Hardware Review 8BitDo M30 - The Best Retro Controller On Switch
And it works with the original Mega Drive, too
Hardware Review 16Bit Pocket MD - An Unexpectedly Decent Portable Mega Drive
Time to put that Sega Nomad into storage?
Hardware Review - News
June2019
A brawl in the family
For a system that's no longer in active production, the Nintendo 64 has sure seen a lot of new controllers recently. We reviewed the Tribute64 pad not so long ago, and now it's the turn of the Retro Fighters Brawler64 – a pad that was crowdfunded on Kickstarter as a "next generation" offering for Nintendo's much-loved 64-bit...
April2019
Hardware Review Retro-Bit Tribute64 - A Fine N64 Controller, And Perfect For Smash On Switch
But which version do you buy?
It's fair to say that the Nintendo 64 controller was a groundbreaking release. While it wasn't the first games controller to showcase analogue input, it was the first to be shipped as standard with its host console and therefore became the first taste of this now-ubiquitous control method for many players. The N64 pad...
February2019
Hardware Review 8BitDo M30 - The Best Retro Controller On Switch
And it works with the original Mega Drive, too
8BitDo has come a long way in a relatively short space of time. In the beginning, the company wasn't taken totally seriously by a select few who saw its line of clone NES and SNES pads as little more than cheap facsimiles of the real thing, but following a
Hardware Review Retro-Bit's Sega Genesis And Saturn Pads (Mostly) Hit The Right Spot
Just like you remember?
Fans of retro gaming who will accept nothing but original hardware are in a difficult spot in 2019. Systems from the '80s and '90s aren't getting any younger, and as time goes on, failure rates are only heading in one direction: up. These classic systems are robust, but they weren't built to last forever, and it's par for the...
Hardware Review 16Bit Pocket MD - An Unexpectedly Decent Portable Mega Drive
Time to put that Sega Nomad into storage?
This year, Sega will release the Mega Drive Mini, its own take on the retro console craze which Nintendo has done rather well out of in recent years with the NES and SNES Classic Editions. However, it's not the first time that the SNES rival has been
January2019
Hardware Review Insurrection Industries Carby - GameCube HDMI Support On A Budget
Yet another HDMI adapter, but this one doesn't cost the earth
Keen readers of the site will know that we're always on the lookout for ways to make vintage hardware look as good as possible on modern-day TV sets. Years ago, we dabbled in the world of scanline generators such as the SLG3000, and more recently we sang the praises of the OSSC, a device...
Hardware Review EON GCHD Mk-II GameCube HDMI Adapter - The Best Just Got Better
New and improved
When it comes to getting the best possible image quality out of your retro console of choice, you usually have to jump through a few awkward (not to mention expensive) hoops. That was certainly the case with the GameCube until very recently; the best way of running the system in the past was via Nintendo's own SCART (if you're in...
December2018
Hardware Review To Enjoy The New BittBoy, You'll Need To Get Your Hands Dirty
Games not included
If you cast your minds back a short while, you'll recall that we reviewed the BittBoy Portable Video Game Handheld, a dinky little Game Boy clone that came packed with 300 NES games, many of which were pretty dire – not to mention legally questionable. Despite this, we couldn't help warming to this truly pocket-sized portable,...
Hardware Review HORI Switch Battle Pad GameCube Style Controller
Just in time for Smash
The release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is just around the corner. With it, the perennial revival of the greatest controller of all time is upon us. As usual, Nintendo has brought back the GameCube controller to please the most hardcore of Smash fans, and alongside it, multiple third-party manufacturers are offering up their...
November2018
Hardware Review 8BitDo GBros. Adapter - Use Your GameCube Pad Wirelessly With Smash Bros. Ultimate
GBros. before Smash Pros
As the launch fo Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on Switch looms – like a wonderful, long-awaited birthday – ever closer, a great many fans of the series will have one burning question on their minds: Can I play it with my trusty and dependable GameCube controller? As we've known for a while, the answer to this question is,...
Troubled over which version to pick? We're here to help...
The 'classic console' market is getting pretty busy right now, what with the NES Classic, SNES Classic and PlayStation Classic sure to keep the tills ticking over this Christmas, and the
Hardware Review Krikzz Joyzz Wireless Sega Mega Drive Controller - Perfection Comes At A Price
The best wireless option for Sega fans
If you're a keen follower of the modern-day retro gaming scene then you'll no doubt have heard of Igor Golubovskiy, better known as Krikzz. Over the past few years, Krikzz has built up a solid reputation thanks to his superb line of flash cartridges which cunningly allow you to play ROMs on vintage hardware...
