Retro Duo (RetroDuo) review PART 1

[dickman9000]

i hate people that cant take care of there shit i play all my games and never had a singal scratch on them but once you lend it for a day or 2 BAM!!! prints galour everywhere its not hard to take it out put it back simple or when people turn a disc upside down on the console so annoying

[Aswind108]

my controller is broken I think. the controls won't stop moving left

[bigredphenom]

This thing is absolutely sexy, I wanted to get the retron 3 but it looks like utter shit. This is simple and easy on the eyes. I cant wait until they come out with a retro "trio" or something like that.

[CoolPersins]

Merio hehehe

[cliffburton333]

how does the up scrolling in castlevania work? i know in some emulators that's the part where it gets pretty buggy

[Andrasveto]

NOAC, and acronym made out of an acronym... mind blown

[Edsta713TX]

I was thinking about getting it yesterday but it just looks too cheap. I'm sure it will break or will not work in a couple of months. I could be wrong tho.

[jonman456]

this guy talks like sheldon from that big bangers theory show

[AngusGibsonT]

If you switched to a normal snes controller, will that fix the controller button mix-up?

[GoinCreekin]

Piece of cheap, plastic junk.

[Curttehmurt]

I found an NES cartridge that is missing it's plastic casing in an attic recently, it's in seemingly good condition and I have no way of knowing what game it is, do you think it will play in the Retro Duo?

[jeffr383]

does this system still work after 2 years anyone know?

[1989betolopez]

can you use a regular super nintendo controler on that?

[ItHurtsWhenIPee100]

@1989betolopez yes

[ROTFxQuester]

do u have it today and working?

[RICANPAPY27]

Retro Duo need componet cable

[mortonkoopajr]

so this systems only plays roms??

[99mrhappy]

tmnt 1 the sound is off but play nice  my retro duo is going on 3 years old my fc twin is 6 years old and they play like new nice video

[duce8585]

i know super famicom games work on it though.. i jst didnt want to gt a famicom game in vain

[duce8585]

i have an fc twin can you play famicom cartridges on it

[SmoothCriminalAaron]

Will Japanese games work on this system?

and will a Japan game work on the SNES?

[MegaTheRandomChannel]

@SmoothCriminalAaron yes on the NES but im not sure with the SNES

[SmoothCriminalAaron]

@MegaTheRandomChannel Actually I just saw a picture yesterday witht a Super Famicome game in the Retro Duo, but not a Japanese NES game.. I dun even know what famicome games look like.

[MegaTheRandomChannel]

@SmoothCriminalAaron i think thay look like the snes games but bigger thats what i think ????

[pyrix]

Hmmm... made in China. I'm surprised the thing isn't 100% composed of lead and other cheap stuff ;p

[dadavemasterofmusic]

can i use the retro duo in the netherlands?

[BboyGino89]

hey great review man!

[Revieweverything100]

That's the thing about the ps3 I hate, so many fingerprints!!!!!!!

[gameboy3800]

loose? mine are hard as shit to pull out and in.

[rickclawson6969]

@gameboy3800 Thats what he said!

[gameboy3800]

@rickclawson6969 dude u gay.

[bugattibeast]

fc twin or retro duo

[razorslice17]

Retro Duo. FC Twin is better-designed, but there's a shitload of games that don't play on it, including Castlevania 3 which is one of my all time favorites

[JBOPatrick]

@razorslice17 I have owned both, and the FC twin was junk. Everything felt super cheap, the plastic felt like it would break by dropping it from a 5 inch height. It just looks terrible too.

[razorslice17]

Well the cartridge slots are better on the FC Twin. What I like about the Retro Duo is that the controllers are better, and it actually plays the games you want to play.

[JerryAmoz]

They shuold do Retro Trio, and add 64 games too. cuz 64 controllers just fuck up.

[SixxHundredSixtySixx]

how was the d-pads on your controllers for the retroduo?

