It won't be long before the NES Mini will be on store shelves, but that's obviously not the only console that will be offering a throwback experience. The Retron-5 has gotten a lot of attention for its versatility, but now Retro-Bit is looking to get a piece of the market with the Retro-Bit Generations.
Over 100 titles will come preloaded on the Generations, featuring a selection of games from Capcom, Data East, Irem, and Jaleco, meaning that we'll be looking at a library spanning the NES, SNES, and the arcades. It comes out on 10th November, right around the NES Mini, and here's a video showing off a bit of what will be offered:
What do you think? Will you be picking one of these up? How do you think it compares to the NES Mini? Drop us a comment in the section below.
[source retro-bit.com]
Comments 53
Just want to point out that after Disney Infinity got discontinued a retro gaming section has been poping up in some stores in the states. Wondering if their is gonna be more retro gaming systems in all honesty.
So does this play SNES games and NES games if you put it on SD card? This isn't licensed by Capcom or Nintendo right? 😭
@HyrulianOfHyrule Maybe but I feel there can only be so many. I mean, can't the Retron 5 play just about any ROM based on a game from its supported consoles?
Design-wise, kinda ugly, but as a product it's much more attractive than Nintendo's offering.
Still, my Pandora and Shield both emulate everything these consoles emulate perfectly (and more) and can connect to TV with external controller support, so I'm good.
@MitchVogel I can only hope, it would be great to see other old systems recreated by Nintendo or other gaming companies.
I still believe the NES mini has a memorabilia side that this kind of do-it-all box doesn't.
There is a lot (and I mean A LOT) of competition between emulation boxes. As long as you can't expose them, they shouldn't damage the NES mini.
@Basilgarrad Nope, SD card is just for transferring and managing saves. Kinda feels like a missed opportunity, but I guess over 100 preloaded games will keep us busy for awhile.
Yeah Sega should do a retro system with all their arcade back catalogue on it.
Would sell like hotcakes.
Wow, a lot of Retro machines with so many features. I feel dizzy now...
im interested in this but it doesn't appear at the moment this is getting a UK release. People have asked this on their FB page but I haven't found any info on a UK release anywhere
@Basilgarrad The system is officially licensed by Capcom. Whatever is on the SD card isn't.
And good on them, as this looks to be leaps and bounds beyond Nintendo's effort.
Packed with over 100 "popular" retro games? That's really stretching the truth there. Sure, there are some good ones in there, but this is really mostly a collection of B and C list games rather than including many of the more popular titles of the era. Even with the companies they did make deals with, they still couldn't get stuff like any of the Mega Man games included.
Sadly, I don't get paid until the day the NES comes out. Hopefully, the Retrobit Generations console won't sell out in one day.
I'm soooo getting one!!! Way bigger selection of games at 100+, than the Nes mini....at the same price!!?!?
True Arcade ports?? Day 1!!!
This will be great for some but to me this isn't near the same class as the NES mini.
It has generic controllers that have no correlation with the games. (Arcade ports without a stick?!) The selection of games is a mish-mash of platforms. There's no attraction or callback to another time to the hardware (maybe a bit SEGA but why?). The games showcased couldn't even manage anything remotely popular besides Super Ghouls and Ghosts and RType... 3. (How bad does that list get if the video is showing the choice selections!)
Why does someone see this and have an impulse to buy? Probably one or two out of 100 games they might remember. Which is fine, just not the cohesive nostalgia-bomb that the mini NES is going to be for way more people that owned one as a cherished toy.
Not arguing this won't be perfect for a few but mini NES is in a different league, in my opinion.
Dang! That's a genuinely great set of games they've shown in the video. Think I'll need to read up on the rest of the console's offerings, both hardware and software. . . .
Edit: Yup, it's got over 100 games, both HDMI and AV output options, two controllers included (probably with decent length cables too), an SD card slot, and save states for games.
Remember when people were saying Nintendo couldn't have included more games in the NES Classic Edition because of "licensing fees" and all that junk: Well, this console begs to differ. And sure, some of the games on the Retro-Bit Generations console are probably kinda crap, but that's not really the core point here. Nintendo has a million more strings it can pull than these guys and these guys have still managed to do either better or just as well in pretty much every spec.
The console and controllers are a bit fugly, imo (I'm sure some others will like the look of them), but other than that I'm impressed with what Retro-Bit is offering here.
@impurekind agreed. Many more choices here and are ARCADE PORTS NOT NES PORTS. While I'm def getting the mini this will be of a higher priority to me and unlike the mini will also be a bit harder to find. Not even aware as of now what retailers will carry it.
