Really thorough and comprehensive review, not just from your perspective but you also consider what might be important for other people - much appreciated.
dislike the comments regarding 'i have a pc to emulate playing games' congratulations you know how to download an emulator and game files. uyou dont get the whole point of collecting original material. i could of ranted a load of obsene comments but didnt honestly when i watch these episodes and read the comments i think there are a lot of narrow minded kids oeut there, nice job gamester 81. peace.
Good review. I was contemplating about getting this and I'm glad some one reviewed it and what not. I'll have to think about it, but I now have a lot more info to take in about it. Thanks!
@Vebinz because MEGADRIVE is the Europe/Japanese system so it basically plays those, it has a separate slot because the cartridges have a slightly different shape
The graphics looks slightly brighter han on te original, but the sound is more muffled. BUT the HDMI-only output is total b.s.. Not everyone has a digital tv, so this system is a no go for us. Also, why is John listing the "Genesis" and "Mega Drive" as two separate systems?
Vebinz I agree with there is nothing wrong with using a CRT. Whether you're watching a show on a "42 LCD or a 32" CRT in the end you are just watching the show and not marveling at the TV. I got an RCA Truflat 1080i flatscreen CRT at goodwill for $12 and it has amazing picture quality.
Vebinz "Not everyone has a digital tv" Ok Grandpa. It's 2015. Older TVs are obsolete. I still have a few CRTs to play old systems, but not having an HDTV is just ridiculous. Most devices nowadays that plug into your TV either don't support CRTs or just look awful on them. There's no reason not to have one if you have the money. Don't blame Hyperkin for your own problem.
Vebinz And of course you result to insulting me. I literally just said in my comment I still use CRTs to play old games. They have their uses. But not with modern technology. You want to use modern technology for a TV you need a modern TV. It's common sense. I'm interested in this console because it's convenient having one box to play all these systems.
MrMasterDork And I suppose the "grandpa" swipe wasn't said as an insult, right? We have not yet reached the stage where crt tv's are completely unusable. I don't need to see some shitty tv show in high definition. In fact, nothing on tv is worth high definition except maybe some nature documentary. The makers of this as idiots, because they are dismissive of old tech, but not old video games. They're like hipsters, picking and choosing what's "retrto-cool" to them.
I've already managed to break mine. Tried installing those cheat files that are listed right on the Retron 5 website. I must have botched it by installing just the files and not the directory/sub-directory onto the SD Card. Or, maybe leaving the SMB cart in there was what did it. What happened after plugging the card into the console was that it reacted very slowly. Finally got to the menu screen and only the + / - / menu instructions were there while the screen shrank a dozen times or more. Now, just turning on the machine with even nothing in it still brings up the same results. I also noted the SD Card had an empty directory marked Lost.(something. three letter extension.) Now, what do I do? Plan on giving that (non-toll free) support number a call.
I should also mention for people trying to break down the pricing that the GBA Player for the Gamecube is now going for $50. The expansion port may go $10 but that bios disc goes for a lot of money. Since the peripheral isn't so popular I think a lot of people believe it to be like the Super Gameboy. It is not. You need the disc to make the expansion work. I've always found this to be a bit annoying even though I've owned it for about 5 years now. With the Retron 5 you can easily play GBA games and GBC-only games on your TV. Sure you lose the boarders but everyone I know who uses the system always picks the black boarder anyway and besides the games look even crisper (in part because the Gamecube Component Cables are super expensive too).
This is a great reason to get the Retron 5. The GB/GBC/GBA capability is worth it alone for me. Getting to play all the other systems is a plus. The only problem I see with the R5 is the cart slots on top. They made the grip too tight. Including eject buttons on the slots I think would've solved this. It is a minor problem, but it makes me worry that I'll damage the system or cart by pulling too hard.
***** I agree but besides Pokemon and Advance Wars what other games do people really play using the link cable? I mean I guess if you didn't download Four Swords on the 3DS when it was up for free a couple months back but I honestly do not see the lack of a link cable as such a big deal. Maybe for Pokemon some sort of dummy program could be created but if you're trying to trade from the old games you probably already have a lot of extra Gameboy systems and cables (they are not hard to find). Jirachi farming anyone?
Actual Kick Mud Yeah. I think ejector buttons would go a long way as to make people feel more comfortable with placing the carts in the system. Something tells me though the next system will try to implement them.
