Saving Progress in Nintendo‘s Game & Watch Systems
As a passionate retro gamer and content creator, one of the top questions I get asked about the modern Game & Watch devices is whether you can save your gameplay progress. So let‘s dive deep on the saving capabilities that make these classic portable devices even more enjoyable in the modern era.
Can You Save Your Spot in Game & Watch Titles?
The short answer is: Yes, the Game & Watch systems allow you to save your progress in the included classic games.
This was not possible on the original 1980s Game & Watch handhelds. But Nintendo wisely added quick save states when reinventing these as modern standalone units pre-loaded with iconic 8-bit games.
Being able to save your spot is hugely important for enjoying lengthy classic games in short bursts. And the save feature makes it far less frustrating when you need to switch games or turn off the device.
So how exactly does saving work on these iconic handhelds? Let‘s take a closer look…
Behind the Scenes: How Saving Works on Game & Watch
While playing any game on your Game & Watch system, you can easily save your current progress to a suspend point slot using the following steps:
- Press the ZL and ZR shoulder buttons at the same time to bring up the suspend menu.
- Select "Create Suspend Point" and pick an open slot to save your spot.
- When you resume the game, choose that slot to instantly pick up where you left off!
| Game | Max Save Slots |
|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch | 4 slots |
| Zelda Game & Watch | 3 slots |
As you can see in the table above, each Game & Watch release allows multiple save slots for storing different progress points.
The Super Mario Bros. edition enables 4 simultaneous slots, while Zelda offers 3 slots. So you can maintain several play sessions if desired.
Automatic State Freezing
Here is an extra convenient capability of the hardware:
When you exit out of a game or power off the system, the Game & Watch automatically freezes the state of whichever game was active.
This means you can directly boot back into the action right where you left off last time. Without needing to deliberately load a save slot each time.
So if you only play in short bursts, the device handles remembering your spot when switching games or activities. Leaving the dedicated save slots for more intentional long-term stopping points.
Dedicated Save GUI
Along with the quick save suspend features, some of the included classic games also have their own old school save interface.
For example, Link‘s Awakening DX has a "Save and Quit" option accessible from the in-game menu. This works like saving traditionally did on the original Game Boy release.
So you get the best of both worlds: quick fire state saving and classic save mechanics!
Do Saves Persist if the Battery Dies?
This is another common question about saving data on the Game & Watch systems. And the good news is that your saved suspend points and in-game saves remain intact even if the battery fully drains.
The progress is written to non-volatile memory that does not require constant power to retain information.
So there is no need to worry about losing your advancement if the unit sits for awhile between play sessions. The hardware and software were designed very thoughtfully in this regard!
Estimated Game & Watch Battery Life
Speaking of battery life – how long can you expect to play before needing to recharge?
Based on my experience, a full 3 hour charge lasts for approximately 7-8 hours of intermittent gameplay.
Of course the actual battery runtime will vary depending on these factors:
- Screen brightness level
- Sound volume
- Ratio of active gaming to inactive clock display
If you play in shorter sessions with lower brightness, you can surely exceed 8 hours on a charge. But plan for at least that much runtime to be safe.
Pro Tip: Turn down the brightness and volume before powering off for maximum standby time!
Luckily, charging back up fully is quite quick thanks to modern USB-C connectivity. Just 3 hours on the included cable gets you from 0 to 100%.
This means you can reliably enjoy a Game & Watch device on the go and top up charges periodically as needed.
Game-Specific Saving Differences
While the core save system works uniformly across the Game & Watch hardware itself, there are some differences in capability between the individual classic games.
Let‘s compare the saving experience you can expect in the three currently available units:
Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch Saving
- 4 total save slots
- Can save freely anywhere in original Super Mario Bros. levels
- No mid-level saves in Super Mario Bros. 2 Lost Levels
Zelda Game & Watch Saving
- 3 total save slots
- Can save freely anywhere in Link‘s Awakening DX (Game Boy)
- Must beat a dungeon to save in the NES Zelda 1 and 2
So while Mario offers open-ended saving, Zelda still requires some periodic checkpoints to record progress in the earliest games.
Still, Quick saving does work consistently anywhere in Link‘s Awakening DX thanks to it originally releasing on the Game Boy with save capabilities.
Overall, Zelda definitely remains playable over time thanks to the multiple slot and checkpoint system.
Closing Advice for Prospective Buyers
Hopefully this deep dive reassures you that the Game & Watch devices provide excellent save functionality for on-the-go gameplay.
Both the hardware itself and the software/firmware were thoughtfully engineered to support stop-and-go play sessions.
As a retro gaming enthusiast, I highly recommend picking up one of these slick handhelds for enjoying 8-bit Nintendo classics with modern conveniences.
The ability to quickly save progress alone makes previously punishing Nintendo hard games far more palatable today! And the battery lasts plenty long for entertainment on travels.
While stock remains limited,grab one of these little slices of revised history before they disappear!
What Game & Watch release appeals to you most? Let me know in the comments!
