Ah, the NES vs. the Famicom — same console DNA, but like two siblings who went down very different life paths.
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The NES (North America/Europe):
This one put on a gray business suit, slicked its hair back, and said, “Don’t worry parents, I’m not a toy, I’m a serious entertainment system.” The design screams VCR because in the 1980s, VCR = trustworthy high-tech device, not child’s plaything. You’d shove games in like VHS tapes, push it down, and pray to Miyamoto that it actually worked. (Spoiler: it rarely did, unless you blew into the cartridge like you were giving CPR to a kazoo.) -
The Famicom (Japan):
Meanwhile, the Famicom rolled up in bright red-and-white plastic, looking like a Fisher-Price spaceship. Instead of pretending to be “serious electronics,” it just embraced the fact that it was a toy. The controllers were hardwiredinto the system like an overprotective parent saying, “No, you don’t get to lose these.” And if you were unlucky, you were stuck with Player 2’s controller, which had a microphone but no Start or Select buttons — the equivalent of being handed a karaoke mic when everyone else gets actual instruments.
So:
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The NES was your dad’s respectable, khaki-wearing child, who wanted to impress the adults.
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The Famicom was the wilder, candy-colored younger sibling, running around with a mic and yelling at the TV.
Both played Mario. One just looked like it wanted to do your taxes while the other looked like it had eaten too much sugar.