I've seen some comments here regarding lag. Lag is input related due to display lag generated from LCD screens. The bigger and older the LCD screen you use, the greater the MS reponse time = equals delays on your inputs. Unless you own something like a BenQ 1ms monitor, you are going to experience some sort of input lag. It's not the console's fault. If you use the wireless controller, you are adding to that lag. Find yourself a nice gaming monitor to use like an Asus, BenQ, or LG with low MS ratings(4ms or less is best). The cross platform use of controllers is nice, and offers a nice blend of convenience, with actual carts. You can always play on your original consoles or clones if you want that CRT experience.
Pretty spot on review except you can play a snes game with a genesis or any other combination you choose(i don't know why you would want to). I personally don't really like the control but i have originals anyway so it's not a problem.I'm glad i picked it up it's easier than having all those systems hooked up at the same time and i think some of the filters look really good on my flat screen.You can also expand the picture to fit your full screen or shrink it down for a more authentic 90's feel. I think for some one who owns physical copies of games its a decent pick-up for the money.
I will buy it becuse i dont have any more room for more consoles, i have Gamecube (With Gameboy Player), Wii, Wii U, PS1, PS2, PS3 , PS4, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox one, PSP , 3DS and Gameboy Advance
GameSack has the best review on the Retron 5. I was planning to get one but after seeing GameSacks review I would rather spend money on real consoles. These guys have an extremely thorough review and cover all aspects of the system.
This was going to be a day one purchase for me until all the delays. And now with the price hike & this review, I think I'll wait for a price cut before even considering it again.
John, great review!!! One question though; can you access the home screen from the original controllers or do you have to be using the wireless controller?
I wonder if they fixed the problem with the Genesis port rejecting cartridges because they have a security built into their cartridges to lock them to use only in their official systems, which are hard to find now in working condition.
This does sound pretty interesting. Although the price tag seems a little much, the idea of being able to play my NES/SNES/GBA and Genesis games on one unit is a greta idea. Plus the capture card I just ordered only uses HDMI input (I think) so this may make capturing footage easier without having to swap out systems. This is aimed at people that collect for more than one system and not the emulator crowd.
Does anyone know the preferred method of switching cartridges between slots? Should the system be powered down before the change is made, or is it safe to just return to the system menu and swap the carts? The instruction menu does not address this.
Thanks for the review. The controller, HDMI out only, and no support for homebrew/flash carts is a big negative to me. There are a few pros, but as an owner of the original systems, I don't currently need to add the Retron 5 to my console library.
I have the retron 5 and there is one feature that makes it indispensable as a console for me. I have been able to run the Super Famicom games in English. I have tested this with Dragon Quest I & II, Dragon Quest III, and Final Fantasy V. The documentation is non existent on how to accomplish this but I was able to glean enough information from the Internet and come up with my own procedure.
Im pissed after watching your review. I returned my Retron 5 because I couldn't get it to turn on. I had no idea you had to hold the power button down for 5 seconds to get it to start. I may have missed it in the directions but i assumed with no immediate response it was broken. WTF.
Awesome review. Overall, I like the Retron 5. It's great for HDMI video capture (it's what I'm using for our new retro video game competition channel). But out of the box, my Retron's AC Adapter died within a day and after week, one of the pins from the NES cartridge slot popped out! I'm glad my retro game store had a 30 day warranty and they replaced it for me. I hope it holds up!
Great video I was thinking about buying one I missed out on those consoles and would like to get one of these for the convenience....or maybe I should wait until the retron 6? Anyhoo do you still like the system or have anything else to add after using it for over a year?
Have to say, that this is better than i was starting to expect (i was actually not sure it was going to ever come out). The cons for me don't sound terrible, and it sounds a very convenient way to get some retro gaming going.
It's great we can now get the foreign ports on these kind of devices. I just wish they had a unique translator installed. I also see that some of these devices an online platform that is great.
someone in my area has a turbo graphics 16 with a CD ROM for $399 it looks to be in really good shape and has games with it if your interested its on Craigslist posted I'm pretty sure still in Colorado Springs Colorado
Something you never mentioned (or maybe I missed), how is the frame-rate on the RetroN 5? Contra/Sonic looked like they were running slow, and I don't want to practice speed running SMB if it's running slow. Can you/anyone verify that the play speed is equal/close to the original hardware?
I gotta say overall I'm pretty impressed. The Genesis and NES are almost dead on with actual hardware which is really impressive. I would consider myself a purist as I like using actual hardware and don't generally like clones. But this would be a good alternative to save wear and tear on my retro systems. Great review.
