One gamer was able to get some hands-on time, or hands-in time in this case, with one of the most iconic and controversial add-ons ever released for aNintendoconsole, sharing a picture of their newly purchased Power Glove online. Remembered more for its form than its questionable functionality, the unusual accessory has become an instantly recognizable piece of the company’s past and even led to some uniquePower Glove-inspired accessoriesover the years.
Released by Mattel in 1989 as an accessory for the original Nintendo Entertainment System, the Power Glove was a controller that promised to make players feel like they were part of their favorite games like never before. Featuring a futuristic-looking mix of wires and buttons arranged on top of a grey and black, forearm-length glove, the Power Glove stands out even amidst the vast number ofweird gaming accessoriesreleased over the decades. While advertising for the unorthodox accessory promised gamers the ability to control their favorite titles just by moving their hand, a combination of hardware compromises made to cut costs and extremely limited software support led to the Power Glove ending up as a barely functional commercial flop.
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Despite its checked reputation Redditor MasterDimentio90 decided to purchase a Power Glove of their very own, proudly sharing a picture of themselves wearing theunusual Nintendo add-onon the r/gaming subreddit. Noting in the title that they’d “never seen this accessory up close much less owned one” before buying the Power Glove, their post led to numerous responses from Redditors sharing their memories about the iconic add-on or just having some laughs at its expense. Making it clear that they knew what they were getting into when they purchased the Power Glove, MasterDimentio90 responded to one comment trashing the peripheral by stating that that’s why people love it, adding “It’s such a terrible accessory that it’s become a meme.”
Referencing a line issued by the Power Glove-wearing antagonist of theNintendo-supported 1989 cult classic filmThe Wizard, one popular response to the post simply stated “It’s sooo bad.” Other responses came from gamers who’d been excited as a child to receive a Power Glove as a birthday present or holiday gift, only to be filled with disappointment when they actually attempted to use it to play the few supported titles. Another user joked about the Power Glove having numerous button inputs spread all across the device despite being designed for a console with only 8 inputs. Some Redditors used the thread to bring up other interesting but ultimately ill-fated Nintendo accessories, such as the block-stacking R.O.B. robot for the NES.
Even though the Power Glove may be a pain to actually play with, the bizarre add-on has become an iconic part ofNintendohistory and a recognizable symbol of the early years of console gaming. And while struggling through Power Glove-supported titles likeSuper Glove Ballcan definitely be a chore, it’s still probably easier than trying todrive a car usingMario Kart Wiiaccessories.
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