GBAtemp is proud to present a review of the Retro Entertainment System from Retro-bit. The RES is an 8-bit NES hardware "clone" packed into a tiny little box. With a high compatibility rate and Everdrive N8 compatibility, its $14.99 price point make it a console to consider. Take a moment to read over the review and then let us know what you think! If you own the RES, be sure to post your comments about the system.

Retro Entertainment System Review by Another World

 

[MhaiderR]

nice!!

 

[Jiro2]

This review isn't very good. It should state specifically how its limitations compare to those of other Famiclones.

 

[dmace81]

Its cheap and that's nice but it looks like if you dropped it it'd break into a million pieces unlike the tough nes

 

[osirisjem]

Its cheap and that's nice but it looks like if you dropped it it'd break into a million pieces unlike the tough nes

That.
And I'd be worried about pressing anything on the controller.
Might be your last press.

 

[Minox]

This review isn't very good. It should state specifically how its limitations compare to those of other Famiclones.

That would require copies of all those other clones though.

 

[Clydefrosch]

for 15 bucks, i guess it doesnt matter, but ... why do clones all come with that circle d-pad?

 

[sporkonomix]

for 15 bucks, i guess it doesnt matter, but ... why do clones all come with that circle d-pad?

It's probably related to patents. Nintendo patented the original Control Pad, which is why Sega, Sony, and Microsoft all use different "D-Pad" looks and functions.

 

[Adeka]

The price here is perfect.

I wonder if it can survive being stepped on a couple times.

 

[Another World]

This review isn't very good. It should state specifically how its limitations compare to those of other Famiclones.

this is a review of the RES, it is not a comparison and contrast piece about it versus other "clones". saying the entire review is "not good" because it did not meet your specific needs is ridiculous.

-another world

 

[enarky]

It's probably related to patents. Nintendo patented the original Control Pad, which is why Sega, Sony, and Microsoft all use different "D-Pad" looks and functions.

I don't think people who clone entire consoles care one bit about patent issues...

 

[Jiro2]

The NES was made long enough ago that all the patents have expired.

 

[ironmaster49]

Woah, some more nes clones/famiclones still being made. Well, i just use my ds for portable nes emulation and pc for normal or raspberry pi with nes case and a cathode ray tv for an authentic experience. This doesn't look very durable though, and does this run NES at full speed? i have a genesis clone that only runs at 50 percent speed. Does this emulate or is it a result of backwards engineering and this runs NES and famicom titles natively? But its a cheap little thing, at 15 usd

 

[Sliter]

wow it's cheaper than "Xplay" , an brazilian famiclone, that use the famicom cart patterns (maybe can play nes with an adaptator) but I don't know about quality, speed and compatibility, the controll port is like mega drive one and the controller ps1 looking with 6 buttons ( idk why don't just make a nes/famicon looking one, would be cheaper? hahah maybe just follow the mega drive pattern as well...). It was to come with a Gun/zapper but looks like they stopped because new TVs have different image patterns so it don't work (don't working there with this retro maybe could be your TV fault, not the nesclone xD) , I think they don't do packs with the gun anymore ... also it comes with " 101" games inside but I have no idea wich they are :v
I plan getting one someday, just waiting the prices down to R$50 or lower again :B but my real desire is for an real famicom XD
also here how it's look:

