Update: 21st October 2022
I've enjoyed the pocket for some time, but with the orders now open for the subsequent adaptors - 3 for $99.99, I was stunned at the shipping cost of $59.98. I work closely with international logistics, and there's absolutely no justification for shipping this high on three items that are barely any bigger collectively than a tape cassette. Subsequently, be warned that any additional add-ons for this unit will be up to 60% more expensive than advertised, and subsequently I can't recommend the unit on that basis.
The original review:
Analogue's latest retro project came to my attention when it adorned the cover of Future's Retro Gaming magazine many, many months ago. Constant supply chain delays caused by Covid meant that the machine shipped well past the original release date, landing on doorsteps just in time for Christmas. Having already received rave reviews by outlets lucky enough to get advanced units (such as Forbes) it was clear that the machine was worth the wait. So much so that they're now appearing on Ebay for upwards of £750 to tempt those that can't wait for the 3 following batches. Anyone wanting a Pocket from Analogue now will be waiting until as late as 2023.
Happily I got mine in the first wave, and I can tell you that the Analogue Pocket is everything the developers promised. Utilising the traditional Game Boy portrait layout, the console is nonetheless a masterclass in modernising classic design. The screen sits behind gorilla-glass, all sharp edges and slightly raised from the body. The controls include a solid D-Pad, 4 face buttons (to allow for further console emulation with upcoming cartridge adaptors) and two shoulder buttons around the back in a terrific bit of technical layout - they sit level with the cartridge slot and are comfortable to use.
3 more rounded buttons sit in a line across the bottom, all serving varying functions depending on the situation. The one you'll be using most is the central button in combination with the D-Pad - this changes the display style.
Herein lies one of the greatest utilities of the hardware - it's capable of displaying classic Game Boy games in numerous styles, emulating the traditional green LCD screen, to the slightly more neutral greys of the Game Boy Pocket, backlit Game Boy Light and even a "Contrast" mode which drops the emulated pixels for a black and white monochrome. Lastly there's a red and black mode ("Pinball Neon Matrix") which is a novelty, but a bit ugly.
As someone who has been rocking a Game Boy Pocket (in Japanese-exclusive original Game Boy colours, because I'm a hipster like that) for the last few years, that's the display I tend to favour, but it's nice that I can mix things up when I fancy a change. The system also features a few modern twists, such as being able to save the state of the game and put the console into hibernation, certainly a boon when it comes to harder games with no password features!
A smart and timeless design
In-hand, it feels rock-solid and very premium. This is my first run with one of Analogue's products, and if it's any indication, I can understand why the company has a reputation for pedigree products. It's the kind of rich-man's plaything you'd expect to see lying around Bobby Axelrod's apartment in Billions, or entertaining one of the Roy siblings in Succession.
It's important to note that the console is not emulating the games - you must use a cartridge - but instead it's emulating the hardware using FPGA (Frame Programable Gate Arrays). This means that the games run perfectly - no glitches or lag (that isn't inherent to the original cart anyway) providing an experience that's as close to the original hardware as humanly possible. Out of the box the system can use Game Boy, Game Boy Colour and Game Boy Advance cartridges. An adaptor is available for Game Gear, with Atari Lynx, Turbo GrafX and Neo Geo Pocket to follow. I have a substantial Atari Lynx & Neo Geo Pocket cartridge collection, so that's certainly on my shopping list when the time comes (Electro Cop should look gorgeous on this screen!)
The system also features a great deal of options for MIDI composers, though at present that's not a medium I have any expertise in, but by all accounts it's a well-executed feature for those that want to get creative.
The low initial production run and limited exposure online (I'd have certainly missed it had it not been for Retro Gamer) means that many won't be able to enjoy this beautiful feat of engineering for some time, but if retro-handheld gaming is of any interest to you, the system is currently up for pre-order on Analogue's website.
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