Hyperkin's Next Party Trick Is A Nintendo 64 Clone

Even if this turns out to be a bad clone, this is still good news, as this will probably be the start of more N64 clones appearing.

im excited for this, it will strangely breath new life into it for me even though it doesnt have too

Looked nice.
I have never played any N64 games, so i will pay attention for that clones.

I did notice some incompatibilities (e.g. look at MK64's giant screen that appears on the course shown off, common bug found in emulators), but hey, this can only mean the start of something good.

Looking forward to it, and I honestly might pick it up myself since I don't have an N64.

If it launch at the right price I will so buy it. Time to take Doom 64, Ocarina of Time, Ogre Battle 64, F-Zero X, Mortal Kombat 4, Cruis'n USA, and Paper Mario to HD for the first time. Even if the clone performance is shoddy, at the very least it'll open the flood gate to more N64 clones and plug and play in the future especially those from Cyber Gadget, AtGames, Nintendo, Yobo, Hamy, Retro-Bit, Old Skool, Gamerz Tek, and Analogue.

Or you could just use an S-video cable (or RGB-mod your console for even better results).

I hook up my N64 to my HDTV with an S-Video/SCART adapter and it looks great.

OMG I hope this is good. I’m so sick of blurry visuals on my hd tv

Oh, and use an Everdrive 64 cart, it makes wonders!

@bluezbro not all work with s video do they?

@sandman89
Technically, they all do but the PAL N64 didn't officially support S-Video, so when you connect it you get an overly-bright picture. However, you can find specially wired S-Video cables for PAL N64 consoles on the Internet. They cost the same and are widely available. I got one from consolegoods.co.uk and it works great on my PAL console.

This looks great!

@sandman89 Or you can even make one yourself! If you know how to solder, that is. I think you just have to add in a resistor to the official S-video cable to make the signal weaker and less brighter, and that's it. There are guides on the Internet, if you're interested in that kinda stuff.

@JEM I'm thinking about Ultra HDMI modding my NTSC N64, where did you get yours done or did you do it yourself? Were you impressed with the service? Hope you don't mind me asking

@Damo You only need an upscaler if your TV does a poor job of upscaling the signal by itself. I have a Sony Bravia and it does a pretty decent job: no lag, no washed out pixels. But yeah, I can see a reason to buy one of those clone-consoles if you don't already have an original N64. But if you do, you can work with what you already have and try other simpler options first.

Why would you want this when all the N64 games will be on the Switch Online service in 2026...

@bluezbro then maybe you are very lucky with your TV. Most flat screens cannot show N64‘s standard resolution of 240p/288p, they render it as it is 480i, and that (interlaced instead of progressive) is unfortunately a very visible loss in quality.

@vanYth Yeah, I really am. It's an early HDTV from the late-2000s, it's not even LED, it's a regular LCD, and it does 240p just fine. I even use my Wii with a SCART-RGB cable to play retro-VC games on it just for that reason. So, yeah, I see your point. Modern TVs might struggle with stuff like that, unfortunately.

additional to post above: My new TV even does not have S-Video nor SCART anymore...

Now we’re talking! 😀

The screen on Luigi’s Raceway looked glitchy, which can often happens (in my experience) with emulation. Hope as many kinks are ironed out as possible before release. Very interested in this, currently have an old TV knocking around purely for N64 S-Video. I don’t want to mod my system so this could be a brilliant solution.

@Bondi_Surfer
Because some peoples have the N64 cartridges, so they can play them directly with either that clone or Original N64 machine. No need to wait from Switch Online service.

@Damo Yeah, it's an early HDTV from the late 2000s, I was looking for it and bought it used specifically for my gaming needs while keeping in mind that I want to connect all my consoles to it. I even brought some of my games to the seller's home to test how it looks first. So, yeah, you could call me lucky. I sometimes forget that most people just buy whatever modern TV that looks best on the shop stand. I'm just more picky in that kind of stuff.

HDMI. I’m interested

@bluezbro let’s be honest. It doesn’t look too good. Yes it’s better than composite but that’s about it.

that is definitely interesting, i would finally be able to unhook my old CRT TV then as my N64 is pretty much the only system still hooked up to it

Or Nintendo could just give us N64 games on Switch as part of our subscription.

