Stop what you're doing, the original Tamagotchi is back

Calling all '90s kids.
 By 
Yvette Tan
 on 
Stop what you're doing, the original Tamagotchi is back
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Jamie Wiseman/Daily Mail/REX/Shutterstock (3436119a) Tamagotchi An Electronic Toy Pet Which Needs Feeding And Playing 1997. Tamagotchi An Electronic Toy Pet Which Needs Feeding And Playing 1997. Credit: Daily Mail/REX/Shutterstock

If you didn't manage to get your hands on an original Tamagotchi 20 years ago -- now's your chance.

Japanese toy maker Bandai has re-released the first edition of the electronic pocket pet, complete with the original six characters we used to know and love.

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Bandai's also stayed faithful to the six hardware designs it first released, though there is one noticeable difference -- the new Tamagotchi is half the size of the original.

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

That however, did little to deter Japanese netizens, who have snapped up the toy.

"I got the Tamagotchi! It's smaller than I thought it would be but oh the memories!" said one Japanese user on Twitter.

"I came to buy this immediately at Tamagotchi's 20th anniversary," another said.

"The eggs were sold out right away! People were getting increasingly impatient..." one added.

The original Tamagotchis, which were launched in 1996 in Japan, quickly gained a cult-like following, and were released in the U.S. and Europe in 1997.

However, they were soon updated with new releases that had different characters and functions from the original.

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Since then, the 1996 Tamagotchi has gone on to become a prized item, selling on Amazon for as high as $130.

To put that into context, the Tamagotchi was sold for just $17.99 in 1997.

The new Tamagotchi brings that price back down to $13.55 (1,500 yen) but is only available for now in stores in Japan. It's also selling on Amazon Japan, for $17.36.

Oh what we'll do for a slice of nostalgia.

Mashable Image
Yvette Tan

Yvette is a Viral Content Reporter at Mashable Asia. She was previously reporting for BBC's Singapore bureau and Channel NewsAsia.

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