The Hyperkin RetroN SQ

[retro junkie]

This is not how you launch a product. I mean right out of the box the GBA emulation is broken. If you don't know, this is a new console that is designed to play Original Gameboy, Gameboy Color, and Gameboy Advance games. Hyperkin has already proven that they can do GBA emulation on the RetroN 5. The RetroN SQ is built around the same concept technology using RetroArch for the firmware. And RetroArch has proven that it is more than capable in producing excellent GBA emulation. Right out of the box, available only because of bad reviews and complaints, I had to flash the firmware fix from the Hyperkin site. Then I had to go to youtube for RoXolid's fix for the frame skip issue. After those flashes, perfect GBA emulation. The console only plays game carts, so you would need to have a collection of the game carts to even have an interest? Obviously this is not built for the casual gamer. I mean how many people would actually seek this out unless they were into retro gaming. And then it would be questionable if anyone had a desire to play games designed to run on 2 to 3 inch screens to finally be able to play them on their 32" plus flatscreens? Blockiness of the situation would be normal due to the nature of the beast.
I have a nice big collection of the old original gray carts, a smattering of the color, and a small bunch of GBA. There was a blurriness, a smoothing effect, to the games until the firmware updates. Now everything is sharp which emphasizes the blockiness of the gaming graphics. The update also reduced the game load times, 2 to 3 minutes now, depends on the game, it could take longer, because it does download your games into the console for play. Some gamers have an issue with that. If you can get over the blocky pixelated graphics, it is not a bad console. But it does lose something when you go from the GBA screen to the HDMI screen. They were never meant to be played on the big screen. For example, I'd rather play Street Fighter alpha 3 on my GBSP. Sakura's image is so much more appealing, and likable. Apparently the GBSP screen does the same thing as if you had scan lines? Some RPGs look better than others on the big screen.
My only dislike is the powercord change. All of their consoles, till now, used the same thing, something like a micro usb. Why the change. The connection on the console is the same as the Switch lite, type-C.
The controller is good and responsive, no issues. Has a ten foot long cord, no complaints there.
It will not play multi carts, but it will load repro carts. It will play the carts that have two games on it, like Castlevania double pack, but took forever to load, just be aware that it might be 6 minutes, or more, of wait time.
What do I think about this? It is a niche market item. This is not for everyone. I like it for the novelty. Good to have in my collection of clone consoles. How much time will I spend playing games on this? Will it be often? Only time will tell as I sit down and gain some type of affection for the platform. Will you like it? Not sure, depends on who you are and what your taste is in gaming.

[Grindspine]

I have several old GBA games that I would like to revisit, but do not because I would prefer to play them on an actual console and screen.  I may have to look into this one if you have it working stable now.

[retro junkie]

@Grindspine many of the RPGs look good, just depends on whether or not they spent time detailing the character sprites. Here is Lunar for the GBA on my 32" flatscreen.



Castlevania looks good.

The updates made all the difference. GBA games now play as they do on the original console.

[BLUEVOODU]

This looks like a really solid product now.  Your screenshot looks great too @retro junkie   So the update fixed all your previous issues?  This plays all Game Boy Advance, Color, and original Game Boy games?  Any other tricks up the sleeve?   I might be down as I have a lot of old GBA stuff that I would love to replay.  I have my old GBA SP that... was a really cool handheld console.  The age really shows in the screen (in my opinion).  I still dig it though.

[retro junkie]

@BLUEVOODU the system is just basic with no added features. I am hoping for some future firmware update that would add things like choice of scan lines, for example. Scan lines would be a big help for the graphics of some games. I am in the process of testing my game library. So far I have found that the Gameboy Camera does not work. I am not devastated. I have a larger library of grey carts over the GBC. And a good library of GBA.

[retro junkie]

Hyperkin has updated the firmware with the latest release of 1.2. This is what should have been on the console at its release date. Very good for the GBA. Thumbs up on this one. If only now they would update it to give us some features to choose from in some sort of menu. That would be the icing on the cake.
I have been going through my GB and GBC library. The biggest issue that I have ran into it dirty pins.

[BLUEVOODU]

How does (would) the Game Boy camera with with this?  just curious

lol - keep your dirty pins to yourself!  I kid.  Dirty connectors are problem for many devices for sure.

[retro junkie]

I cannot get the Gameboy camera to work. Just a white screen. If I could it would be pointed right at me. But no great loss.