable Ninja Gaiden and Double Dragon watches, as well as Capcom. The results of the Street Fighter watch speak for themselves: vacuum-formed Blanka looks every bit as horrifying as his virtual counterpart. You can kick, and that’s about it, and it’s clear that Tiger didn’t want to pay extra for the rights to use Ken and Ryu. And no, in case you were wondering, it doesn’t play Guile’s stirring theme whenever you win. Pity.

Current eBay value: These are thin on the ground, but because they’re so outrageously horrific, they’re relatively cheap, between $20-$40.

Star Fox

Nintendo’s Star Fox was one of the last big games on the SNES, and its watch counterpart one of the last from the Nelsonic partnership too. Unsurprisingly, the watch edition lacked the (for the time) stunning 3D visuals of the SNES outing, instead going for the same two button control system as Donkey Kong for dodging asteroids and chucking missiles. On the other hand, it did have a headphone jack so you could avoid disturbing others with beeps and boops while you played on the bus – or at school – which is just about the best thing ever.

Current eBay value? We’ve seen a pre-owned Star Fox watch go for as little as $12, but if you’re after one sealed in box, you’re looking at putting down $75 over on eBay.

Super Mario Race

A radical departure from Nelsonic’s typical game watch layout, this watch inspired by 1992’s Mario Kart by Mani looks every bit as awesome as the Game Boy it’s inspired by, and it even comes in the same colour schemes that the fat ‘classic’ handheld originally shipped in too: mute grey or bright yellow - and even teal. The game itself though? Well, it’s Mario Kart on your wrist, pretty much, but, as you can see below, without multiplayer battle or green and red shells, it’s not quite so captivating. Still. Look at it. This is way classier than any Samsung, LG or Motorola Android watch.

Current eBay value? The Game Boy-on-a-watch looks incredible, but it’s tough to find one in good nick. We spotted one on eBay with a funky tie-dye-style strap look for $149.99, meaning if you want it, be prepared to break the bank.

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