Hardware Review Flip Grip: The Dream Peripheral For Shmup Addicts
Going sideways
While the Switch's hybrid nature and versatile Joy-Con controllers are key selling points for many owners, for a special sub-set of players the console's real hidden weapon is the fact that it can be used in portrait mode and therefore provide the perfect platform for classic vertically-scrolling shooters – of which there are plenty...
Hardware Review Poké Ball Plus - The Most Imperfect Perfect Accessory You Could Imagine
Balls up?
Nintendo – perhaps unlike any other games company – understands the connection between video gaming and the physical world. That might sound like a rather silly statement to make as every firm involved in the making of interactive entertainment has to consider how the player will interact physically with the game itself, but with...
Hardware Review AAXA S1 LED Mini Projector For Switch - Brighter Than The Competition, And 720p, Too
The OJO Projector has a serious rival
The portable nature of the Switch has created a perhaps unexpected demand for super-compact and mobile LED projectors, and we’ve already seen the OJO Projector come and go in all of its 480p resolution goodness. While OJO is hard at work on a successor which, it says, will improve on its likeable first...
October2018
Hardware Review EON GCHD GameCube HDMI Adapter
Another mod-free HD option for Nintendo's famous box
While the world waits for Nintendo do something - anything - constructive with its enviable back catalogue of games on its latest console beyond giving us a few dusty old NES titles, there's a burgeoning community which aims to harness the power of vintage hardware to experience the best titles...
September2018
Hardware Review The Retro-Bit Go Retro! Portable Is A Rose-Tinted Disappointment
Even Capcom and Data East can't save this one
We've seen plenty of home console revivals recently, like the NES Classic, SNES Classic, Neo Geo Mini and – coming later this year – the
August2018
Hardware Review The Sega Saturn Bluetooth Pad Doesn't Live Up To Its Inspiration
So near, and yet so far
Despite this being a Nintendo site, we've never made any secret of the fact that we hold a tremendous amount of affection for the Kyoto company's erstwhile rival, Sega. Here in Europe – where Nintendo Life is headquartered – Sega was the dominant force during the late '80s and early '90s. While the NES, SNES and Game Boy...
Hardware Review Satisfye Pro Gaming Grip for Nintendo Switch
Long, strong, and great girth
As much as it pains us to say it, the Nintendo Switch is not a perfect product. Due to various factors that make the Switch what it is, certain sacrifices have had to be made in certain areas to make sure its versatility is properly realised, and for some of us at Nintendo Life Towers, one of the biggest problem areas...
Hardware Review Hori D-Pad Joy-Con Controller For Nintendo Switch
Cross your heart
Update: Hori has confirmed to Nintendo Life the issue pertaining to the d-pad joy-con using battery power while the Switch is in sleep mode has been resolved with the release of Switch firmware 6.0 in collaboration with Nintendo. Full details can be found here. Ever since the Switch launched, there's been a vocal minority which has...
Hardware Review Does The SNK Neo Geo Mini Outclass Nintendo's Classic Editions?
The Rolls Royce of micro-consoles is here
Nintendo may not have been the first company to come up with the ingenious idea of leveraging the unbridled nostalgia of your average gamer to sell bucketloads of ROM-filled micro-consoles, but the arrival of the NES Classic a few years ago certainly gave this previously niche sector of the market a swift...
July2018
Hardware Review Go-tcha Ranger: A Worthy Upgrade For The Ultimate Pokémon GO Accessory?
Easy auto
The Pokéball Plus may be the year's hottest accessory for Pokéman fans, but peripheral maker Datel has released a device which, if you're only looking to play Pokémon GO, could end up being more appealing. The Go-tcha Ranger is the sequel to the standard (and totally unofficial) Go-tcha, which b
Hardware Classics Uncovering The Tragic Tale Of The Philips CD-i
Jack of all trades, master of none?
Compared to the relatively conservative video game hardware market of the modern era, the '90s seems like a wasteland of failed systems and also-rans. The 3DO, Atari Jaguar, Commodore CD32, NEC PC-FX and Sega 32X were all pieces of hardware which, at launch, found themselves positioned as the next big thing in...
