New Wave Toys Q*Bert X Replicade Arcade Cabinet Unboxing & Review
32In this episode, we unbox and test out the New Wave Toys Q*Bert X Replicade 1/6 scale arcade cabinet.
Please note, I incorrectly stated that this was a 1/4 scale cabinet, it is 1/6 scale and I correct this later in the episode.
Arcades in the early 1980s were absolutely amazing. The lights, the sounds, the experiences. It's something that, even with the rise of barcades in the last 5 to 10 years, it's just not the same. Part of what made the arcade so special was the collection of games that would go on to become classics. Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, Asteroids, Centipede, so many amazing titles came out of this era. Q*Bert was unique for its time, and the control scheme was a little bit different, the character was a lot different, and he swore! The team at New Wave Toys have combined forces with Gottlieb to bring this classic to your home, in a size that will fit just about anywhere.
New Wave Toys is dedicated to not only putting out cabinets like this but making sure they are high quality. Real wood and metal are used throughout the construction of their cabinets. This gives them both a weight and heft but also a quality feel. The graphics on the cabinet are printed on thick material, which should stand the test of time. The top of the cabinet features a light-up marquee, just like the original in the arcade. The game itself is an arcade accurate ROM, making sure that you have the most authentic gameplay experience possible. They even include scale tokens for you, how cool is that?
The Q*Bert Replicade utilizes a rechargeable battery, but can also be played while connected to an AC power supply or New Wave Toys' own power banks that look like token machines. One of these days I'm going to break down and buy one! The back of the unit features dual USB ports to connect accessories, a micro USB port for charging and power, and an HDMI output to connect to a television. That's right, you can even play this on your modern flat panel TV. The top of the unit features the power switch and a volume adjustment slider. Around the front, you can actually open the coin doors on the front of the unit, again not necessary but just add to that scale authenticity.
Playing Q*Bert reminds me how much I am terrible at Q*Bert. Part of the reason for that is the fact that the control scheme is different than the typical game. You don't use up, down, left, or right. Everything Q*Bert does is in diagonals, and that's something you need to train your brain for. Once I got over this mental hurdle, one of many I have frankly, I did much better with the game. The fact that it's only a joystick for controls, no buttons, makes this an easy game to play but a difficult game to master.
I did test out several controllers through the USB ports. One thing of note, I found the system would recognize new controllers more readily if I power cycled the cabinets after I plugged the controller in. The Evercade USB controller worked perfectly. The control stick from New Wave Toys' own 1942 cabinet worked just as well. I found various levels of success with different controllers, but one thing I did not get to work were any analog controllers. So the Tribute 64 USB wireless, and the Brawler 64 USB wireless, did not work for me.
In addition to the standard game, there's also a more challenging Q*Bert's ROM in the system that you can access through the sub-menu. I actually found this easier because Q*Bert moves more quickly. I didn't have to wait on his movements like I felt I was waiting impatiently on the standard ROM. The enemies also move faster, which increases the difficulty too
Why it RoX:
- Beautiful display piece
- Arcade accurate ROM
- Exceptional sound
- Beautiful LCD display
- HDMI output
- Included tokens
- Very good battery life
What could be improved?
- Joystick could be made a little larger
- Micro USB instead of USB-C for charging
- I'm still terrible at Q*Bert
Should you buy one?
New Wave Toys continues to produce beautifully accurate scaled-down versions of arcade cabinets, and the Q*Bert X Replicade is no different. It is stunning to look at, it absolutely nails the aesthetics perfectly. It sounds great, the display is wonderful, and this is Q*Bert scaled down. In an era where Arcade 1UP continues to increase their prices, New Wave Toys maintains the same overall price point without a reduction in quality. As such, it makes these an easier buy in my opinion. Add in the fact that you can use USB controllers and connect it to your television and you get an amazing in-home arcade experience.