Foud the game list lol funny that don't have mario

Spoiler

1° 1942
2° 10 Yar fight
3° Alpha Mission
4° Antartic Adventure
5° Arabian
6° Akanoid
7° Army Tank
8° Ballon Fight
9° Baltron
10° Baseball
11° Binaryland
12° Bird Week
13° Mighty Bomb
14° Bomb
15° Bomber Man I
16° Bomber Man II
17° BrushRoller
18° Burgertime
19° B-Wings
20° Cassino
21° Chacknpop
22° Challenger
23° Champion
24° Chess
25° Chinese Chess
26° Circus
27° City Connection
28° Cluclu Land
29° Field Combat
30° Super Contra
31° Devil World
32° Dig Dug I
33° Dig Dug II
34° Snow Field Shoot
35° Dongkey Kong 1
36° Dongkey Kong 2
37° Dongkey Kong 3
38° Door Door
39° Lunar pool
40° Dough Boy
41° Dragon Fire
42° Elevetor
43° Excite Bike
44° Exed Exes
45° F1 Race
46° Mach Rider
47° Joust
48° Tenms
49° Flappy
50° Kyou
51° Soccer
52° Formation 2
53° Front Line
54° Ge Imos
55° Golf
56° Gyrodine
57° Hiper Olympic
58° Ice Climber
59° Ice Hockey
60° Volley Ball
61° Zippy Race
62° Karaki
63° Karateka
64° Kung Fu
65° Lode Runner I
66° Lode Runner II
67° Bokosuka Quest III
68° Super Dynamix
69° Volguard II
70° Valkyrie
71° Magmax
72° Nibbles
73° Magic Mathematics
74° Throw
75° Mappy
76° Dunk Hunt
77° Matching
78° Exerion
79° Nuts Milk
80° Milli Pede
81° Twin Bee
82° Ninja 3
83° Ninja Guider (Não será... NINJA GAIDEN?)
84° Othello
85° Russian Bricks
86° Pac Land
87° Pac Man
88° Pimball
89° Pooyan
90° Porter
91° Mouse Shooting
92° Pro Wrestling
93° Road Fighter
94° Shooting
95° Wars
96° Sky Destoryer
97° Slalon
98° Warpman
99° Space 2050
100° Sqoon
101° Star Force

 

[the_randomizer]

My only concern with these Famiclones is the quality of the emulation itself. My roommate got a clone a while back, not sure which one, but the audio emulation was absolute garbage compared to the real deal. How does the audio emulation accuracy fare in this? I knew how bad it was based off how SMB3 sounded.

 

[sporkonomix]

My only concern with these Famiclones is the quality of the emulation itself. My roommate got a clone a while back, not sure which one, but the audio emulation was absolute garbage compared to the real deal. How does the audio emulation accuracy fare in this? I knew how bad it was based off how SMB3 sounded.

Technically this isn't emulation. It's an attempt to create the same hardware, probably via reverse-engineering. SMB3 is a great test case for testing sound accuracy, since it uses a few advanced sounds that aren't found in a lot of other NES games.

 

[the_randomizer]

Technically this isn't emulation. It's an attempt to create the same hardware, probably via reverse-engineering. SMB3 is a great test case for testing sound accuracy, since it uses a few advanced sounds that aren't found in a lot of other NES games.

Er, that's what I meant lol, the famiclone I saw my roommate use had garbage sound, it didn't sound anywhere near how the real hardware or Nestopia sounded. Does this sound anywhere close to it?

 

[sporkonomix]

Er, that's what I meant lol, the famiclone I saw my roommate use had garbage sound, it didn't sound anywhere near how the real hardware or Nestopia sounded. Does this sound anywhere close to it?

Ah, okay, haha. I'm not sure about the RES. Maybe OP can chime in and comment about audio. I know if I was considering a machine like this, the audio needs to be perfect.

 

[osirisjem]

Maybe OP can chime in and comment about audio. I know if I was considering a machine like this, the audio needs to be perfect.

@Another World
OP: Maybe a YouTube video of the unit playing a game ?

I see there is a few

http://www.walmart.com/ip/RETRO-BIT-Top-Loader-8-Bit-NES-System-Black-and-Red-NES-N-A/21692829 (Not Available at this time)



sound quality not as good
Megaman 3 demo - 10:53
SMB 12:49

 

[Another World]

Ah, okay, haha. I'm not sure about the RES. Maybe OP can chime in and comment about audio. I know if I was considering a machine like this, the audio needs to be perfect.

the audio sounded fine to me. its not like i tested with software to check for latency issues or anything. it has the same missing FM channel for FDS games as the NES. i grew up on these games, this is my youth, and not once was i testing something and felt like "wow the audio is really off" or "something is wrong with the audio". one thing that continually pops-up related to sound and compatibility is the AC adapter. firstly, that video sounds fine to me I don't hear the "distortion" the person is talking about. secondly, i would require that person to test with another AC adapter and then on original hardware before believing anything.

with that said, if you have concerns you might consider contacting retro-bit directly.

https://www.facebook.com/Retrobitgaming
info @ retro-bit.com

-another world