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The rumors were true, and spot-on, as it’s barely been a day since intrepid leakers teased the upcoming reveal of a Lego NES playset. Now Lego and Nintendo themselves have torn off the cover to show off the contents and final product, via a nifty trailer. It will only initially be sold at Lego Stores and the Lego online storefront initially, starting on August 1, 2020, before a wider release in 2021.
As in the leaks, the Lego NES Playset will contain pieces to build a brick replica of the Nintendo Entertainment System. That includes the NES console, a retro CRT TV, a Game Pak cartridge to insert into the console, an NES controller and cable, and a scrolling scene from Super Mario Bros. The scene will be operated by a small hand crank built into the side of the TV, causing the Mario to traverse the level and jump. The controller can be plugged in, and the buttons and directional pad have a tapping/pressing action. The TV set includes rotating knobs and buttons, and even replicates the RCA audio-video jacks common to TVs of the time. There is also a Lego Super Mario action brick that can be used with the TV and the Lego Super Mario figure to play sounds from the original game.
It will launch at the same time as the Lego Super Mario Starter Course, a mini-playset that evokes a Super Mario Bros. level in three dimensions. The Starter Course includes a LEGO Mario and LEGO Bowser Jr. figurine. The Mario figurine can be plugged into the top of the TV set to play noises from the game.
The official trailer didn’t cite a price, but the official product page revealed that the LEGO NES Playset will have 2,646 pieces, is rated for ages 18 and above, and will cost $229.99 when it launches on August 1, 2020. The product page also has a longer demo video that shows more details and its construction.