Hardware Review GameShell Is A Modular And Hackable Take On The Classic Game Boy
Build it, and they will come
We don't mind admitting that we're absolute suckers for handhelds here at Nintendo Life, so it's hardly surprising that the GameShell caught our attention late last year. Described as a hackable open-source console, it raised $290,429 on Kickstarter and is now reaching the hands of backers. We were lucky enough to get an...
Hardware Review The Shōnen Jump 50th Anniversary Famicom Classic Mini Is Gorgeous, But Pointless
Nintendo loves gold, only gold
Nintendo may have fixed the supply issues which plagued the launches of the NES and SNES Classic Editions, but many will still be haunted by the devilish degree of difficulty they exper
May2018
Hardware Review OJO Projector For Nintendo Switch - The Ultimate Accessory?
A projector, dock and power bank all in one
The amazing success of the Switch has led to some equally amazing crowdfunding campaigns for must-have accessories, the most notable of which are the Switch Charge case and the OJO Projector. Both of these products massively over-performed in their initial funding drives, and both have endured a rather...
Hardware Review SwitchCharge Boosts Your Nintendo Switch Battery Life Fourfold
It's had a somewhat troubled path to market, but is it worth the wait?
It's fair to say that like so many amazing crowdfunded ideas, the SwitchCharge hasn't had the most comfortable routes to market. After comprehensively smashing its funding goal back in 2017, the accessory – which contains a 10,000mAh b
April2018
Hardware Review GameCube HDMI Adapter - GC Video Plug 'n Play 3.0
So long, component cable
You might think that when Nintendo started offering games from classic systems on its various Virtual Console platforms that interest in original hardware might fall away. However, over a decade later we're instead seeing a strong reassurance of new products supporting ageing original hardware, often aimed at getting...
Hardware Review Terraonion Super SD System 3 Unlocks The Entire PC Engine Library
The ultimate engine upgrade?
It's almost impossible to not fall in love with the NEC PC Engine. In its original Japanese form it remains an engineering masterpiece; it's the tiny console that could. Even after all these years it's easy to see why the system took Japan by a storm and gained legions of fans among "grey importers" in the west –...
March2018
Hardware Review The Hyperkin SupaBoy SFC Is A Portable SNES For Under £100
Third time lucky?
It's fair to say that the SupaBoy handheld is one of Hyperkin's most successful products; it initially hit the market in 2012 and has been revised once already in the form of the SupaBoy S. We're now on the third iteration of the same model, and we can imagine this fresh SKU will do the business just as well as its forerunners did...
Hardware Review Shika Arcades SOZU.S1 Isn't Just The Ultimate SNES Stick, It's A Work Of Art
Bamboo-zled
The humble video game controller is one of the most important elements of interactive entertainment; it is your interface to an immersive virtual world and any shortcomings it may have (Kinect, we're looking at you) impact massively on your overall enjoyment. It's equally true, however, that not all controllers are created equal, and as...
February2018
Hardware Review Hyperkin Supa Retron HD: Time To Dust Off Those SNES Carts
UPDATE: UK launch now confirmed for March
For a wide range of reasons, the public's interest in retro gaming has arguably never been higher. New players are being drawn into this fascinating corner of the industry to explore the origins of characters like Mario and Sonic, while veterans who still bear the scars of the '80s and '90s console wars are...
Hardware Review The Analogue Super Nt Is The Ultimate Way To Play SNES Games In 2018
Reborn, remastered, remarkable
If you're seriously into audio visual entertainment then chances are you'll have gone through the exciting (yet mildly scary) process of blowing an entire month's pay cheque on the latest television, Hi-Fi or associated piece of audio visual hardware. Like everything in life, how much you want to spend on this kind of...
Hardware Review Does The Retro-Bit NES Power Stick Give You The Advantage?
Microswitched marvel
These days, gamers are pretty comfortable with the fact that there are multiple control options available when it comes to playing on their console of choice. The basic, in-the-box pad isn't always the best that's on offer, and there are myriad official and unofficial controllers doing the rounds, each claiming to hold a...
