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The Retron 5 dumps the roms from the cartridge and uses software emulation. That is why the sounds are correct and battletoads can be played past level 2, as its not reliant on the hardware like many hardware clone systems.
Good emulation looks and sounds perfect but also can introduce latency where with hardware solution there is absolutely none, everything happens 1:1 internally and the only lag you have to worry about is the one at your modern flatpanel TV. Also if you use emulation then might as well use one on your PC and download the games that you already own as a cart. Personally I find the existence of Retron 5 bit confusing. Maybe I am just not the target audience. To clarify, I have nothing against emulation and I use them quite liberally with my PC and on those chinese portable Anbernic handhelds but when it comes to carts I'd rather have either original hardware or something that clones it as well as possible. 🤔
@@MaaZeus Not quite true. There are some hardware based SoCs that definitely introduce lag and latency. With a Software based emulator, since you're playing a digital version of your ROM file it can actually have improved responsiveness due to the faster read/write speeds of a file vs a ROM if that makes sense.
@@RoXolid I am aware of the new tricks like the "Run ahead" which allows to reduce input lag down to real hardware levels (and theoretically beyond) which to me sounds like pure wizardry and still don't know how the hell it works. 😅 Not sure if Retron 5 uses it or even supports it though. Huh, good to know that there are bad, laggy clone SoC's. 🤔
@@MaaZeus There definitely are bad SoCs. That being said, I personally prefer to play on real hardware first, you don't have any of the compatibility issues and you get max accuracy.
I love having the actual consoles but to be honest... I've thought about selling a few to get one of these. They work great with HDTVs and also make it easy to capture footage. I don't have to swap out cords and stuff to be able to do that.
Love my Retron 5! if you wanna go 1 step further though get a Retro Freak! you can copy your game library to a SD card and play your games with the existing saves without wearing the original games out.
Ive been on the fence for this the last few weeks but solid video dude, glad to see it works and plays really well. I've been wanting something for my streams that doesn't jack the resolution up.
I really appreciate your professionalism and actually giving legitimate information in this review. I have been trying to get information about these clone consoles, and every other UA-cam review I find the reviewer is extremely unprofessional, treating the whole thing as a joke and giving fake exaggerated reactions and information. I've been wanting real information, not someone trying to copy the Angry Video Game Nerd, and it was so refreshing to find your channel and get some real information without the person cursing like a sailor every 10 seconds and acting like a fool. This review was very professional and informative. You gave legitimate information and didn't try to put on a performance. I really appreciate that. It is frustratingy rare these days.
I love my Retron 5 too! I enjoy hunting for old games to play on it. It got me back into video games. The games look great in HD! Plus you can always save your progress. Plus some games have cheat codes like a Game Genie if you get stuck if you install an SD card. There are some games that do not work however. I just got Ex-Mutants for the Genesis. It will start up fine. But once the game starts, your character you selected is not there, so you can't play it! Also I heard with X-Men for Genesis, you can't play the final stage. Since it requires a soft restart on the Genesis. Some GBA games will not load for me at all. X-Men for GBA will play, but it has no sound! Bad Dudes for NES won't startup for it at all. I find the wired SNES controller it comes with is very good. The wireless one is not too good. Overall I would recommend it. It's great to play games from multiple systems on one system.
I still don't understand why Hyperkin doesn't use their own Pin Perfect technology on what is there highest end product. I can put a Snes cartridge in and out of my Supaboy blackgold edition all day no problem and by the way if Hyperkin is watching IT'S TIME TO USE PIN PERFECT TECH IN THE RETRON-5 AND IT'S TIME FOR THE SUPABOY-HD I DIDN'T CARE WHAT COLOR EDITION!
It's honestly a really cool system, I just bought mine at the wrong time. I started getting more serious about self-publishing books, and my Retron5 sat neglected in the corner. But when I was playing it a lot, it was fantastic. Playing around with the filters made some games look like you were playing a cartoon in a way, like Punch-Out!! in particular. It needs a more loving home, so probably going to sell it, sadly, as I don't see my video game playing time expanding anytime soon.
By the way, 8-bit Do controllers are working great with the RetroN 5. I have one on the first batch of 8-Bit Do SNES controllers (the one that match almost perfectly the look and feel of the original SNES controllers) and it works directly with the Bluetooth module of the RetroN5. I think on more recent 8-bit do SNES-Style controllers, you might need the wireless dongle plugged in the SNES port.
I always watch these videos about Retron 5 and can't fathom why people try to eject a cartridge perpendicularly, and complain that the cartridge is hard to pull of. Ever since I got my Retron, my first instinct was to use ONE HAND and pull from the side, not the middle, so the force is lifting a side first, not the whole thing, and the cart comes out like butter. I never had an issue in taking it out, and it wouldn't come up to my mind as a potential problem or even to call it "tight", if I didn't see that on these videos.
I bought a retron 5 to get the saves out of all my old cartridges. You have to convert them using some online tools to an unencrypted format but once done you can take those saves and use them on just about any emulator or device. My memories from childhood flooded back after I recovered my super mario world save. There are firmware hacks now to rip the rom off the cartridge too. Which let's you put all the games you have onto the retron 5. It's also somewhat neat if you ever wondered which version of a. Cartridge you had.. like Megamall x 1 or v. 1.1 etc...
It's a great console for convenience if you have a load of cartridges, plus you can play roms from the SD card using the patch hack. It just misses PC Engine games. Hyperkin also did a video showing how to remove the cartridges slightly easier, where you hold the side of the cartridge with one hand and lift one side of the cartridge instead of lifting both sides.
I remember getting one when they came out years ago and just say it didn't wanted to play original Gameboy games where I contacted the company with failing results so I did a Amazon trade-in for about $100 then bought a used PS4.
Good video. I got mine about5 months ago. I put in my Tetris DX that I've had for 24/25 years, the retron 5 wiped my save! That's the only negative I've experienced.
Haven't used my retro5 in along time but I do love it. Was thinking of hooking it up to a crt. Any thoughts on how that would be.? I do put a light oil on the pins to avoid the death grip. But make sure everything stays dust free
I think this kind of console is kind of outdated nowadays, since it uses emulators, which Hyperkin didn't pay for using, it isn't all that different from playing on a modern console or a phone. And nowadays we have options of retro controllers for new consoles and physical editions. I bought all Mega Man collections and Rare Replay for Xbox One and I have more than a 100 games just from these. I think that if I'm going to buy original cartridges I would prefer to play it on a console that does the exact same things as the original, I think Hyperkin has enough resources to make a Retron 5 that uses real hardware since it would basically be a Retron 3 with the Gameboys added.
