Nintendo Game Counselor Hotline Coming Back for 3 Days

I still don't think my mother's forgiven me for the last phone bill I ran up...

By Vikki Blake

To celebrate the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition, Nintendo is bringing back the Nintendo game counselor service, the Power Line.

For three days only (November 11-13 inclusively), the Power Line - at one time (and pre-internet) the only place to get help for some of Nintendo's classic games - will be back up with tips and tricks. Available from 6am to 7pm PT each day, the advice line will be fully automated, but callers to (425) 885-7529 will hear "recorded tips for several games, plus behind-the-scenes stories from original Nintendo Game Play Counselors".

Nintendo's social media #NESterday takeover will "go completely retro to a time when 'social media' involved trading passwords and game tips on the school bus".

Visitors to Nintendo's NY store will also be able to partake in activities with a retro 80s-themed launch event, with the first 250 visitors able to play classic NES games, participate in a costume contest dressed as their favorite Nintendo characters, and show off their NES knowledge in a retro Nintendo game show.

“Many of us have fond and wonderful memories of the original NES,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s senior VP of sales and marketing. “With these launch activities for the NES Classic Edition, we want to replicate the nostalgic feelings of sitting down and playing the NES with your family for the first time.”

The Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition system includes 30 classic NES games such as Super Mario Bros, Metroid, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Kirby’s Adventure, and Pac-Man. It launches on November 11.

In our Classic NES Edition review, we gave it 7.5, stating: "The selection of 30 beautifully emulated, mostly classic games makes a strong case to own a NES Classic as a way to easily revisit old favorites and introduce them to new generations. Nintendo made sure to pick the visual filters that made the most sense for its first dedicated classic video game machine.

"I just can’t understand why somebody thought limiting us to 2.5ft controller cables was a good idea, because it really limits where and how you can enjoy these games."

Vikki Blake is a very jumpy survival horror survivalist. You can find her twittering over at @_vixx and twitching at twitch.tv/vixxiie.

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