January2018
Hardware Review Retro-Bit Super Retro Trio Plus
The 2014 system returns with HDMI support
Back in 2014 Retro-Bit released the Super Retro Trio, an ingenious clone system which played NES, SNES and Mega Drive / Genesis cartridges. Launched just before Hyperkin's superior Retron 5, it was perhaps a little overshadowed and you'd be forgiven for forgetting that it even exists. However, Retro-Bit is...
Hardware Review Sega's Heritage Deserves Better Than The Mega Drive Ultimate Portable
Will we ever see a true Sega rival to Nintendo's "Classic Edition" line?
While the recent explosion of mainstream interest in retro gaming can be partly attributed to the popularity of the NES and SNES Classic Edition micro-consoles, seasoned players will be aware that this sector of the market has been bubbling under nicely for the past decade,...
December2017
Video These D-Pad Joy-Con Shells are Great, But Come with a Cautionary Tale
They're screw-strippin' good
When we covered these D-Pad-boasting replacement Joy-Con shells last month, we were pretty impressed with how they looked, and we knew we wanted to get our mitts on them in real life. As explained in the video above, the shells are of high quality and are certainly a good bit of kit, but the journey to get to an actual...
Hardware Review Retro-Bit Super Retro-Cade: A Treasure Trove Of Vintage Gaming Goodness
Finally, a legal way to play Boogie Wings in your home
It's fair to say they we weren't all that impressed by the Retro-Bit Generations, 2016's attempt to bring a selection of classic Data East, Capcom and Jaleco titles to the home. An odd library, terrible emulation and general sloppiness made it a product to avoid, despite the tantalising promise...
November2017
Hardware Review 8Bitdo SN30 Pro Gamepad: The Best Switch Pro Controller?
One pad to rule them all
If you take your video game controllers seriously, then chances are you won't need any introduction to 8bitdo. This peripheral maker has been crafting superb pads and accessories for some time now, many of which take more than a little inspiration from Nintendo's own controllers. Over the years we've seen excellent...
Hardware Review Hamy NES And SNES HD Classic
The best of both worlds?
Love them or loathe them, clones of retro systems are here to stay. Over the past few years we've seen numerous unofficial attempts to replicate the performance of vintage systems, some more successful than others. In recent years the arrival of authentic takes on this concept – such as the NES and SNES Classic Editions...
October2017
Hardware Review The Super Famicom Mini Is For Hardcore Collectors Only
Turning Japanese?
Not all micro-consoles are created equal, the SNES Classic Mini being the perfect example of this (not-so-universal) truth. The western versions may have the same game selection but the North American and European editions showcase radically different case designs, which has led to some particularly dedicated Nintendo fans buying...
Hardware Review Hori Empera Hook HDP Splatoon 2 Stereo Headset For Switch
Off the hook
We've already looked at Hori's basic solution for in-game voice chat on Switch, but here's a good chance that most Nintendo fans will have their eyes on the manufacturer's other option, the Empera Hook HDP headset designed to look like the very cans worn by characters in Splatoon 2. On a basic level, there's no difference between these...
Hardware Review Retro-Bit's SNES And Mega Drive Pads Will Relieve Your Battered Originals
Available in Street Fighter and Mega Drive designs
Retro-Bit's no stranger to creating serviceable controllers for old-school systems - we covered its excellent NES pads not so long ago - but the company is moving up a generation with its next products, aiming for SNES and Mega Drive / Genesis owners. The new "Dual Link" pads are, as the name sugg
September2017
Hardware Review Wireless Fighting Commander for SNES Classic By Hori
Nintendo nostalgia
The SNES Classic has finally hit stores, and along with it Hori has released the Wireless Fighting Commander, a pad that seeks to remind players of a bygone era of turbo buttons, slow motion functions and other features designed to give players the edge they needed in the days when home consoles were practice for days spent in...
Hardware Review The SNES Classic Mini Is The Perfect Link To The Past
Now you're playing with miniature power
When the NES Classic Mini was first announced, it caused shockwaves in the world of Nintendo (and gave this very site one of its busiest days in terms of traffic, fact fans). The resultant stock shortages soured what was, in all honesty, a dream hardware release for the company. While Nintendo certainly wasn't...
Hardware Review The Open Source Scan Converter Is Every Retro Gamer's Dream Come True
This box of tricks makes old console look great again
The world of gaming is very much entrenched in High Definition these days, with newfangled gaming systems like the PlayStation Pro and Xbox One X offering 4K resolution imagery that's so sharp it's almost impossible to pick out individual pixels. This is wonderful for those who savour being at...