Thank you for this review, i am very impressed with the HD upscaling capabilitie,howdver due hd upscaling you can also clearly see the missing details,contoures and see flatty colors,some spries can look like as if it was painted by picasso,depending wich game you play,but that's because those games were originally low-res.
Hi John, this looks like a really good system with perhaps one drawback. I totally agree with your comment regarding the Turbografx 16. I'm sure this console would be vastly improved with a Hu card slot. Cool video fella, thanks.
Wow, the graphics / up scaling is amazing! so sharp and vivd, i just wish it would have options for regular gameboy games to be color and not just black and white. but wow, everything looks better than the original systems. sound on the genesis sounded a little better, funny how everyone has trouble reproducing proper genesis sound. Great video, thanks for the review. gotta buy one in the future.
Also, love seeing how John's channel has grown. I remember watching his older vids and just love his intro he has and I am hoping nothing but good things for him. Gamester81 - question - you going to purchase the $500 NES - Analogue Nt - and review that when it gets released? Also, on the Retron, can you hook up the original controllers to it?
I don't understand why all these PC fanboys have to say everything negative about it. If you are not into game consoles and prefer your PC, then why are you even here to comment on a game console review? You are already hating on it as soon as you get here. We understand that you can use your PC to emulate games rather than buying a separate piece of equipment to do so. That's all fine, but did you ever think maybe other people in the world don't want to use their PC to play games, that they like a separate console(s) for their gaming? Yes, try to think that not everyone believes the same like you. Kind of like a religion. Not everyone believes in the same religion or any at all. In gaming, some people like to use the original equipment, some like to use a PC, some like to use clone systems, others like to use a emulator console like the Retron 5, which for many people is perfect for their needs. The Retron 5 works and works well. It does what is was made to do.
I'm not so surprised on the emulator side, the device needs something in between to upscale and savestate all those games after all. Good thing Hyperkin added firmware updates so hopefully this will be fixed in the near future. Still I'm excited for that thing, although those additional 40 bucks are a little annoying on my wallet. Thanks for the review, John!
I wonder if in a future hardware version they'll add an optical drive and start emulating CD-based consoles. The PlayStation patents should start expiring within the next few years, which would seem to make it economically viable.
Props for giving a shout-out for the Turbo Grafx 16. In particular I'd like to see someone make a close system that would play Turbo Duo and import CD games, as the functional consoles for those have gotten really expensive and hard to get.
John did you have the loudness setting on when you recorded the audio from the retron 5? I am just wondering because it was really muffled and the loudness setting on some devices will cause that.
From my understanding isn't this running android with a multi emulator package, similar to RetroArch? I remember reading that somewhere waiting for this to come out.
Have enjoyed some of the RetroN products but I always feel like the game practically gets stuck in the slot. Seems they have not loosened up, do you feel they did this to account for potentially dirty games (oxidized contacts)? Either way am a fan of these videos. I am back into the retro gaming scene after finding my stash of games at my parents house. Nothing gets you back into collecting like finding a huge head start in the basement.
I am wondering on this if it actually has a copy of all the roms in flash, and just uses the cart to read game name and copy protection. Sounds cool, but no flash cart support will leave me waiting for a system that does support them.
Mine arrived yesterday, but I'm yet to even open the amazon box, let alone the system itself because I was trying to figure out if runs flash carts, guess it doesn't. For me that's kinda of a deal breaker, I have the SD2SNES cart to protect my original cartridges. I'm gonna talk to some friends and see if they are interested on the Retron 5, if they don't, I'll keep it.
"The Hyperstone Heist" is basically Sega's attempt to revamp "Turtles in Time" from the SNES, itself a port of the second arcade game by the same title. The main difference with "Hyperstone Heist" is a couple of levels, and some minor story elements changed.
I do agree that the graphics look great but I personally found the audio to be over the top in the bass department. Also heard some small sound effects that were either louder or quieter than in the past, which is off-putting.
Is it compatible with Ever drives ? Because if You can use it with the genesis everdrive You can also play some game gear games on it by simply changing the file extension from .gg to .sms.
can i use clone joysticks (nes genesis and super nes clone joystcks) or only original joysticks? can i use clone cartridges or only original ones? thanks
I was planning on getting this, but with it not working with flash carts, I'll have to pass. I was gonna use it as a sort of portable system where I'd lug it to friends houses and play anything we wanted. Guess that's out.
