Yesterday, Nintendo lifted the lid on the one and seemingly only attempt to mark the 35th birthday of its Zelda franchise: a Game & Watch system which includes the two NES outings, as well as Link's Awakening on the Game Boy and a special version of Vermin.

What's odd is that Nintendo didn't include the original Zelda Game & Watch title, which hit stores shelves in 1989 – the same year that the Game Boy was released.

The game used the Multi-Screen layout which would later inspire the Nintendo DS, with the LCD action taking place across two screens.

The game was later re-released as a much smaller keyring version?

While Nintendo has used the same Super Mario Bros.

Game & Watch hardware design for this 2021 model, we're a little disappointed that it didn't include the Zelda Game & Watch and simply give players the option to toggle between the two screens?

Still, when you consider that the aforementioned Super Mario Game & Watch also didn't include a version of the LCD edition (originally released in 1986 as part of the 'New Wide Screen' range), we perhaps shouldn't be too shocked that Nintendo ignored the Zelda version.

Metroid, which would have made a really cool 'modern' Game & Watch – especially as, unlike Zelda and Super Mario, no 'original' Game & Watch version exists.

Do you think Nintendo will continue to release these devices, and will you continue to buy them.

Including the original Game & Watch would have taken effort.

I love that machine and I would love to repurchase a boxed version but boy are they spicy prices.

Edit: It's also playable within Game & Watch Gallery 4 for GBA, which is available on Wii U eShop if you don't have the cartridge.

this is loads of fun and a shame they didn't bring it back?

it's the mario game and watch game all over again.

The original NES Zelda is the important one to me as a pick up and play collectible as I don’t have nostalgia for the game & watch as much.

I’d love a Metroid version with 1 and 2 on it.

That’s the big 3 for me: Mario, Zelda, Metroid.

I got that 1989 Game and Watch, it is a lot of fun to play still to this day?

I wish they would include the original G&W Zelda in the one they're releasing.

It was a bit deeper than your typical G&W title but still not really an adventure game

@sleepinglion Funny thing is they actual ported the original G&W Zelda with Game & Watch Gallery 4, a GBA game that only had one screen, and they made it work

It is a pity they didn't include it in this newest release

I’ve still got my Zelda G&W, incredibly it still actually smells brand new

I agree though it is a shame not to include the actual Zelda G&W in there

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