[RetroSkye028]

hey guys subscribe to me im gonna be playing video games on my retro duo when i get it. Check out my first video, btw awesome review Frankie

[ldlrdrllrr]

The sound card is really off on NES games, The Castlevania series gets raped on the Retro Duo

[LastHour1]

Yeah, the Y=B and B=A thing is also true if you wire up a SNES controller to NES adapter. BTW, great review. Convinced me to purchase one.

[Roboprez3]

Retro duo sucks, get an fc twin instead

[WakkoXtreme]

true that... thoug, ass holes should clean their rooms!

[jimbox114]

I one (same model as in the video actually). Honestly I don't like it.  The SNES part of it is actually great, but the NES part is crap. The NES pins are tight and I have allready had problems with it. The sound is way off on alot of games (Konami games are real bad). The controllers don't work well either, luckily my SNES games still work though. Finally bought a nes top loader. This system is still good for import SNES games but thats it.

[starfudge100]

your pins are loose? it must be faulty

[MrGibboRetrospect]

mcgyvr2009i is spot on :) pure dung. keep it real...its just common snes.

[mcgyvr2009i]

...on the NES.

[mcgyvr2009i]

of my fc twin. Just burn it on fire. The sound is better.

[mcgyvr2009i]

I think there is nothing better than the NES/SNES alone. Not in one system. In the NES although it is a pain in the fucking ass to get a single game to start, when you do get it to start, you get a nice clear relaxing arcadish sound/music. I had a retro duo and I have an FC Twin. In my brand new Retro duo after one verse of the music in the games the music would fade completely. The FC Twin was a little better. But I have to tell you, the moment I got my NES and my SNES I wanted to get rid

[TheW0rldsGame]

fc all the way retro duo sucks.

[MichaelRD777]

does anyone know if the Retro DUo can play reproduction carts?

[Nuftetuft]

is this the version 2 ?

[Blurredman]

I'm so unfortunate I live in GB, these things come from America on eBay and the postage is almost the same as the system itself. I also want to know if these runs PAL European Standard.

I have had NES fever and since I never had one as a child, I feel I'm missing something. I used to play SNES at a 'Cresh' as a child with such games as F-Zero, Aladin, Donkey Kong and Mario Brothers. I would love a system as this that plays games of both NES and SNES format.

[Murderwink1]

blurred, your in luck, this system plays almost every game that was released for the nes and snes.

[drwholover17]

i live in GB too

get the fc twin, its sold in britain in quite a lot of places unlike the retro duo,

(i think the fc twin is better)

[ShowMeMy0pponent]

Nice review I just bought a retro duo myself and have been happy with it so far. What web site can I order one of those 100 in 1 game hong kong multi cards off of? I can't seem to find any on the Internet with the searches I've done, any info would b great.

[GamerDudeRetro]

are the  original super nintendo controllers compatable with this?

[stinkomaster5000]

2:20

[Chip7564]

yes they are

[goooooooism]

@GamerDudeRetro yes

[Tmal10]

Has anyone ever told you that you sound just like Jim Carrey? no offense or anything.

[TheSaviour1000]

I just bought the Retro Duo off amazon and this is definitely the best out the famiclones i had to get this system because my top loader finally died and i highly recommend this system because it plays all Nintendo and for $40 you cant go wrong so for those looking for a Nintendo the retro duo is the system to get.

[trinasvideos]

will this play DR Mario

[FaimlyGuyFan]

i just bought a retro dou a few minutes ago and i can't wait to revieve it!!!!!

[slipknotboy555]

so people who have emulators, what do you recommend? this or the fc twin? im thinking abou getting one so i can play doom for snes and the castlevania games. ive heard fc twin is good, but some people say it breaks too easily. please if you are reading this and have one, respond, it will be appreciated

[AVGNfanNO1]

retro duo is much better than fc twin. i recommend the retro duo because the fc twin brake easily. plus the retro duo has better game support (it plays more nes and snes games than the fc twin does) so defently get the retro duo. fc twin sucks.

[slipknotboy555]

ok thanks

[desob131]

the retro duo isn't an emulator but the fc is ,the retro uses original hardware so choose the retro.