I plan on getting one i have been retro gaming more and more lately. $59.99 for 90+ games, sd saves, two controlers, and hdmi/av cable support. It just seems like a no brainer to me.
This looks amazing but they only showed the arcade games. What other games are on there?
@aaronsullivan you're right the nes mini will definitely sell better. BUT: for gamers like myself, in my age range, who have been gaming since the 70s, there is waaaay more then 1 or 2 recognizable games here. In fact more than 75% of the games offered here I've either played or recall reading about. The fact that Data East games are in there is a big plus and this is where to me Nintendo failed miserably with the Wii U virtual console! Lots of missing classics!! And to me games like 1942,1943, 10 yard fight, city connection, Commando, Forgotten worlds, Ghosts n goblins, Gunsmoke, image fight, kid niki, knights of the round, kung fu master, Mercs, pinball quest, R type, ring king, rival turf, rocky rodent, bases loaded series, sword of sodan, zippy race are classic games that will make this a day 1 for me with HDMI too! And some of these are only a few of MANY games that Nintendo should have landed on the virtual console!!
Here are the games.
http://retro-bit.com/generations.html
@River3636 see some of the ones I listed in my comments. If your a retro gamer you will not be disappointed!!
@joey302 the link provided has all of them.
Mostly love the game list, though for the majority of them it doesn't tell us whether they are arcade, GameBoy, NES or SNES versions. Gunsmoke, Ring King and Bionic Commando from the trailer appeared to be NES.
I'm also quite disappointed they didn't include Bad Dudes (arcade or NES), NES Kung Fu or one of the Final Fight games seeing that they have Data East, Irem and Capcom licenses.
@River3636 cool thx rallied those titles off by memory!
Having looked at the full list of games, I only see about four I'd want to play again. Not a good value for me.
I liked the trailer better than the western mini NES trailer. The mini Famicom trailer rocked, though. Good to see a little bit more of this. Things have been vague regarding this thing. At one point, people were starting to question whether this was going to be just console versions. I knew it would have at least one arcade game when it was announced since Varth never got a proper home port and was always released on emulation collections intact. Good to see Captain Commando and Knights of the Round confirmed as arcade versions. I'm not fond of the SNES ports. Image Fight looks like NES. MERCS looks like the Genesis version. The downside is you lose two-player support, but you get a special mode that people seem to like a lot. As I said, things have been too vague regarding this. I will be keeping an eye on it to see how the games go over with people, what versions are there, what options are available, if there's lag, what the quality is, etc. I hope it ends up a quality product.
All I want is an N64 that connects by HDMI, accepts all my cartridges and controllers, and displays the image as best it can, available to buy online for a fair price (shipping my existing console for modding is not an option). Call me when that's available
@Gauchorino Leaps and bounds better than the NES Classic? Really? How? The only problem with the classic is the short cord on the controller. Aside from that, it's the best retro console to date IMO. This one is just a bunch of games thrown together with no cohesive "theme", just because.
@mattmayatt I'd buy a SEGA Genesis version and Game Gear if they did that.
I think its BEAUTIFUL. I've read good reviews on their consoles. I may have to get this...
The NES Mini taps mostly into Nintendo's own back catalog and action/adventure games for miles, with little reprieve. This one seems to be mostly beat 'em ups and shoot 'em ups (although I can't believe Holy Diver is here--that's awesome).
Anyway, both of these skimp on genres I actually like (e.g., sports, pinball if that's a genre, flight without combat) so I'll admire from afar and continue playing my retro consoles/the VC and wasting tons of space doing so.
Is this only for America? UK/European plug release?
This is an emulation machine. An with such you always get mixed results. From what I've seen/read of the NES Mini, there has been a lot of dedication gone into developing the emulation of it's specific catalogue. That is why we don't have the access to carts or expansion with an SD card. I've preordered the Retro Bit, but no expecting much in quality of visuals or control. We'll see.
@nab1 More supplementary features, many more games (including ARCADE GAMES, classics roughly equal in quality to Nintendo's offerings, and some games which have never been available in a retail format), and USB controller ports (with two controllers included instead of just one!), all for the same price as the NES Mini. Quite obvious, really.
@Gauchorino
1) supplementary features: Only one I find of use is saving to SD cards, but then what's the point? Where would one need to transfer them too? Maybe for backups, but I doubt these games really need them
2) many more games: Yes, but more does not equal better. It depends on preference, but the classic has pretty much all games most people who had a NES would want (which is the target audience of the Classic), and some of the best games of the era (all packaged in a nice looking box with a lot of attention to detail). This one just seems like a box with a random collection of games from various platforms, I'm not sure who they're targeting specifically.