8-bit Volleyball isn’t doing it for me lol

I think I will wait for Analogue to make one, or Nintendo to release N64 titles on the Switch in some fashion. "Hyperkin" is code for "cheap emulator box".

Definitely intrigued!

@Damo @bluezbro It's also the best option when faced with the inevitable decay of original hardware. My old SNES looked passable on my HDTV, certainly good enough for me to still enjoy it, but then it started displaying all sorts of visual crud on-screen because it's nearly 30-years old and something just isn't working right anymore. Finally took the plunge on a Supa Retron, and it has given all my SNES games a new lease on life.

Needs to support EverDrive.

Could the guy not have asked someone to hold the camera/phone so he can play the game with two hands?? Seriously!

If it allows save states on the console call me interested. My main gripe about the N64 was how your sensitive data was stored in what was probably the most abused part of a console. So many erased games & CAWs ;(

Finally. One of these things for a console I still have cartridges for.

@Sinton about time too, there's already enough NES/SNES ones

Cool, time for me to repurchase n64 classics from ebay

@_JEM_thanks for the reply. So you bought yours in. I think I’m splash out and send mine off for modding. I’m not expecting a huge leap but just enough so that I can clearly see the bloody corners on Beetle adventure Racing (great game). Got a few classics lined up that I missed out on for some reason back in the day inc DK64.cant wait

@beazlen1 for the money for the mod. I wouldnt recommend it. Just hold out a bit longer or rgb mod it and use a good upscaler. Or you could try this clone

I would get it only to play MK Trilogy or Mythology .... mario been there done that

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ItKqBT7aJg
110% agree

Nice referencing on the N64's early name (Ultra 64) before release. Think I will still hold on and wait for the Polymega though.

How could it be legal, bios wise... ?
We are not talking about some third party gamepad, but à full blown knockoff

Colours look a bit off though especially on Goldeneye

@bluezbro Ok then what do I do with the Svideo cable to connect it to a TV made in the last 10 years? Svideo is dead. This was a solution more than 10 years ago, not for today.

@SenseiDje Why would they use the N64 BIOS?
I bet they clean roomed it. One team documents, then they pass those off to a team that has never seen a N64 BIOS to create their own.

The patents are all expired, and by using their own code there are no copyright issues.

I for one am 100% in favour of clones.
The more working N64s out there in the wild, the better!
Let there be light!

While this will clearly be an emulation device rather than an FPGA system like the Super NT, because I would imagine going that route would make it very expensive based on the price of those something like this would probably cost a lot more, it will still be nice to have an all in one system to play both pal and ntsc games even better if the everdrive is compatible. Well as long as the emulation is halfway decent and runs more than 90% of the library or it just wont be worth it.

Saying all that it has been quite interesting for the N64 lately in terms of hardware with new controllers, I am just waiting for my Tribute 64 arriving today and am waiting on coloured Brawler 64 controllers to come in stock next month. I am most curious for Hyperkin's own Admiral controller being wireless and having the most modern memory card solution could make it worthwhile if the controller is actually good, but not holding my breath on that as their controllers tend to be adequate at best.

@StevenG
Keep forgettting how old it is...

Does this system will work on games that needed the N64 Expansion Pak?

@LaytonPuzzle27 no one knows what games it is compatible with just yet as it is just a prototype but as it is using emulation it will be it will more than likely be shown more at E3 and people will get a better chance to see what it can and can't do.

Hmmm, I’ll keep an eye on this. I have RGB modded N64s for my CRT/PVM, but it would be nice to have an HDMI option that doesn’t cost hundreds of pounds. However, I wasn’t impressed at all with their SNES Supa Retron HD offering (I returned it), so I don’t have high hopes for this.

Does this play from the cart like the Supa Reton HD, or is it an emulator like the Retron 5?

Retron are usually good. I will buy at least 2 of them, especially if they are compatible with the everdrive.

Very exciting stuff, just need to know the price and Everdrive support.

Saying that, now the N64 clones are real whats the chances of another being made with SD Card support built in?

