I was like don't I already have this, then I realized it was the Atari one, I'll get this, and it looks like it'll be killer on your wrists and hands. Not in a good way.
Almost ALMOST pulled the trigger on this. Then realized, how close will it be to the pictures and how many of these do I need, that and with shipping and we're $500 plus. That and I'd never use it and it would sit sealed in its box (especially if the packaging is neat then for sure it'd stay sealed).
I have dozens of these handhelds. So yes, they are selling to people who already have one or a bunch. I'll get it and find a game I want to play and then there will be a reason I don't like it on this system and go back to another and forget completely about the new system I got.
Beat Jumpman Junior on my C-64 with a Tac-2 way back when. Love the original joystick, and if I want to get a minty one on eBay its going to cost, so I ordered two new ones in black. Shipping is expensive (yes), but it will go nicely with my C64 Ultimate. For everyone here complaining about the cost, this product wasn't made for you. Just like the Neo Geo back when.
Nothing beat waiting at the Manor at Circus Circus playing there and then taking the tram to the Big Top and all those machines... miss that so much. Dark, cool, and full of machines, everything you could imagine. Early 80s there was amazing.
Got Mr Do on my Switch 2 and Playstation 5 Pro. Nice to have an official port. Played Mr Do in Circus Circus when it came out. So glad I got the diamond in the actual arcade back then. That was one thing I wanted in Mame back when and played the prototype etc. I agree with an above poster to call this a Dig Dug knockoff is a huge disservice. It's got so many neat nuances to it and I find new and different ways to die when I'm rolling along thinking I'll get a really high score this time... ahhh nope.
I pre-ordered the system and a couple games, and pre-ordered on Amazon as well in case the shipping problem becomes a thing. I used to look at Neo Geo at my local EB Games every time I came in but it cost more than my Amiga 500, so yeah wasn't even a thought. Be nice to have one now. Do you all think that the places Nintendo sources parts for their systems are good people, run by fair governments, that don't polute, and don't have any problems? The artists for the games, have you run full background checks on them? The manufacturers of the boxes. The semi conductors, are they made in a country with repressive policies? The petrochemicals that are in your EV, do they in part come from Saudi Arabia? Any chance?
I play retro games to have fun and also to avoid all the modern day hand wringing, and yet here we are again. We hate the C64 Ultra, we hate the AES+, we hate this and that. Because of this and that. ModRetro.. evil incarnate. I bet I could drop by and visit your apt, condo or home and find all kinds of stuff inside that was produced by child labor, or in countries that they don't like this lifestyle or that. None of you fly in airplanes right? You walk everywhere and don't wear shoes because of microsplastics... Good times. You're a better person than me.
@WileyDragonfly So you bought your AES solely as an investment? If they hadn't hit the stratosphere with cost, we wouldn't be getting an AES+. Just curious if your whole reason behind it was to be an investor.
Or I can just go on eBay and find a reputable seller that refurbs retro handhelds and a refurbed GBA, GB or what have you for half or less of the cost and use my carts. Can get one with a backlit screen, or whatever and then if it dies in a year, get another. With real hardware. I understand eventually that won't be an option, but I'm not paying these prices for emulators. Unless its something with Saphire glass, and they aren't even as much as Ayaneo.
Backed at the $231 level. Hope it succeeds. Love the idea of that type of spinner. Yes I've got all kinds of 3rd party spinners but more is always a good thing.
I don't trust any remakes after Demon Souls, so I'll wait until I see people actually play the game to see if they've done anything to make it for the modern audience. As long as the retro mode is classic DotC I'll be more than happy.
What an amazing interview, and I'm a fan of Bruce's work. More of these interviews please. Loved hearing about the punchcard computers, Dawn Patrol.. all of it. Need to preserve that history. Thank you.
Its interesting that slowdown caused by hardware limitations back when, has to be emulated now to get the same experience... I guess you should have the option, which it seems you do now, to have how it should have played and how it did play. Very interesting.
I have the Pole Position one but I've never opened it because I don't think I'd really be able to control it effectively. Sits with a ton of boxed things I buy on impulse and never open. Along with a lot of things I open play once and put away back in the box. I'm not sure I'll buy this one...
I went with the beige model as it's what I had as a kid (that design) and no problems, glad I didn't go with the starlight one. It's a shame that their manufacturing partners are so unreliable.
