I review a few flash carts and reproduction games (ROM hacks) on this site, and often I don’t use the original hardware to test the carts, but instead I use a ‘clone console’. There is some misunderstanding as to the quality and presentation of ‘clone consoles’. While it is true that older clones, such as the ‘Scorpion’ (a Sega Megadrive clone system from the 90’s) were trying to pass themselves off as the real deal, modern clones from companies such as Hyperkin, Analogue, and Retro-Bit differentiate themselves by presenting as unique, cool, and practical alternatives to original hardware.…
Author: BongoBongo123
BongoBongo123 is an avid Zelda fan who also likes the odd game of Smash. His interests in gaming are broad but he loves a good Metroidvania or action RPGs.
Hex Gaming Ultimate PS5 Controller Review
Hex Gaming is becoming a more well-known name in the world of premium Xbox and PlayStation controllers. I’ve reviewed quite a few of their controllers on this site, and the controllers not only always look good, but they also perform in the top category of controllers for their respective systems. At the moment there is a lot of talk about Hall effect analogue sticks, with the Switch 2 not implementing Hall effect in their Switch 2 Joy Cons.…
HISPEEDIDO GBP IPS Kit (New Version) + GBP Battery Mod Review
There is a certain appeal to backlit Game Boys. They are stylish and cool (to some of us at least). Since the 90s, people have wished that they had the capacity to put a light on that screen so that they could play the Game Boy in their room at night. For many years, there have been options available to backlight your Game Boy.…
Hyperkin Retron 2 HD Gaming System Review
It has been over thirty years since the Super Nintendo was first released, and so much has changed since then in terms of the price and rarity of important electronic components that are used to build consoles. The graphical power of video game machines has also doubled many times over the last three decades. The phones that we carry in our pockets are many times more powerful than the NES, Super Nintendo, and Sega Megadrive.…
HEX Gaming Hyper PS4 Controller Review
Hex Gaming has a wide range of great PS5 and Xbox Series S/X controllers. However, they also have some great PS4 controllers available. As an older system, the PS4 has a wider range of games than the PS5, and people know the system a bit better than the PS5. Here, we review the PS4 Hyper controller.…
FX PAK Pro Everdrive Review
Flash carts are a good tool to use in order to play old, retro games. Some games have become very expensive and rare. It’s good for video game preservation that we can access ROMs to play rare games. Whole communities develop because of the love of retro games. One brand has grown to almost define flash carts.…
ExtremeRate Shells – Game Boy Color (Wood Grain) Review
The humble Game Boy Color is an 8-bit handheld console that was an upgrade to the DMG Game Boy and Game Boy Pocket. It was only slightly bigger than the Game Boy Pocket. Yet it ran on only two AA batteries, and with an original screen could boast impressive battery life. Back in the late 90’s the fact that the screen didn’t have a front light or a backlight was a minor annoyance.…
Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution Review
The first Shantae game was released in the final days of the Game Boy Color. It didn’t sell very well, and few copies were produced because it emerged late in the GBC’s lifespan. The next entry was the DSi game Shantae: Risky’s Revenge. That title refined the gameplay and did very well. A few years later, Shantae and the Pirates Curse was released on 3DS, which in my opinion is the pinnacle of the series.…
ExtremeRate Shells and Modding Adventures
I think that many of us who are interested in emulation and homebrew gaming are also interested in hardware modding. I don’t know how big the overlap is between these two hobbies, but I’d say it is about 50%. I’ve been modding consoles for the last five years. I’ve been playing games via emulation for over ten years.…
RetroSix CleanJuice Game Boy DMG USB-C Battery Pack Review
As every Game Boy prior to the Game Boy Light (and up to the GBA SP outside of Japan) had no backlight, the batteries didn’t have to power an illuminated screen which as you can imagine, sucks a lot of power. In 2025, we have many backlit options available for old Game Boys. This can mean that our batteries don’t last as long as they used to when combined with these screen kits.…