Why do I now have an SNES Jr. and not the original model? (Read description)
5You guys noticed for a while that I do own an SNES along with a big library. But the model I have is the Jr. version, officially called Super NES New-Style or the code SNS-101. Some people call it "SNES 2".
The model itself is the compact redesign of the Super NES, released pretty late in its prime lifespan, in the year 1997, which by then, the N64 was already out and doing sales. Japan has this a year later, called Super Famicom Jr., and it was built until 2003 (ALL of Nintendo's vintage cartridge consoles was fully discontinued the exact year). The PAL territories however, never got this model. Designed to be a budget version of the original boxy system as its original retail price was only $99.00, it is lighter and smaller (but still bigger than the SNES Classic), doesn't have a power light nor the ejection lever, and the AV output is limited to only composite - although it CAN do RGB, but not without a small modification as the video pins were for some reason left unused from the factory. Mine is 100% stock. Compared to the original SNS-001 model, it feels cheap in construction build, but it certainly has the same raw hardware on the inside. The infamous vertical line flaw is still visible even in the Jr., though not as badly as the earliest revisions (this is how you know the hardware is genuine).
Now, back to my story, although I confirmed I played Super Nintendo (and N64) ever since childhood in the mid or late 1990s, as I'm born in 1994, I never had the Jr. to begin with. When I was a kid, I used to have the original 1991 version with the purple switches and box shape. All the 36 games I have for it, all but one were originally bought by my father as well as the older console, back in the day. Although I quickly became an expert in almost every game, the console and library wasn't fully passed on to me until 2012. Before then, I had cheap clone system called the FC Twin. But, then, in June 2018, very hard times struck my life, and I ended up losing over 70% of my entire retro game collection (which is why I can't show PS2/Gamecube games), irreplaceable old personal stuff including my high school diploma/gown, and my family had the same terrible problem, thanks to an evil landlord. I also lost my original SNES in the process but thankfully not the games. Let's say I was never the same man ever since that tragic day. I was depressed. I lost a lot including my most prized possession.
Desperate to hopefully get a working replacement, I wanted to get another SNES, preferably the original model. But in my 27th birthday in 2021, I was asking for a Switch for a while. Somehow, my not-so-good father, who doesn't make very good decisions and has a bad temper, which I won't explain what he had done over the years because it's personal (he's divorced with my moms and he's responsible for me not currently having my 1989 Crown Victoria car), he got me instead this SNES Jr model. Confused, I looked on, thinking why he bought me the cheap version of the legendary 16-bit console, as remember I had an FC Twin clone previously, which it looked just like this. That's no different from you asking an NES but you got the "Top Loader" instead. I didn't get the console I ACTUALLY asked for, in both sides, not a Switch nor the original version of the Super NES. But I smartly stayed quiet and gave thanks.
When I did played this model for the first ever time upon seeing it's still in good condition, to find comparisons with the initial version, I was surprised to see there's hardly any difference at all in the hardware, as despite the cheaper build, the experience is identical to the original, certainly better than clone systems! Despite not getting the SNS-001 I wanted, I'm still happy enough to play SNES again to relive my oldest video game experiences.
So, yeah, that's why I currently have the Jr. version of the Super Nintendo. It's a strange approach but it is still authentic, official hardware. I did found out it's worthy of my collection, because that model is actually rare, and sought after by collectors simply because it's the guaranteed way to have the so-called "1Chip", making it now expensive. This said, the picture is sharper/brighter than the early revisions (2Chip) even in composite, and looks excellent in RGB, but the white levels aren't perfect and there are small glitches from a few games. Both revisions have ups and downs. In the end, even though it is not as nostalgic, it's not bad to own an SNES Jr. until I get the original again.
#snes #story #lifestruggles #nintendo #retrogaming #スーパーファミコン