Thank you for this article. That's what I love about this site, its articles like this. Have to check this out as I never saw it back when I had my original C-64.
While there are a lot of options out there, and a lot of junk systems. This is never going to go back to the way things were 8-9 months ago with prices. These handhelds that don't really last too long will cost $200 each now instead of $59. This will make Nintendo and other IP owners very happy when the only "affordable" way to play those games is through their subscription service. Glad I'm from the Atari generation and early arcades nostalgia wise. Can run stuff on a chromebook or an old phone.
A tempest 3/4 cab that has missing lines, scrolls too slow, and has a spinner with too much resistance. Then you can have a subpar experience on the go AND hunched over at home.
I'd love to see a Lynx handheld (with a proper processor and display... had to put that in) or a Jaguar mini.
I thought I'd seen this recently, before that I'd never heard of it. Time to dust off (figuratively not literally) my Switch and buy it (or rent it since it's a digital game card now?).
Insta buy. Apparently I need to be more constructive with a longer post, so its an immediate purchase for me and going on my wishlist when I get home. My employer blocks steam here at work. Go figure.
Tempest is what I wanted. I got a version on here. I've bought every home version on every console, every release and revision, so I have this one. Hope they can make it so its more playable through a patch. If not then there are a ton of other games. There is no substitute for an actual Tempest cab.
Amazon is always a crap shoot. Atari direct is packed better usually (not always). So if a crushed box is not a problem go Amazon. That's been my experience.
@JohnnyMind For those of us who have relatives (mine that were in the Bataan Death March), that flag isn't just offensive to Koreans.... but the game should remain as is. I wasn't happy with Capcom's censorship either. Glad the ROMs exist. Its historical and how the games were released. Games are art and should not be censored.
Would love to see a 3rd cart with Mr Do on it. It was on the Egret II expansion pack (whatever they called that). I agree the Super Pocket screen is WAY too tiny.
I enjoyed Bubsy when I got it when it first came out. Frustrating but I enjoyed all the different death animations. Playing on this collection last night I enjoyed playing the first game again. I'll get around to poking around in it someday and check out all the stuff. Scratched that itch real fast. Can't wait for my $149 collectors edition to show up so I can box it away and forget I ever bought it. It is LRG so I'm sure they'll go cheap on something or subtitute who knows what, but since I'll never open the box, who knew? New fans for this franchise are a pipe dream.
@The_Nintendo_Pedant Its plenty ugly. Probably going to cramp my hands playing it... or like these other things, I order it get it way later than promised, play it about 20 minutes (you know scratch that itch). Carefully put it back in the box and never think about it ever again. Sound about right. I've got so many of these things packed up or never opened. Good stuff.
Comments 62
Re: Sega CD Shadowrun Port Finally Receives Highly Anticipated English Fan Translation
Thank you for reporting this. Can't wait to play it. Have the game but no way until now to play it.
Re: Ace Combat 8: Wings Of Theve Lobby Includes Namco Classics Pac-Man, Galaga, And More
I wish they'd just add games and not rotate games out. I won't fly but I'll sure be in the arcade.
Re: Hands On: The Evercade Nexus Feels Like A True Evolution Thanks To A Great Display And Dual Analogue
Pre-ordered this someplace. Hopefully only once.
Re: Release Date Finally Confirmed For My Arcade's Gamestation Retro Go Handheld
I was like don't I already have this, then I realized it was the Atari one, I'll get this, and it looks like it'll be killer on your wrists and hands. Not in a good way.
Re: Gallery: Here's The Cyberpunk 2077 C64 In The Flesh On Commodore's Gamescom Stand
Almost ALMOST pulled the trigger on this. Then realized, how close will it be to the pictures and how many of these do I need, that and with shipping and we're $500 plus. That and I'd never use it and it would sit sealed in its box (especially if the packaging is neat then for sure it'd stay sealed).
Re: Anbernic's Next Handheld Does A Great Impression Of Nintendo's Switch Lite
I have dozens of these handhelds. So yes, they are selling to people who already have one or a bunch. I'll get it and find a game I want to play and then there will be a reason I don't like it on this system and go back to another and forget completely about the new system I got.
