In 1987, Eddie Murphy starred in the top-earning film Beverly Hills Cop II, The Bangles topped the charts with 'Walk Like an Egyptian,' the Iran-Contra affair gripped U.S. politics, and Konami's Contra filled arcade cabinets with quarters. Amid this backdrop, the landmark debut of Jaws on the Nintendo Entertainment System occurred, its packaging cautioning 'This time there's no escape!' Nearly four decades on, this classic 8-bit title is making a comeback through a tangible edition from Limited Run Games.
This revival aligns with the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg's iconic film. Pre-orders for the physical versions on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 open from December 19 through January 18.
Buyers have options between a basic 'Retro Edition' priced at $35 and a premium 'The Bigger Boat Edition' at $100. The upgraded set features packaging styled after the original NES design, a compact disc containing the game's audio tracks, a themed keychain, and a standout pixel-art shark nightlight. Each package contains both the authentic 1987 version and an updated variant of the title.
Gameplay primarily alternates between an overhead perspective for navigating a boat across the ocean map and a horizontal underwater section focused on spearing sea creatures. Players face off against the great white shark multiple times, chipping away at its health, before a climactic showdown in a simulated three-dimensional surface view. This setup echoes elements common in various movie-tie-in titles for the NES during that period.
Pre-orders for the Jaws physical edition begin on the Limited Run Games site on December 19 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. Until then, viewers can revisit the vintage gameplay via the accompanying video.