Re-Review - Should You Buy a Hyperkin RetroN HD NES Clone in 2020?
293In this video, we are going to unbox and take another look at the Hyperkin Retron 1 HD HDMI equipped NES clone system.
See our original Unboxing and Review Videos from 2017!
Unboxing - https://youtu.be/al7in_ubNxs
Review - https://youtu.be/3_pu-a13guQ
When I first started producing content in 2017, one of the first unboxings and reviews that I did was on the Hyperkin Retron 1 HD. After testing it, while I liked the controller, I did not care for the color palette nor the way audio was handled. As such, I actually ended up returning it.
I once again have purchased a Retron 1 HD & the reason is simple, Hyperkin has indicated that their Hyper Blaster HD for Duck Hunt was designed specifically to work with this system.
The Retron 1 HD is a very compact system. Unlike the company's Retron 5 which uses software emulation to play games, the Retron 1 HD is a fully hardware-based system. Hyperkin first debuted their perfect pin technology set up on this system, and the pins hold the cartridges securely without having a death grip. Hyperkin includes one of their Cadet controllers with a 10ft long cable, HDMI cable, A/V cables, and a power brick.
As expected, hooking everything up was super easy. I put in my copy of Super Mario Bros and turned on the power. I just have to say I really don't like how muddy the pallet that they chose for this system is. And the reverse duty cycle issues with the audio is very apparent when collecting coins in Super Mario Bros. This has been something fairly consistent with all of their NES clone systems that I have tested, they always tend to go with a darker palette for some reason.
I did throw in quite a few games to the system, US NES games, Japanese Famicom games using a 60-to-72 pin adapter, and even some PAL games. Interesting to note that on the PAL games I tested I did not have to switch the NTSC/PAL switch. I wonder if this is along the same reasons as to why the top loader NES can also play PAL games.
To wrap things up, I plugged in the Hyper Blaster HD cartridge adapter, hooked up my copy Super Mario Bros/Duck Hunt, and hoped for the best. It took a few minutes of adjusting settings and sensitivity, but I got to say, the Retron 1 HD worked like a champ for the Hyper Blaster! Stay tuned to see our full video on this!
Why it RoX:
- Good games compatibility
- The Cadet controller is well renowned
- Includes everything you need to connect to your TV
- Power and reset buttons are homages to the original NES
- Perfect pen technology connector is not a gimmick
- Attractive aesthetics
- 4:3 and 16:9 switch
- Works amazingly well with the hyper blaster HD
What could be improved?
- I am not a fan of the color palette selected
- Audio is not correct
- Only includes One controller
- I still think it is slightly overpriced
Should you buy one?
First and foremost, if you want to use the Hyper Blaster HD on a flat panel TV this is the system you need to use. While other systems may work, I have not gotten a single one to work as well as this does. As far as a stand-alone NES HDMI clone, it's an okay system, but there are other systems out there that provide a more authentic experience. I think the Cadet controller is excellent, the wireless version has been my go-to controller on the NES for months. I just am not a fan of the color palette used and the audio seems to be less authentic on the Retron 1 HD than other systems and its category. If you can find one on a deal, like I've seen it for $15 on Black Friday the past two years, it's a steal. At full price, you may want to pause and think about it a little though.
#RetronHD #Hyperkin #HyperBlasterHD
The footage used in this review are used under the Fair Use laws
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107
Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include—
(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
(2) the nature of the copyrighted work;
(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.
The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.
(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2546; Pub. L. 101–650, title VI, § 607, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5132; Pub. L. 102–492, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3145.)
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