Yeah can't disagree here. I think it still has it uses if you want a lot of consoles and you're in a specific budget range...and you're understanding of what the Retron 5 does but as much as I liked it in 2014 (to the point of supplying patches for people) it's a hard pass for me these days. I'm way too spoiled by Analogue's offerings since then and especially the MiSTer. I'm not into the angle the R5 takes to hit a mental nostalgia checkbox for people when it's just a smokescreen at best. You can "use" cartridges with it...great, but then you take away half the point for me by adding in input latency, inaccuracy, and straight incompatibility that comes with middling software emulation on a low powered SoC.
That said. I do have good memories of it at the time. It did do a lot to bring me back into retro gaming and I sure as hell bought a lot of imports on it because of it's ability to use patches.
@@RoXolid And keep your cartridges safe on the shelf! It's not pirating. You can even dump them if you like, no need to download :) I meant it's fun to play using real original hardware or something like Analogue. But Retron is just a raspberry pi with an emulator inside. It dumps the cartridge you put in and uses its ROM anyway :)
@@RoXolid To protect them from dust and scratches! You also mentioned that the cartridge is hard to get out. It certainly won't lengthen their lifespan. So what's the point?
I'm mixed on these. I mean, anything that get's people into retro gaming is great in my book, and software emulating the downloaded data from your carts is better that just getting them off the internet (I mean, the data is from your cart), but hardware emulation through FPGA (like with an analog super NT) is actually playing the cart itself, in real-time! It's all down to preference tho. I'm sure there are greater "purists" out there gawking at the fact that I'm not playing my carts on the original systems through a crt!
I hate CRTs but do have all the original systems to play on. I've said before that if you know what an FPGA is, this system isn't for you. This is for an entry level customer
I thought they forgot about Sega Game Gear but at least they sell a card that goes into the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive spot. Most clone consoles that play through emulation they forget about Sega Master System and Game Gear.
I just have the black one which was the second version, if memory serves me correctly. I still play it regularly. Play a lot of Super Famicom RPGs we never got over here (or some until recently as one of the ones I have before it finally got released on Switch is Live-A-Live) with the translation patch and it's awesome. I use my Sega Power Base Converter for Master System games too. Still no complaints about the thing. The only time I hook up an actual 16 bit retro console is when I want to play Sega CD games.
I’m curious about something. And this could be the avenue I go, but I would really like to know if this could work: Run a Retron 5, through HDMI, to a component adapter, into a component CRT. And I wonder will the NES Zapper work? I’m thinking either set something like that up or some kind of emulation system the same way with an NES controller adapter. Why do this? So I can get the best picture possible on a Tube without losing use of my perfectly functional Zapper
Another thing worth looking at is that someone recently released a custom firmware for it that unlocks playing games off the SD card, emulation for TG16, PS1 and NeoGeo, as well as some UI improvements (it’s pretty much a modified version of the firmware running on the Retro Freak) What blows my mind is that they still sold this newer Retron 5 model with that awful controller… they seen the feedback, why not just ship it with two SNES controllers?
You've been able to play games off the SD Card for sometime, the thing was you needed to have a cart for the system you wanted to play in the system to "unlock" it.
Its pretty nice that it works with a Master System adapter. I wonder if it would work with the adapter and a card catcher... It almost makes me want to get a retron 5 just to test it.
I just bought a retron 5 and i noticed a significant input lag on Super Mario bros on the Nes Do have any tips that could reduce the input lag good video very informative
I like the Retron 5 but I really wish it would have better build quality. I had to send one in because it was not working right out of the box, when they send it back it still would not work. I have another unit and I have had better luck with it but the tight cartridge connections scare me.
I have a Sega Genesis 2 and try and record video through it. The video is a bit jumpy when moving and I also have the sound buzzing issue. Are any video or sound buzzing present with this system?
It seems the only place they missed the mark is by not using FPGA/real hardware. Doing that would make thing like the Famicom Disk System, Super Gameboy, Gameboy Camera, and any Gameboy Advance games with special cart gimmicks properly work,
Great review. Thinking of getting one to see how i feel about hyperkin consoles. I want to get a snes, so perhaps this would be a good baby step. Ive always loved their controllers, i have a few. Curious to see if id like their snes pad, the original snes pad is my favorite controller of all time. Love the color of this unit. Almost looks like it glows. Very unique color scheme.
I was wanting to buy a Retron 5 but I hate this blueish color but I found a black one. However as I was viewing the details the black Retron 5 was made available in 2013 but the blueish one was made available in 2021. Does that mean the blueish one is the better one?
I still have my original HR5, I'd like to see them do a update to it, like in the past they said there would be a N64 console I'd like to see that added on top of their Retron 77 but instead of an adapter for master system and game gear I'd like to see ports for those as well. I don't know what you'd call it maybe The Retron 10 or something whatever the total of systems would be. I'd like to see a USB-C port added also come with their wireless controllers they offer too with different bundles available. I heard it will also let you use other bluetooth controllers... I haven't tried it maybe you can confirm this? I know that's a lot to process but I think you get my ideas LOL Oh yeah & add a SSD to dump your games onto & run them off of that! anyway great video Gary!!! I loved this deep dive into this one!
I have the older black Retron 5. Unfortunately mine doesn't play Starfox, Thunderforce 4. Gynoug on Megadrive freezes up on level 2. Is it the firmware? Does this new version play these titles OK.
I'm curious if the NES port on this one is any different than on the original R5. I could never get Dragon Warrior 1 to work with mine because it was one of those games where the pins on one side do not actually reach all the way to the end of the PCB, so they couldn't make a connection in the R5's NES slot. You could make an .ips "patch" that really just switched one game out for another, essentially playing a rom off the sd card, but at that point I have other options to play roms, or just hook the NES up to a retrotink. The included wireless controller also flat out failed and stopped powering on altogether after a few months, and was not designed to be easily taken apart. If they have a better NES connector on this one, great! Otherwise, it's a great idea, it just doesn't quite hit the mark for me.
@@RoXolid It's unfortunate, but admittedly an edge-case issue that doesn't outweigh all of the value the system has for anyone with cartridges and no clean way to play them on a modern display. Not to mention how many of those old RPGs tend to be cheaper if you go for their original Japanese versions, and then the R5 will let you apply translation patches as you mentioned in your video. $180 is definitely not pocket change, but when you compare that to the price tag on some of the fancier FPGA offerings out there, this thing will play the games it's compatible with just fine. Software emulation for these particular systems is typically pretty spot-on now. I was a little down on the system in my original comment so I wanted to balance it out a bit! Keep up the awesome videos! I've settled down from buying/modding old stuff and making repro carts, etc, so content like your channel helps me stay in touch with the retro scene.
