One fan has put together an impressive LEGO NES emulator that’s been hacked together using real toy bricks – and, of course, functioning electronics – to complete one of the most aesthetically pleasing blends of nostalgia in recent console modding memory. Nintendo has been partnering with LEGO to create some blocky versions of its most iconic characters, including Mario, Bowser, and more, and the biggest addition to that line was a 2646 piece Nintendo NES set that mimicked not just the console, but its controller, cartridge, and even an old-school television set.
Modding consoles is a time-honored tradition for the bravest members of the gaming community, since tampering with the device can often void its warranty and many mods require intricate electronics work. Emulators, too, are a huge part of the gaming industry and a major source of entertainment and nostalgia for fans – although those, at least, have become much more widespread and easily accessible. Whether it’s the hidden PlayStation emulator in MediEvil’s 2019 PS4 remake or a more standard version helpfully housed on a mobile phone, consumers who want to relive their childhood memories are finding an increasing number of ways to do so without having to shell out some serious cash. Even premium versions of the game emulation experience, like the SNES Classic, ran at affordable prices for collectors.
When Nintendo announced the NES LEGO set, it was understood by many familiar with the mod community that it was only a matter of time before something like a functional console using that as a shell emerged. Reddit user i_is_snoo has the honor of being the first person to document their success in doing so, garnering all the glory that Reddit upvotes can offer. The work is impressive, but it wasn’t until a day later, when the same user uploaded a video of the build in action, that it became outright cool.
Update Video for the Nice Fit Post from lego
While i_is_snoo’s transmutation of a basic toy set into a fully functional LEGO NES emulator is the first fans have seen of it, it’s certainly not going to be the last. Giving the creative minds who enjoy building LEGO a chance to bake in some electronics into a pre-made, aesthetically pleasing shell is sure to produce some interesting results.
Until those results start rolling in, though, fans will simply have to settle for getting a glimpse at the LEGO NES emulator, a device that blends two of the most iconic sources of entertainment from a specific time period into one compelling shell. Is this enough to get people to take a crack at a Nintendo 64 LEGO emulator next?
