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ModRetro Chromatic - Transparent Impressions

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Hot on the heels of the M64, ModRetro is back with another product: the Chromatic - Transparent, which releases today. As its name suggests, it is a new variant of the excellent Chromatic, this time sporting a transparent shell.

Indeed, this new Game Boy Color remake is pretty much the same as ModRetro’s first product, with the same FPGA-based architecture, button layout, custom 160x144 backlit display, cartridge compatibility and built-in menu with upgradeable firmware. The key difference here is the transparent body. The clear shell fuels the Chromatic’s nostalgic appeal, and the colourways (Smoke, Green, Purple, Red) match the M64’s. This new aesthetic lets you see the device’s innards, with a shade of the shell’s tint. It’s a thing of beauty!

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While the material is plastic, it does not feel cheap at all. True to ModRetro’s standards, the Chromatic - Transparent is a sturdily built console, though it doesn't pack the tank-like build of the first version's magnesium alloy shell. That said, it has no rattling or rough edges; the device feels comfortable to use. The buttons also follow the original device’s quality, although I felt them stiffer, likely due to them being new.

As a Game Boy Color remake, the Chromatic - Transparent plays original as well as third-party cartridges without any issues. ModRetro has also been publishing new cartridges, including the newly-released Earthworm Jim. But you can enjoy the handheld right out of the package, as every unit ships with a transparent version of the new ModRetro-published Tetris cartridge.

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Since ModRetro launched the original Chromatic in 2024, the company has released an ecosystem of accessories that Chromatic - Transparent users can already benefit from. This includes the Rechargeable Power Core, Link Cable and retro-themed wired Porta Pro headsets.

In addition to the new look, another appealing factor of the Chromatic - Transparent is the pricing. It costs $149.99 via the official store page, making it the cheapest version of the Chromatic. The Chromatic - Transparent is a well-designed and well-built Game Boy Color remake and addresses the missing nostalgic clear shell variant that I noted in my review of the original Chromatic.

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The Chromatic - Transparent is one of the best ways to experience Game Boy Colour games, and is now made more affordable and more nostalgic; provided you are okay with ModRetro’s ties with defence contractor Anduril - at least, this model isn’t explicitly Anduril-themed…

For a deeper look at what the Chromatic has to offer, be sure to take a look at our full review of the handheld here.


Disclaimer requested by Modretro: Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Game Boy, and the 2-dimensional shape of the Game Boy console are registered trademarks owned by Nintendo of America, Inc. Nintendo is not affiliated with ModRetro, nor does Nintendo sponsor, approve of, or endorse ModRetro.
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total cost in europe is a joke, sorry but i rather buy and mod a gbc i wont pay 210e for such old hardware
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SapphireLabs said:
I might buy one of these, but I can't really see a reason compared to my phone other than "it looks cool".

*Edit
Looked into it, not supporting an Israeli supporting company. Fuck Israel, and anyone who aligns themselves with the genocidaire.
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politics have no place in gaming , each is entitled to his opinion. Living in a country near all those muslim countries and having muslim refuges coming over while same religion countries are near them make me a little sceptical of what and why is occuring...
 
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A failed design, this shiny transparent plastic shell easily gets scratches, fingerprints, and smudges.
Or maybe people who buy this product don't actually use it.
 
dragonmaster said:
total cost in europe is a joke, sorry but i rather buy and mod a gbc i wont pay 210e for such old hardware
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politics have no place in gaming , each is entitled to his opinion. Living in a country near all those muslim countries and having muslim refuges coming over while same religion countries are near them make me a little sceptical of what and why is occuring...
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Politics have no space if the company didn't work with Anduril so it's clear that modretro has a strong politics identity so it's right boycott it
 
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dragonmaster said:
politics have no place in gaming , each is entitled to his opinion.
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I mean, people should be interested in where their money is going. Buying a Gameboy clone shouldn’t come with a side of supporting a genocide
Personally, I am just going to stick with my Steam Deck and 3DS for my GB(C) needs. I really can’t afford this product and also don’t care to put money aside for it
 
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The Catboy said:
I mean, people should be interested in where their money is going. Buying a Gameboy clone shouldn’t come with a side of supporting a genocide
Personally, I am just going to stick with my Steam Deck and 3DS for my GB(C) needs. I really can’t afford this product and also don’t care to put money aside for it
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Unfortunately, your only other option is to buy from China, so if you buy a Gameboy clone you're guaranteed to be supporting genocide.
 