@@RoXolid I read comments on your videos people saying that the wii with wii2hdmi + mclassic is just as good as using wii +rt5x. Is that true, have you tried it?
@@RoXolid oh okay. Well it would be cool if you made a video on the topic because I also watch Adam’s channel and he says the best way to play wii games is to ditch the actual wii and use the wii u with the mclassic/ cable. It would be cool to see a comparison 👍🏼.
Did they actually fix alot of problems with this when it originally came out. Also how do those cartridge slots work they where bad originally. My Snes and and Famicom slots pins got bent quickly.
Nice recent update on the Retron. Heard the Hyperbeach edition updated the list of roms it can't play which is larger than the OG edition. Also many Game Gear games won't load up properly. Keep it up!
Thank you for this video. So does it seem that this edition of the Retron 5 has fix the input and lag issues that some of the older ones had? I had an original Retron when it first came out. My lag was horrible. I would like to give the new edition here a try that’s in your video if the input lag is better. Thanks.
Has Hyperkin upgraded the pins? I bought one of these 3 years ago, and the pins in the SNES SNES slot, would grip the cart too tight, bending the pins! It was very frustrating to say the least. I exchanged it once, the same thing happened to the new unit. It ended on getting donated to Goodwill!! Never again!
Had so many issues with this system just crashing games in the middle of playing i updated the software after talking to Hyperkin and kept having issues, the pins messed up on the first one too, had it RMAed and I replaced it with another one and it did the same thing… I literally through this system in the trash it was so frustrating so many issues and had issues with pins on it to. Since I have been through two of them nothing but bad experience… sad for me and a waste of hundreds of bucks. I really wanted my two to work so well like others say…… I really wish it would but I’m scared at this point to try again on a new one and fork out the money again. I guess I could order it through Amazon the next time if I wanted to so I could return it if there was the same issues huh? Are you all seriously not having these issues with yours???
I bought my retron 5 when it was still $90. Now its around $200. The snes input dropped a pin and I can’t play snes games anymore, which was the whole point of buying it, since it allowed me to patch super famicom games on the go to english. Anyone got a super cheap spare retron 5 witha working snes entrance?
Do you know if the enhancements to this release of the RetroN5 is on the hardware or the firmware side? In other words, can you update the firmware of the original RetroN5 with the latest one for new RetroN5 you just got?
So I have the Retron SQ which I purchased during the pandemic for 1 reason and it was to play Zelda Minish cap, but the Sq wasn’t able to play it, could you confirm wether or not it works on the Retron 5? I also had issues with Mario Golf GBA.
I thought for sure those Mario coins would sound all jacked up like all of the other clone systems. For someone with a bunch of old games sitting around with no console, you really can't beat it. Plus it has the added bonus of automatically translating the games, and it dumps your save file. That's pretty amazing. It probably works, but did you try your PAL Darkwing Duck? I know you said you're very used to the speed of that game. Also, does the FDS RAM adapter work with it? Nice review as always Gary.
I haven't played my Darkwing Duck with it yet. The Famicom disk system does not work due to the way the system dumps the ROM. Essentially it's dumping the ROM of the RAM cart not the disc being played
7:30 Goddamn Hyperkin, thinking they can fake a retro vibe by including a USB-mini socket. Everyone knows *TRUE* retro uses a -proprietary- Type-B connector.
Can this system run "all in one" type cartridges? I want to get back into the retro world, but when I foolishly gave away my SNES, Genesis, and NES, I also included the games. So, I'd definitely want on of these if they can run some of the all in one cartridges. AND, if it does run them, which one would you recommend?
Not sure if it does and I don't recommend them. Yes, they are cheap but they often run at the incorrect voltage which can cause issues. If that's what you want then I'd suggest a Retropie or Mstr
on my retron 5 if u play castlevaina 3 then take the game out play another game then stick castlevaina 3 back in in will glitch out.. does this happen with urs??
That's perfectly fine, and original hardware will get you the best compatibility. However there are people out there like me who never want to own a CRT ever again
I am wondering if the original master system converter works... So, for games that save in cart does it actually save in the cart so that you can continue on other hardware?
@@RoXolid I am not sure where the Master System Converter you use comes from but since it works I bet the original that I have should work too. As for the saves seems that I can back up the save, change the battery in the cartridge and move the save back in. This is cool
I really like the retro 5. I don’t own one anymore due to a flood but it is a nice console for cartridge gaming. Just one console without the wire mess in the back
I don't have any to test, sorry. My thought has always been if you're going to use a flash cart with a clone system just use a retropie, you'll be cheaper in the long run
One reached out to polymega and their problem is they just can't produce enough to fulfill orders let alone provide a sample. Never looked into the retro freak
I don't own any EverDrives. If you're going to use one in a clone system like this I'd suggest going with a Retropie or Mstr instead, you'll be cheaper in the long run
The point is, it's either all original or nothing at all. The fact that you only play "a digital copy" from your cartridge anyway makes the thing totally useless... So take money and buy 1-2 used old consoles or nothing at all. But a nice idea and thanks for your review
I couldn't disagree more. For those who are just getting back into retro gaming the fact that you're playing a dumped ROM is a non factor. In fact, many people these days have no idea how the original hardware works, couldn't tell you the difference between FPGA, SoCs or hardware emulation. Many think if it's a clone it always dinos the ROM like this. I have original hardware is all these systems, multiples in fact. I have SCART & HD Retrovision cables going into a RetroTink 5x. That's an expensive way to play but the most accurate. That being said, this is a fine easy to get back into the hobby, it's a decent starting point.
@@RoXolid No seriously it's the most backwards way of playing retro games conceivable. There is a significant difference between cheap software emulation and original hardware that do affect the quality of the experience negatively. If you're going to emulate, emulate properly; and if you're bothering with original carts, have some respect and ensure the experience is either original and authentic or otherwise of the best quality possible. If the emulation quality were on the level of the best PC emulators or FPGA there could've been an argument but as it stands shilling a Retron 5 in 2023 will only make the target audience think you're either completely clueless or just trolling/grifting for views.
