OK I rarely do blogs on here probably cause I'm the laziest person ever... lol, but anyway lets get on with the buy and not buy in the retro-gaming universe. OK first off I'll make a list of all the third-party systems I own then I will list the pros and cons of each system and which ones are worth picking up IF you don't have an original system or want an easy portable version of that system. OK here we go:
PocketFami (Aka Pocket Famicom) (I still have this but it broke years ago.)
[img width=700 height=685]http://www.obsolete-tears.com/photos/gametech_pocket-fami_boite.jpg[/img]
FC Mobile II
[img width=520 height=400]http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/fc_mobile_ii_black.jpg[/img]
FC16 GO
[img width=600 height=424]http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/12/091210-snesportaboe-01.jpg[/img]
FC Twin (NES & SNES combo System)
Supaboy
Revision 1:
[img width=441 height=332]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/jviloria/aaa_new/supaboy.jpg[/img]
Revision 2:
[img width=651 height=485]http://www.stoneagegamer.com/images/detailed/9/supaboy05.jpg[/img]
RetroGen Adapter (not really a system its used on the SNES system or any third-party system)
[img width=500 height=500]http://www.gaminggenerations.com/store/images/retro_gen_adapter_123.jpg[/img]
OK now the rundown of each systems pros and cons:
PocketFami (Manufactured by GameTech):
Pros:
Very Lightweight
Very Portable/Small
Runs on 3 AA Batteries or a DC POWER ADAPTER ONLY! (Not included)
Has external controller ports (USES FAMICOM CONTROLLERS ONLY!)
Cons:
DC Adapter not included
Very cheaply made (pin connecter broke on me the first month i had it)
needed an adapter to play US games (Included, but it was an exposed adapter with no plastic shell and also very hard to put into the pin connection which is what caused mine to break)
Very expensive (mine was around 80 bucks and now they are OOP and go for like $120-150
Sound Quality is very poor and off pitch
Bad compatibility
Overall I'd say definitely pass on this monstrosity.
FC Mobile II (Manufactured by Hyperkin):
Pros:
Very lightweight/sleek design
Very nice bright LCD display screen/Good TV picture quality, but only get mono sound of course on both system and on the TV
Very good sound/speaker quality
Can use 4 AA batteries or use the provided AC adapter to play
Includes 3 Wireless Controllers (Two Turbo NES controllers run on 2 AAA batteries, and One Wireless Zapper which runs on 3 AAA batteries also has on on/off switch. One note you can't use the Zapper on HD TV's.)
Has a headphone jack
Cons:
Wireless controllers senor can cause the controller to be unresponsive if out of range (Sensor located on bottom of the system.)
Tengen carts don't work at all (As well as other games such as Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse and a few others.)
If you are running on battery power, some games will not play if the batteries are almost dead.
Overall with the FCII I'd say its worth it even if you have an original NES because its easily portable and can play most of your NES library without issue on the go or to take on vacation.
FC16 GO (Model 2) Model 1 is OOP (Manufactured by YOBO Gameware Inc):
Pros
Nice loud Speakers
Uses a Rechargeable Battery (Charger included)
Includes 2 wireless controllers (runs on 2 AAA batteries, very long battery life)
Includes Standard AV Cables
Cons:
The screen usually has a dead pixel or two when it arrives even if its new. (This problem may have been fixed I don't know for sure I highly doubt it.)
Takes a long time to recharge the battery even though the battery last maybe 3-6 hours takes 9-12 to charge...
Graphical, Sound, & Control issues with some games (examples are Contra III top-view levels look washed out in white and Star Trek TNG does not work at all controls are glitchy and unresponsive)
Overall for this one I'd say get it if you don't have an original SNES and what a decent substitute for the real thing
FC Twin (NES & SNES Combo system) (Manufactured by YOBO Gameware Inc.)
Pros:
Very lightweight and compact (about the size of a Genesis Model 2)
Stereo AV cables (I believe the NES side is simulated stereo)
Great compatibility on both systems (It could even play Tengen carts)
Easily Modifiable SNES slot to play Japanese Imports Tabs are made of cheap plastic they are easy to snap off)
Can use original or third-party SNES controllers
Cons:
You can't play games that use the NES Zapper
Controllers that come with it are very cheaply made (I recommend using original SNES controllers)
Still can't play Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse.
Overall I'd say this is probably the only third party system I'd recommend for at home use. I would also recommend the Retron3 or the FC3, but i don't have one although I've heard they're just as good as this, nut the controllers are very bad. On a good note it comes with a Zapper for NES games. It also has a Sega Genesis Slot.
Supaboy (Manufactured by Hyperkin)
Before I start I will be listing pros and cons of REVISION 1 not 2.
Pros:
Nice screen size
Has 2 controller ports
Has a rechargeable battery/and AV Cables
Comes with a carrying case/pouch
Comes pre-modded to play Japanese Games, and can also play PAL games (I don't know how well it can play PAL games though.
Cons:
Very bulky
Battery life is only 3-5 hours (Supposed to be better on the second revision)
Sound quality is horrible and has a high-pitched humming noise even with headphones plugged in (Confirmed to be better on the second revision, but I don't know for sure.)
Same kind of graphical/control issues as the FC16 GO (Contra III has the same issue listed above in the FC16 GO section. Although Star Trek TNG plays fine, but Batman Returns has control issues with system controls only.)
Over the Supaboy is a good SNES substitute, but I would pass on this if you have a SNES already or if you don't go with an alternative like the FC Twin or Retron3
RetroGen Adapter (Not really a system, but I'm going to talk about cause its surprisingly good with some minor flaws. To use it you need any SNES system (may work on third-parties i haven't tested it on one) unplug the AV cables to the SNES and plug in the RetroGen AV Cables into the side of the adapter and then the other side into the TV. OK now for the pros and cons:
Pros:
Easy to use
Region switch to play most if not all import MegaDrive titles (NA, PE, PAL, & NJ are all the switch settings)
Very good picture/Stereo sound.
Decent button layout (Y=Genesis button A, B= Genesis button B, A= Genesis button C, X= Genesis button Y, L= Genesis button X, and R= Genesis button Z)
Great compatibility
Region switch negates games that have a region lock (such as: Golden Axe III, Bare Knuckle III, Contra Hard Corps, and any others that are locked)
Cons:
There is no MODE button for games that require one to be held in while powering on in order to play games that only support 3-button Genesis controllers (Such as Golden Axe II)
Overall this adapter is a pretty cool novelty to have for your SNES to screw with your friends or if your to lazy to pull out your Sega Genesis and feel like being an oddball. Plus its only like 20 dollars on Ebay or Amazon. Here's a link to my video review of the RetroGen:
So in closing I would say the top third-party systems/accessories I would recommend getting ONLY IF you don't have the original systems or are intrigued by these systems like I am. Here's what I would recommend and why:
FC Mobile II - Great compatibility, Compact size, and nice bright LCD screen
FC Twin - Great compatibility, two systems in one, easy to modify the SNES slot to play Japanese Imports, and it can use original SNES controllers
RetroGen Adapter - Great compatibility, Great picture quality, and pretty awesome concept.
In closing I hope this article helps out some of you RFGeners in making a decision on purchasing a third-party system.
