Should You Buy the Hyperkin Retron 2 HD NES, SNES, & Super Famicom 720P Clone Video Game System

In this video, we test out and review the Hyperkin Retron 2 HD, 2-in-1 NES and SNES HDMI-equipped clone video game system.

At CES 2019, Hyperkin announced an update to their Retron 2 2-in-1 NES and SNES clone system, updating the look, controllers, and output to HDMI. The result was the Retron 2 HD, which began shipping towards the end of summer 2019. They followed up that release with the console you see here, the Space Black Retron 2 HD. It has all the exact same features as the Retron 2 HD, however, this console features a super cool looking transparent design for the controllers and the system itself.

Features:
• HD audio and video (720p) with 16:9/4:3 switch (HD cable only)
• High compatibility with (NTSC/PAL) NES, SNES, and Super Famicom cartridges
• Comes with a “Cadet” and a “Scout” premium classic-style controller
• Includes AV ports with AV cable

To see how the Retron 2 HD comes out of the box, check out our unboxing video at https://youtu.be/mJOLRFx3ZIc

Testing:
Having tested just a few clone consoles over the years, there are a few things I always look at when testing. I started this test with a new cartridge to me, a Retro USB copy of the Nintendo World Championships cartridge. What's great about this cart, for testing purposes, is that it verifies that the system can play reproduction carts, a type of multicart really, it demos how the system plays 3 different games, and it allows me to perform my Super Mario Bros Coin audio test.

The game fired right up, a good sign that game compatibility could be pretty high. I started the NWC game and dove right into Super Mario Bros to mixed results. The coin sounds, similar to when playing SMB on a Retron HD, were pitched high, showing signs that the audio wasn't quite right. I also thought that Mario looked smudgy and the colors seemed off, virtually identical to the Retron HD performance.

The Retron 2 HD played just about everything I threw at it, except for Battletoads, which most clones can't handle. On the SNES side, I thought the audio & video was more authentic than the NES side, but still a little dark. One surprise was when I put in my PAL Yoshi's Island. The audio wasn't sped up like on the NES side, which I didn't expect.

Why It RoX:
- Plays NES, SNES, & Super Famicom Carts
- PAL & NTSC Compatibility
- Transparent cases look awesome
- Plays Repros and Multicarts
- HDMI output
- Scout & Cadet Controllers are very good

What Could Be Improved:
- Audio is not as accurate as it could be
- Color pallet is on the dark side
- You cannot use SNES controllers with NES cartridges
- Battletoads locks up on level 2

Should You Buy One?
If you don't have an NES or SNES console and want to connect to an HDMI output, then the Retron 2 HD deserves a look. I could classify this as a more entry-level system, one that will get you up and running but, but the NES side of the system hampers things for me a bit. The audio is quite off on Super Mario Bros, and it doesn't play Battletoads. It does, however, do a pretty decent job on the SNES side of things, and I was surprised my PAL version of Yoshi's Island didn't play fast as my PAL Darkwing Duck did. The included controllers are pretty good, I just wish you could use the SNES controllers on the NES side. If you like the Retron HD or Supa Retron HD, you'll like the Retron 2 HD. If you didn't, you may be disappointed to see more of the same.

#HyperkinLabs #Retron2HD #HDMIRetroGaming

The footage used in this review are used under the Fair Use laws, referenced below:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107

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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.)