Well you're welcome to your opinions but I couldn't disagree more. I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you know what an FPGA is then you're not the target audience for this. Is it perfect? Nope, not even close. It's it a decent entry into retro gaming that plays a ton of systems and provides 720p visuals? Absolutely. This channel exists because of the Retron 5, it was my gateway, but it's not where I stopped. It's where I started. Since I got my original Retron 5 in 2015, I've purchased every US and practically every Japanese Nintendo system, every Sega console, a JVC X'EYE, Panasonic Q, Virtual Boy, Sharp Famicom Twin, and more. But none of that would have happened if not for discovering and purchasing my original Retron 5. In the end I don't care how you play, just play how you have fun. And the reason why I reviewed this in 2023 is I had people asking me to cover it, so I did. No grifting involved
@@RoXolid I don't think the Retron 5 makes any sense as a product in this day and age. I also think buying lackluster crap as an "entry point" is a bad way to spend money when you could just buy real consoles, some decent cables, and a CRT or an actual good and affordable entry point upscaler like the Retrotink 2x. The real cost by far comes from collecting original games, which you're already starting out with anyway if you're considering the Retron 5, so cheaping out on the device you play on like that makes even less sense in that scenario. Like, are you going to buy Earthbound for a small fortune but refuse to pay 10% of the price of that loose cart on a real SNES, but would rather dump the ROM and run it through trashy emulation? It's just that, the juxtaposition of real original cartridges (which connotes effort and authenticity) and a crappy emulation box (which connotes the opposite) that's so incredibly asinine I can't even wrap my head around it. It's like the ultimate troll of retro systems. And before you shill more let it be known that it has been proven conclusively that the Retron 5 adds significant lag and that sound emulation is poor, and many retro fans have known about this for years.
There are many people, including myself, who never want to own or play on a CRT every again. Also, I don't disagree that a RetroTink and real hardware are more accurate ways to play. However the person looking to play Earthbound I don't think is the same person who would even consider a Retron 5. They are 2 different customers. I look at the Retron 5 customer as someone who wants to play games like what you'd get on the NES/SNES/GENESIS mini/classics. They're buying $5-$30 games, not games with hundreds. For $180 the Retron 5 let's people play NES, SNES, SFC, Famicom, Genesis, Mega Drive, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance. Compare that to an original SNES, HD Retrovision Component Cables, and a RetroTink 2x. Just for 1 system you've exceeded the cost of the Retron 5. I get the value of that setup, as do you, but there's a place for both in the hobby. Again, I'm the perfect example add someone that started with a Retron 5 and progressed from there. That happened. It's the Retron 5 perfect? Again I've never claimed it was. But for an entry point there are many things it does for the target audience. So check your arrogance, understand that it's ok that there's something on the market that's not for you but someone else might enjoy, knock off the gate keeping, be happy people are enjoying playing games, and stick the shill comments where the sun doesn't shine.
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“Let’s kick Shell!”
Good God we tormented Shelly with that
@@RoXolid 😂 I totally can see that. Great video
is this best out there im new to old games trying to get the best one out
The Retron 5 dumps the roms from the cartridge and uses software emulation. That is why the sounds are correct and battletoads can be played past level 2, as its not reliant on the hardware like many hardware clone systems.
Agree with how it works I just didn't know whether or not it would work with Battletoads.
Good emulation looks and sounds perfect but also can introduce latency where with hardware solution there is absolutely none, everything happens 1:1 internally and the only lag you have to worry about is the one at your modern flatpanel TV. Also if you use emulation then might as well use one on your PC and download the games that you already own as a cart. Personally I find the existence of Retron 5 bit confusing. Maybe I am just not the target audience. To clarify, I have nothing against emulation and I use them quite liberally with my PC and on those chinese portable Anbernic handhelds but when it comes to carts I'd rather have either original hardware or something that clones it as well as possible. 🤔
@@MaaZeus Not quite true. There are some hardware based SoCs that definitely introduce lag and latency. With a Software based emulator, since you're playing a digital version of your ROM file it can actually have improved responsiveness due to the faster read/write speeds of a file vs a ROM if that makes sense.
@@RoXolid I am aware of the new tricks like the "Run ahead" which allows to reduce input lag down to real hardware levels (and theoretically beyond) which to me sounds like pure wizardry and still don't know how the hell it works. 😅 Not sure if Retron 5 uses it or even supports it though.
Huh, good to know that there are bad, laggy clone SoC's. 🤔
@@MaaZeus There definitely are bad SoCs. That being said, I personally prefer to play on real hardware first, you don't have any of the compatibility issues and you get max accuracy.
When it comes to Castlevania 3 I love my Famicom version of it. The Audio is phenomenal...
Completely agree
What I am most impressed about this console is that it uses save states, I'm amazed by that.
Excellent feature
It does, and it also can work with translation patches too
That it is
I love having the actual consoles but to be honest... I've thought about selling a few to get one of these. They work great with HDTVs and also make it easy to capture footage. I don't have to swap out cords and stuff to be able to do that.
Metal Jesus Rocks, Pixel Game Squad, and John Riggs got me back into retro gaming and collecting.
Love my Retron 5! if you wanna go 1 step further though get a Retro Freak! you can copy your game library to a SD card and play your games with the existing saves without wearing the original games out.
Thanks for the tip!
Ive been on the fence for this the last few weeks but solid video dude, glad to see it works and plays really well. I've been wanting something for my streams that doesn't jack the resolution up.
I really appreciate your professionalism and actually giving legitimate information in this review. I have been trying to get information about these clone consoles, and every other UA-cam review I find the reviewer is extremely unprofessional, treating the whole thing as a joke and giving fake exaggerated reactions and information. I've been wanting real information, not someone trying to copy the Angry Video Game Nerd, and it was so refreshing to find your channel and get some real information without the person cursing like a sailor every 10 seconds and acting like a fool. This review was very professional and informative. You gave legitimate information and didn't try to put on a performance. I really appreciate that. It is frustratingy rare these days.
Thank you so much for all the kind words! Yes, I try very hard to keep things family friendly and relateable.
Great video! I've had my Hyper Beach Retron 5 for six months and had no compatility issues so far.
Great review and thanks for the shout out!
You bet
I love my Retron 5 too! I enjoy hunting for old games to play on it. It got me back into video games. The games look great in HD! Plus you can always save your progress. Plus some games have cheat codes like a Game Genie if you get stuck if you install an SD card. There are some games that do not work however. I just got Ex-Mutants for the Genesis. It will start up fine. But once the game starts, your character you selected is not there, so you can't play it! Also I heard with X-Men for Genesis, you can't play the final stage. Since it requires a soft restart on the Genesis. Some GBA games will not load for me at all. X-Men for GBA will play, but it has no sound! Bad Dudes for NES won't startup for it at all. I find the wired SNES controller it comes with is very good. The wireless one is not too good. Overall I would recommend it. It's great to play games from multiple systems on one system.