August2017
Hardware Review The Retro-Bit RES Plus Gives You A HDMI NES For Under 40 Dollars
But is it better than the competition?
Despite the fact that the SNES Classic is on the horizon and we're already seeing SNES clones being announced - like the Hyperkin Supa Retron HD - there's obviously still a healthy market for systems which replicate the performance of Nintendo's previous system, the NES. This year has already given us...
Hardware Review Hori's Switch Horipad Is The Controller You Never Knew You Needed
Rolling start
When we first reported on the Hori Switch Horipad a while back there were a few puzzled faces in the Nintendo Life office. The big selling point of the wired controller was the fact that the D-pad could be removed to reveal a cluster of four buttons underneath; at the time, we genuinely pondered why you'd ever need to do this, and -...
July2017
Feature Nintendo Switch + LED Mini Projector: A Match Made In Gaming Heaven?
Big-screen gaming on the move
The hybrid nature of the Switch means that it straddles the divide between portable and domestic gameplay; it's a unit that is small and light enough to be carried in your bag for gaming on the go, but it also connects to your TV like a traditional system, offering big-screen delights as well. The super-portable nature...
Hardware Review Hyperkin SmartBoy Turns Your Smartphone Into A Real Live Game Boy
Gaming on the go, revitalised
"Many a true word is spoken in jest." That age-old saying is very true of Hyperkin's SmartBoy device; originally pitched as an April Fool's prank it gradually evolved into something more tangible thanks to online reaction which keenly illustrated a demand in the marketplace for something that allowed you to play old...
Hardware Review Elgato Game Capture HD60
Still the best pocket-sized game capture device
When we first started taking video capture seriously here at Nintendo Life during the Wii U era the hardware required cost wasn't astronomically steep, but it certainly high enough to give the average gamer pause for thought. However, as time as gone on we've seen the barrier to entry drop...
Hardware Review Hyperkin's Retron HD Is The Cheapest Way To Play NES In High Def
Can't get a NES Classic? Check this out
Hyperkin is one of the elder statesman of the clone hardware arena, having operating in this sector for quite some time now via its line of Retron systems, the earliest of which replicated the performance of the fan-favourite Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES. The recent kerfuffle regarding the...
Hardware Review SFANS Adapter For Switch: The World's First Truly Portable Dock
Small enough to fit in your pocket
Update: Since this review went live it has been brought to our attention that the tech inside the SFANS is actually taken from a Chinese-made dongle intended for Samsung smartphones. This in no way changes our opinion of the SFANS Adapter. Original Story: The portability concept of the Switch is something which...
June2017
Hardware Review New Nintendo 2DS XL
2D or not 2D? That is the question
The 3DS is the handheld console that simply refuses to step into the shadows. With the Switch arriving on the scene blessed with the ability to host both portable and domestic gameplay, many assumed that Nintendo would put its existing handheld system out to pasture, but the Kyoto giant has done the exact opposite;...
Hardware Review The Analogue NT Mini Isn't Just The Best NES Clone, It's Much More Besides
FPGA or GTHO
It's fair to say that the gaming public's interest in clones of vintage consoles hasn't diminished over the past few years; in fact, interest in such hardware is arguably on the rise. We've seen a raft of systems which aim to replicate the performance of retro hardware, including the Hyperkin Retron 5, the Cyber Gadget Retro Freak and...
Hardware Review BittBoy Portable Video Game Handheld
Unofficial NES gaming on the go
Of all the obscure clone consoles to come out of the Far East, the BittBoy is one of the most interesting we've seen in a long time - for obvious reasons. We're massive fans of the original Game Boy here at Nintendo Life and the fact that the BittBoy shamelessly steals the same basic design was enough to get our...
May2017
Hardware Review Datel Go-tcha For Pokémon GO
Taking the effort out of catching those pesky 'mon
While the Pokémon GO craze has clearly died down after the initial explosion of interest at launch, there are still millions of people who continue to play the game each and every day. Some of these will already be using the excellent Pokémon GO Plus accessory, a device worn on your wrist...
Video Listen Up, We've Reviewed LucidSound's LS20 Gaming Headset
The first one "designed" for the Nintendo Switch
Online play is pretty big these days and with the rise of social gaming we've seen an flood of headsets appear on the market which allow you to better hear the action around you and communicate with your teammates - and enemies. While the Switch sadly lacks any kind of Bluetooth connectivity, it's...
