Review of Super Pocket: Taito + Capcom

Retro gaming is quite popular, which is testament to the pleasant nostalgia of going back to simpler times, even if dazzling visuals and intricate gameplay have their own appeal. These days, vintage gaming might be an expensive hobby, but Hyper Mega Tech's Super Pocket portable consoles aim to change that.

In this Super Pocket review, we examine the small Capcom and Taito portable gaming consoles, covering their design, functionality, selection of games, and compatibility with Evercade cartridges, so you can get a sense of these remarkable low-cost handhelds and decide if they're the right choice for your retro gaming needs.

Cost and accessibility

Edition Capcom: Edition Taito: The Taito and Capcom versions of the Super Pocket are available for $59/£49 apiece from a number of major vendors, including Amazon.Additionally, you may purchase extra Evercade cartridges to add even more classic games to your Super Pocket collection, including well-known titles from Namco, Atari, and other publishers. At $19.99/£17.99, each Evercade cartridge has an RRP of six to fifteen games.

Specifications

Design

I had the good fortune to get both the Taito and Capcom Super Pocket models, which have the identical design and just vary in terms of color (and, naturally, the games that come pre-installed). They are small, robust, and very portable, measuring only 5" long, 3" wide, and 1" deep. They have a retro-inspired, hefty plastic shell with a clean, simple design.While the Taito edition has an eye-catching black and turquoise color scheme, the Capcom version opts for a traditional yellow and blue color scheme that matches the corporate logo. With the Hyper Mega Tech emblem sandwiched between the buttons and the words "Capcom" or "Taito" imprinted boldly underneath the screen, these consoles make for excellent collector's pieces that would look wonderful both in your hand and on the shelf of any vintage gamer. Furthermore, they arrive in really cute packaging that would look fantastic on display.The conventional four input buttons (X, Y, B, and A) are included on the consoles, along with a function button, d-pad, start and select buttons, and four shoulder buttons and volume control on the back. A power button, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a USB-C charging port are located at the bottom of the console.The majority of the buttons have a pleasant tactile feel, and the console is made of high-quality materials. However, because of its compact size, the buttons are packed closely together. Because I have smaller hands, I don't immediately have a problem with this, but I did discover that using these consoles for extended periods of time caused some pressure on my outer wrists, and when my boyfriend tried using them, he had severe thumb cramping.Although not all games utilize them, this may not bother everyone. The arrangement also makes the rear shoulder buttons seem a little awkward to grasp. Furthermore, even if the D-pad is sensitive, not everyone will find the form and design to their liking. It may be pressed down like a button instead of having a central pivot, which isn't always perfect for some games, particularly if you like that rolling action.Apart from the pre-installed games, the Super Pocket may also be used with Evercade cartridges, which you can quickly and effortlessly slide into and take out of the slot in the rear. For a few dollars on Amazon, you can also get a Super Pocket case if you want to carry your console and cartridges with you but are concerned about keeping them secure.

Specifications and effectiveness

The Super Pocket Capcom Edition comes with a dozen in-built titles. They are as follows:

• Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting
• Strider
• Wolf of the Battlefield: MERCS
• 1942
• 1943: The Battle of Midway
• 1944: The Loop Master
• Bionic Commando
• Captain Commando
• Final Fight
• Forgotten Worlds
• Ghouls ‘n Ghosts
• Mega Man

In contrast, the Super Pocket Taito Edition includes the following 17 games:

• Bubble Bobble
• Cadash
• Chack’n Pop
• Don Doko Don
• Elevator Action
• Football Champ
• Growl
• KiKi KaiKai
• Liquid Kids
• Operation Wolf
• Puzzle Bobble
• Rastan
• Space Invaders
• Space Invaders ‘91
• The Fairyland Story
• The Legend of Kage
• The New Zealand Story
• Volfield

Additionally, an iREM Arcade 1 Evercade cartridge with six additional games (R-Type, Moon Patrol, Battle Chopper, In the Hunt, Lightning Swords, and 10-Yard Fight) was kindly provided by Hyper Mega Tech. It goes without saying that some of these games are more well-known than others, but each system and cartridge has an incredibly wide selection of games to choose from, so it's perfect for both reliving beloved games and trying out new ones.When the system boots up, you may choose from a visually appealing carousel of games or open the settings to customize the experience. With a few exceptions, like Space Invaders '91, the Super Pocket largely mimics the arcade versions of the games. However, it also has save slots and offers the option of choosing between normal difficulty for the "genuine arcade experience" or easy difficulty, where you quickly discover that "easy" is completely arbitrary and depends on the game.The panels are quite tiny, measuring just 2.8". Despite this, the displays are usually rather bright and vibrant. In order to combat this, the console provides the ability to alternate between full screen, pixel perfect, original ratio, and strong, subtle, or none at all for scanlines. You may adjust things a little with these extremely welcome (although predictable) enhancements; that being said, certain games are not as good on this tiny screen as they are. This is largely because certain titles seem a little scrunched and fuzzy because of the 320 x 240px size.Apart than that, the emulation is very outstanding, making it an excellent starting point for beginners or a convenient option for fans to play while they're on the road. The quality is unexpectedly nice (and loud!), the inputs are quick, and the ability to connect headphones is fantastic. Though I can't claim to have spent hundreds of hours playing every game available, there are several that suffer more than others (for instance, 1942 and 1943 don't look their best). Still, none of the games I have played are very "bad."Conclusion

Compact, stylish, and officially licensed, the Super Pocket consoles are a real pleasure. Even though they're far from ideal, they're still quite good for the money and a fun way to get started with vintage gaming or as a collectible for any fan of the era. They're inexpensive, cheery, and most importantly, entertaining, letting you have a whole gaming library in your pocket. Therefore, if you can get beyond the few issues, I can highly suggest them as a reasonably priced but specialized portable powerhouse.

Substitutes

Disappointed with the Super Pocket? Don't worry, there are many of alternative retro-fitting solutions available. These are some other deserving candidates that my PT friends and I have previously tried out for.

Pocket Analog

Aimed for aficionados, the Analogue Pocket is a similarly small vintage game system that accomplishes all of its goals. One of the best ways to play Game Boy games nowadays, it requires you to bring your own collection of Game Boy cartridges to the table, but you're not limited to built-in games and Evercade cartridges either. It boasts an exquisite screen, a luxurious feel, and a ton of features. Your primary concern these days is finding one at a fair price! For further information, see our Analogue Pocket review.

Date of Play

Alright, so this one is a bit strange, but the Playdate is a little handheld that is really unique. This lovely little device is a great little piece of equipment that can keep you delighted for hours on end and doubles as a collector's item thanks to its monochrome screen, simple design, and tiny little hand crank. Indeed, we refer to it as "the bright yellow embodiment of the joy of playing and indie gaming spirit" in our Playdate review.Of course, we also have a list of the best portable gaming consoles for you to browse, with a broad selection of alternatives likely to meet everyone's specific preferences, if you're searching for something that goes beyond the vintage gaming scene.That concludes our evaluation of the Super Pocket. Check out our listings of the best Switch games and the best mobile games if you'd like to play something newer. Check out our selections of the best phone controllers and best switch controllers for some unique accessories to add to your collection.