At $99 before shipping, the Retroid Pocket 2+ is the best deal in retro handheld gaming. So let’s take a deep dive into the device and see if it’s worth considering.
Buy one here
Retro Handhelds’ RP2+ Settings Spreadsheet
Review: Retroid Pocket 2+
Month: December 2021
Anbernic RG552 Linux Setup Guide
Last Updated: 27DEC2021 (see Changelog for details)
The Anbernic RG552 is a unique device in that it can boot into both Linux and Android, giving users a wide variety of use cases. In this guide we’ll go over some of your options when it comes to the Linux operating system, including a pre-configured SD card image that you can download and use directly on your device.
Some caveats:
- The Linux operating system that ships with the device is a modified version of Batocera v29. Several development teams (including the official Batocera team) are already hard at work on updated firmware that will improve the user experience. This guide is meant to be a stop-gap while we wait for proper updated firmware.
- This guide will show you how to install a pre-configured SD card image you can simply flash an SD card that has all of the changes baked in.
- I DO NOT recommend flashing this SD card image over your existing 16GB card that came with the device. Keep that one around for safekeeping; instead, I recommend using a SanDisk Ultra 16GB card because it is more reliable and can be found for under $10.
- If you don’t want to flash a new SD card image, I will also link to a shell script that will provide most of the tweaks to your existing stock firmware.
- Once custom firmware is available, I will likely NOT recommend using this guide, since updated firmware will likely improve the user experience as well as emulation performance.
- This updated image will include optimized hotkeys, auto save/load for most systems, scaling, and aspect ratios, plus the ability to download new themes.
- Big thanks to developers FGL82 and konsumschaf for help with dialing in the proper settings, and TheGreatCrippler for helping shrink down this image to a manageable size.
For now, I would focus on using the Linux interface for PS1 and below gameplay. The emulators on the Android OS side are much more optimized and will give you better performance across the board. Custom firmware might make Linux more performative in the future, but for now I would use Android for Nintendo DS, Dreamcast, PSP, Nintendo 64, Panasonic 3D0, Atari Jaguar, and Nintendo GameCube.
So without any further delay, let’s jump into it.
Continue reading “Anbernic RG552 Linux Setup Guide”Review: Miyoo Mini
For its price, the Miyoo Mini punches well above its weight class, with a 2.8″ 640×480 display, solid hardware, and performance up to the PS1. In this video we’ll take a deep dive into this new retro handheld and see what kind of potential it can bring to the table.
Buy one here (non-affiliate link)
Continue reading “Review: Miyoo Mini”Review: 8BitDo Pro 2 Controller for Xbox
This brand new, officially licensed Pro 2 controller from 8BitDo will work on the Xbox One and Series consoles, as well as Windows PCs. So let’s see how this $45 wired controller performs on both platforms.
Buy one here: https://amzn.to/3GW50hZ
Continue reading “Review: 8BitDo Pro 2 Controller for Xbox”Review: KinHank’s “LaunchBox Hard Drive”
KinHank is now selling a loaded hard drive that supposedly will allow you to play emulated games directly on your Windows PC. How does this experience stack up?
Non-affiliate link: https://dada.link/VpAvae
Super Console X devices worth considering:
Super Console X King (EmuELEC): https://youtu.be/WzXyLdEP3Ec
Super Console X Mini PC (Batocera): https://youtu.be/Ay3XgIfHfAQ
or build your own:
EmuELEC Android box: https://youtu.be/pIAGCMmUBK8
Batocera Mini PC: https://youtu.be/w75xzbkuvnw
Review: AWOW CreaPlay E6 Monitor
A portable monitor can come in handy for many reasons — they make a nice and simple secondary monitor, and are great when traveling. But how do they perform as a companion for your retro gaming setup? Let’s find out.
AWOW CreaPlay E6 monitor
AWOW CreaPlay E8 monitor
Note that the monitors have 36-month warranty
RG552 Preliminary Review
Anbernic’s new flagship device is finally here — so is it worth the hefty sticker price? Let’s take a deep-dive into the device, its features, and its potential.
Buy one here
Updated Linux firmware image
100K Subscribers! Here’s what’s next.
Amazingly and unexpectedly, this little project has grown to 100,000 subscribers. Let’s talk about the future of this channel, and I’ll give away a bunch of stuff too.
Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/user/retro-game-corps
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/retrogamecorps
The 9 Handhelds to Consider in 2022
Let’s look at nine retro handheld gaming devices currently on the market or coming within the next few months, and which ones will give you the best value for your money.
Devices featured:
Anbernic RG552
PowKiddy X18S
Retroid Pocket 2+
AYN Odin
GPD XP
Steam Deck
Nintendo Switch Lite
PowKiddy X18S Firmware Upgrade (LineageOS, Android 11)
In this video I’ll show you how to upgrade the operating system on the PowKiddy X18S to the slim and stable LineageOS from Black Seraph. We’ll also test out emulation performance with this new OS running N64, PSP, Dreamcast, GameCube, PS2, and more.
PowKiddy X18S
Black Seraph’s Patreon
JimRPG’s GameCube settings
Taki Udon’s PS2 settings
Retro Game Corps 