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Retrogaming Hardware

Legend of Zelda Anniversary Game and Watch

During a recent trip to Japan, I got to browse through game stores in Akihabara in Tokyo, and while I didn’t buy Super Famicom carts or Final Fantasy orchestral CDs, I did pick up the Legend of Zelda Anniversary Edition Game and Watch for a very reasonable 5,000 Yen (roughly $30, less than half of what it goes for in the US). It’s got the original two NES Zelda games, Link’s Awakening, the original Game and Watch game, and a “display” clock mode.

The games are all available in multiple languages, including the Japanese and English versions. The emulation is smooth and clearly saves your state when you turn off the device or swap modes, but it has no other frills. (I also understand why they didn’t put Link to the Past on this—they’d need to squeeze in at least two more buttons to make it playable. It might have been cool to have the Oracles games on it, though.) That said, it’s not actually a good handheld—the screen is great, but the d-pad and buttons are small and set very low, so it isn’t ergonomic especially if you have large hands. I played some Link’s Awakening on my RG35XX-H side by side and the difference in comfort is stark.

(The original LCD game is also kinda dumb. It’s a low-effort whack-a-mole game where you move left and right to position your hammers above the burrowing monsters. I’m glad I’ve tried it but I think I always envisioned something slightly more Zelda-ish.)

My wife called out the ridiculousness of naming these things “Game and Watch” when they aren’t watches. Even if you had a wrist strap it would be a vambrace. Honestly, even if battery concerns weren’t a thing, I can’t leave this version on as a timepiece, because it chirps every second and plays a tune on the hour.

Overall: This is a cool keepsake device, not something I’ll actually use particularly heavily. But it is cool, nonetheless. And the box folds out into a little display stand!
 
I've had mine as a desk clock for a few years now and I never knew it chirps and plays music. What fresh magic is this?!
 
Beowulf said:
(The original LCD game is also kinda dumb. It’s a low-effort whack-a-mole game where you move left and right to position your hammers above the burrowing monsters. I’m glad I’ve tried it but I think I always envisioned something slightly more Zelda-ish.)
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As a Zelda game, it's almost nonsensical. But as a game itself - called The Exterminator in America and Vermin elsewhere - is actually fun if you get into a flow state with it. Play it until it gets real fast - it's pretty fun! Sure, it's extremely simple, but as Game & Watch games go it's probably my favorite.
 
Wasn’t there also a much more involved Zelda LCD game at one point? How come that one didn’t make it onto the G&W?
 
Falselogic said:
Does anyone on TT know where to source replacement batteries for a PSP? Not the slim or Vita.
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At this point, we're stuck with third party random batteries, sadly. You'll likely have to gamble on some fly by night, hopefully not new old stock battery for PSP at this point.
 
Patrick said:
If the pattern continues, I'll get tired of my Odin 2 by the end of the year and buy something new. Haha. BUT, I really hope I've broken the pattern. looking back over these, each step taught me something about what I wanted out of a device: access to lots of games, a unified interface, a high resolution display, a compact form factor, etc. I don't know what else I would want at this point. As long as the hardware holds out, I think I'm going to stick with the Odin 2 for the foreseeable future.
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Well, it's been less than 6 months and I already started thinking about buying new hardware. I don't want to replace the Odin 2, but I've been thinking about how nice it would be to have a pocketable device that just played Game Boy/Game Gear/Pico8 games. I ended up selling my Brick because it was a bit too big to fit in my pocket all day, but I keep seeing videos about smaller systems and that got me reading up on micro devices.

But, after thinking about it a bit and comparing devices, I don't think the thing I want exists. I basically want a Trimui Model S sized device, except that the Model S only has a 2" screen, and the resolution is really low. Everything that has a bigger screen is bulkier. I don't see myself playing games on a 2" screen, and I don't see myself carrying around a larger device in my pocket (with my wallet and keys) very often. The ideal would be something like the Model S with a larger 1:1 screen, but it just doesn't exist.
TRIMUI-Model-S-Menu.jpg

I was thinking about why I want a small device, and mostly I just want to play Game Boy games more often. I don't actually need new hardware to do that, so I set aside what I was playing and filled my to-play list with Game Boy games. In the last few days I played through Mario Land and Noobow, and I'm playing Solar Striker, Catrap, and Cave Noir right now. It's been great. I still kind of want to buy something, but I've realized that it is 90% retail therapy because I've been under a lot of stress recently. I don't think I would actually be happier playing these games on a smaller screen or having an extra thing in my pocket.
 