I still don't understand why Hyperkin doesn't use their own Pin Perfect technology on what is there highest end product.
I can put a Snes cartridge in and out of my Supaboy blackgold edition all day no problem and by the way if Hyperkin is watching IT'S TIME TO USE PIN PERFECT TECH IN THE RETRON-5 AND IT'S TIME FOR THE SUPABOY-HD I DIDN'T CARE WHAT COLOR EDITION!
I don't disagree, the pins on the newer systems are better
It's honestly a really cool system, I just bought mine at the wrong time. I started getting more serious about self-publishing books, and my Retron5 sat neglected in the corner. But when I was playing it a lot, it was fantastic. Playing around with the filters made some games look like you were playing a cartoon in a way, like Punch-Out!! in particular. It needs a more loving home, so probably going to sell it, sadly, as I don't see my video game playing time expanding anytime soon.
Nice i love my old black one though that hyperbeach looks sick
I was impressed that, compared to my original grey one, this one seemed to load GBA games a heck of a lot faster
By the way, 8-bit Do controllers are working great with the RetroN 5. I have one on the first batch of 8-Bit Do SNES controllers (the one that match almost perfectly the look and feel of the original SNES controllers) and it works directly with the Bluetooth module of the RetroN5. I think on more recent 8-bit do SNES-Style controllers, you might need the wireless dongle plugged in the SNES port.
I bought an 8bitdo controller back in the day for my first Retron 5, the NES30 Pro.
I kind of thought about getting one of these just for the fact that you can do those translation patches like you mentioned.
Yeah, it's pretty easy to do
I always watch these videos about Retron 5 and can't fathom why people try to eject a cartridge perpendicularly, and complain that the cartridge is hard to pull of. Ever since I got my Retron, my first instinct was to use ONE HAND and pull from the side, not the middle, so the force is lifting a side first, not the whole thing, and the cart comes out like butter. I never had an issue in taking it out, and it wouldn't come up to my mind as a potential problem or even to call it "tight", if I didn't see that on these videos.
It is supposed to lift from one side first when removing cartridge. Seen in another video.
Yeah, it's not "suppose" to lift from one side, that's just the "fix".
I recommend pulling the carts out from the left or right corners rather than pulling them straight out, lot less strain on the pins
I've heard that as well
I bought a retron 5 to get the saves out of all my old cartridges. You have to convert them using some online tools to an unencrypted format but once done you can take those saves and use them on just about any emulator or device.
My memories from childhood flooded back after I recovered my super mario world save.
There are firmware hacks now to rip the rom off the cartridge too. Which let's you put all the games you have onto the retron 5. It's also somewhat neat if you ever wondered which version of a. Cartridge you had.. like Megamall x 1 or v. 1.1 etc...
There are a lot of useful tools for the Retron5
It's a great console for convenience if you have a load of cartridges, plus you can play roms from the SD card using the patch hack. It just misses PC Engine games. Hyperkin also did a video showing how to remove the cartridges slightly easier, where you hold the side of the cartridge with one hand and lift one side of the cartridge instead of lifting both sides.
I remember getting one when they came out years ago and just say it didn't wanted to play original Gameboy games where I contacted the company with failing results so I did a Amazon trade-in for about $100 then bought a used PS4.
Good video. I got mine about5 months ago. I put in my Tetris DX that I've had for 24/25 years, the retron 5 wiped my save! That's the only negative I've experienced.
😯
The hdmi port is very delicate.
I never had an issue with my original one and so far this one is worked fine
They need to upgrade to the next one..call it Retron 8: with Atari 2600 , Colecovision and N64..call it Retron 8 :)
Haven't used my retro5 in along time but I do love it. Was thinking of hooking it up to a crt. Any thoughts on how that would be.?
I do put a light oil on the pins to avoid the death grip. But make sure everything stays dust free
I think this kind of console is kind of outdated nowadays, since it uses emulators, which Hyperkin didn't pay for using, it isn't all that different from playing on a modern console or a phone. And nowadays we have options of retro controllers for new consoles and physical editions. I bought all Mega Man collections and Rare Replay for Xbox One and I have more than a 100 games just from these. I think that if I'm going to buy original cartridges I would prefer to play it on a console that does the exact same things as the original, I think Hyperkin has enough resources to make a Retron 5 that uses real hardware since it would basically be a Retron 3 with the Gameboys added.
Yeah can't disagree here. I think it still has it uses if you want a lot of consoles and you're in a specific budget range...and you're understanding of what the Retron 5 does but as much as I liked it in 2014 (to the point of supplying patches for people) it's a hard pass for me these days. I'm way too spoiled by Analogue's offerings since then and especially the MiSTer. I'm not into the angle the R5 takes to hit a mental nostalgia checkbox for people when it's just a smokescreen at best. You can "use" cartridges with it...great, but then you take away half the point for me by adding in input latency, inaccuracy, and straight incompatibility that comes with middling software emulation on a low powered SoC.
That said. I do have good memories of it at the time. It did do a lot to bring me back into retro gaming and I sure as hell bought a lot of imports on it because of it's ability to use patches.
What's the point of having it? You can play the same ROMes using a software emulator (like OpenEmu). And keep your cartridges safe on the shelf.
Some people just prefer owning physical cartridges, like me. I don't want to pirate ROMs from the internet.
@@RoXolid And keep your cartridges safe on the shelf! It's not pirating. You can even dump them if you like, no need to download :)
I meant it's fun to play using real original hardware or something like Analogue. But Retron is just a raspberry pi with an emulator inside. It dumps the cartridge you put in and uses its ROM anyway :)
@@AlexanderShelestov Safe from what? Playing a cartridge isn't unsafe.
@@RoXolid To protect them from dust and scratches! You also mentioned that the cartridge is hard to get out. It certainly won't lengthen their lifespan. So what's the point?
@@RoXolid Anyway, big thanks for the review, I always wanted to see how it looks and works and you showed it!
I'm mixed on these. I mean, anything that get's people into retro gaming is great in my book, and software emulating the downloaded data from your carts is better that just getting them off the internet (I mean, the data is from your cart), but hardware emulation through FPGA (like with an analog super NT) is actually playing the cart itself, in real-time! It's all down to preference tho. I'm sure there are greater "purists" out there gawking at the fact that I'm not playing my carts on the original systems through a crt!
I hate CRTs but do have all the original systems to play on. I've said before that if you know what an FPGA is, this system isn't for you. This is for an entry level customer
"Wow, that's a tight fit..."
