My kids each got one model of the Super Pocket retro handheld gaming system for Christmas – and they love them.
Which is surprising, really. After all, games have moved on. A quick load of an Xbox, Switch or PS5 will tell you that. Or just turn on your phone. There are games on Apple Arcade that would have you staring in stunned silence if you’d seen them just a few years back. So why are we interested in old games with modest graphics?
Because, in an era of modest graphics, gameplay was all important. And that really doesn’t age. Yes, nostalgia is a big selling point, too. We all like to remember the games of our childhood. But that only gets you so far. If it isn’t fun to play, it doesn’t get played.
There have been plenty of outlets for retro gaming in the past, but the Super Pocket is up there with any of them. Affordable, pocket-sized and with the option to boost your retro gaming collection whenever your budget allows.
That’s because you can buy specific editions of the handheld with included games – but these mini-gaming machines are also compatible with the Evercade retro gaming system. So you can buy extra cartridges with ‘new’ games whenever you want.
But to start you off, you get a choice of the Super Pocket Taito Edition or the Super Pocket Capcom Edition. The first of those has 17 built-in arcade classics, including Operation Wolf, Bubble Bobble, and, of course, Taito’s timeless and iconic Space Invaders.
Alternatively, you can opt for the Super Pocket Capcom Edition, which has 12 games, including Street Fighter II, Ghouls ‘n Ghosts and Final Fight, and Mega Man.
Both machines have a 320×280 pixel IPS screen, the option to charge via USB-C, and a 3.5mm jack for your wired headphones. As I said, plenty of cartridges are available, too, which you can browse here.
But if you want the machines, you can buy those at Amazon, selling for £49.99 each.