[slipknotboy555]

thanks man but i got the retro duo weeks ago as an early present, and im glad i did. got the white and blue one

[drwholover17]

hmmmm, hard choice, the fc twin is cheaper the retro duo is more reliable (supposedley)

but my fc twin has worked for ages, my freinnd has now had 4 retro duo's and has gone to fc

i would definatley reccomend fc, but as never having one i dunno

but from what my freinds have i'll stick to the fc, maybe you should too

[Murderwink1]

@drwholover17 the fc twin is agreat system, but the retro duo is better. the retro duo uses the same hardware as the actual nes and can play alot more games then the fc twin

[drwholover17]

i've just found two more

the gn twin (plays sega gen and nes games)

and the FC game console

which plays just nes games which is what i want not a snes, but i may get gn twin for genesis games

[RICANPAPY27]

Retro Duo is good i bout one

[RICANPAPY27]

fc twin sucks mine broke

[MrOmar123444]

do they still sell these.

[GamingAwesome1]

Is that an 8-bit remix of Science Genius Girl by Freezepop?

[FrankieViturello]

Hells yes.

[GamingAwesome1]

Didn't think anyone would catch that, did you?

[FrankieViturello]

I knew you would.

[RetroGamer3]

Scrambled 80's playboy channel lol.

Great review I'm gona pick one of these up.

[FFAnimeFan777]

I used to able to watch WWE pay per-views in the 90's for free. my TV could pick em up back then.

[Wadldee]

I was thinking of buying this, but will it play Famicom games?

[FrankieViturello]

Most will work fine with a Famicom to NES adapter.

[FFAnimeFan777]

I tried to sell a Power Play system on Ebay, they called it a "copyright violation" funny that they will allow these system clones.

[Stereorage]

What is a Power Play system? But the reason these famiclones are legal, is because the patent on the NES and SNES have been lost by Nintendo.

[scarmulletpart2]

I hope one day they come out with a Famiclone that plays both NES and Master System games.

[Emillister]

In 2050 we will be able to play Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 games on XS Twin.. :D:D

[scarmulletpart2]

Nah, in the 2020's

[mexicanbysa]

hahahahaha yea i dont doubt it haha

[fuzzywzhe]

No you won't.

Believe me, really, you won't.

Moore's Law is broken. We can't get chips much faster, we can just make them massively more parallel. It's really unlikley that the 360 or the PS3 can ever be emulated in real time.

[Emillister]

Time will come when this will be possible, maybe we won't experience that... Everything is possible... If they could make emulators for Wii/PS2, why not PS3 or Xbox 360? We just need more power... :)

[fuzzywzhe]

I don't know, really, if it's possible.

But I am an electrical engineer, although a shitty one which is why I instead concentrated on software where I'm a pretty good engineer.

*Maybe* for the XBox1. For the 360, unless PPC makes a comeback it's massively unlikely. It's got 3 PPC cores, and each core has 2 HW threads, and each runs at 3.2 Ghz, with a memory bandwidth of around 15 GigaBYTES per second.

Don't expect it. You'll see a 64 core chip before you see a 10 Ghz chip.

[Stereorage]

People said the same thing back in the 90's about other systems.

[fuzzywzhe]

In the 1990s, Moore's Law still was in effect.

That ended back in 2004 or so.

You can increase parallelism easily today, but that doesn't help in simulating a serial system in real time. It's very doubtful that the XBox360 or PS3 will be emulated any time soon if ever.

In order to do it, COMMODITY hardware is going to have to change radically. Maybe if everybody has a massive FPGA sitting in their computer by 2020, maybe.

[Stereorage]

I think you are trying to sound smarter than you are.

[fuzzywzhe]

Look, I don't even know what kind of response that's supposed to be.

I'm telling you, it's not possible to increase the speed of chips much more because they cannot be shrunk much more. Moore's Law predicted that computing speed would double every 18 months and it did for a long time.