March2017
Hardware Review My Arcade NES Classic Mini Controller
Looks aren't everything
Given how hard it is to actually find a NES Classic Mini right now, it should come as no great shock to also learn that spare controllers for the console are also in very short supply. While Nintendo seems incapable of meeting demand for this clone system and its accessories, third party peripheral makers are having a field...
Hardware Review Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
Play like a Pro
Nintendo has created some truly amazing controllers over the past three decades, from the ergonomic SNES pad with its industry-defining four-button cluster and shoulder buttons to the groundbreaking Wii remote. It might sounds a little like hyperbole to suggest that the new Switch Pro Controller tops all of these in terms of being a...
Hardware Review Nintendo Switch: Nintendo's Most Important Console Yet
Time to make the Switch?
It's no exaggeration to claim that the Switch is Nintendo's most important console release so far. After the commercial disaster that was the Wii U and the decision to reshuffle internal teams to remove the schism between handheld and home development, the Switch represents a one-shot strategy for the Kyoto giant; while the...
January2017
Hardware Review Putting The Retro Freak's Range Of Accessories To The Test
NES! Sega Mark III! Game Gear! Controller adapter!
Retro gamers have really been spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a clone console these days. Not only have we had machines like the Retro-USB AVS which uses FPGA tech to accurately replicate the performance of the NES, but we've also seen all-in-one solutions like the Hyperkin Retron-5 and...
Feature The Quest for the Ultimate NES Classic Edition Wireless Controller
8Bitdo NES30 Vs Nyko Miniboss
The NES Classic Edition is a wonderful micro-sized retro-gaming machine; availability issues aside its hard to find much fault with, it apart from the rather short controller cable which comes with the otherwise excellent replica of the original NES controller. At just 30 inches the cable that joins the pad to the...
December2016
Hardware Review Famicom Classic Mini
The NES Classic Mini's Eastern relation
With the NES Classic Mini currently proving to be quite hard to find at retail right now, chances are that the thought of sourcing its Japanese sibling may have crossed your mind. Released at the same time and boasting a design which imitates that of the system that started it all – 1983's "Family Computer",...
Hardware Review Hyperkin SupaBoy S
It's back, but is it better?
The industry's passion for "new" retro hardware has been growing steadily over the past few years, and the launch of the NES Classic Mini finally signals Nintendo's entry into this niche yet vibrant sector of the market. Given the astonishing success of that venture it is almost inevitable that we'll see a SNES Classic...
Hardware Review Retro-Bit x 8Bitdo RB8-64 Bluetooth Controller
Three pronged thriller?
8Bitdo's replica controllers have gained quite a reputation with retro gamers who are keen to get that authentic feel but also wish to benefit from modern conveniences such as the absence of annoying wires and the ability to recharge the internal battery. We've already seen excellent variants on the NES and SNES controllers,...
November2016
Hardware Review Retro-Bit Generations
A warped version of history
The NES Classic Mini is proving to be one of the must-have gaming items of 2016 with demand far outstripping supply and consoles selling online for way above the initial asking price. While Nintendo is clearly onto something of a winner here – despite the company's almost habitual desire to annoy buyers by not producing...
Hardware Review NES Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System
The master, remastered
It's fair to say that the announcement of NES Classic Mini earlier this year came as something of a shock, despite the fact that the concept of reproduction consoles isn't a particularly new one. Nintendo's old rival Sega has been pumping out licenced Mega Drive and
October2016
Hardware Review Aukey 30000mAh Lightning Power Bank With Quick Charge 3.0
The ultimate Pokémon GO companion
Those of you old enough to remember the 'good old days' when your mobile phone battery lasted a week between charges will no doubt continue to be utterly flabbergasted by the fact that modern, cutting-edge devices like the Samsung Galaxy S7 and iPhone 7 require charging on a daily basis. While 24 hour top-up cycles...
September2016
Hardware Review Pokémon GO Plus
It's all in the wrist
When The Pokémon Company revealed Pokémon GO last year, it also proudly displayed the Pokémon GO Plus device. With a design which playfully mixed the iconic Pokéball with Google's map pin, this Bluetooth-powered lump of plastic was pitched as an optional extra that would make the process of playing the game every day that...
