Retro Duo - First Impressions

I got a Retro Duofor Christmas. If you don't know, the Retro Duo is basically an NES and SNES put together in the same system. It's perfect if you no longer have a working NES or SNES, or if you simply want to save space. Based on what I've read, it's the best clone system available.

There are plenty of other similar NES/SNES clone systems out there, but after reading reviews online, the Retro Duo seemed like the best choice, which is why I asked for it. I haven't run into any compatibility issues with it so far after testing every game I have (other than the lack of NES Zapper support). The Retro Duo supposedly plays games that other clone systems can't. It is even supposed to play PAL SNES games as well, but I don't have any PAL games to test.

It only supports Super Nintendo controllers (but I read online that they are working on an adapter to be able to use NES controllers on the system as well, which would also work with the Zapper. No idea when or if that will be released). The retro duo does come with SNES clone controllers in colors to match the system (I got red and black. I thought it looked cooler than the white and blue, even though the color scheme is completely different than the original SNES system).

The Retro Duo controllers do feel a bit cheap compared to the original SNES controllers, but they aren't as bad as some reviews I've read make them out to be. The biggest difference is that the X and Y buttons aren't concave like on the original controllers. Once I get into a game, I don't really notice the difference anyway. I haven't decided if I'm going to buy actual SNES controllers for it or not yet. The Retro Duo controllers aren't that much different from the real thing and they match the system.

The NES cartridge slot is a bit tight and it can be a bit difficult to remove NES games, but that's not a big deal. As long as you are gentle with the carts when removing them (rather than violently yanking them out) there shouldn't be a problem. You should be gentle with game systems (and any type of hardware, really) anyway, if you want them to last.

There are apparently some slight sound and color differences between the Retro Duo and the original systems, but I haven't really noticed anything that seems too off to my eyes and ears. Of course, I don't own either original system (hence why I wanted the Retro Duo) and I don't know anyone who still owns an NES (as far as I know. If I do, I've never been to their house...) so you can judge that for yourself if you are thinking about getting one. To me, game play is more important than sounds or graphics anyway (at least until I don't have sound, if you remember my post about my Sega Genesis).

It also has a tiny footprint. I have one of those plastic 7-drawer carts to keep some of my games and consoles in, and the Retro Duois small enough that I have plenty of room left in it's drawer to store some NES games in the same drawer (since the smaller drawer that I allotted to SNES and NES games is apparently too small since I didn't take into consideration that I'd be getting more games for Christmas when I partitioned the available drawers to certain game systems).

Well, I guess I'm going to wrap this up. I have a bunch of SNES and NES games to play, not to mention a new DS game.