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While today's game makers make games with ray-traced rendering, blockchain technology, and ultra-short load times, analogue, a manufacturer of retro gaming hardware, is still stuck in history. A few days ago, the high-end manufacturer has made sufficient efforts to launch a new version of the handheld for the "mainstay" of ancient games.
The Analogue Pocket is brilliantly designed to be the new standard for high-end gaming handhelds. Best of all, this machine runs genuine cartridge games, so it's completely legal.
The device features a 3.5-inch LCD display, adjustable size and display modes, hdMI interface, Nanoloop Pop Creation Kit, and even the GB Studio game engine. Best of all, it works with the original Game Boy, GBC, and GBA cartridges. In addition, compatible Sega Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket, Atari Lynx and TurboGrafx-16 cartridge adapters are also scheduled to be available in 2022 for $29.99 each.
screen
What is the most important thing about handhelds? The game library is number one, and the screen must be second. The Analogue Pocket features a 3.5-inch LCD display with a resolution of up to 1600x1440, the highest resolution I've ever seen in a handheld of its kind. Its colors are also vivid and rich, and the contrast is very high, compared to the IPS display commonly used by the magic grid GB handheld, the effect is even worse. In addition, the screen features strong, fall-resistant Gorilla Glass and is equipped with a multi-stop refresh rate to avoid tearing in the game.
The machine has a variety of image modes, which reproduce the visual effects of the Nintendo handheld in the original way, even the LCD and sub-pixel patterns are no exception. If you're interested, compare the DMG files with the image profiles of the Analogue Pocket and Game Boy Light, which faithfully reproduces the iconic green tones and pixel grid layout of the original hardware. Of course, if players find it more desirable to be clean and concise, they can also use Analogue's custom profile. When color mode is not actively turned on, the console defaults to a black-and-white image, but it is still gorgeous. Analogue also gives players the freedom to adjust colors, frames, sharpness, saturation, and even image position and size, but I'm mostly playing with default settings.
Playing on analogue pocket is a visual treat. I even change cartridges frequently, just to see how well the quality of the title interface improves.
Handheld experience
The analogue pocket looks familiar, the same as Gameboy's classic look, but there are still small improvements. In addition to the cross keys and the shoulder keys on both sides of the cassette slot, four buttons have been added. Between the Start and Select keys, the unit also adds an original OS button that can be used to adjust the operating system's menus and navigation options. In addition, the accessibility features of the game console also allow players to map these buttons to other buttons to their liking, which is very convenient.
The power button is a light green color scheme, and pressing it can also turn sleep mode on or off. With just one tap, you can continue the game directly from the interface where the last game ended, and the flexible saving function greatly improves the playing experience of ancient game consoles. The built-in 4300mAh rechargeable battery can support 6-10 hours of game life on a single charge. Players can use the Analogue Dock to charge, or they can use a normal type-c charging cable. I used my MacBook Pro as a power bank to make it easy to play anytime on the go.
Admittedly, Analogue Pocket can give players a great gaming experience, but it's by no means perfect. For example, even if the player uses a deck that is clean and fully adapted on the model, a white screen error will occur after replacing the cartridge. This is an easy solution to the problem by simply restarting the machine, but I hope Analogue can fix this problem in future framework updates.
Moreover, although the name of the machine is Analogue Pocket, with a "pocket" in the name, it cannot be placed in the pocket of a normal-sized pants. That's why I recommend purchasing the Pocket Hard Case case. Although it is just two plastic shells that can be locked together, it is very simple, but it does prevent the game console from having wear and tear problems on the go. However, if the machine is equipped with a Game Gear adapter, it will not be able to put in the protective case, only the bare metal can be put in the backpack.
Dock experience
The success of the Switch tells us that a handheld that gives players a variety of choices is a good handheld. Analogue was also smart enough to recognize this and handed over its answer sheet. When purchasing a handheld, players have the option to purchase a docking station with a companion, which allows them to connect to a TV or monitor via HDMI. And the dock can be easily adapted to collectors and streaming software, so this dock is a must-buy for game video creators or retro gaming enthusiasts.
Of course, players who prefer to play handhelds during fragmented time on the road can easily ignore this peripheral.
Playing Game Boy games on the big screen is novel, but there are still some features missing in this machine, which makes me a little disappointed. For example, the display mode switching function of this unit is limited to handheld mode, and there are only a few types of handles that the dock can be compatible with. The official website only lists the five compatible controllers mentioned below, and I used the Xbox Wireless Adapter to connect to the Xbox Series X controller, but it failed. Fortunately, my NS Pro handle works properly after being connected. With this experience, I hope that the machine can open up more gamepad adaptation functions in the future.
GB Studio: Endless possibilities
Perhaps the most exciting thing about Analogue Pocket is the support for GB Studio software features. GB Studio is a drag-and-drop retro game engine that allows indie game developers to easily create games. Software developers have opened up support for Analogue Pocket on Itch.io. However, popular indie games like Three Days of Death and The Land of the Possum can't yet run on Analogue Pocket, as creators haven't yet released a native-supported file type (i.e. .pocket).
Of course, if the game downloads with its own GB Studio project files like Gurb's Adventure and Pushingo, players can also create their own .pocket files. However, it is also important to note that the .pocket files you make yourself can still go wrong, but it is also fun to try out the knife yourself before the official developers announce the official version.
In addition, Analogue Pocket will recognize GB Studio's games as official Game Boy games, so players can switch the game to show mode and see how contemporary retro games will really work on the ancient hardware of the 90s. This gameplay really pokes me.
Make music with Nanoloop
Nanoloop is a popular music production software designed for game consoles that has been widely used to make various chip music since the beginning of this century. Analogue Pocket comes with this software on sale. At first glance, music production may not be approachable enough, but in fact, people with a little experience with a digital audio workstation or MIDI sequencer can easily understand the functional layout of the software operation interface.
Although the learning curve of the software may be steep, I learned to make music with reference to the digital manual and achieved good results. This sequencer has only four tracks (the more restrictive it is, the more creative it is), and I personally like to start by prioritizing the sound. Nanoloop's synth, classical, and noise tracks are intertwined to provide a satisfying sound. Even for beginners who are interested in making music, it's nice to get started with Nanoloop. And Analogue Pocket can come with its own software, which is really gratifying.
Summary: A
Analogue Pocket is the dream of many game collectors. Whether you are a novice beginner or an old collector with many achievements, this handheld machine can inject new vitality into your collection. Although slightly inadequate, the Analogue Pocket offers unparalleled convenience to players who want to play games as diverse as Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and Game Gear.
Translated | Brexit Adjutant
Edit | Tonkaku Ramen
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