Re: "Are You Having A Laugh?" - Commodore Is Reviving An Iconic Joystick, But There's An Unfortunate Catch
Beat Jumpman Junior on my C-64 with a Tac-2 way back when. Love the original joystick, and if I want to get a minty one on eBay its going to cost, so I ordered two new ones in black. Shipping is expensive (yes), but it will go nicely with my C64 Ultimate. For everyone here complaining about the cost, this product wasn't made for you. Just like the Neo Geo back when.
Re: These Photos Of Old Japanese Arcades Remind Me Of What We've Lost
Nothing beat waiting at the Manor at Circus Circus playing there and then taking the tram to the Big Top and all those machines... miss that so much. Dark, cool, and full of machines, everything you could imagine. Early 80s there was amazing.
Re: This Week's 'Archives' Releases Are Universal's 1982 Dig Dug Clone 'Mr. Do!' & A PS1 Strategy Game From 1997
Got Mr Do on my Switch 2 and Playstation 5 Pro. Nice to have an official port. Played Mr Do in Circus Circus when it came out. So glad I got the diamond in the actual arcade back then. That was one thing I wanted in Mame back when and played the prototype etc. I agree with an above poster to call this a Dig Dug knockoff is a huge disservice. It's got so many neat nuances to it and I find new and different ways to die when I'm rolling along thinking I'll get a really high score this time... ahhh nope.
Re: Talking Point: "We, The Consumers, Need To Vote With Our Wallets" - The Moral Dilemma Of Supporting SNK In 2026
I pre-ordered the system and a couple games, and pre-ordered on Amazon as well in case the shipping problem becomes a thing. I used to look at Neo Geo at my local EB Games every time I came in but it cost more than my Amiga 500, so yeah wasn't even a thought. Be nice to have one now. Do you all think that the places Nintendo sources parts for their systems are good people, run by fair governments, that don't polute, and don't have any problems? The artists for the games, have you run full background checks on them? The manufacturers of the boxes. The semi conductors, are they made in a country with repressive policies? The petrochemicals that are in your EV, do they in part come from Saudi Arabia? Any chance?
I play retro games to have fun and also to avoid all the modern day hand wringing, and yet here we are again. We hate the C64 Ultra, we hate the AES+, we hate this and that. Because of this and that. ModRetro.. evil incarnate. I bet I could drop by and visit your apt, condo or home and find all kinds of stuff inside that was produced by child labor, or in countries that they don't like this lifestyle or that. None of you fly in airplanes right? You walk everywhere and don't wear shoes because of microsplastics... Good times. You're a better person than me.
Re: Talking Point: "We, The Consumers, Need To Vote With Our Wallets" - The Moral Dilemma Of Supporting SNK In 2026
@WileyDragonfly So you bought your AES solely as an investment? If they hadn't hit the stratosphere with cost, we wouldn't be getting an AES+. Just curious if your whole reason behind it was to be an investor.
Re: 2026 Continues To Be An Awful Year For Retro Handheld Fans, As AYANEO Hints At More Price Hikes
Or I can just go on eBay and find a reputable seller that refurbs retro handhelds and a refurbed GBA, GB or what have you for half or less of the cost and use my carts. Can get one with a backlit screen, or whatever and then if it dies in a year, get another. With real hardware. I understand eventually that won't be an option, but I'm not paying these prices for emulators. Unless its something with Saphire glass, and they aren't even as much as Ayaneo.
Re: "I Decided To Complete It As A Tribute To Him" - 'Alone In The Dark' Creator's New Genesis Game Comes With Its Own Controller
Backed at the $231 level. Hope it succeeds. Love the idea of that type of spinner. Yes I've got all kinds of 3rd party spinners but more is always a good thing.
Re: "Is This My NES' Final Form?" - Retro Gamer Shows Off The Most Pimped-Out Nintendo Entertainment System You've Ever Seen
Bithead2000 has been doing similar things for years. Love the finished product.
Re: Bodice-Ripping Epic 'Defender Of The Crown' Is Getting Remastered For Its 40th Birthday
I don't trust any remakes after Demon Souls, so I'll wait until I see people actually play the game to see if they've done anything to make it for the modern audience. As long as the retro mode is classic DotC I'll be more than happy.
Re: Ex-Xbox Icon Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb Joins Commodore International
Great news. Love my C-64!
