Retro Duo Review

[Satoshi_Matrix]

Here's something I've been putting off doing for a while now. Here's my Retro Duo Video review! Come explore the ins and outs of this fine Famiclone/SNES.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

let me shoehorn this one in too. Here's a followup to the Retro Duo review where I should even more games, plus a way you can get version 1.1 of Mario RPG to run on the Retro Duo!

[Michi]

let me shoehorn this one in too. Here's a followup to the Retro Duo review where I should even more games, plus a way you can get version 1.1 of Mario RPG to run on the Retro Duo!

That's pretty neat that they got the Mario RPG to work, even if you have to trick the console in order to get it to run. Nice review! Good to know there's a system that can get some of the more stubborn games to work.

On a side note, I've found a few Super Famicom out in the wild near me, but never bothered to pick them up since I could never find a cheap enough system to play them on (that, and I had no idea what they were at the time). But there are a couple of shops nearby that sell the Retro Duo, so that's definitely something to think about.

[Rayban]

Has this system been discontinued? Everywhere I look it says out of stock and they're going for way too much on eBay.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

They've not been discontinued, but the ebay prices are the norm. I've seen the system sell for even higher prices in shops.

[vlame]

get a retron3...

[AznKhmerBoi]

nice review, but i still wouldnt consider buying one. I just love the original snes and nes design much m uch more

[flamepanther]

I bought one a few years back, in order to save space in the living room. I still have a proper NES and SNES on my TV in the bedroom.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

get a retron3...

Well it's not that simple. I own a RetroN3 as well, and both it and the Retro Duo have distinct advantages/disadvantages.

Here's the basic pros/cons for each:

RetorN3

+Plays most games designed for the NES, SNES and Sega Genesis
+Six controller ports - 2x NES, 2x SNES, 2x Genesis mean you can use original controllers
+Standard AV and S-video input allowing both SNES and Genesis games to look great
+compact design and decent build quality

-Somewhat expensive
-NES component is a circa 2005 NOAC and thus the NES compatibility is pretty garbage
-Sound pitch issues on the Genesis side
-Cartridge ports have "deathgrips"
-Voltage regulated with a standard 7805; polarity is very VERY important


RetroDuo

+Plays nearly all games designed for the NES and SNES
+two SNES 7pin ports allow you to use authentic SNES controllers for both SNES and NES
+Thanks to forward thinking on Nintendo's part, the 4021 chip in the SNES controller maps NES B and A to SNES Y and B, a very very comfortable configuration. You can even mod NES controllers to work with the RetroDuo!
+The best NOAC on the market; it will play nearly all NES games including Castlevania 3.
+SNES side is also excellent; you can even fool SA-1 games to work with it.
+regulated 5v power supply is small and doesn't release much unwanted heat
+No deathgrips

-You need to preform a small but nevertheless annoying soldering mod to get NES audio sounding good. Once done it sounds excellent, but this is a design flaw that the end user shouldn't have to correct.
-Somewhat expensive
-As great as the power cord is, it's rather short at only 3 or 4 feet


Authentic Hardware
+100% compatibility with all games
+Original controllers can be used
+Get that retro feeling only the original hardware can provide
+your e-penis will grow when you tell people you stick with the original hardware only

-Can be expensive
-Old hardware can be unreliable or require refurbishing
-Multiple power cords, av cords, controller cords and so on can create a real mess
-Obvious, but multiple systems take up a lot more room than a single all-in-one

There you go, a basic rundown of the pros and cons.

[flamepanther]

-Voltage regulated with a standard 7805; polarity is very VERY important

Don't let the Doctor anywhere near it!

-You need to preform a small but nevertheless annoying soldering mod to get NES audio sounding good. Once done it sounds excellent, but this is a design flaw that the end user shouldn't have to correct.

Got a link to it? The sound on mine annoys the snot out of me.