That's what she said ;)
"rimshot"
I thought they forgot about Sega Game Gear but at least they sell a card that goes into the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive spot. Most clone consoles that play through emulation they forget about Sega Master System and Game Gear.
I just have the black one which was the second version, if memory serves me correctly. I still play it regularly. Play a lot of Super Famicom RPGs we never got over here (or some until recently as one of the ones I have before it finally got released on Switch is Live-A-Live) with the translation patch and it's awesome. I use my Sega Power Base Converter for Master System games too. Still no complaints about the thing. The only time I hook up an actual 16 bit retro console is when I want to play Sega CD games.
I’m curious about something. And this could be the avenue I go, but I would really like to know if this could work:
Run a Retron 5, through HDMI, to a component adapter, into a component CRT. And I wonder will the NES Zapper work?
I’m thinking either set something like that up or some kind of emulation system the same way with an NES controller adapter. Why do this? So I can get the best picture possible on a Tube without losing use of my perfectly functional Zapper
Nice for convenience purposes I enjoy my retron 5 I like my black one but I wish I could get the beach edition though😊
Yeah, it works decently enough for most and plays a ton of systems
Buyer Beware there is some input lag. Try the first minecart level in donkey kong country to see what I mean... Still a nice system though
@15:59 i had no idea they ported Altered Beast to the famicom! quite laughable :D
It's so bad and so amazing at the same time
If it outpouts 720p, you should grab an mClassic and use it to upscale to 1080p or 4k.
I may try this!
Another thing worth looking at is that someone recently released a custom firmware for it that unlocks playing games off the SD card, emulation for TG16, PS1 and NeoGeo, as well as some UI improvements (it’s pretty much a modified version of the firmware running on the Retro Freak)
What blows my mind is that they still sold this newer Retron 5 model with that awful controller… they seen the feedback, why not just ship it with two SNES controllers?
You've been able to play games off the SD Card for sometime, the thing was you needed to have a cart for the system you wanted to play in the system to "unlock" it.
Its pretty nice that it works with a Master System adapter.
I wonder if it would work with the adapter and a card catcher... It almost makes me want to get a retron 5 just to test it.
Card Catcher?
@@RoXolid It was a pass through device that is used to play cards on the SG-1000 consoles. Both SG-1000 models didn't have a slot for cards.
thank you for your reviews im on fence between this and retron 3 hd.
Does thise product support game genies and play multicarts? I am not sure what is included with homebrew and reproductions. Thanks!
I love my retron 5
Thank God for the steam deck! 🥇🏆🦍🚀
Or not as it can't play physical carts
I just bought a retron 5 and i noticed a
significant input lag on Super Mario bros on the Nes
Do have any tips that could reduce the input lag good video very informative
I didn't notice that myself. Have you tried updating firmware? And wired it wireless controller?
I like the Retron 5 but I really wish it would have better build quality. I had to send one in because it was not working right out of the box, when they send it back it still would not work. I have another unit and I have had better luck with it but the tight cartridge connections scare me.
The pin connectors seem to be a sticking point to the quality on all of these.
I have a Sega Genesis 2 and try and record video through it. The video is a bit jumpy when moving and I also have the sound buzzing issue.
Are any video or sound buzzing present with this system?
I can still play ultimate mortal kombat 3 arcade hack for genesis for retron 5?
It seems the only place they missed the mark is by not using FPGA/real hardware. Doing that would make thing like the Famicom Disk System, Super Gameboy, Gameboy Camera, and any Gameboy Advance games with special cart gimmicks properly work,
FPGA would also really increase the cost.
Tight is better than it being loose!
But if it's too tight it can cause other problems
I love my retron 5, I don't know if I ever told you that
Wait, do I know you? You seem familiar, but it's been so long...
Thank you
You are welcome
Great review. Thinking of getting one to see how i feel about hyperkin consoles. I want to get a snes, so perhaps this would be a good baby step. Ive always loved their controllers, i have a few. Curious to see if id like their snes pad, the original snes pad is my favorite controller of all time. Love the color of this unit. Almost looks like it glows. Very unique color scheme.
This is darn near identical to the Nintendo SNES Control Pad. It's about the closest I've ever used, they'e done a great job with the Scout.
@@RoXolid ill definitely check the controller out at the very least. Glad to hear its good thanks for the info.
I was wanting to buy a Retron 5 but I hate this blueish color but I found a black one. However as I was viewing the details the black Retron 5 was made available in 2013 but the blueish one was made available in 2021. Does that mean the blueish one is the better one?
I still have my original HR5, I'd like to see them do a update to it, like in the past they said there would be a N64 console I'd like to see that added on top of their Retron 77 but instead of an adapter for master system and game gear I'd like to see ports for those as well. I don't know what you'd call it maybe The Retron 10 or something whatever the total of systems would be. I'd like to see a USB-C port added also come with their wireless controllers they offer too with different bundles available. I heard it will also let you use other bluetooth controllers... I haven't tried it maybe you can confirm this? I know that's a lot to process but I think you get my ideas LOL Oh yeah & add a SSD to dump your games onto & run them off of that! anyway great video Gary!!! I loved this deep dive into this one!
I have the older black Retron 5. Unfortunately mine doesn't play Starfox, Thunderforce 4. Gynoug on Megadrive freezes up on level 2. Is it the firmware? Does this new version play these titles OK.
I'm curious if the NES port on this one is any different than on the original R5. I could never get Dragon Warrior 1 to work with mine because it was one of those games where the pins on one side do not actually reach all the way to the end of the PCB, so they couldn't make a connection in the R5's NES slot. You could make an .ips "patch" that really just switched one game out for another, essentially playing a rom off the sd card, but at that point I have other options to play roms, or just hook the NES up to a retrotink. The included wireless controller also flat out failed and stopped powering on altogether after a few months, and was not designed to be easily taken apart.
If they have a better NES connector on this one, great!
Otherwise, it's a great idea, it just doesn't quite hit the mark for me.
It seems pretty similar to me
@@RoXolid It's unfortunate, but admittedly an edge-case issue that doesn't outweigh all of the value the system has for anyone with cartridges and no clean way to play them on a modern display. Not to mention how many of those old RPGs tend to be cheaper if you go for their original Japanese versions, and then the R5 will let you apply translation patches as you mentioned in your video.
$180 is definitely not pocket change, but when you compare that to the price tag on some of the fancier FPGA offerings out there, this thing will play the games it's compatible with just fine. Software emulation for these particular systems is typically pretty spot-on now.