Well, that no longer happens. We topped out and even retracted from 4.0 Ghz. How are you going to translate an instruction set that needs to be executed at 3.2 Ghz with 128 processors running at 3.2 Ghz?

[Stereorage]

It means you're a moron.

Who said it had to double every 18 months? You have a one track mind dude. Yup. It only takes a dedicated community, and hardware a little stronger than the original that is being emulated for a system to be emulated successfully. Even if computing power is not doubled every 16 months, it doesn't mean it won't take longer, or that it will never happen eventually, in time. And 128 processors? You're insane buddy.

[fuzzywzhe]

It's rather funny when YOU are calling ME a moron.

I've worked in this industry for 20 years, I've got a pretty solid foundation on which to base my conclusions.

Just because you're some little twat of a kid that thinks he's going to want be playing XBox360 games 30 years from now on his computer, doesn't mean it's going to happen.

And I have written emulators before. It was part of my job doing DV at one time. You have no idea what you'r talking about.

[Stereorage]

You're telling us it is impossible though. And I am not a kid either btw, I'm 27.

You haven't proven that you know what you are talking about either, just because of your claims. Nobody knows whether what you are saying is true or not, about your "expertise".

Unless you have some kind of psychic insight into the future, you can't really say it will never be possible. Computer advancement may not be moving along as fast as it used to, but it is still moving. It will continue to do so.

[Stereorage]

So just because you worked your magic on an Amstrad or a Commodore 64 20 years ago, doesn't really mean shit.

Yup... complete moron, full of yourself, and arrogant. Your claims are absolutely and utterly disputable. So are mine though, of course, but atleast I realize this.

[fuzzywzhe]

Look, I'm just telling you what is probable given the current direction of technology today. Unless somehow, chip design changes radically, there is not a very good chance that current platforms today can be emulated - ever.

If you just want to mouth off, go ahead. I don't need this shit, and you'll find out in time anyhow. Who cares? Believe whatever happy fucking horseshit you want to, I don't care if you make an ass of yourself.

[WastingTimeOnY0uTube]

greatest thing i have ever seen.

[zoroz456456]

PAL games that does not work for me are :

SMW2 : Yoshi's Island

Donkey Kong Country

do you know why that is ?

[papercanfly]

how much would you want for it? In American money

[FrankieViturello]

LOL, you can buy them for around $40 on eBay.

[beefchainsaw]

CAPTAIN PLANET for NES is NOT compadable with this. Thats the only game i found that doesnt work on this system

[mexicanbysa]

paper boy doesnt work either on this

[HeThrewUpEverywhere]

captain planet is a shit game anyways haha

[boredtaco]

The same thing that happened to you happened to me, I ordered a SILVER/BLACK retroduo but the seller sent me a RED/black instead :(

Should I keep it or try to get the silver? I know for a fact that the red/black IS compatible with Castlevania III, but I don't know if the silver one is.

[nintedolee]

the white one get your finger prints on it too just you can't see it because its white.

[kingdavecako]

you say mario like my mom XD lol, sometimes i catch myself doin it too, guess it runs in the eastern blood lol

[Hagor94]

Hey i know this is a stupid question but i just bought this Retro Duo on Ebay with the box and everything brand new and imjust wondering does it bring the wires to let you play? Lol please comment back :)

[FrankieViturello]

It includes AV and S-Video cables an AC adapter and 2 controllers. You can use SNES controllers instead if you have them.

[ChaosTFox]

Is it possible to keep one NES & one SNES in the slots at the same time?

[FrankieViturello]

Yes. It's not "recommended" by the manufacturer, but I haven't found it to hurt anything or affect play or output.

[boredtaco]

you talk about midi precussions, but i'm not a videogame music tech-i think i know what you're saying though. all i know is playing smb3 (on fc twin) and being raccoon mario has a nearly inaudible tail movement whether flying or swinging it to hit an enemy. same with kirby's adventure-sucking in enemies is not a high pitch whistle and slashing beam sword is quiet and inaccurate too-is that what you mean by the midi precussion? so both the retro & fc suffer audio with very high-pitch sounds?

