The SNES Classic Edition was released by Nintendo last week, and was almost instantly sold out on all online retailers, including Amazon. Brick-and-mortar stores were also sold out, as some had received only 50 or so consoles for opening day. Luckily, Nintendo promises to continue to produce the novelty device, at least until the end of this year.

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Last year, Nintendo released the NES Classic edition, a modernization of the original Nintendo Entertainment System. Although this console received very positive reviews, there were some common complaints concerning the design choices and picture quality. Nintendo had previously never released such a device, so with the release of the SNES Classic Edition this year, some iterative improvements are to be expected.

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It seems that Nintendo has proved successful in their endeavor of bringing an oldie, but a goodie back from the dead. The SNES Classic Edition features two controllers with longer cables and  improved emulation of game graphics and sound. It also has the ability to rewind up to a minute of gameplay in order to beat a challenging part of a level.

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Experienced programmers in the emulation field have also given positive reviews of the new device, stating that there were several surprises in the quality of the picture and physical design of the device. With an official price of $79.99, the company was able to produce a surprisingly beautiful gaming device that satisfies both casual and serious Nintendo fans.

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Of the featured 21 classic game titles, several of them will be designed to take advantage of the two controllers. These include multiplayer games such as Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting, Super Mario Kart, and Secret of Mana. Also included is the never-before released Star Fox 2, which is sure to entice every fan of classic gaming.

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The biggest complaint among consumers concerns the availability of the system. Because most online sellers sold out within five to ten minutes, the majority of buyers are finding that it is impossible to even get the chance to purchase the console at a fair price. Many early buyers immediately listed the device for sale on websites such as eBay at exorbitant prices, forcing people who want the device on release day to pay, on average, more than double the MSRP. This has frustrated a lot of potential customers, who in turn placed the blame onto Nintendo for not producing enough of the consoles for release day.

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The SNES Classic Edition itself, however, has been well received universally. With titles such as Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Super Mario World, Super Metroid, and Donkey Kong Country, the console will satisfy many nostalgic gamers and will surely find its place in the collections of many serious Nintendo fans.