Hyperkin MegaRetroN HD

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What Hyperkin say

Flip that hat backwards and pull up those baggy pants, dude. The 90s are back with the Hyperkin MegaRetroN HD, a premium retro console that plays Genesis (US)/Mega Drive (outside the US)cartridges in brilliant 720p HD. It includes one (1) premium, classic-style”Squire” controller, a 3 ft. HD cable (supports 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratio), and a 6 ft. Micro cable. You can even play via AV with the provided AVcable. Relive your childhood the right way, with the only powerhouse that can handle these 16-bit masterpieces in the modern age.

https://www.hyperkin.com/megaretron-hd-gaming-console-for-genesis-mega-drive-hyperkin.html

Introduction

Retro consoles are a huge hit at the moment, and whilst the majority have a set number of games built into the system using emulation software, the MegaRetroN HD is different in the fact that you need to have the original game cartridges in order to play.

The 90s are back with theHyperkin MegaRetroN HD, a premium retro console that plays Genesis (US)/MegaDrive (outside US) cartridges in brilliant 720p HD.

Product Features

• HD audio and video (720p)
• Compatible with NTSC AND PAL Genesis/Mega Drive cartridges (via bottom case switch), as well as original controllers
• Hyperkin-engineered Perfect Pin™ (Patent Pending) technology sets a new standard for state-of-the-art, high-quality pin connectors
• 16:9/4:3 Aspect Ratio Switch
• One (1) “Squire” premium classic-style controller (10 ft. cable)
• 3 ft. HD cable
• 6 ft. Micro cable with USB AC adapter*
• Also includes AV ports with AV cable
• *If AC adapter is not included, we strongly advise you use a 5 Volt 1 Amp USB wall AC adapter.

Product Design

The MegaRetroN HD is a smart looking product. It fits in the palm of your hand and has similar design features to the Original Mega Drive. I particularly liked the Hyperkin logo glowing in blue when powered on, and I also liked the angled edges on the casing.

Set-up

The MegaRetroN HD is simple to set-up and gets you into the game quickly. Plug in the HDMI cable, power lead and controller, and you’re good to go. A micro-USB powers it, mine didn’t come with a power adapter but I was able to use an iPhone adapter with the micro USB lead, and it worked fine. If you don’t have an HDMI port available, you can use the RCA lead instead.

Gaming

So, how does the MegaRetroN perform the task it was designed to do? The answer is quite superbly! Within seconds, the familiar “SEGA” jingle was playing, and I was into the games. Of course, using the original cartridges means that a lot of games don’t have the save feature which modern gamers are used to. However, a quick Google search will allow you access to passwords which will get you to the level select screens.

I played the Original Sonic the Hedgehog, Ms Pac-Man, The Aquatic Games, RoadBlasters and Speedball 2 – Brutal Deluxe. As you can see from the picture, some were MEGA DRIVE games, and the others were SEGA GENESIS. This isn’t an issue for the MegaRetroN however, as a flick of the switch on the bottom of the console will switch it between NTSC-U, NTSC-J and PAL. There’s also an option to change the aspect ratio from 16:9 to 4:3.

The Controller

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The controller is based on the classic Mega Drive controller, and as soon as you feel it in your hands, gaming memories of the past come flooding back. I was transported to Sunday afternoons in my early childhood playing the original Sonic the Hedgehog. It’s light, comfortable and responsive. It’s a wired controller. However, the lead is plenty long enough to be able to play from the comfort of your sofa. My only gripe is that the console only came with one controller. However, you can plug in original controllers if you have one.

Audio and Visual

The MegaRetroN HD plays the original games in 720p and I could see an upgrade in the picture quality.  The colours were certainly brighter and crisper.  The chiptune soundtracks on the games sounded as good as I had remembered.

Wow. This looks like a game I was playing on the MEGA RETRON HD earlier. pic.twitter.com/XuMvoKDNOV— Rapidmas Reviews UK ?? (@rapidreviewsuk) November 17, 2018

Conclusion

The MegaRetron HD is a pleasure to use, and the fact that you must use the original game cartridges to play the games makes that feeling of nostalgia even stronger. To me, this was a good feature of the product as it allowed me to play games that I wanted to play. However, for others, this could be a negative as they might find it hard to source the games. This console is, in my opinion, aimed at players and collectors who played the Mega Drive in the past, and not necessarily modern gamers wanting to get a slice of gaming in the “good ol’ days”.

Rapid Reviews UK Rating

You can read more about the MegaRetroN HD at the following link, https://www.hyperkin.com/megaretron-hd-gaming-console-for-genesis-mega-drive-hyperkin.html.

The MegaRetroN HD is yet to be released in the UK.  However, I have one to giveaway to one lucky reader.  Check out my Twitter account for more details about how you can win your own console.