Re: Interview: "I'm The Luckiest Son Of A B**ch In The Industry" - Skyrim's Bruce Nesmith On TSR, Elder Scrolls & Daggerfall's "Miserable" Crunch
What an amazing interview, and I'm a fan of Bruce's work. More of these interviews please. Loved hearing about the punchcard computers, Dawn Patrol.. all of it. Need to preserve that history. Thank you.
Re: "I Think It Would Be Extremely Difficult" - Don't Expect Sega To Sell Yakuza's Retro Games Individually
I buy the Yakuza games JUST for the retro arcade parts and maybe they wouldn't want to sell them separately.
Re: Pure FX Appeal - Unpicking The History Of The PC-FX, One Of Japan's Biggest '90s Console Flops
I'd love more articles like this. Love collecting versions of game on obscure systems for different box art, manuals, etc.
Re: After Last Year's Difficult Launch, Fixes Are Finally On The Way For R-Type Delta HD Boosted
Its interesting that slowdown caused by hardware limitations back when, has to be emulated now to get the same experience... I guess you should have the option, which it seems you do now, to have how it should have played and how it did play. Very interesting.
Re: Review: The QuickShot II - We've Come A Long Way Since This Joystick Ruled The Roost
I don't remember them being as durable as the TAC-2.
Re: Taito's 1987 OutRun Clone 'Top Speed' Makes Its Debut On Modern Consoles Later This Week
Another instant buy. To add to my back catalog.
Re: After A Year Of Radio Silence, My Arcade's Sega Mini-Arcades Are Coming This Year
I have the Pole Position one but I've never opened it because I don't think I'd really be able to control it effectively. Sits with a ton of boxed things I buy on impulse and never open. Along with a lot of things I open play once and put away back in the box. I'm not sure I'll buy this one...
Re: "Flex Is In Spec, Buckling Is Not" - Commodore Addresses Quality Control Concerns With Its C64 Ultimate
I went with the beige model as it's what I had as a kid (that design) and no problems, glad I didn't go with the starlight one. It's a shame that their manufacturing partners are so unreliable.
Re: Review: DreamConn S - Is This $200 Wireless Controller The Ultimate Dreamcast Pad?
The fact that I can use it on my PC for emulation sells it for me. But that's me.
Re: Best Of 2025: How A Cult Comic About A Samurai Rabbit Became A Classic Commodore 64 Game
Thank you for this article. That's what I love about this site, its articles like this. Have to check this out as I never saw it back when I had my original C-64.
Re: Best Of 2025: How A Cult Comic About A Samurai Rabbit Became A Classic Commodore 64 Game
@Tasuki Commodore was huge in the mid 80s in San Diego. We all traded games. Never heard of this game though.
Re: Review: Commodore 64 Ultimate - The Gold Standard Of Retro Computer Revivals
I love mine. So nice to have real Function Keys and not a drop down menu. Well worth the money. Excellent review.
Re: AI's Insatiable Hunger For RAM Is Going To Play Havoc With The Emulation Handheld Industry In 2026
While there are a lot of options out there, and a lot of junk systems. This is never going to go back to the way things were 8-9 months ago with prices. These handhelds that don't really last too long will cost $200 each now instead of $59. This will make Nintendo and other IP owners very happy when the only "affordable" way to play those games is through their subscription service. Glad I'm from the Atari generation and early arcades nostalgia wise. Can run stuff on a chromebook or an old phone.
Re: Reports Suggest Arcade1Up Has Been Purchased By Basic Fun
@SlangWon That would be awesome
Re: Taito's First-Ever Flight Sim Comes In For Landing On Modern Consoles Later This Week
I'll buy it. Not played it before so should be fun.
Re: Atari Appears To Be Counting Down To An "Exciting" New Retro Announcement, Taking Place This Week
A tempest 3/4 cab that has missing lines, scrolls too slow, and has a spinner with too much resistance. Then you can have a subpar experience on the go AND hunched over at home.
I'd love to see a Lynx handheld (with a proper processor and display... had to put that in) or a Jaguar mini.
Re: SNK Arcade Oddity 'Munch Mobile' Is The Next Title To Get An Arcade Archives 2 Release
I thought I'd seen this recently, before that I'd never heard of it. Time to dust off (figuratively not literally) my Switch and buy it (or rent it since it's a digital game card now?).
