"Retro" Video Game Thread

I'm not a baller, I'm a wanker.

 

Help me out guys. My wife wants a game system to play retro games like Tetris and the classics like Asteroids, PacMan, Mario, etc. She's also really into playing Block Puzzle Jewel Legend on her phone but is tired of the ads and playing on a phone. She thinks she wants something to hook to the television but maybe a proper handheld is an option. I don't know squat about this stuff since I haven't played games since the Sega Genesis days. I've seen some all in one consoles over the past few years but most look ultra cheap and cheesy, like the game equivalent of Topping and I'd like to avoid that.

So what should I be looking at?

 

I think Zerodeefex's suggestion will work out for the best. It's easy to use and covers both modern and retro needs. More than any gaming device prior I've noticed that people's Switch's get appropriated by their significant other as they've taken to games like Mario Kart 8, Harvest Moon, Stardew Valley, or Hades.

If you still want something specifically retro then the catch all answer is probably the Retroid Pocket 3 series. It runs Android with the Google Play Store pre-installed, and receives OTA updates, which makes it easier to deal with for most people.

Otherwise if you want something smaller or cheaper then there's a variety of Anbernic devices worth looking at, some with metal chassis. Though most of them don't run Android or come with an appstore. Just make sure it has hdmi and bluetooth so you can use it with the TV and controllers.

I have an Anbernic RG353P which I can recommend, and meets your criteria depending how you feel on the aesthetics. I have the black one and it feels good, and solid, for a plastic device. But I'd take/recommend a Switch Lite over it any day.

 

Thanks guys. I briefly looked at the Switch. Other than Mario Bros and PacMan, I didn't see much in the way of the classics. Does someone other than Nintendo make games that can be used with this device? Also, do the games come as a download or do you get something like an old school hardware cartridge? My boys are into gaming but they're on deployment or I'd ask them.

 

It has an online store where everything is released. Only major releases tend to come out on physical memory cards.

But IIRC in terms of retro game re-releases it's actually mostly available through their subscription service. Though there are re-releases on the store, just not Nintendo made ones. The store also has a great many retro style games made to modern standards. Some sequels to the retro originals, many entirely new.

 

yep.. check out the online store for their full library, which includes things you mentioned like Pacman & Asteroids...

I hate subscription services, but the regular non-Expansion Pack one is quite inexpensive and includes NES & SNES games. The Expansion Pack also includes N64 & Genesis games. These libraries vary over time... not sure if this Wiki list is up to date, but it gives you an idea..

also, FWIW, there's supposed to be a new Nintendo system on the horizon... not sure if it's a "Switch Pro" or something entirely different & not backwards compatible with Switch.

 

I had basically the same interaction with my wife who is nostalgic for her SNES games she played before. I have an RPi4 and I setup retropie



Response is quite good. I was impressed how well it emulated N64 games too. Setup however was not that easy. The simplest one I think is you keep all your ROMs on a USB drive. It was also a bit of a pain getting the 8bitdo controllers working.

However once it’s all setup it’s really simple. I’m using a case with an integrated on button. All you need to do is push that button and it brings you to the menu. I don’t even need to be on the correct source as it automatically switches as soon as it’s turned on. It even turns the TV on.

 

Modded a gameboy for Christmas.
Needed to have the ergonomics for long sessions that the miyoo didn’t deliver.

 

The wife got me new clothes for our living room MiSTer

 

Is this a case that doubles as a heat sink?

 

It is! It’s the aluminum case from MiSTer Addons. I removed the heatsink from the DE-10 Nano board and the fan from the IO Board to install it.

 

I just read about a crowd funded project called TinyNES

https://www.hackster.io/news/tinynes-is-now-available-for-pre-order-8da7f074fe3b

functionality is basically identical to the original NES. No RGB or HDMI output. Just composite. Chips used are clones although for a bit more money you can get harvested NES original chips. Here’s a video that talks about it

 

I keep seeing cores released for the Analogue Pocket. Is this a good alternative to the MiSTer? I could see it functioning similar to a Switch with a docking station

 

I take off dust of my OLED Switch, and I noticed the Doom ports on the platform that were released a few years back. Picked up Doom 64 out of Random and so I far I really enjoy it. Never had a N64 since I didn't wanted to be a virgin back in the day but if I had a N64 I would play a lot of Doom 64.

Thinking about getting a Steam Deck just to run 90s FPS PC games that I mostly grew up/missed out on. Need my Descent + Serious Sam fix.

One thing to be aware that the Analogue Pocket will have a lower end FPGA core, so expect it to only go up to PS1 era stuff and that's it. MiSter will be more flexible, but it isn't portable like the Analogue Pocket.

 

Semi-related....but Uniqlo just released a limited UT shirt line of MoMA's Video Game series. Only one that was worth a damn to me was the Sim City 2000 one.