Nintendo announces the Mini SNES

For some it was the greatest video game console of all time, a 1990s treasure trove of legendary titles like Super Mario Kart, Super Metroid and Yoshi's Island – and now, not altogether unpredictably, it's back. Nintendo has announced that it will launch the Mini Super Nintendo Entertainment System (or Mini SNES), a petit version of its 1990 machine, on 29 September. Priced at £79 ($79), the device comes pre-installed with 21 classic titles. Alongside predictable entries such Super Mario World, Super Punch Out and the genre-defining role-playing games Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Secret of Mana, there is one surprise inclusion: the never before released Star Fox 2, sequel to the famed flight combat adventure, which was intended for launch in 1995 but abandoned when Nintendo switched focus to the impending N64 console. Like the Mini NES, launched last year to considerable enthusiasm, the Mini SNES comes with an HDMI cable so that games can be played on a modern flatscreen display – but there is no online functionality so it won't be possible to add to the games collection on offer. This time, the console comes with two controllers, rather than just one, so that nostalgic Mario Kart, Punch-Out and Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting tournaments can begin immediately.