A fresh batch of graded video games has landed at Heritage Auctions. There are some high-grade, some lower-grade, but all are fun to watch as the bidding increases. What do you have your eye on?
*All game descriptions are courtesy of Heritage Auctions.
Metroid - Wata 9.4 A+ Sealed [Hangtab, No Rev-A, First Production], NES Nintendo 1987 USA
This is just the second sealed copy of Metroid Heritage has ever offered with a cardboard hangtab and it's easily the highest-graded Heritage has ever had the opportunity to offer. Wata has only graded six sealed copies of this variant as of their November 2021 population report, and only one has graded higher.
To many Nintendo history-obsessed collectors, copies of games with this particular packaging feature are copies worth fighting for. We can't imagine that the opportunity to offer a sealed copy of the hangtab variant of this game, let alone one with centerpiece-quality eye appeal, will arise again anytime in the near future.
Variant rarity aside, Metroid is one of the most celebrated franchises to get its start on the NES console, and it also marks the first appearance of Samus Aran.
While Samus may not be the first female video game character in video games, she does hold the title of the first playable Nintendo female protagonist (and makes an awesome choice when squashing opponents in Super Smash Bros.). The influence of this series is so profound that it helped inspire the creation of a genre that can only be described as "Metroidvania," a portmanteau of "Metroid" and "Castlevania."
Given this game's pristine condition, its rare variant, and its status as an iconic title, this will be one of the most contested NES lots in this auction.
John Madden Football - Wata 9.6 A+ Sealed [Clamshell, Promotional Copy], Genesis Electronic Arts 1990 USA
Heritage Auctions made headlines across the country when our cardboard box copy of John Madden Football sold for a record price in January. There's bound to be a lot of attention for this elusive variant as well.
The game's original release featured EA's standard cardboard packaging. This later variant features a clamshell case with the updated Sega Seal of Quality. There's plenty of debate amongst collectors regarding where these clamshell variants came from. The general consensus is that they were distributed as promotional copies.
The clamshell case lacks a UPC code, and the back features ads for other EA games. Regardless of the version, the importance of John Madden Football cannot be overstated. This was the first console title in the legendary Madden football series, which was endorsed by the late, great football coach and announcer. Given its excellent condition and rarity, this lot would be the standout piece in the collection of just about any Genesis or sports video game collector.
Super Mario Bros. - Wata 8.0 CIB [Matte Sticker, First Production], NES Nintendo 1985 USA
Only two copies of this variant are graded higher on Wata's November 2021 population report out of 27 total graded. They're all CIB because a factory-sealed copy has yet to surface!
This truly remarkable example of a first print Super Mario Bros. boasts a nice-looking 6.5 box with an intact hangtab and Kay Bee Toys sticker. Despite a wrinkle at the top left and some wear to the corners and edges, this box looks fantastic!
The 8.5 manual and sparkling 9.4 cartridge score really push this CIB over the top. Overall, it's the highest-graded First Production copy we've ever offered! A legendary, historically important game, Super Mario Bros. marked the first appearance of Bowser and paved the way for the side-scrolling platformer genre. Mario, Donkey Kong, and Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto designed the game, which was the best-selling NES title of all time.
The Legend of Zelda - Wata 9.2 A+ Sealed [Rev-A Round SOQ, Mid-Production], NES Nintendo 1987 USA
Heads turn and bidders take notice any time an auction house offers a copy of the original Legend of Zelda, especially when it has a round seal of quality.
Only four sealed copies of this variant are graded higher on Wata's November 2021 population report out of 26 total graded. While the scarcity of pristine copies does play a factor in this game's desirability, its cultural relevance is the true key to what makes this game such a must-have for everyone.
This is the first game in the Zelda franchise, one of the most revolutionary series ever created. The first entry is widely regarded as one of the greatest, most iconic games of all time, and it introduced many in the West to the concept of role-playing video games. Gamers guide the elfin Link as he traverses a vast overworld, explores nine underworld mazes, searches for treasures and other items, and uses his sword to battle enemies, ultimately facing Gannon himself.
Sonic the Hedgehog - Wata 9.8 A+ Sealed [Made in Japan, Early Production], Genesis Sega 1991 USA
Few games set off our nostalgia meters like Sonic the Hedgehog, which featured the debut of Sega's furry blue mascot and was the highest-selling game for the Sega Genesis with over 15 million copies sold. Despite the ubiquitous nature of the title, we rarely see factory-sealed early production copies, and this is the highest graded one Heritage has ever offered. In fact, it's the highest-graded copy from any production run that Heritage has ever offered!
When Sonic the Hedgehog hit store shelves in 1991, it quickly became the Sega Genesis' much-needed "killer app". The game's instant popularity helped move tons of systems. Its inclusion with the system helped capture the attention of new players who weren't won over by the previous pack-in, Altered Beast. The game also created a mascot for the company as Sonic himself was a huge hit with fans. Prior to Sonic, the closest thing Sega had to a mascot was Alex Kidd, who was likable enough but hardly a household name.
So, why was Sonic such a hit with gamers, both casual and hardcore, and why does he continue to resonate with fans and collectors? For starters, he's got a bit of an edge to him, especially for a cartoonish hero. There's a mischievous twinkle in his eye on the box illustration, and he's holding up #1 to indicate, perhaps, that Sega outranks its competition. When the game is paused for too long, he gets impatient with the gamer, scowling at you and tapping his foot--something Mario would never do!
Sonic's debut game features dazzling graphics, dynamic gameplay, and lightning-fast action which helped one Sega marketer coin the term "blast processing,". This was a tool in Sega's arsenal to make the company seem superior to Nintendo. Sonic the Hedgehog and its sequels were the games to own and seemed ultra-cool next to Mario's "slower" adventures. (Mario would quickly rebound in gamer's eyes as the excellence of Super Mario World for the SNES took hold, but for a time Sonic was the king of platforming protagonists.)
Along with Mario, and perhaps Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Lara Croft, Sonic the Hedgehog is one of the most recognizable and most iconic video game characters ever created. His debut game on the Sega Genesis still holds up today and is available on just about every modern console. The chance to get a near-perfect copy of his first appearance is a rare one.
Mario Kart 64 - Wata 9.6 A++ Sealed, N64 Nintendo 1996 USA
N64 fans, take note! This is the highest graded standard release of this popular game that Heritage has ever offered! Collectors sometimes refer to this as the "red label" version, which indicates an earlier production run of the game before it hit the million copies sold mark and had the "Player's Choice" emblem added.
The game is the second installment in the iconic Mario Kart series, and it remains a favorite among fans. The game was produced by Shigeru Miyamoto and directed by Hideki Konno, and features Mario, Wario, Bowser, and Donkey Kong having what appears to be an intense race on the cover.
Session closing times are as follows:
Session 1: Lots 28001-28084: 4:00 PM CT, Friday, April 22
Session 2: Lots 28085-28192: 6:30 PM CT, Friday, April 22
Session* 3: Lots 29001-29203: 4:00 PM CT, Saturday, April 23
Will you be bidding? Let us know in the comments!