I bought a Retron 5 about a month ago. Really enjoying it even though i have all the original systems this thing emulates except Famicom don't have one of them bad boys. What i noticed in your comparison some audio on the games being played on Retron 5 didn't sound quite as clear on original systems thats a minor thing to me. The sound on the Reton 5 in most cases is better much more clear and crisp than original systems. Well done video John. Yeah that would be great if they make all the home brew and fan made games compatible with the Retron 5 that way we can play your game Sydney Hunter (SNES) on the Retron 5!
I use Wii homebrew for my emulation but there is a small lag. Could anyone tell me if there is a delay on retron5? Also this system only loads carts right? I wouldn't be able to load from SD?
Being able to play 2 players over the 'net *would* be awesome. Unfortunately, even the emulators have had no luck making it work anywhere near responsively enough. Damn thing about physics is you can't get the packets there and back any faster. PC and modern console games can do it because they use latency compensation algorithms and player action predictions, which would be difficult to integrate into NES games.
Do u know how his device currently works ? it looks to me like it rips your current cart to a ROM then emulates it in a android operating system . so just a ouya with a cartridge reader and some controller ports. I doubt flash carts will ever work
I listened to a podcast that had some Hyperkin guys on, and I want to say that it was the Up+Start to get to the home menu on original controllers. I can't remember exactly though. They did have a way to do it though.
Only concern with these systems is they drive up the cart prices even more. If you add more working hardware to the market that has a limited supply of software you drive up prices in a already sensitive market.
I was excited to get a retron 5 until I found out my flash carts wouldn't work on the system. Since I scaled back my system a few years back and instead saved the space by getting a few flash carts, it is disappointing that I can't use them with this. Oh well, I went to so much trouble getting rgb output from my snes/gen/saturn so I might as well just keep using the original systems all hooked up.
I think this would be great to give a young kid (maybe before a modern 3d system) to sort of give a similar gaming experience to what we had growing up.
Anyone know if the save states are compatible with any PC emulators? I'd love to be able to move some of my saves from my PC to cart and of course backup my old saves. Before I get any comments about "Save states and in game saves are not the same!" What you do is you load a save state, then you do an in game save.
Really thorough and comprehensive review, not just from your perspective but you also consider what might be important for other people - much appreciated.
dislike the comments regarding 'i have a pc to emulate playing games' congratulations you know how to download an emulator and game files. uyou dont get the whole point of collecting original material. i could of ranted a load of obsene comments but didnt honestly when i watch these episodes and read the comments i think there are a lot of narrow minded kids oeut there, nice job gamester 81. peace.
Yep, I'm getting it for my collection. John, THANK YOU for your review! Keep up the great work!
BTW.. Gamester81. For what's its worth, your one of the few guys doing this i can actually stand watching. A real dude.
Good review. I was contemplating about getting this and I'm glad some one reviewed it and what not. I'll have to think about it, but I now have a lot more info to take in about it. Thanks!
Thanks for your import on the RetroN 5. I just ordered mine off Amazon tonight!
@Vebinz because MEGADRIVE is the Europe/Japanese system so it basically plays those, it has a separate slot because the cartridges have a slightly different shape
I would love to see a Retron-style console that plays Atari 2600, 5200, 7800, 400/800/XE, Intellivision, Colecovision (maybe Lynx, too) :-)
Maybe vectrex as well? Lol.
***** Wonder if a philips cdi would be possible if you want to play the zelda cdi games lol
The graphics looks slightly brighter han on te original, but the sound is more muffled.
BUT the HDMI-only output is total b.s.. Not everyone has a digital tv, so this system is a no go for us.
Also, why is John listing the "Genesis" and "Mega Drive" as two separate systems?
Vebinz I agree with there is nothing wrong with using a CRT. Whether you're watching a show on a "42 LCD or a 32" CRT in the end you are just watching the show and not marveling at the TV. I got an RCA Truflat 1080i flatscreen CRT at goodwill for $12 and it has amazing picture quality.
Vebinz "Not everyone has a digital tv"
Ok Grandpa. It's 2015. Older TVs are obsolete. I still have a few CRTs to play old systems, but not having an HDTV is just ridiculous. Most devices nowadays that plug into your TV either don't support CRTs or just look awful on them. There's no reason not to have one if you have the money. Don't blame Hyperkin for your own problem.
