How to Save Your Progress on Nintendo‘s Game & Watch Systems
As an avid Nintendo fan, you‘ve probably enjoyed many of their hit games over the years. But nothing quite beats that nostalgic, old-school gaming experience of the classic Game & Watch handhelds. When playing games on these retro devices, you‘ll want to make sure you can save your hard-earned progress. So how exactly can you save your gameplay on the Game & Watch?
Quickly Saving on the Modern Game & Watch Editions
The recently released Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda Game & Watch editions actually allow you to save your gameplay. This is a huge improvement over the lack of save features on the original Game & Watch units from decades ago.
Saving on the Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch is simple:
- Press and hold A, B, Select, and Start simultaneously to create a suspend point.
- You can store up to 3 suspend points to return to later.
For the Zelda Game & Watch, just:
- Press and hold A and B together, then press Up on the D-pad to save.
- This allows you to save up to 3 slots per game.
These modern Game & Watch versions have sold extremely well, with over 5 million units sold between both Mario and Zelda. Fans love the portability, classic gaming nostalgia, and ability to save their progress.
No Saving on the Original Game & Watches
While the new editions allow saving, the original Game & Watch handhelds from the 1980s do not have this functionality. The very first Game & Watch systems like Ball, Flagman, Vermin, and Manhole only featured a single game with no way to save your progress.
Once you turn off the power, your gameplay data is erased. This means starting each gaming session from the beginning. The primitive nature of those Tiger LCD handhelds meant no permanent storage.
So if you acquire an original Game & Watch unit, don‘t expect to be able to save. This table shows a comparison:
| Game & Watch Model | Year Released | Allows Saving Progress? |
|---|---|---|
| Ball | 1980 | No |
| Super Mario Bros. | 2020 | Yes |
| Zelda | 2021 | Yes |
Save Features on Other Nintendo Handhelds
Nintendo‘s other handheld consoles through the years have allowed game saving, unlike the original Game & Watches.
Here‘s a quick comparison of save capabilities across various Nintendo handhelds:
| Console | Save Method |
|---|---|
| Game Boy | Battery-backup cartridge SRAM |
| Game Boy Color | Battery-backup cartridge SRAM |
| Game Boy Advance | EEPROM or battery-backup SRAM |
| Nintendo DS | Cartridge flash memory |
| Nintendo 3DS | SD card or cartridge flash memory |
| Nintendo Switch | System internal storage |
So more advanced cartridges and internal storage offered game saving on these platforms. Of course, the Switch makes saving easier than ever with large built-in storage and cloud backup options.
Keep Your Game & Watch Charged to Protect Save Data
To prevent losing your saved games on the Super Mario Bros. and Zelda Game & Watch editions, it‘s essential to keep your device charged.
The Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch offers approximately 8 hours of gameplay when fully charged. For the Zelda Game & Watch, a full charge provides around 6 hours of playtime.
I‘d recommend charging your Game & Watch anytime it‘s running low, and fully recharging it at least once a week when not in use. This will ensure you don‘t completely drain the battery and lose your saved suspend points in the process.
My Take: Game & Watch Is an Awesome Collectible for Nintendo Fans
In my opinion as a lifelong Nintendo gamer, the modern Game & Watch devices are a super fun retro collectible at a reasonable $50 price point.
Sure, you‘re only getting a few simple games. But the portability, nostalgic styling, and full-color LCD screen really make these handhelds feel special. Plus, the ability to save your progress makes fully enjoying the Mario and Zelda games much more accessible today.
I also love seeing the Game & Watch Vermin reimagined with Link from Zelda. And the interactive clock provides some nice extra novelty.
Overall, the Game & Watch makes a great display piece for your shelf, while also letting you dive back into classic games from the NES era. Being able to save your gameplay makes completing Super Mario Bros. or the challenging Zelda II much less frustrating too.
So if you‘re a Nintendo collector, retro gaming enthusiast, or Zelda/Mario superfan, I can easily recommend picking up one of these slick Game & Watch systems. Just don‘t expect to be able to save on the much older Game & Watch models from the early 80s!