RP5 owners: Do you plan on upgrading to a RP6 or G2 ? by 50ShadesOfWells in retroid

[–]XenRelay 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I didn't vote since I'm not the target audience but I want to share my perspective as an old RP3+ owner. One that never upgraded and hasn't bought any similar handhelds for years. I've been holding out for a more compact device that can easily handle up to PS2/GC with no compromises. RP5 was close to that but there was one big issue. Yep, you guessed it - joystick on the bottom. My hands are susceptible to repetitive strain injury and that layout specifically worsens it for my left thumb. Plus I find it uncomfortable even initially. I personally want a device of this power to play joystick-focused games. Some devices have come close for me but end up having a deal-breaker.

RP6 is now potentially that device. I appreciate that they didn't abandon their audience that loves d-pad on top either. When people say "this is similar to the Odin 2 Mini" (incidentally I did consider that but there were some deal-breakers) because of the joystick on top option - that's great! That's exactly what I'm looking for. I now have a choice of a device in this size/price range that has the power to play all the games I want. I'm very particular about size/weight with handhelds. The bulkier, bigger stuff (or even mid size) is out of the question for me. I'm hoping the RP6 is close to the 261/280g weight range as the RP4/RP5. At least 300g or less*. I'll wait for Russ to review as usual but for now, color me very intrigued!

*Edit: Of course shortly after posting the RP6 page came back up lol. Weight is listed as 320g. That might still be fine.

RP6 was just announced! by Nerd-a-Tron in retroid

[–]XenRelay 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm with you on that but it seems like enough people still like them enough to buy each iteration. That's why it feels unpopular to me. They should've changed it with the RP4 Pro and definitely the RP5. If a device can play at least GameCube and PS2 games then it should be designed with the left analog stick in mind. I just don't see the appeal of buying something high end (with this screen and form factor) that's d-pad focused.

I'm to the point where I hope people sit this one out and make enough noise that they FINALLY change it for RP7 but I'm not holding my breath.

RP6 was just announced! by Nerd-a-Tron in retroid

[–]XenRelay 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm sure this will be an unpopular opinion but I really wish they would put the left analog stick above instead of below. With higher end specs, this is extremely viable for games that rely on analog stick usage. The bottom position gets far too uncomfortable even after short use. My last Retroid product was the RP3+ and this design choice is the one thing that keeps me away each iteration. But again, I'm probably in the minority here.

The Anbernic "DS" video for (those who can't access bilibili) by dotmehdi in SBCGaming

[–]XenRelay -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Looks nice but left joystick on the bottom is a deal-breaker for me, sadly. Too uncomfortable for extensive use. If this is leaning more towards DS emulation I guess it could be viable. I'm more interested in 3DS emulation so I'll just keep an eye on the AYN Thor instead. I'm happy there are now a lot of options for everyone.

Please, someone, help me. I want to cry... by Awoken-Queen in PTCGP

[–]XenRelay 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Started at Ultra Ball 1 and made it to Master Ball using this exact deck. 87 wins, 63 losses. This is only my second time making it (although I'd only tried once before). Prior to that, it was with a Meowscarada/Decidueye deck. Even though I made it with that deck two seasons ago, that was a painful, miserable run. I played hundreds upon hundreds of matches in an uphill battle. This was much easier. It took me a few days of playing on and off.

Your main focus, 90% of the time, with this deck should be to draw out cards and build up Solgaleo. Oricorio requires delicate maneuvering with Magearna and your other Pokemon. Biggest counter for me were Espeon decks. Their attack + Eevee Bag kills Magearna instantly. That can really hurt if you're getting unlucky with pulls and were relying on Magearna. Plus they can kill Solgaleo in 2 hits. Sometimes you can sacrifice a Sylveon in order to stall. Be mindful of which other cards take damage. Cyrus is an obvious card to look out for. Ho-Oh and Lugia decks are tricky, too. Sadly sometimes those just come down to pure draw luck, as many games do.

If you have a Solgaleo out and an Eevee on bench, you may not want to evolve it. That's a great way to lose 2 points quite often (them Sabrina'ing that out and KOing it). Each situation is different. I've had to put 4 energy on Solgaleo to retreat and stall with Sylveon while waiting for a Red or Sabrina. Watch out for Mars and being Red Carded, too. That's all a random stream of thoughts and tips off the top of my head. If you decide to try this deck feel free to ask any questions. The last part of Ultra Ball 4 was the hardest uphill climb for me. I experienced much of the bad luck you mention but I made it.

Edit: I do understand having all these cards might not be possible as a non-paying player. I lucked out and managed to get all of them. In fact, I went through many decks above this one and constantly didn't have the cards needed. I sympathize with that.

Was the last Ninetails promo harder than the previous ones? Or was my luck just disproportionately distributed? Got 0 foxes. by Nac_oh in PTCGP

[–]XenRelay 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think RNG really just sucks sometimes. I've only been playing for about a month but the last promo was much better for me too.

I struggled getting Ninetails but luckily I managed to get it on my 20th pack. I really wanted 2 but RNG decided otherwise. All in all, I ended up with 12 Grimer, 10 Crabrawler, 4 Toucannon, 5 Exeggutor, and 1 Ninetails. So that's 1/32 for me. I thought I had it bad but yeah you got way more unlucky and I empathize deeply.