Vebinz And of course you result to insulting me. I literally just said in my comment I still use CRTs to play old games. They have their uses. But not with modern technology. You want to use modern technology for a TV you need a modern TV. It's common sense. I'm interested in this console because it's convenient having one box to play all these systems.
MrMasterDork
And I suppose the "grandpa" swipe wasn't said as an insult, right?
We have not yet reached the stage where crt tv's are completely unusable. I don't need to see some shitty tv show in high definition. In fact, nothing on tv is worth high definition except maybe some nature documentary.
The makers of this as idiots, because they are dismissive of old tech, but not old video games. They're like hipsters, picking and choosing what's "retrto-cool" to them.
I've already managed to break mine.
Tried installing those cheat files that are listed right on the Retron 5 website. I must have botched it by installing just the files and not the directory/sub-directory onto the SD Card. Or, maybe leaving the SMB cart in there was what did it.
What happened after plugging the card into the console was that it reacted very slowly. Finally got to the menu screen and only the + / - / menu instructions were there while the screen shrank a dozen times or more. Now, just turning on the machine with even nothing in it still brings up the same results. I also noted the SD Card had an empty directory marked Lost.(something. three letter extension.)
Now, what do I do? Plan on giving that (non-toll free) support number a call.
I should also mention for people trying to break down the pricing that the GBA Player for the Gamecube is now going for $50. The expansion port may go $10 but that bios disc goes for a lot of money. Since the peripheral isn't so popular I think a lot of people believe it to be like the Super Gameboy. It is not. You need the disc to make the expansion work. I've always found this to be a bit annoying even though I've owned it for about 5 years now.
With the Retron 5 you can easily play GBA games and GBC-only games on your TV. Sure you lose the boarders but everyone I know who uses the system always picks the black boarder anyway and besides the games look even crisper (in part because the Gamecube Component Cables are super expensive too).
This is a great reason to get the Retron 5. The GB/GBC/GBA capability is worth it alone for me. Getting to play all the other systems is a plus.
The only problem I see with the R5 is the cart slots on top. They made the grip too tight. Including eject buttons on the slots I think would've solved this. It is a minor problem, but it makes me worry that I'll damage the system or cart by pulling too hard.
***** I agree but besides Pokemon and Advance Wars what other games do people really play using the link cable? I mean I guess if you didn't download Four Swords on the 3DS when it was up for free a couple months back but I honestly do not see the lack of a link cable as such a big deal.
Maybe for Pokemon some sort of dummy program could be created but if you're trying to trade from the old games you probably already have a lot of extra Gameboy systems and cables (they are not hard to find). Jirachi farming anyone?
Actual Kick Mud Yeah. I think ejector buttons would go a long way as to make people feel more comfortable with placing the carts in the system.
Something tells me though the next system will try to implement them.
I've seen some comments here regarding lag. Lag is input related due to display lag generated from LCD screens. The bigger and older the LCD screen you use, the greater the MS reponse time = equals delays on your inputs. Unless you own something like a BenQ 1ms monitor, you are going to experience some sort of input lag. It's not the console's fault. If you use the wireless controller, you are adding to that lag. Find yourself a nice gaming monitor to use like an Asus, BenQ, or LG with low MS ratings(4ms or less is best). The cross platform use of controllers is nice, and offers a nice blend of convenience, with actual carts. You can always play on your original consoles or clones if you want that CRT experience.
Good review, I like your honest opinion and your positivity.
I'm pretty happy with how the games look overall, I was a little hesitant about the HD graphics but I think it looks really good
Gamespot, surprisingly, did an excellent review on this system. They covered a lot of small details in their review.
I have never known how much I have needed something in my entire life
I miss the old intro to your videos, gamester81!
I can see how some people would love a system like this.
I don't need a machine that emulates game consoles. I already own a PC.
Still waiting for mine :-) Great Review John!
Pretty spot on review except you can play a snes game with a genesis or any other combination you choose(i don't know why you would want to). I personally don't really like the control but i have originals anyway so it's not a problem.I'm glad i picked it up it's easier than having all those systems hooked up at the same time and i think some of the filters look really good on my flat screen.You can also expand the picture to fit your full screen or shrink it down for a more authentic 90's feel. I think for some one who owns physical copies of games its a decent pick-up for the money.
I will buy it becuse i dont have any more room for more consoles, i have Gamecube (With Gameboy Player), Wii, Wii U, PS1, PS2, PS3 , PS4, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox one, PSP , 3DS and Gameboy Advance
Did u get it, if so what did u think?