3) USB controllers: I'll maybe give you this one, but for me personally I rather have a controller I can also use on my Wii and Wii U. Plus the controllers on this one are pretty ugly, and I'm not sure how well they'll be for some of the arcade ports.
Not so obvious, really. But to each his/her own.
They really want to take the thunder away from Nintendo do they? Even going as far as releasing 24 hours before the launch of the NES Classic Edition.
@joey302 Thank you! One place you are guaranteed to find it at is Amazon!
Here is a link if you wanna check it out there:
http://bit.ly/RBG100AmzPre
@River3636 Thanks! We have the full list on our website here:
http://bit.ly/RBGens100
@audiobrainiac Thank you for your support! More info can be found on our site if you are interested
http://bit.ly/RBGens100
@Retro-Bit a surprise response from the boys themselves!! Thanks for the Amazon tip. But any retail stores gonna carry as well? I live in the US.
Target? Costco? Toys R us? Best Buy or Gamestop maybe? Thx! Hope is does well for you guys and you do an updated one for next year!! 😁😉
@joey302 So far, GameStop should have it on their online store in the near future if not already.
@Retro-Bit sorry to bug you. One more question 😜 So I just checked out the Amazon site and the pics on the box art sends mixed signals. One pic says 60 classic games on the box while another pic says "over 100" games. I'll assume it's 100+ Games as your site indicates? Thx!
I pre-ordered it, and I'm every bit as excited (pun intended) for the Generations as I am for the NES Classic Edition. @Retro-Bit thanks for joining us in the NintendoLife forums!
@nab1 1) Exactly, and you'd be surprised how many people bother to back saves up like these to their PC and to certain websites, considering the difficulty of some of these games.
2) This selection seems more directed more to a "hardcore gaming" audience than Nintendo's, and while the NES Mini list is definitely nothing to scoff about, there are many highly playable and iconic titles on here as well, that do not get released nearly enough as the constantly recycled titles featured on the NES Mini's selection...or ever (until now). I encourage you to try some of them if you get any opportunities to do so. All those licenses for 100 games from multiple different companies were probably not easy to obtain. I find it rather refreshing that Retro-Bit is doing something different and more content-heavy than the slightly above bare-minimum effort product with which Nintendo is cashing in.
3) I find the proprietary (and wired!!) nature of the NES Mini controllers kind of eye-roll inducing, but yeah, I agree that they are probably of higher build quality than the Retro-Bit's, which do look like they might be flimsy and have irritatingly squishy buttons and strange cables, themselves. That said, I do feel the 6-button configuration on them is rather nice, and the (possible) fact that they can be switched with any USB controller of your choice is even more enticing.
This is not to say that the NES Mini doesn't have its own worthy perks and contains an overall solid list of games for most audiences, but again, whether or not this console actually turns out better than Nintendo's, it is nice to see that someone is fairly trying to outdo Nintendo's "slam dunk" holiday seller. Also, I was referring to the superficially and numerically superior lists of features and games (and included accessories and video options) that the RBG has over the NES Mini as quite obvious. Nothing personal, of course.
@Retro-Bit hi, can we get it in uk? Anyone stocking it? Can we add games via SD card?
@Gauchorino That's a fair explanation I can respect, probably more objective than mine. Kudos to you, it's refreshing to see civil responses on the internet these days, and they should be commended
I already have a retron5.the price on the retro bit generations is good though but prefer to play wirelessly.I use my 8bitdo for snes on retron5 and play everything with my Wii classic controller.
@joey302 Sorry for the confusion!
AT E3 this year when we unveiled the console, we were only at about 60-80 games confirmed. But since then we have gone way beyond that!
We are over 100 games now on the finished product. Amazon and our website should confirm this as well (hopefully!)
@JJtheTexan Thank you for your support! We are very excited for the release as well, and we hope you have as much fun with it as we do here at the office.
@Retro-Bit well you had me at 60 games so this just makes it all the more promising. I look forward to hunting it down this week!! Thx and good luck with the launch!!!
@nab1 Much appreciated, friend! I think you've given my words far too much credit on that wise, however, but I do hope to have more discussions in the future with mature, inquisitive, and reasonable folk like yourself.
@Retro-Bit @joey302 hi so I picked it up and while overall I'm happy with my purchase I have 4 things:
1) this game list seems to have been altered with games like super bases loaded (I assume the Snes version) is missing
2) I had the impression that some PORTS like 1942,1943 were the ARCADE ports NOT nes ports.
3) we probably could of done without the black n white gameboy games?
4) the game Varth I cannot set the display to vertical so unless I break my own neck playing it horizontally, the game is unplayable! Any way to flip it to a vertical display?? Thx
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