Good news, y'all, the FX Pak Pro firmware has been updated to address SA1/Super FX performance issues. Huzzah!

Also, apparently SPC7110 support (Tengai Makyou Zero) is in the works - I'm not sure my older SD2SNES will support it, but there's WIP builds floating around on the Discord.

project sd2snes – …SD cards? In my SNES?

sd2snes.de
 
Patrick said:
But, after thinking about it a bit and comparing devices, I don't think the thing I want exists. I basically want a Trimui Model S sized device, except that the Model S only has a 2" screen, and the resolution is really low. Everything that has a bigger screen is bulkier. I don't see myself playing games on a 2" screen, and I don't see myself carrying around a larger device in my pocket (with my wallet and keys) very often. The ideal would be something like the Model S with a larger 1:1 screen, but it just doesn't exist.
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I have a Trimui Mini (slightly earlier version of the model S), and it's a cool little device that will fit in any pocket...but I basically never use it because it's uncomfortable to actually play on. What I actually bring on the subway is usually the Miyoo A30, a cheap and compact little candybar handheld with a 2.8" screen. Still super-pocketable, but much more comfortable to hold and see. If you like the GBA SP form-factor, you might also consider one of Anbernic's two XX-SP handhelds, as the clamshell makes it easier to have a bigger screen but still be pocketable.

All of that said, if it's just musing on devices that you don't actually want / won't use...ignore all that!

Recently I've been playing a slate of KEMCO games on my Odin Pro, but I've fallen for the hype and ordered an Anbernic RG Rotate, so I'll see how that feels, too.
 
Huh, I've never even heard of the Mini.

I did look at the a30, along with the RG28XX and Trimui Smart. None of them were exactly what I was looking for. I think I'm being extra picky because I know I don't really need another device. And no worries, I'm interested in reading about these things anyway.

The Rotate looks interesting. I don't know if I'd trust the rotating parts, but I do appreciate the 1:1 screen. Hey, at least it's something unique.
 
I played a bunch of Game Boy games on my Odin 2 this week, and it didn’t make me want a smaller device any less. I also looked back over the list of games I’ve finished in the last few years, and more than half of them were for Game Boy/Game Gear/NGPC/Pico-8. So even though I don’t really technically need new hardware, it would be nice to have a smaller device just for those games. It’ll be relatively inexpensive and it’ll make me happy. I’m just gonna do it.

Part of the reason why I’ve been feeling hesitant is that I sold my Brick last year because it felt redundant and I was all-in on being minimalist and having fewer devices. I guess I’m backtracking, but I think having a second device that’s smaller and more tailored to Game Boy style games will be a better fit. I do miss the simplicity & quick menus in Linux/MinUI too.

I made a list of small devices and wrote out pros & cons, and surprisingly the one that I’m most interested in is the Miyoo Mini Flip. It has a nice screen and it has a lot of good custom firmware. It’s a bit thicker than the others when folded up, but I don’t think I’m going to carry a device in my pocket unless it’s Model-S sized anyway. Plus, it looks nice.

I’ll give myself a couple of more days to think about it.
 
I'm pleased with the Anbernic 35XXSP. Some prefer the 34XXSP because its screen resolution is better for upscaling GBA games specifically.
 
Thanks for the feedback. Does it feel comfortable to play? How long do you typically play for?

I looked at some of the bigger flip devices, but I feel like a smaller screen would be appropriate for 8-bit handheld systems. I’ll keep them in mind if I get a mini and it ends up feeling too small for me.
 
Anbernic SP feels a lot like a GBA sp, unsurprisingly. Home button is a bit small and annoying to use as a hotkey. About my only complaint with it. I put Knulli on mine.

That said, I bought it specifically to play GBA games and portmaster stuff on it and I’m not 100% sure where it is right now so I didn’t actually end up doing that.
 
Yeah, they are compact but not especially ergonomic, but if you played a GBA SP back in the day it'll feel familiar. A little bit thicker. Personally, I like it for RPGs and other games that don't take much in the way of dexterity, but for heavier action games I would do it on something that I can grip more sturdily.