[STEF54]

MY NES games will not play, help!

[FrankieViturello]

sorry, I'm not a Retro Duo repair tech. I'd recommend cleaning your NES games with Q-tips and rubbing alcohol. DO NOT BLOW IN THEM, it causes more damage than good even if it does get them to work on the short term. If cleaning them doesnt work return it to where you got it.

AND TO EVERYBODY ELSE - I CAN NOT ANSWER REPAIR OR ADVANCED TECH QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RETRO DUO - I AM NOT THE DEVELOPER OF THIS SYSTEM.

[STEF54]

I got it nvm, they work perfectly, u gotta push the game in hard lol

[blazemillion101]

hey can the Retro Duo play 4 players? Or do u have to buy the Super Multitap, PLEASE ANSWER!!!!!

[bozardio]

you need the multitap

[yayo8913]

how much do these systems go for?

[pkingranqe]

I'm not sure storewise, but at i-con, i saw them for about $60.

[STEF54]

i got mine for 40

[Blackboarder77]

38 w/o shipping

[niconude]

I am trying to figure out if this console plays my UK PAL NES games. Can anyone help me with this? Thanks in advance.

[drummerfromwisconsin]

im getting thw white one of of gaming generations

[Link4587452]

The white and blue one looks like the Revolution before it became the Wii.

[arklad]

Does the retro duo ruin games like some previous clones or has this been solved?

[WickiStik]

Any stores in Chicago or anywhere in Illinois sell these , where you can go and buy it in person? Only can find online stores.

[pkingranqe]

if they'res a play n trade in chicago or illinois, then yes.

[EvilShadow76]

I've noticed the SNES games look good on HDTVs...but the NES games look shitty. I've had two Retro Duos and the 8-bit games have lines going through them on the high def TV while it looks fine on SDTVs.

Anyone else have this problem?

[flemw1234]

Funny my FC twin running 8-bit games has faint vertical lines running through them, regardless of SD or HDTV...although I haven't checked the snes yet as I don't own any snes games yet..

[flemw1234]

I now have the retro duo and the same thing occurs...faint lines running through my nes games..although the snes games are fine...also the sound is horrible on the retro duo for nes games compared to the fc twin..

[St3fpickles]

i got one of these and the NES slot is really lose... i got TMNT for NES and everytime i put it in it either has a white screen or a black screen :P does anyone know if its compatible with it or if there's a certain way i have to put it in the loose slot? :P

[Rustyshackleford08]

I got it, I had some problems with Dragon Warrior but now it seems to be working.

[lightdark28]

I heard famiclones had problems with colour, so the quality wasnt the same as a normal NES/SNES

is this the same??

[ninendowii2000]

will they do n64

[boy2fresh12]

mine has the same problem on the nes side, cant play them at all and loose as hell,shoud i take back or try something with the system?

[Signaturezero]

sorry to hear you didn't get the white one. hopefully when i order one ill hopefully get the color i want.

[MoonOvIce]

It's not emulation, games are running on hardware.

[FrankieViturello]

It's not "genuine" or official NES/SNES hardware, it's reverse engineered "clone" hardware which is tantamount to emulation.

[dashwarts]

One interesting thing to note is that on a genuine NES with the 72Pin wearing out and the 10NES disabled, it takes a lot of effort to get Super Mario 3 to work glitch-free, as opposed to other games.

[snickersbar2]

i own a retro duo and a Generation NEX i found the nes side of retro duo has wash out colours compare to the Generation NEX. i know that Generation NEX doesn't play all nes game like castlevana 3 etc..

[halfcab247]

from all the stuff i hear, i realy hope mine doesnt break let alone ruin my games!!

[Fanzel17]

The NES part of mine isn't working. The SNES was fine, but the NES games wouldn't play, so we brought it back to the store and got another, thinking it was defective, but it does the same thing. This time I cleaned the games, and yet, it still didn't work on the NES part. Does anyone know whats wrong? It just keeps putting up white, purple, black, and yellow screens instead of playing the game.