The NES advantage?
After years of enduring sloppy imitators which offer patchy performance and incomplete compatibility, we're finally seeing clone consoles come of age. The RetroN 5 leveraged the versatility of Google's Android platform to offer HD visuals and save state support, while the super-premium Analogue NT took existing Nintendo chips and...
August2016
Hardware Review Everdrive GBA X5
Flash by name, flash by nature
In the world of flash carts, one name stands out from the rest: Krikzz. This individual has produced a long line of carts for various retro systems, including the NES, SNES, Mega Drive / Genesis and N64. With each product the aim is simple - make the user experience as sea
Gunpei Yokoi would approve, we feel
When we initially reported on the PocketCHIP back in May we perhaps got a little carried away in comparing this cheap and cheerful Linux-based handheld with Nintendo's classic Game Boy. On paper at least the system hits many of the same notes - low price, commonly-available tech used in a new way and adorable...
July2016
Hardware Review 8Bitdo x Analogue SNES Retro Receiver
Look Ma, no wires!
The removal of the pesky joypad cable has to rank as one of the most important advances in video game tech. For far too long were we resigned to dealing with tangled wires that shackled us to our games consoles, forcing us to sit within a range dictated by the length of the cable itself (Super Famicom owners will feel this pain...
Hardware Review EXEQ GameBox Game Boy Advance SP Clone
AGS-101 screen quality on a budget - what's the catch?
Love them or loathe them, clone consoles are very much here to stay. As existing hardware becomes harder to find or fails due to everyday use, the demand for replacement systems grows ever stronger, fuelled largely by the almost insatiable demands of a new generation of retro gaming enthusiasts...
December2015
Hardware Review Cyber Gadget Retro Freak
Freakishly good?
You should never underestimate the power of old games. When the Retro Freak was announced earlier in the year it triggered quite a stir online - a remarkable feat when you consider that the company behind it, Cyber Gadget, is a tiny and largely unknown Japanese outfit. The system's retro-gaming potential ensured that it set many...
Hardware Review 8bitdo SNES30 And SFC30 Bluetooth Controllers
Clones 25 years in the making
Chinese firm 8bitdo is on a roll when it comes to making Bluetooth controllers which look and feel like classic Nintendo pads. We've already had the NES30 and the FC30 Pro - the former taking inspiration from the classic 8-bit console and the latter sporting design cues lifted from the Japanese edition of the NES, the...
November2015
Hardware Review Gamepad Digital GPD XD
That design reminds us of something
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but when you're creating mass-market electronic devices, slavishly cloning the work of others usually lands you in costly lawsuit - just ask Samsung and Apple. However, there are a multitude of hardware makers working out of China which are small enough to operate...
October2015
Hardware Review BitBoy Lets You Back Up Your Game Boy Camera Snaps With Ease
Digital photography, 1998 style
In 1998 Nintendo launched the Game Boy Camera, a tiny (at the time) digital camera that sat in the Game Boy's cartridge slot and took simple monochrome photos that could be edited and printed via the link cable and an optional Game Boy Printer, using a roll of thermal printing paper similar to a till receipt. In the...
July2015
Hardware Review Awesome Super Mario Inspired Watch - Sun and Moon Miyamoto
Partner in time
A while ago we reported that Mr Jones Watches had produced a limited edition wristwatch inspired by the Super Mario series. The response to the design was so positive that the watch became a permanent fixture in their lineup after a small design change to differentiate itself from the limited edition variant. We were kindly given...
May2015
Hardware Review REVO K101 Plus
Hands-on with the ultimate hardware GBA clone
Love them or loathe them, hardware clones of vintage gaming platforms are here to stay. Technical wizards operating on the fringe of the gaming hardware arena are constantly dreaming up new products which ape the performance and feel of classic consoles, and in the past few years we've seen imitations of...
March2015
Hardware Review 8Bitdo FC30 Pro Controller
We are Family (Computer)
Remember the 8Bitdo NES30 pad we reviewed a while back? It was a likeable take on the whole Bluetooth gaming pad concept which looked and felt like a genuine NES pad from back in the day. The makers of that particular controller are back with a revised unit, and this time it's focused on the NES' Japanese counterpart - the...