It's got two pairs of shoulder buttons, which I found convenient to set up for quicksave, quickload, and rewind functionality. I haven't had any problems with the hinges, which is something you sometimes have to watch out for on those clamshell devices.

It's an odd set of tradeoffs between the RG34XXSP and the RG35XXSP. The 35 has a 640x480 display, which is native resolution for PS1 and N64 and comfortably integer-scaled for most standard-definition consoles and the GBC; but results in letterboxing for GBA and PSP. The 34 has a 720x480 display, which results in pillboxing when emulating a standard-definition game, not ideal when the screen is already so small; but it has perfect integer scaling for GBA, which it's modeled after. However, although the 35 can show a bigger unscaled image for PSP and N64, it's the 34 that has dual analog sticks. On the other hand, PS1, N64, and PSP emulators can be configured to render at a different internal resolution (sometimes you need a widescreen hack), so that might work out well for you anyway.

So I guess it all comes down to what you intend to play on it.

I've been using the not-great stock OS on mine, because all I really need it to do is launch RetroArch. I put in the effort to learn how to properly configure it, so I'm gonna put that knowledge to use, dammit.
 
I never liked the GBA SP form-factor; I just never found it comfortable. But I can't deny the convenience factor of that size. And as much as I like my Odin for plane rides or playing at home, it's just too chonky for the subway. Do I need a half-dozen options for smaller handhelds? No, certainly not. Do I enjoy having them? ...yes.
 
Just found mine in a cupboard , probably there for 3 months, still had 50% battery. Impressive.

This is definitely going to be the thing I finally play through Mother 3 on. I promise.
 
Beowulf said:
I never liked the GBA SP form-factor; I just never found it comfortable. But I can't deny the convenience factor of that size. And as much as I like my Odin for plane rides or playing at home, it's just too chonky for the subway. Do I need a half-dozen options for smaller handhelds? No, certainly not. Do I enjoy having them? ...yes.
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Yeah, horizontal consoles are generally more comfortable than vertical ones. Vertical just feels right for Game Boy games though.

I did consider the original Miyoo Mini, which has the same screen and processor as the Mini Flip. Reviews said that the flip was more comfortable and sturdier (a few videos mentioned that the original is fragile), and also the original form factor has been discontinued. I just don’t truse the used market for these, considering how cheaply made they are to begin with, and how touchy their batteries are.
 
Patrick said:
I did consider the original Miyoo Mini, which has the same screen and processor as the Mini Flip. Reviews said that the flip was more comfortable and sturdier (a few videos mentioned that the original is fragile), and also the original form factor has been discontinued. I just don’t truse the used market for these, considering how cheaply made they are to begin with, and how touchy their batteries are.
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I never had an original Miyoo Mini, but I did have the Mini Plus, which was still an uncomfortable form-factor for my big hands. The Anbernic RG35XX was just slightly wider but the setup was just different enough to be comfortable for me. (The tradeoff of "comfortable to hold / comfortable to see / comfortable to carry around" is really a bear, isn't it?)
 
For sure. I feel like one of the big issues with vertical devices is shoulder button placement. They make sense on something like a SNES controller, but when you add them on a little shelf on the back of a vertical slab it’s just way less ergonomic. I’m only going to use them for hotkeys though, so I’m hoping that removes some of the awkwardness.
 
Well, I found what I thought was a good deal and ordered a miyoo mini flip, but I just double checked and the one I ordered is card only, as in just a micro SD card with no console. They even had me choose the console color. It seems purposefully misleading to include that option, but I really should have looked closer before ordering. It's already shipped, but I guess I'll see if I can return it somehow. I'll keep an eye out for sales in the future and maybe get one down the line.
 
I reached out to the company I ordered from & they offered to send the miyoo mini flip at a discount if I don’t return the card. I shopped around a bit and I could probably still save a few bucks if I order from somewhere else and ship the card back, but I don’t think it’s worth the hassle. It’s nice of them to eat the extra shipping cost anyway. The card is a sandisk, so at least I’ll actually use it.
 