I was a little down on the system in my original comment so I wanted to balance it out a bit! Keep up the awesome videos! I've settled down from buying/modding old stuff and making repro carts, etc, so content like your channel helps me stay in touch with the retro scene.
Can you make video on getting best picture on Wii? Is wii + rt5x better than wiiu + mclassic?
Wii via component cables to the RetroTink 5x is the better option
@@RoXolid I read comments on your videos people saying that the wii with wii2hdmi + mclassic is just as good as using wii +rt5x. Is that true, have you tried it?
It's not even close, the RetroTink 5x is vastly superior in picture quality and has better responsiveness/less lag
@@RoXolid oh okay. Well it would be cool if you made a video on the topic because I also watch Adam’s channel and he says the best way to play wii games is to ditch the actual wii and use the wii u with the mclassic/ cable. It would be cool to see a comparison 👍🏼.
I like the option for save states!
A lot of people do
My Retron 5 has a "fatal error 0f001" message. Not fun.
Yes it does Retron 5
Did they actually fix alot of problems with this when it originally came out. Also how do those cartridge slots work they where bad originally. My Snes and and Famicom slots pins got bent quickly.
Nice recent update on the Retron. Heard the Hyperbeach edition updated the list of roms it can't play which is larger than the OG edition. Also many Game Gear games won't load up properly. Keep it up!
Can you still use any controller to play any compatible game? I want to play Game Boy games with an NES controller.
Yes, that's what I showed here
@@RoXolid sorry, commented too soon.
@@supertombrother1988 all good
Thank you for this video. So does it seem that this edition of the Retron 5 has fix the input and lag issues that some of the older ones had? I had an original Retron when it first came out. My lag was horrible. I would like to give the new edition here a try that’s in your video if the input lag is better. Thanks.
I never felt that my original from 2015 had lag issues, and this really doesn't either. Just make sure you use Game mode on your TV.
@@RoXolid thank you for the info
I wish it was made in another color, this color makes me think of a Sean kingston song and a very pretty actress from Wuhan and actually going forward
Has Hyperkin upgraded the pins? I bought one of these 3 years ago, and the pins in the SNES SNES slot, would grip the cart too tight, bending the pins! It was very frustrating to say the least. I exchanged it once, the same thing happened to the new unit. It ended on getting donated to Goodwill!! Never again!
They are still tight, I don't remember my original system being this tight but it may have been
Had so many issues with this system just crashing games in the middle of playing i updated the software after talking to Hyperkin and kept having issues, the pins messed up on the first one too, had it RMAed and I replaced it with another one and it did the same thing… I literally through this system in the trash it was so frustrating so many issues and had issues with pins on it to. Since I have been through two of them nothing but bad experience… sad for me and a waste of hundreds of bucks. I really wanted my two to work so well like others say…… I really wish it would but I’m scared at this point to try again on a new one and fork out the money again. I guess I could order it through Amazon the next time if I wanted to so I could return it if there was the same issues huh? Are you all seriously not having these issues with yours???
I bought my retron 5 when it was still $90. Now its around $200. The snes input dropped a pin and I can’t play snes games anymore, which was the whole point of buying it, since it allowed me to patch super famicom games on the go to english. Anyone got a super cheap spare retron 5 witha working snes entrance?
Do you know if the enhancements to this release of the RetroN5 is on the hardware or the firmware side? In other words, can you update the firmware of the original RetroN5 with the latest one for new RetroN5 you just got?
My understanding is the Hyperbeach ships with the latest and greatest Firmware
So I have the Retron SQ which I purchased during the pandemic for 1 reason and it was to play Zelda Minish cap, but the Sq wasn’t able to play it, could you confirm wether or not it works on the Retron 5?
I also had issues with Mario Golf GBA.
I don't own Minish Cap to test, sorry.
I thought for sure those Mario coins would sound all jacked up like all of the other clone systems. For someone with a bunch of old games sitting around with no console, you really can't beat it. Plus it has the added bonus of automatically translating the games, and it dumps your save file. That's pretty amazing. It probably works, but did you try your PAL Darkwing Duck? I know you said you're very used to the speed of that game. Also, does the FDS RAM adapter work with it? Nice review as always Gary.
I haven't played my Darkwing Duck with it yet. The Famicom disk system does not work due to the way the system dumps the ROM. Essentially it's dumping the ROM of the RAM cart not the disc being played
@@RoXolid right, that makes sense. You can't dump a ROM of a RAM lol.
Exactamundo
7:30 Goddamn Hyperkin, thinking they can fake a retro vibe by including a USB-mini socket. Everyone knows *TRUE* retro uses a -proprietary- Type-B connector.
I don't care who you are, that was funny right there. I actually laughed out loud. I award you many points, and may God have mercy on your soul
Can this system run "all in one" type cartridges? I want to get back into the retro world, but when I foolishly gave away my SNES, Genesis, and NES, I also included the games. So, I'd definitely want on of these if they can run some of the all in one cartridges. AND, if it does run them, which one would you recommend?
Not sure if it does and I don't recommend them. Yes, they are cheap but they often run at the incorrect voltage which can cause issues. If that's what you want then I'd suggest a Retropie or Mstr
on my retron 5 if u play castlevaina 3 then take the game out play another game then stick castlevaina 3 back in in will glitch out.. does this happen with urs??
Do they still sell the retron 5 on amazon.
Why we still talking about this system
Because I just got one?
Nice clone, but I rather stick to original hardware as long as I still have a CRT TV.
That's perfectly fine, and original hardware will get you the best compatibility. However there are people out there like me who never want to own a CRT ever again
can you leave all the controllers plugged into the r5 when playing different systems?
IE nes, snes, genesis plugged in at the same time
No, you need to only have 1 cart installed at a time.
@@RoXolid thank you for the prompt reply but I was asking about the controllers not the cart IE: nes/gen/snes controllers plugged in at the same time.
@@johnSton71 oh, sorry, yes you can leave the controllers plugged in all the time
I wonder if the nes 150 in 1 multi- cartridge I like to know if would work in retron 5
Not sure
I am wondering if the original master system converter works... So, for games that save in cart does it actually save in the cart so that you can continue on other hardware?
I cover this in the video
@@RoXolid I am not sure where the Master System Converter you use comes from but since it works I bet the original that I have should work too. As for the saves seems that I can back up the save, change the battery in the cartridge and move the save back in. This is cool
@@belmont_gr I address the Power Base Converter at ua-cam.com/video/Jmw4gK88hTs/v-deo.html
Thx for this! Pirate! 😁
Uh, I'm no pirate
great vid, what about virtua racing ? sega mega drive, and the audio in streets of rage?