No still not :(
Looks good, but sound quality isn't quite there with the original. It has more features than the RetroN 3 at least.
GameSack has the best review on the Retron 5. I was planning to get one but after seeing GameSacks review I would rather spend money on real consoles. These guys have an extremely thorough review and cover all aspects of the system.
This was going to be a day one purchase for me until all the delays. And now with the price hike & this review, I think I'll wait for a price cut before even considering it again.
John, great review!!! One question though; can you access the home screen from the original controllers or do you have to be using the wireless controller?
I'm going to start saving and buy one of these it will help me do my reviews on all games I have
I wonder if they fixed the problem with the Genesis port rejecting cartridges because they have a security built into their cartridges to lock them to use only in their official systems, which are hard to find now in working condition.
This does sound pretty interesting. Although the price tag seems a little much, the idea of being able to play my NES/SNES/GBA and Genesis games on one unit is a greta idea. Plus the capture card I just ordered only uses HDMI input (I think) so this may make capturing footage easier without having to swap out systems. This is aimed at people that collect for more than one system and not the emulator crowd.
Does anyone know the preferred method of switching cartridges between slots? Should the system be powered down before the change is made, or is it safe to just return to the system menu and swap the carts? The instruction menu does not address this.
If it gets hacked or an update to be able to run roms, then I will buy it.
Thanks for the review. The controller, HDMI out only, and no support for homebrew/flash carts is a big negative to me. There are a few pros, but as an owner of the original systems, I don't currently need to add the Retron 5 to my console library.
I have the retron 5 and there is one feature that makes it indispensable as a console for me. I have been able to run the Super Famicom games in English. I have tested this with Dragon Quest I & II, Dragon Quest III, and Final Fantasy V. The documentation is non existent on how to accomplish this but I was able to glean enough information from the Internet and come up with my own procedure.
The sound appears to have a surround effect like SRS or Dolby Headphone, hope it can be disabled as it screws with the original mix.
HDMI goodness! great review!
Im pissed after watching your review. I returned my Retron 5 because I couldn't get it to turn on. I had no idea you had to hold the power button down for 5 seconds to get it to start. I may have missed it in the directions but i assumed with no immediate response it was broken. WTF.
weird that says to use game mode on tv at 1:10. i never used that on tv and it just makes picture look bad to me. it is made for sports too i thought?
Awesome review. Overall, I like the Retron 5. It's great for HDMI video capture (it's what I'm using for our new retro video game competition channel). But out of the box, my Retron's AC Adapter died within a day and after week, one of the pins from the NES cartridge slot popped out! I'm glad my retro game store had a 30 day warranty and they replaced it for me. I hope it holds up!
You rock John !! Great job as always. Best in the biz bro!! Happy 4th to you and yours.
Great video I was thinking about buying one I missed out on those consoles and would like to get one of these for the convenience....or maybe I should wait until the retron 6? Anyhoo do you still like the system or have anything else to add after using it for over a year?
Have to say, that this is better than i was starting to expect (i was actually not sure it was going to ever come out). The cons for me don't sound terrible, and it sounds a very convenient way to get some retro gaming going.
Is there a system that does Atari carts? Would be cool to see one do 2600, 5200, 7800, jaguar and lynx
Solid review answered my questions for the system thanks
I was very interested in your audio comparison, looks like a big improvement from the Retron3 especially Super Nintendo. Thanks!
It's great we can now get the foreign ports on these kind of devices. I just wish they had a unique translator installed. I also see that some of these devices an online platform that is great.
someone in my area has a turbo graphics 16 with a CD ROM for $399 it looks to be in really good shape and has games with it if your interested its on Craigslist posted I'm pretty sure still in Colorado Springs Colorado
I was on the fence over build quality but the visuals do look really good.
Jon you can use any controller for any game, Ive tested a few already. Playing maximum carnage (genesis) with a snes controller now.
Something you never mentioned (or maybe I missed), how is the frame-rate on the RetroN 5? Contra/Sonic looked like they were running slow, and I don't want to practice speed running SMB if it's running slow.
Can you/anyone verify that the play speed is equal/close to the original hardware?
I gotta say overall I'm pretty impressed. The Genesis and NES are almost dead on with actual hardware which is really impressive. I would consider myself a purist as I like using actual hardware and don't generally like clones. But this would be a good alternative to save wear and tear on my retro systems. Great review.
