Is RetroArch too confusing to use?

[SolidSonicTH]

What's your opinion?

I feel like some aspects of it are too unintuitive for something that's supposed to act as a frontend. Particularly I am not fond of its controller configuration methodology. I sort of understand why it was done like that but it's also simply not necessary and adds too much complexity to the process.

It also has features that feel like they're only there because they could have it rather than trying to address things a user might be looking for in a frontend.

 

[Kwyjor]

Last time I took a look at it I indeed had no idea what was going on and have not tried again since. I feel the same way about XBMC/Kodi.

But people really seem to like them, so perhaps it's a matter of patience.

 

[xbmcuser]

Yes i think so, Its many ideas, a typical tool designed to do too many things under one user interface.

It is wort bearing with you will pick it up as its very powerful, feature rich and general

steep learning curve but worth it.

follow guides on youtube

 

[Kioku]

No more confusing than turning on a computer and configuring your favorite application. The problem lies within the UI and how there’s too many options. They’re easy enough to configure. However, since there’s so many, it can be daunting to those just starting to use it.

 

[SolidSonicTH]

No more confusing than turning on a computer and configuring your favorite application. The problem lies within the UI and how there’s too many options. They’re easy enough to configure. However, since there’s so many, it can be daunting to those just starting to use it.

Maybe a better question to ask would be is it worth going through the effort of learning it rather than just finding emulators for each individual system you want to emulate without a frontend.

 

[Reploid]

Fine here.

 

[Kwyjor]

Maybe a better question to ask would be is it worth going through the effort of learning it rather than just finding emulators for each individual system you want to emulate without a frontend.

That depends entirely on how many emulators you want – and more importantly, on whether you'll actually use them.

One major feature of Retroarch these days is its auto-translate functionality; you're unlikely to find something similar in separate emulators.

 

[Jayinem]

I mean just about every emulator Retroarch uses has a standalone version so no you don't have to use Retroarch at all but if you want all of your emulators in one place you could use it. I actually use Retroarch in Launchbox frontend all my games both PC and emulator games I launch through Launchbox. I'm very happy with it I can add my own image to each game. I've got around 1,000 games total.

But Retroarch isn't all that hard to use if you need help with something specific just ask or Google it.

 

[lightwo]

I haven't used it extensively, but I think of it as a decent solution to play on emulators for various systems before someone makes a standalone emulator for a certain platform. In general, I think the idea that the frontend and cores are completely separate is what makes it so great, because all a developer needs to do is to make the emulator itself, and it will work on various systems with no further action.

Is it intuitive? No. Can you get started in mere minutes with a good guide/video? Yes!

Beyond the initial hurdle, I feel like it doesn't differ from standalone emulators. If anything, having a consistent interface for everything should make it easier.

 

[Jayinem]

Instead of asking it's better to just download it get some roms and try it. Yes certain emulators need bios certain settings etc.. you just take it one step at a time but even if it was standalone you'd need to do these things anyway.

 

[emigre]

I would suggest this video from Retro Game Crops



I would say it can overwhelming to use at first and I say that as someone with a PHD in retroarch.

 

[Skv0ra]

Yes i think so, Its many ideas, a typical tool designed to do too many things under one user interface.

It is wort bearing with you will pick it up as its very powerful, feature rich and general

steep learning curve but worth it.

follow guides on youtube

No more confusing than turning on a computer and configuring your favorite application. The problem lies within the UI and how there’s too many options. They’re easy enough to configure. However, since there’s so many, it can be daunting to those just starting to use it.

It's like Steam in reverse - where TF are my games scattered, why aren't folders labeled clearly, and why can't a game just launch without raising the goddamn launcher every single goddamn time...

 

[Lostbhoy]

Agree with a lot of the above but the most important word said was patience.

Spend a day just going through all the options, you'll see most of them you dont need or won't touch and other you'll discover where they live when you need them And trust me, it's not a lot. Most of the config is fine tuning the ui to your liking.

Learn how to create a playlist and add all the art thumbnails your pretty much good to go. I prefer to add my own images to playlists which is super easy as the updater thing doesn't always get your games especially if ROM hacks on my experience anyway.

 

[Skv0ra]

Agree with a lot of the above but the most important word said was patience.

Spend a day just going through all the options, you'll see most of them you dont need or won't touch and other you'll discover where they live when you need them And trust me, it's not a lot. Most of the config is fine tuning the ui to your liking.

Learn how to create a playlist and add all the art thumbnails your pretty much good to go. I prefer to add my own images to playlists which is super easy as the updater thing doesn't always get your games especially if ROM hacks on my experience anyway.

So, makes me wonder - is Arch a better overall vs good-old individual emus in their own folders with settings and knowing what you want to play vs just having a dump of roms in one screen?

 

[M7L7NK7]

If you put in the effort to learn what you need then it's worth it

 

[Jayinem]

Occasionally there's a benefit to Retroarch vs. standalone I couldn't get NeoGeo Battle Coliseum arcade rom to work on standalone Flycast but it works on Retroarch Flycast and yes I had the atomiswave bios on both.

 

[Lostbhoy]

So, makes me wonder - is Arch a better overall vs good-old individual emus in their own folders with settings and knowing what you want to play vs just having a dump of roms in one screen?

Personal preference I guess. The way i see it, it's a one stop shop compared to an app drawer or menu filled with many. One click, your in your games library all niceley layed out but i do understand people may want the opposite and certain perks that may come with stand alone emus.

 

[RAHelllord]

If you'd like to dip your toes into RetroArch, without having to interact with RetroArch and it's asinine default settings directly, then I recommend checking out RetroBat.

It's basically a preconfigured frontend for emulation station, which in turn sets up RetroArch for whatever game you want to play.
They follow a plug and play approach with a nice, fully gamepad compatible interface, which then launches your game with some nice shaders and bezels to make it look fancy. The wiki they have also has good guides on how to set it up and use it, and people have made some easy to download bios packs for it, too, so all you have to supply beyond that are your game roms.

 

[Tipi]

What's your opinion?

I hate it. It's confusing and frustrating, a true UX nightmare. I just couldn't learn to like it though I tried.

Thus it was back to individual emulators for me.

 

[tomberyx]

RetroArche is an ingenious app with many features that brings almost all consoles under one roof.

My personal opinion:
I don't use it, and I don't know why. I think I feel lost in the settings.

Before I write a novel, I'll give a quick example.

Duckstation has great settings my fav is fast forward and save state functions.
Very easy to use.

Somehow, I can't get Retro to work for me like Duckstation and many other consoles do.

I think Retro's menu functions are just too much and confusing.

That's why I stick with standalone emus.

I'm complaining on a high level
Actually, we should all be glad that there are people who provide such things for us for free, thanks