Re: Edia's 'Telenet Shooting Collection' Is Blasting Its Way Onto Steam Next Month With Four Telenet Japan Classics
Insta buy. Apparently I need to be more constructive with a longer post, so its an immediate purchase for me and going on my wishlist when I get home. My employer blocks steam here at work. Go figure.
Re: McDonald's Is Teasing Something Street Fighter-Related, But Only In Japan
Will be interested to see.
Re: Review: Atari Gamestation Go - A Tour Of Atari's Legacy With One Too Many Bumps In The Road
Tempest is what I wanted. I got a version on here. I've bought every home version on every console, every release and revision, so I have this one. Hope they can make it so its more playable through a patch. If not then there are a ton of other games. There is no substitute for an actual Tempest cab.
Re: Creator Of Pitfall! Returns To The Atari 2600 With Rescue From Poseidon's Gate
David Crane = instant purchase!
Re: "What Was Psygnosis Doing On The N64? Traitors!" - Ex-Sony Staff On WipEout Coming To Nintendo
Wip3out was what sold me on the PS1. Played that endlessly and the sountrack was awesome.
Re: AVI-8 And Capcom Announce $375 Hawker Hurricane Clowes Automatic 1942 Pixel Limited Edition Watch
Looks really cool but I'm sure they will sell out in an instant.
Re: The Guy Behind One Of Mortal Kombat's Most Iconic Easter Eggs Has Just Left NetherRealm
Sad to see one of the originals go. Wish the franchise had stayed true to its roots.
Re: Four Namco Classics Are Being Reissued On Cartridge For The Atari 2600+ & 7800+
Amazon is always a crap shoot. Atari direct is packed better usually (not always). So if a crushed box is not a problem go Amazon. That's been my experience.
Re: Evercade's New Neo Geo Carts Have Been Delayed In The UK & Europe
@boatie wonder if they forgot the manual or the game? Curious what the packing error was.
Re: "Nintendo Has Made Serious Objections" - Last Ninja Collection Delayed On Consoles
@KingMike Its nothing more than lip service on Nintendo's part.
Re: "Nintendo Has Made Serious Objections" - Last Ninja Collection Delayed On Consoles
@JohnnyMind For those of us who have relatives (mine that were in the Bataan Death March), that flag isn't just offensive to Koreans.... but the game should remain as is. I wasn't happy with Capcom's censorship either. Glad the ROMs exist. Its historical and how the games were released. Games are art and should not be censored.
Re: Review: Taito Arcade 1 (Evercade) - A Welcome Refresher On One Of Coin-Op Gaming's Greatest
Would love to see a 3rd cart with Mr Do on it. It was on the Egret II expansion pack (whatever they called that). I agree the Super Pocket screen is WAY too tiny.
Re: "We're Building The Future Together" - Commodore Has Sold Over 10,000 C64 Ultimate Systems
Good to hear. I just want to get mine. Don't want it to be vaporware.
Re: "It Makes Me Happy To Know That Bubsy Is Getting Another Chance" - Bubsy 3D Dev Hopes Revivals Will Lead To "New Fans"
I enjoyed Bubsy when I got it when it first came out. Frustrating but I enjoyed all the different death animations. Playing on this collection last night I enjoyed playing the first game again. I'll get around to poking around in it someday and check out all the stuff. Scratched that itch real fast. Can't wait for my $149 collectors edition to show up so I can box it away and forget I ever bought it. It is LRG so I'm sure they'll go cheap on something or subtitute who knows what, but since I'll never open the box, who knew? New fans for this franchise are a pipe dream.
Re: Sega Dev Kit Raid "A Preservation Disaster" For "Collectors, Archivists, And The Gaming Community"
So if they had been quiet about it, this would have never happened. If they hadn't been greedy...
Re: The Atari Gamestation Go Launches Next Month
@breach187 Yes I need more ways to play Pac-Man. Especially if they are ever so slightly different... that's the best.
Re: The Atari Gamestation Go Launches Next Month
@The_Nintendo_Pedant Its plenty ugly. Probably going to cramp my hands playing it... or like these other things, I order it get it way later than promised, play it about 20 minutes (you know scratch that itch). Carefully put it back in the box and never think about it ever again. Sound about right. I've got so many of these things packed up or never opened. Good stuff.