As soon as upon a time, for those who needed to play Neo Geo video games, it took severe monetary funding. The unique Neo Geo AES (Superior Leisure System) dwelling console launched at $650 in 1991, equal to about $1,535 in 2025. Video games would promote for round $200, round $472 right this moment.
The hook, for an rising underground of players, was that the AES was an identical at a {hardware} degree to producer SNK’s MVS (Multi Video System) coin-op cupboards, that means video games performed at dwelling had been indistinguishable from these performed in arcades. If you happen to needed that genuine expertise, you fairly actually paid the worth.
How occasions have modified. Now you may get a few of the biggest Neo Geo video games of all time for pocket cash. The Tremendous Pocket Neo Geo Version packs in 14 titles, constructed into an ultra-portable handheld console, for lower than the worth of 1 modern “triple A” recreation. It is a delight for nostalgic gamers or those that need to expertise some true gaming classics, however there are a number of compromises to swallow earlier than you’ll be able to get pleasure from it.
Pocketable Enjoyable
{Photograph}: Matt Kamen
The Neo Geo Version is the most recent entry in an ongoing line of Tremendous Pocket handhelds, every centered on a traditional developer or writer’s titles, made by retro gaming specialist Blaze Leisure. If that title rings a bell, that is as a result of it is the identical producer behind the Evercade {hardware} system, which incorporates handhelds, dwelling consoles, and mini arcade cupboards, all of that are linked by common assist for bodily Evercade recreation cartridges.
Though launched beneath Blaze’s “Hyper Mega Tech!” model, the Tremendous Pocket can also be suitable with these carts, so at a look it would seem like one more {hardware} variation, swapping the horizontal orientation of the Evercade EXP for a vertical, unabashedly Recreation Boy-inspired structure for optimum retro clout.
Nevertheless, the Tremendous Pocket is kind of totally different to make use of. It is even smaller than the Evercade handhelds, measuring 125 mm tall, 78 mm vast, and 25 mm thick—your telephone might be bigger total. That diminutive stature, mixed with its vertical orientation, means it might really feel too small in bigger fingers.
It is surprisingly well-appointed with inputs, although, with a properly responsive D-pad with clearly outlined instructions that guarantee it feels implausible beneath the thumb, 4 face buttons (A, B, X, Y), and L1/L2/R1/R2 “shoulder” buttons relocated to the rear. These do not come into play for the included Neo Geo video games, however they guarantee compatibility with video games on different Evercade carts which may require them—though as soon as once more, the small dimension of the unit makes these relocated shoulder buttons a bit difficult to position your fingers on in a usable means.
