Five years after My Arcade revealed the Super RetroChamp at CES 2020, the company has reintroduced it… again. The Super RetroChamp is a (fairly) portable device that allows you to play SNES games as well as Sega Genesis/Mega Drive games on the go. While not exactly pocket-sized, the Super RetroChamp is capable of playing original SNES and Sega Genesis/Mega Drive cartridges.
The Super RetroChamp is a fairly large, square handheld console with a 6-inch screen, a D-pad, four face buttons, and shoulder buttons—just as you might expect from a console designed to play SNES games. Compatibility with Sega’s 16-bit console is a pleasant surprise and an added bonus.
In 2020, the response from press and influencers to the RetroChamp (the NES and Famicom version of the device) was predominantly underwhelming, as the device lacked many of the qualities you might expect at that price point. After the initial batch of press units, the device seemed to disappear. Critics primarily pointed out issues with the screen, D-pad and cartridge ‘death grip’. It also had some puzzling design choices, such as the 16:9 widescreen setup, which made little sense for NES and Famicom games. Additionally, the HDMI output fell far short of the quality expected in 2020.
The initial specs and renders for the upgraded Super RetroChamp seem to address some of these earlier issues. For instance, the screen is now a 4:3 aspect ratio. At an estimated retail price of €/$149, we hope My Arcade has brought the specs in line with the current standards set by retro handhelds such as the Retro Pocket and the ModRetro Chromatic, both of which are in the same price range and offer significantly superior specifications compared to the original RetroChamp.
The feature list from the CES press release doesn’t reveal much in that regard. It would have been more helpful if My Arcade had immediately hinted at a quality boost instead of leaning on a “developed based on fan demand” undertone. We hope the Super RetroChamp meets current market standards; otherwise, it’s hard to see how it offers anything more than, say, a SupaBoy.
— From My Arcade press release—
Key Features Include:
- Multi-Cartridge Compatibility: Supports original SNES and SEGA Genesis cartridges. Also supports Super Famicom and Mega Drive cartridges.
- Built-in Display: Vibrant 6″ full-color screen
- TV Connectivity: HDMI® output for TV connection to enjoy classic games on the big screen.
- Portable Power: Built-in rechargeable battery for hours of uninterrupted gameplay.
- Fan-Inspired Revival: Developed in response to overwhelming fan demand
- Item Number: DGUN-3943
- Price: $149.99