[comaster2]

I agree! What can we do?

[classicgamer1968]

Can you use a standard SNES power supply with the unit just like the controllers?

[slickdogg14]

do you think the NES power pack will work on that

[VideyoJunkei]

you know, the multi-cart video problem looks like a voltage problem, like 3.3v vs 5v on the connector, or 1 pin not grounded? MAY be fixable...

[spiderman00193]

WOw this seems awesome...i miss playing those old games... i got an snes that takes a while to adjust to every game i put in it....plus some games just dont show up. so i really want to get one of these systems. where could i buy it?

[FrankieViturello]

I have no clue what you're asking.

[blackcomet81]

if you own the games yeah it does. the system doesnt matter.

[itachi705]

I don't know if I got a defective unit or what, but on NES mode it just turned all weird fucking colors and then shorted out and took my Megaman 2 cartridge along with it. Peice of fucking shit.

[Rustyshackleford08]

It worked for me and I got Megaman 2 for it. Bad luck dude or dudette..sorry.

[benandjerrypotter]

wow...cant wait to get one, i've got a shit load of games, but my snes is broken, figure i should kill two birds with one stone...

[xlibman]

I have this, quite awesome, but it doesn,t seems to be compatible well with my LCD TV because in NES mode only the left sound channel is played and in SNES mode only the right one is played. Also in S-Video mode if I put the console in NES mode there's no colors.

[thunderoad02]

what about a light gun attachment? Is there an adapter available?

[munkych33z]

there will be.

[irclifford]

Coming VERY soon.

[andj45v]

can it play the first old school 1985 mario game perfectly?

[nickyd47]

wich should i get, the generation nex or this?

[dnlhern]

Retro Duo, You will get a Snes too...

[0ldSk00lGaming]

Definately retro duo!!!

[Ace9921]

I say RetroDuo as well, but stay away from the black/red model. From what I've experienced, the black/red one has horrible NES audio, which I've heard, is actually split up between the 2 speakers on your TV, with the square channels on one speaker, and triangle, noise and DPCM channels on the other. I didn't experience that with the white/blue model, though I did some very limited testing with that one. It may be that all RetroDuos do like the black/red one, but I can't say for sure just yet.

[IAMONDAILYMOTIONNOW]

hope it can play nes games with game genie...

[0ldSk00lGaming]

It can and super game boy as an added bonus...

[gamerguy2207]

yeah all nes games and snes games work because its really a nes and snes in it not just noac

[jkdskinhead]

Not true none of the famiclones can play all 700+ games.

[FrankieViturello]

Nobody said it could play all 700+ games.

[jkdskinhead]

gamerguy2207 (1 month ago)

yeah all nes games and snes games work because its really a nes and snes in it not just noac

[FrankieViturello]

Ah ... well I DIDN'T say anything of the sort in the video ... because it's NOT a real NES or SNES in there. It's emulation. Very decent emulation, but not real hardware by any stretch of the imagination.

[jkdskinhead]

Yea my original comment wasnt directed at you or your video it was a reply to Gamerguy.. but sorry if you thought it was for you.

[jkdskinhead]

By the way, I sold my Yobo, and got one of these instead. Its is a much higher quality product, and it has the best compatability for both nes and snes that ive seen in a clone. The nes compatability is higher then even single unit systems specifically designed for one game type, such as the generation nex.. thats pretty amazing.

Also i ordered the white and blue one.. and got it.. muhahaha

[shavashavealicious]

are all snes and nes games compadible?

[JohnieRob]

anyone know if double dragon works i heard someone had a prob with it on the duo

[yomyma2]

nope works fine

[mrbreeze737]

thanks for the info. compressed air makes my head spin

[JohnieRob]

i wondering i would like to know if the suface of this sytem scratches easily cause it looks like a ps3 suface. the reason im asking is cause my ps3 has some scratches and i really dont like those glossy surfaces.