“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

You bet

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.

I was impressed that, compared to my original grey one, this one seemed to load GBA games a heck of a lot faster

Excellent feature

It does, and it also can work with translation patches too

That it is

Thank you so much for all the kind words! Yes, I try very hard to keep things family friendly and relateable.

Completely agree

😯

Yeah, it's pretty easy to do

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 bought an 8bitdo controller back in the day for my first Retron 5, the NES30 Pro.

A lot of people do

There are a lot of useful tools for the Retron5

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

Yeah, it works decently enough for most and plays a ton of systems

Thanks for the tip!

Uh, I'm no pirate

My understanding is the Hyperbeach ships with the latest and greatest Firmware

I don't own Minish Cap to test, sorry.

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

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

The pin connectors seem to be a sticking point to the quality on all of these.

I've heard that as well

You are welcome

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.

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.

They are still tight, I don't remember my original system being this tight but it may have been

I didn't notice that myself. Have you tried updating firmware? And wired it wireless controller?

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

Not sure

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 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gNOnZ8p8nZ7MhKc.html

I never had an issue with my original one and so far this one is worked fine

Yes, that's what I showed here

​@@RoXolid sorry, commented too soon.

@@supertombrother1988 all good

You know, I completely forgot to test Virtua Racing! I'll do a short on it this weekend! Thanks for calling that out!

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

But if it's too tight it can cause other problems

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.

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 👍🏼.

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 may try this!

Yeah, it's not "suppose" to lift from one side, that's just the "fix".

I don't disagree, the pins on the newer systems are better

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

Wait, do I know you? You seem familiar, but it's been so long...

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

"rimshot"

No, if anything it's gone up slightly

I don't know, I don't use flash drives

Or not as it can't play physical carts

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.

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!

It's so bad and so amazing at the same time

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

FPGA would also really increase the cost.

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

Because I just got one?

It comes with build in game genie

Correct

I have not

Check the link in the pinned comment for the latest pricing

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

True, but they are working on a TG16 clone now.

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

No, FPGAs have nothing to worry about, but that's a different customer base too

You should never, NEVER, use WD40 on electronic components. It is a lubricant and it can attack some plastics or molded composites.

@@RoXolid it didnt matter anyways, it had nothing to do with the firmware sucking and zero customer service, the board was almost ripping off the case the games were stuck so bad

@@RoXolid I fixed a ton of PlayStation 1 consoles thanks to WD40. Especially the laser unit (rail and little gears). My own ps1 still works after six years of doing this. And I use this ps1 very much.

They're working on one

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.