Thank you for this review, i am very impressed with the HD upscaling capabilitie,howdver due hd upscaling you can also clearly see the missing details,contoures and see flatty colors,some spries can look like as if it was painted by picasso,depending wich game you play,but that's because those games were originally low-res.
Hi John, this looks like a really good system with perhaps one drawback. I totally agree with your comment regarding the Turbografx 16. I'm sure this console would be vastly improved with a Hu card slot. Cool video fella, thanks.
Thanks John fantastic review of the system but I do find it strange they put no d-pad on the controller
Did the Gameboy and Gameboy color games play in the GBA slot or did you end up having to use the Super Gameboy adapter?
To be honest I love my retron5, no issues except the grip other than that it's great
can you system link this for games like 007 on the 64? sorry for asking if you addressed this in the video as I can't finish watching the whole thing.
Wow, the graphics / up scaling is amazing! so sharp and vivd, i just wish it would have options for regular gameboy games to be color and not just black and white. but wow, everything looks better than the original systems. sound on the genesis sounded a little better, funny how everyone has trouble reproducing proper genesis sound. Great video, thanks for the review. gotta buy one in the future.
Also, love seeing how John's channel has grown. I remember watching his older vids and just love his intro he has and I am hoping nothing but good things for him. Gamester81 - question - you going to purchase the $500 NES - Analogue Nt - and review that when it gets released? Also, on the Retron, can you hook up the original controllers to it?
I don't understand why all these PC fanboys have to say everything negative about it. If you are not into game consoles and prefer your PC, then why are you even here to comment on a game console review? You are already hating on it as soon as you get here. We understand that you can use your PC to emulate games rather than buying a separate piece of equipment to do so. That's all fine, but did you ever think maybe other people in the world don't want to use their PC to play games, that they like a separate console(s) for their gaming? Yes, try to think that not everyone believes the same like you. Kind of like a religion. Not everyone believes in the same religion or any at all. In gaming, some people like to use the original equipment, some like to use a PC, some like to use clone systems, others like to use a emulator console like the Retron 5, which for many people is perfect for their needs. The Retron 5 works and works well. It does what is was made to do.
I'm not so surprised on the emulator side, the device needs something in between to upscale and savestate all those games after all.
Good thing Hyperkin added firmware updates so hopefully this will be fixed in the near future.
Still I'm excited for that thing, although those additional 40 bucks are a little annoying on my wallet.
Thanks for the review, John!
I wonder if in a future hardware version they'll add an optical drive and start emulating CD-based consoles. The PlayStation patents should start expiring within the next few years, which would seem to make it economically viable.
Props for giving a shout-out for the Turbo Grafx 16. In particular I'd like to see someone make a close system that would play Turbo Duo and import CD games, as the functional consoles for those have gotten really expensive and hard to get.
John did you have the loudness setting on when you recorded the audio from the retron 5? I am just wondering because it was really muffled and the loudness setting on some devices will cause that.
From my understanding isn't this running android with a multi emulator package, similar to RetroArch? I remember reading that somewhere waiting for this to come out.
Have enjoyed some of the RetroN products but I always feel like the game practically gets stuck in the slot. Seems they have not loosened up, do you feel they did this to account for potentially dirty games (oxidized contacts)? Either way am a fan of these videos. I am back into the retro gaming scene after finding my stash of games at my parents house. Nothing gets you back into collecting like finding a huge head start in the basement.
I am wondering on this if it actually has a copy of all the roms in flash, and just uses the cart to read game name and copy protection. Sounds cool, but no flash cart support will leave me waiting for a system that does support them.
I noticed this console made the game look nicer but the sound was softer for whatever reason
Mine arrived yesterday, but I'm yet to even open the amazon box, let alone the system itself because I was trying to figure out if runs flash carts, guess it doesn't. For me that's kinda of a deal breaker, I have the SD2SNES cart to protect my original cartridges. I'm gonna talk to some friends and see if they are interested on the Retron 5, if they don't, I'll keep it.
"The Hyperstone Heist" is basically Sega's attempt to revamp "Turtles in Time" from the SNES, itself a port of the second arcade game by the same title. The main difference with "Hyperstone Heist" is a couple of levels, and some minor story elements changed.
konami's attempt, Sega merely allowed it to be published on their system
How many controller ports does it have for the original controllers for each system?
I don't know a lot about the retron 5 but I saw the evolution of video game console and found it in the year 2014.