October2014
Hardware Review The New Nintendo 3DS Is The Best Yet
We go hands-on with the Japanese model
Nintendo has a history of iterating and improving the various handheld consoles it has produced over the past few decades. The original monochrome Game Boy started this trend of gradual enhancement — with the Game Boy Pocket and Game Boy Light offering tangible advantages over the 1989 original — and since...
August2014
Hardware Review 8Bitdo NES30 Bluetooth Controller
A familiar friend, reinvented
If you're an Android user then you'll already be well aware of the operating system's native connectivity with wireless Bluetooth peripherals, including dedicated game pad controllers. Apple has recently introduced a similar protocol for its iOS platform, and Android-based micro-consoles like the Ouya, M.O.J.O. and
July2014
Hardware Review AtGames Arcade Gamer Portable
Sega's Master System and Game Gear hardware gets cloned
Nintendo may be fiercely protective of its vintage games and retro hardware, but former rival Sega isn't quite so precious about where its former classics end up these days. We've already seen the likes of Sonic, Golden Axe and Streets of Rage migrate to practically every modern format under...
July2012
Hardware Review Nintendo 3DS XL
The official Nintendo Life verdict on the new super-sized console
It’s fair to say that the 3DS didn’t have the start that Nintendo was hoping for. Launched amid high expectation and a groundswell of three dimensional hype, the system initially struggled to find an audience; it took a price cut and an injection of big-name quality software to...
March2012
Hardware Review Hyperkin SupaBoy Portable SNES
The biggest retro hardware release in more ways than one
The lapse of hardware patents on retro platforms has resulted in an explosion of clone machines, most of which are produced cheaply in the Far East. These systems emulate the performance of consoles such as the NES, Super Nintendo and Genesis/Mega Drive, all of which are no longer covered by...
One cartridge, infinite possibilities
They may not find much favour with purists, but flash carts are becoming increasingly popular these days. The rapid march of technology combined with the low cost of flash-based storage has generated a wide selection of different options, almost all of which are produced in limited quantities and to very crude...
January2012
Hardware Review 3DS Circle Pad Pro
A thin line between love and hate
It says a lot about the absurdity of the Circle Pad Pro that when its existence was leaked last year, some hardcore Nintendo supporters refused to believe it was real. The concept of adding an additional analogue stick to the machine by the way of a chunky add-on seemed almost unbelievable; surely Nintendo...
December2011
Hardware Review Analogue Interactive CMVS Slim and Arcade Stick
A different class of console
When we went hands-on with Analogue Interactive’s amazing 100% walnut consolised MVS a few months back, we were amazed at both the workmanship involved and the mind-blowing retro gaming possibilities. The company managed to break into an extremely niche sector of the console hardware market with a machine that looked...
May2011
Hardware Review Analogue Interactive's Wooden Neo Geo MVS
A wooden good 'un
While we're a Nintendo site first and foremost, we obviously don't mind reporting on other sectors of the gaming universe. SNK's Neo Geo system is a particular favourite (just try and prise our resident Neo lover Corbie Dillard away from his beloved cab, we dare you) and when we reported on Analogue Interactive's amazing wooden...
March2011
We take Nintendo's 3D portable wonder for a spin
To say that the buzz surrounding the upcoming Nintendo 3DS system is insane would probably be the understatement of the century. The system has garnered an incredible amount of hype and anticipation over the past year since it was announced and now that we've had a hefty dose of playing time on the...
June2010
Hardware Review VDigi VD-W3 Wii HDMI Upscaler
We take a look at VDigi's up-scaler device that aims to bring you a step closer to "Wii HD".
It's well documented that the lack of High-Definition (HD) doesn't affect the majority of Wii gamers, however there is a significant minority who eagerly await Nintendo's step up in the HD realm. VDigi have identified this specific Wii gamer and offer them a...
February2010
Hardware Review Yobo FC-16 Go Portable SNES
Attack of the clones
Those of you with especially keen memories will recall that we reviewed the RetroDuo console not so long ago. One of the growing number of unlicensed clones hitting the market at the moment, this neat machine is now joined by something a little more portable - namely the Yobo Gameware FC-16 Go. This is essentially a portable...
November2009
Hardware Review Nintendo DSi XL
Is bigger really better?
It would be accurate to say that more than a few heads were scratched when Nintendo announced that they were releasing yet another new model of their DS system called the DSi XL, especially considering that their DSi system had only been on the market for less than eight months. And to make things even more odd, instead of...
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