One more twist: instead of selling me a discounted miyoo mini flip, the store refunded $10 and gave me a code for 15% off. There are already other codes on their storefront that give the same discount, so in the end it was just a partial rebate on the SD card. I'm actually not too unhappy since it ended up being a pretty good price on the card. I started looking around again to see if I could find a better deal on a mini flip elsewhere.

I was reminded of my original idea of wanting something like a Trimui Model S with a bigger screen, and started looking at other consoles again, too. I had originally discounted the 28XX because it has kind of small buttons and I didn't like the colors it came in, but after watching some reviews it sounds like the face buttons are not bad in practice, and the clear black one looks a lot better in pictures than it does in the rendering on Anbernic's site. It's still a bit thicker than I'd like, but it sounds a lot better than I had originally thought.

I think the mini flip is probably a nicer device in a lot of ways, but I've come back around on the idea that the 28XX is a better fit for what I want. I just found a good deal and went ahead and ordered it.
 
I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the RG28XX, as that's one I've never personally tried. But meanwhile, my RG DS and RG Rotate arrived today...
 
With state of things I went ahead and took the money I set aside for Steam Frame and bought an AYN Thor with it. Since then AYN Thor went up in price and had slower storage in the following wave, as well the price of PC handhelds going up A LOT, Valve included. Seems like I jumped trains at the right moment...

Anyway, my Thor is in transit now!
 
Congrats! I have an Odin 2 Mini, which is also by AYN and has the same processor. I’m very happy with it, I’ve only run into a few Switch games that don’t just run perfectly using default settings. I’ve only messed around with Windows stuff a small amount, but that requires more tinkering. Setting up emulators on Android is a pain, but once everything is running it’s great.

I’ve been using Beacon as my frontend and I’m really happy with it. It’s just customizable enough without ever becoming complicated. There might be better options out there for dual screen devices, I’m not sure. And apparently SteamOS is coming at some point anyway.
 
Mangmi Air X

This is an Android-based handheld that’s clearly looking to be a direct competitor to Retroid, as it very closely resembles the Retroid Pockets 4-6. Power-wise it’s somewhere around the Pocket 4, in theory able to play PSP and Gamecube well and handle some light PS2 games.

First impressions: Good build quality, nice design, good ergonomics (better than the Retroid without a grip, actually). It pre-loads a bunch of apps, but it’s a very short list (no Dolphin and no DraStic, but it does have Aether, not that it can run anything if you don’t put bios files in manually, and Citra—they clearly had high hopes for what you’d run on this). The game launcher will automatically scan for your games, and in my case it found…six Wonderswan titles and that’s all. (I’m guessing there’s a specific way the folders need to be named?) It does come pre-loaded with all of the latest RetroArch cores, though not the cheats lists.

Basically, this is absolutely not a pick-up-and-play device. Maybe if I’d bought a model with a preloaded SD card the launcher would handle that better, but I suspect that would only cover lower-end systems. There’s a lot of setup involved here to make it a workhorse device. I loaded Daijisho in as an alternate front-end and had to go through mapping all of my rom directories and fiddling with RetroArch controls (it had A/B and X/Y swapped for most of the systems!)

I wasn’t sure if I was going to keep this longer-term, so I didn’t link my Google Play account to it and just sideloaded apps. That actually gave me a nice way to try cracked/modded Android apps without risking one of my better devices. Like the Retroids, it’s very nice for landscape Android apps that you want a controller for.

Also of note: Playing on this for an hour and a half burned through a third of the battery; which means the total playtime on a charge is about four hours. I realize I’m spoiled by Retroid devices getting 6-8 hours, but that’s what I’ve come to expect from the premium-feeling Android devices. Turns out that’s another case where you need to fiddle: When I turned on the “battery saver” mode and turned off “performance mode”, some combination of the two got me down to using only 10% battery for 1 hour of playtime; much more reasonable.

Overall: Retroid devices generally give you a very good bang for your buck, with the tradeoff being that you need to spend a lot of time setting then up: Installing emulators, importing roms, fiddling with settings, etc etc. This is even moreso, as it’s one of the strongest systems at the $100 price point (with decent build quality and ergonomics, to boot) but there’s a lot of work involved in getting it to an ideal. I think I’m going to use it mostly to play sideloaded hacked Android games until it dies or I decide to pass it on.
 
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