I do agree that the graphics look great but I personally found the audio to be over the top in the bass department. Also heard some small sound effects that were either louder or quieter than in the past, which is off-putting.
Thanks for the very detailed review.
Is it compatible with Ever drives ? Because if You can use it with the genesis everdrive You can also play some game gear games on it by simply changing the file extension from .gg to .sms.
Gaming History Source It's probably not working with ever drive..Have you seen the video from Pat the Nes Punk about Retron5? Then you should..
@18:45 he says it doesn't work with flashcarts. That probably means everdrive is a no-go.
Cool beans. Don't know If I'd ever buy this, but is Phelous approves then I approve!
audio side by sides make the retron seem bad. the audio quality is definitely worse to me and the bass is just so wrong.
what you have sound settings on? is enhanced sound, bass boost ect off?
can i use clone joysticks (nes genesis and super nes clone joystcks) or only original joysticks?
can i use clone cartridges or only original ones?
thanks
I was planning on getting this, but with it not working with flash carts, I'll have to pass. I was gonna use it as a sort of portable system where I'd lug it to friends houses and play anything we wanted. Guess that's out.
I bought a Retron 5 about a month ago. Really enjoying it even though i have all the original systems this thing emulates except Famicom don't have one of them bad boys. What i noticed in your comparison some audio on the games being played on Retron 5 didn't sound quite as clear on original systems thats a minor thing to me. The sound on the Reton 5 in most cases is better much more clear and crisp than original systems. Well done video John. Yeah that would be great if they make all the home brew and fan made games compatible with the Retron 5 that way we can play your game Sydney Hunter (SNES) on the Retron 5!
Yoshi's island looks gorgeous. very cool review
have a friend who owns a Game stores and he was telling me about this last year about this new model coming out pretty good
Can you please test if the SG-1000 card (Sega My Card) works with the Power Base on the Genesis and Retron 5. Please... Thanks.
Great review Gamester. I would buy the system only if they would add flash carts support.
Nice. I think its worth the money based on what u said. Would love to see this with Saturn, n64, psone added to.
I use Wii homebrew for my emulation but there is a small lag. Could anyone tell me if there is a delay on retron5? Also this system only loads carts right? I wouldn't be able to load from SD?
No you wouldn't atm, that's correct.
Being able to play 2 players over the 'net *would* be awesome. Unfortunately, even the emulators have had no luck making it work anywhere near responsively enough. Damn thing about physics is you can't get the packets there and back any faster. PC and modern console games can do it because they use latency compensation algorithms and player action predictions, which would be difficult to integrate into NES games.
Do u know how his device currently works ? it looks to me like it rips your current cart to a ROM then emulates it in a android operating system . so just a ouya with a cartridge reader and some controller ports. I doubt flash carts will ever work
How do i change out games on this thing?Do i need to power it down each time or just rip them out?
I get one, as soon as it has PC Engine, Neo Geo and compatibility for all the CD systems like Dreamcast and so on.
When you use the original controllers, which button is the "home" button. For instance, if you use a Nes controller, how do you bring up the menu?
I listened to a podcast that had some Hyperkin guys on, and I want to say that it was the Up+Start to get to the home menu on original controllers. I can't remember exactly though. They did have a way to do it though.
That audio seems very good but the music seems muffled and muddy yet on SNES and MegaDrive the sound effects sound very crisp, what?
Only concern with these systems is they drive up the cart prices even more. If you add more working hardware to the market that has a limited supply of software you drive up prices in a already sensitive market.
is it me or does the retron 5 don't have a clear sound as to the nes? The nes has a louder and sharper sounds... base on these videos
I was excited to get a retron 5 until I found out my flash carts wouldn't work on the system. Since I scaled back my system a few years back and instead saved the space by getting a few flash carts, it is disappointing that I can't use them with this. Oh well, I went to so much trouble getting rgb output from my snes/gen/saturn so I might as well just keep using the original systems all hooked up.
I think this would be great to give a young kid (maybe before a modern 3d system) to sort of give a similar gaming experience to what we had growing up.
Nice i wanna get one of these
i wouldn't suggest you do..
Sheldon Jones What is wrong with these?
Hey john did you try an hdmi to s-video adaptor and a zapper game?
Anyone know if the save states are compatible with any PC emulators?
I'd love to be able to move some of my saves from my PC to cart and of course backup my old saves.
Before I get any comments about "Save states and in game saves are not the same!" What you do is you load a save state, then you do an in game save.
Getting one for sure