You know, I completely forgot to test Virtua Racing! I'll do a short on it this weekend! Thanks for calling that out!
Have you ever played on a RetroFreak?
I have not
Weird that you always mention lag when playing EWJ, and you didnt this time..... i wonder why.....
Because it was a non issue. I'm also not a robot and there are things I don't always reference.
@@RoXolid It is an issue, a huge one, its just that you were told not talk about it. No worries, I understand.
Your tin foil hat is on a bit tightly there. No one tells me what to say in my videos. No one
I really like the retro 5. I don’t own one anymore due to a flood but it is a nice console for cartridge gaming. Just one console without the wire mess in the back
Does this play flash carts? Like everdrive x7, sd2snes and everdrive n8 pro?
I don't have any to test, sorry. My thought has always been if you're going to use a flash cart with a clone system just use a retropie, you'll be cheaper in the long run
Would you ever review the retrofreak or polymega ?
One reached out to polymega and their problem is they just can't produce enough to fulfill orders let alone provide a sample. Never looked into the retro freak
Fpga killer
No, FPGAs have nothing to worry about, but that's a different customer base too
Can u 0lay flashdrive gba carg and flashdrive gb/gbc. Let u play rom on ur system.
I don't know, I don't use flash drives
I bought this edition a year ago. I love it. But I still can't get the wireless controller to pair. It's garbage anyway. I also paid $157 for it.
Does it work with sd2snes and omega flash and everdrives and so on?
I don't own any EverDrives. If you're going to use one in a clone system like this I'd suggest going with a Retropie or Mstr instead, you'll be cheaper in the long run
Works with everdrive nes?
It does not
Please get a replacement one with a working port. Is this the replacement?
I'm sorry I don't understand
Did you drop it or anything? Please stop getting carried away.
@@mariokart8715 I did drop it, I'm clumsy
Has the retail price dropped for the retron 5?
No, if anything it's gone up slightly
My Retron 5 broke while stored shinily in its box. Support said it’d be cheaper to buy a new one than fix it. Played it like twice 👎
How much does this retron 5 cost??🎮💸🎮
Check the link in the pinned comment for the latest pricing
I would like to see if it works with Game Genie for any system just to see. I doubt it would but would be fun to see.
It comes with build in game genie
Correct
but no TURBO GRAFX/PC ENGINE😟…
True, but they are working on a TG16 clone now.
The point is, it's either all original or nothing at all. The fact that you only play "a digital copy" from your cartridge anyway makes the thing totally useless...
So take money and buy 1-2 used old consoles or nothing at all. But a nice idea and thanks for your review
I couldn't disagree more. For those who are just getting back into retro gaming the fact that you're playing a dumped ROM is a non factor. In fact, many people these days have no idea how the original hardware works, couldn't tell you the difference between FPGA, SoCs or hardware emulation. Many think if it's a clone it always dinos the ROM like this.
I have original hardware is all these systems, multiples in fact. I have SCART & HD Retrovision cables going into a RetroTink 5x. That's an expensive way to play but the most accurate. That being said, this is a fine easy to get back into the hobby, it's a decent starting point.
@@RoXolid No seriously it's the most backwards way of playing retro games conceivable. There is a significant difference between cheap software emulation and original hardware that do affect the quality of the experience negatively. If you're going to emulate, emulate properly; and if you're bothering with original carts, have some respect and ensure the experience is either original and authentic or otherwise of the best quality possible. If the emulation quality were on the level of the best PC emulators or FPGA there could've been an argument but as it stands shilling a Retron 5 in 2023 will only make the target audience think you're either completely clueless or just trolling/grifting for views.
Well you're welcome to your opinions but I couldn't disagree more. I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you know what an FPGA is then you're not the target audience for this. Is it perfect? Nope, not even close. It's it a decent entry into retro gaming that plays a ton of systems and provides 720p visuals? Absolutely. This channel exists because of the Retron 5, it was my gateway, but it's not where I stopped. It's where I started. Since I got my original Retron 5 in 2015, I've purchased every US and practically every Japanese Nintendo system, every Sega console, a JVC X'EYE, Panasonic Q, Virtual Boy, Sharp Famicom Twin, and more. But none of that would have happened if not for discovering and purchasing my original Retron 5.
In the end I don't care how you play, just play how you have fun. And the reason why I reviewed this in 2023 is I had people asking me to cover it, so I did. No grifting involved
@@RoXolid I don't think the Retron 5 makes any sense as a product in this day and age. I also think buying lackluster crap as an "entry point" is a bad way to spend money when you could just buy real consoles, some decent cables, and a CRT or an actual good and affordable entry point upscaler like the Retrotink 2x. The real cost by far comes from collecting original games, which you're already starting out with anyway if you're considering the Retron 5, so cheaping out on the device you play on like that makes even less sense in that scenario. Like, are you going to buy Earthbound for a small fortune but refuse to pay 10% of the price of that loose cart on a real SNES, but would rather dump the ROM and run it through trashy emulation? It's just that, the juxtaposition of real original cartridges (which connotes effort and authenticity) and a crappy emulation box (which connotes the opposite) that's so incredibly asinine I can't even wrap my head around it. It's like the ultimate troll of retro systems. And before you shill more let it be known that it has been proven conclusively that the Retron 5 adds significant lag and that sound emulation is poor, and many retro fans have known about this for years.
There are many people, including myself, who never want to own or play on a CRT every again. Also, I don't disagree that a RetroTink and real hardware are more accurate ways to play. However the person looking to play Earthbound I don't think is the same person who would even consider a Retron 5. They are 2 different customers. I look at the Retron 5 customer as someone who wants to play games like what you'd get on the NES/SNES/GENESIS mini/classics. They're buying $5-$30 games, not games with hundreds. For $180 the Retron 5 let's people play NES, SNES, SFC, Famicom, Genesis, Mega Drive, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance. Compare that to an original SNES, HD Retrovision Component Cables, and a RetroTink 2x. Just for 1 system you've exceeded the cost of the Retron 5. I get the value of that setup, as do you, but there's a place for both in the hobby. Again, I'm the perfect example add someone that started with a Retron 5 and progressed from there. That happened. It's the Retron 5 perfect? Again I've never claimed it was. But for an entry point there are many things it does for the target audience. So check your arrogance, understand that it's ok that there's something on the market that's not for you but someone else might enjoy, knock off the gate keeping, be happy people are enjoying playing games, and stick the shill comments where the sun doesn't shine.
its a great product but it does use emulation ....
That it does