ChaosEternal said:
Unfortunately, your only other option is to buy from China, so if you buy a Gameboy clone you're guaranteed to be supporting genocide.
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My phone can emulate every GBC/GBA game directly, and I can always make a Retropi with one of those cheap TFT screens.

No one is forcing your hand to buy this product or others like it.
 
SapphireLabs said:
My phone can emulate every GBC/GBA game directly, and I can always make a Retropi with one of those cheap TFT screens.

No one is forcing your hand to buy this product or others like it.
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I don't disagree with you overall point, but I was talking specifically about clone consoles. Software emulation is a different category entirely.
 
It looks pretty.
I might have preferred it frosted. This allows you to see the insides more clearly, but it's less authentic to the original and it's bound to pick up fingerprints and scratches like a motherfucker. The matte frosted finish of the original was so durable and this will probably look scratched to hell after a year or two unless you really baby it.
 
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ChaosEternal said:
I don't disagree with you overall point, but I was talking specifically about clone consoles. Software emulation is a different category entirely.
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Ah. I took it as you made a binary choice between the relevant options.

The FPGAs are open source last I looked, so people could still make this by sending the files over to a fab lab or a local hackerspace that has a chip foundry.
 
Lostbhoy said:
No more politics talk... Keep it on topic guys.

Friendly warning...
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Is it really possible to do that? Even if ModRetro and Anduril are legally separate entities, the fact they collaborate means there is a strong political dimension to this.

Otherwise, it becomes the elephant in the room.
 
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emigre said:
Is it really possible to do that? Even if ModRetro and Anduril are legally separate entities, the fact they collaborate means there is a strong political dimension to this.

Otherwise, it becomes the elephant in the room.
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The thread is about a product, not who is making it specifically. If people want to moan about that, they can create a new thread to do so, otherwise it's off topic in here.
 
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emigre said:
Is it really possible to do that? Even if ModRetro and Anduril are legally separate entities, the fact they collaborate means there is a strong political dimension to this.

Otherwise, it becomes the elephant in the room.
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yes, it is in fact possible to stfu about politics in a thread on a gaming forum about a gaming product

the politics subforum was a mistake
 
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SapphireLabs said:
Ah. I took it as you made a binary choice between the relevant options.

The FPGAs are open source last I looked, so people could still make this by sending the files over to a fab lab or a local hackerspace that has a chip foundry.
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I mean this, like all Modretro products is actually derived from the MiSTer FPGA project, notably the GBC core. That said new things are coming down the pipeline, several MiSTer handhelds that can run all cores on that platform are coming. If our friend here hates supporting chinese manufacturing(reasonable) the alternative would be to wait on the new product from the guys who made the MiSTer MultiSystem 2. They're creating a new handheld called the MiSTer MultiSystem 2 Pocket or the MM2P. It's been stated to be made in collaberation with the british fab Heber LTD and with close invovement with The Retro Collective, a british gaming museum, just like the original MiSTer Multisystem 2 in home console format. It looks to be a promising option for those who want something made in the west but not by Modretro.
 
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Daggot said:
I mean this, like all Modretro products is actually derived from the MiSTer FPGA project, notably the GBC core. That said new things are coming down the pipeline, several MiSTer handhelds that can run all cores on that platform are coming. If our friend here hates supporting chinese manufacturing(reasonable) the alternative would be to wait on the new product from the guys who made the MiSTer MultiSystem 2. They're creating a new handheld called the MiSTer MultiSystem 2 Pocket or the MM2P. It's been stated to be made in collaberation with the british fab Heber LTD and with close invovement with The Retro Collective, a british gaming museum, just like the original MiSTer Multisystem 2 in home console format. It looks to be a promising option for those who want something made in the west but not by Modretro.
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Ooo, that's really cool! Somehow that slipped under my radar. I've been thinking about building a MiSTer for a while, but maybe I'll just grab one of those.
 

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