Very interesting. I acquired again a N64 to hook up to a CRT but I might still get this down the line as a back up like I did for my Retron 5. Looking forward to the reviews of this. Like others mentioned, this will likely open up the clone 64 market. But heck, I`m just waiting for more affordable TG16 solution lol

PS - I hope 8bitdo will start looking at N64 controllers now

@bluezbro The 1st and 2nd gen versions of N64 hardware definitely supported S-Video, I still have my Spook S-video cable which was the top rated N64 cable in the 90s.

The cables that cause the overly bright image you talk about are not actually true S-Video cables, they are sending composite through the s-video head - there are alot of fakes online.

One of the interesting points of modding my N64 to UltraHDMI along with the Everdrive V3 has enabled me to see the true difference of PAL v NTSC.

The speed difference is barely noticeable on correctly ported 3D games (excluding the lazy Wave Race 64 which could actually be corrected with a simply action replay code in the 90s) with PAL titles offering a very obvious increase in visual clarity on a HDTV. N64 PAL games run at 288p native.

I'm glad N64 clones are coming but I won't be interested if they don't raise the actual resolution of the games to at least 480p (real 480p, not just line doubling).

This is definitely something the retro gaming community has been needing for a while, given how expensive HDMI Mods are for N64. The price is going to determine how interested I am though,

@carmudgeon I completely agree and I am personally quite unsure that this will even be that good overall and I will almost guarantee that the controller it is bundled with will be cheap and nasty but then they are also developing a wireless controller too. They seem to be doing all this with all the recent N64 controllers being released and seeing an opportunity to be first to do it, but with their past systems being pretty poor at times and those being 8 and 16-bit systems I don't hold out a great deal of hope for emulation accuracy on some of the more demanding games. Still would be nice if someone released one that could run both pal and ntsc games in one solution as well as maybe those rom hacks that can't run on official hardware but that last one is wishful thinking.

@Sinton Exactly. This should be the start. Better clones, an N64 module for the Polymega, an Analogue 64, time for the 64 to shine!

If I'm going to play some garbage using an emulator, I'll just use a computer and not give my money to some hack frauds.

HDMI yes, but from the look of the video that thing's running Japanese games, so if the thing's a region free N64 Clone out the box that easily hooks up to your HDTV with not many problems if any, I reckon this could be popular with N64 fans.

And with any luck, better quality clones if it does suck in the visual and sound department should start to spring up.

Well it's about time they started remaking 32-64 bit gen consoles.

@Angelic_Lapras_King I am sure they will make this region free as the biggest problem was a little piece of plastic as far as I am aware.

@JayJ for ntsc systems yes all it was stopping it was the plastic but there was a difference for pal systems because of the refresh rate difference at the time but based on the video of this appearing to use emulation it should be region free because all emulators tend to be.

N64 is the one console that aged poorly IMO. Its crappy AA and obscene frame rates in most 3D games just doesn't do it for me anymore. Especially 20 years ago when I got my Dreamcast and I had a hard time finishing MM, Banjo 2, Conker, Jet Force Gemini, etc, after playing 60fps god tier arcade games.

The more N64 games that get the 3DS/Switch remaster treatment the better IMO.

@Riderkicker What was the most abused part of the system?

@Crono1973 The controller. I bought every THQ wrestling game on N64 so me & everyone I played with button mashed the Hell out of those controllers in fatal four ways & battle royals alone. Not to mention the controller tossing ragequits in Mario Kart 64.

@Riderkicker Well your save data wasn't stored on the controller. It was either stored on the cartridge or on a memory card that plugged into the controller and I have never had a save file erased. What do you do to make the memory card erase your save?

@Crono1973 Yeah. That's what I'm talking about. The Memory Pak that goes into the controller. If the connection between the two gets broken your data on the pak erases. Seems like the controller connection wasn't always secure because it happened several times. Even happened to the game boy controller pak which erased my Pokemon Red game when I popped it in to play Pokemon Stadium one day.

I only have one game that uses the memory pak, Quest 64 (yes, I like it) but I will have to try pulling out the memory pak during gameplay to see what happens.