Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat trip back in time for Retro fans looking for an easy plug-n-play experience out of the box!
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2018
I can't say enough about this little workhorse! For $60 you get a dedicated MAME-based emulation system that works out of the box with little setup. It comes with 90 built-in arcade games plus two 10 foot wired USB super-Nintendo style controllers that are just fine (I did replace mine with a PS3 style USB generic which works just as well for games best suited for analog control) and the best part is it uses an HDMI connection to your TV for a good easy hookup and clear image. Plus the HDMI cable is included as well!
For those looking for more games the best little secret is that with an optional SD card you can also load into the rear SD card slot hundreds of other MAME compatible arcade roms or NES, SNES, Genesis, GB, GBC, or GBA roms for literally HUNDREDS of games all on a little card! I purchased a 32BG card for about $12 here on Amazon, but I only use about 6 or 7 GB for my collection so you can get away with about an 8GB SD card to house all of your favorites.
Most hardcore retro gamer fans swear by the Raspberry Pi 3 B+ or similar machines for their emulation and yes, that system will give you far more flexibility in the systems emulated and a wider array of games, but you need to actually build those systems because they are sold as kits. That tends to appeal to the electronics enthusiast and those building stand-up bar machines from their Pis, so more power to them! So unless you are comfortable literally building your system, this might be a better option for the beginner or the casual gamer.
The Super Retro-cade should appeal to those that have a fondness for classic gaming and want to forgo the complicated construction/setup of a Pi and want to just start playing right out of the box. It's been with me for several weeks now and I play it every day. It plays games made up to about the mid-nineties with its built-in MAME emulator, so don't expect PC games or systems except those listed above. Online communities are picking up support for this little gem on FB and elsewhere so start there to see some hands-on reviews and tips on making the most out of the system.
Sadly, there are not many specs that are offered with the limited documentation that comes with it to see what's under the hood and most roms' working state is going to be hit or miss by trial and error, but I have found a great assortment of titles that I'll be lucky to get to. For what it is though, and at $60, it is highly worth picking up for literally hours of nostalgic fun.