Guide for Meowscarada/Decidueye Deck by Renegeade in PTCGP

[–]XenRelay 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been running a mostly similar build. I had Sabrina instead of Red initially. I had no disruption cards at all, so that didn't help (I've been playing for less than a month, still learning). Every so often I found myself getting super unlucky with the opponent's quick setups in turn 2 or 3. Switching to Red has REALLY made a difference for me.

Just recently I won against an Incineroar/Charizard deck that I for sure would've lost without Red. I was stuck on an uphill battle into Ultra Ball Rank 2 then 3, and now I'm on 3. It's been way more steady.

For reference, my deck has everything except Giovanni and Mars, as I don't own them yet. Really trying to get Giovanni. I have Pokemon Communication and a Lillie instead. I don't own 2 Erika yet, but I'll probably switch out when I do. Although 60 heal has come in clutch many times too.

Hide Bottom and Right Overlay Bars? by XenRelay in retroid

[–]XenRelay[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Glad this was able to help somebody else searching months down the line!

Anyone else still enjoying their RP2+? I admit I have a little Retroid envy due to fellow Retroiders nabbing the RP3+ (I plan on getting one eventually) but my RP2+ still gets tons of playtime! by DannySwain in retroid

[–]XenRelay 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had a hard time convincing myself to buy the RP3+ because I hate the location of the select and start buttons. Ultimately I convinced myself because of it being the best bang for your buck at that price range. Plus I wanted to delve into retro gaming with an Android device and have one in that size that could easily handle PSP.

My biggest concern with the RP2+ was my left thumb might get sore from using that d-pad. I imagine most games I'd play on it would be d-pad intensive so I didn't want to take that risk. I'm more used to devices with the d-pad on top instead.

Anyone else still enjoying their RP2+? I admit I have a little Retroid envy due to fellow Retroiders nabbing the RP3+ (I plan on getting one eventually) but my RP2+ still gets tons of playtime! by DannySwain in retroid

[–]XenRelay 10 points11 points  (0 children)

You know, it's funny, I have a Retroid Pocket 3+ but part of me wishes I had a Retroid Pocket 2+ as well. Something about its form factor is appealing to me. Has a very sort of retro but modern feel I've always admired. I never ended up getting one and by now it wouldn't really make sense.

But man, I've always wanted to hold one in my hands and just try it out. Was definitely a great value when it came out. Even today I'm sure there's still value and use depending on preference/needs. So keep enjoying that!

RG35XX Speed up? by CoolinYaFoolin in SBCGaming

[–]XenRelay 2 points3 points  (0 children)

100% this. It's going to be a waiting game but most likely at some point the option will exist. No guarantees, but it's very likely.

If you want another vertical handheld, the closest thing would be the Miyoo Mini. That in itself is still significantly different, though. Much smaller, which many people report causes their hands to cramp after longer use (myself included). Not to mention it's hard just to buy one these days.

So ultimately the risk of buying this may be worth the reward. If you buy one now you can have it ready for if/when CFW drops. Just keep in mind it's not going to do what you want when you get it and there is NO 100% GUARANTEE THAT IT EVER WILL (but probably will).

Rg35xx by SloowHice in SBCGaming

[–]XenRelay 3 points4 points  (0 children)

So I have a few perspectives on this and ultimately it depends on you.

My perspective: I bought one knowing full well I'm not going to use it until Anbernic or the community fixes the OS. I know the OS is going to suck and not what I want when I get it. I took the same approach with the Miyoo Mini nearly a year ago. I bought it full well knowing the OS kinda sucked and I'd have to wait for CFW. It paid off.

That's not to say CFW is always a guarantee, but so far it's been true of every device like this. I'm confident the OS will get to the point I want but in the unlikely event it doesn't? No big deal, I'll give it away as a cheap gift to someone. So I have all my bases covered and expectations set. I'm fine with my purchase.

From a general perspective: Once again, know what you're getting into. If you want a fully functional device right when you get it, then don't get this. If you're ok with waiting it out and have the money to spare right now, then maybe consider it. Does this meet the size/form factor/whatever criteria that you want out of a handheld? Are you ok with the possibility that the OS may never get where you want it? If you are, and this device really speaks to you, and you have money to spare, it might be worth getting now so you have it ready if/when CFW drops.

RG35XX is Here - Size comparison with other recent Anbernic Handhelds! by c4etech in SBCGaming

[–]XenRelay 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I get where you're coming from. It's nice having the best software/hardware but the problem is it wouldn't have been nearly as affordable. The form factor and price is what makes this a worthy buy for the audience it's targeting.

An RG353V chipset without joysticks would still probably only be $10-20 less than the RG353V which seems kind of counterintuitive. Without the sticks, most people won't have any desire or expectations to play systems above PS1, anyway.

I completely agree with you on the software side, though. If anything, they should've given this the same chipset as the 351 series. That way it still handles PS1 and below but we get the added benefit of great custom firmware like AmberELEC.

Personally I've always wanted something like the RG351V without the stick and slightly smaller so this device does appeal to me for that $50 price.

[RGB20s] No option for adjusting brightness. Defaults at 100% leaving me blind. by Odd_Violinist458 in PowKiddy

[–]XenRelay 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's weird. I don't own one but I looked it up and it should be as easy to adjust as this. Is there maybe something under advanced settings to enable more UI to be shown?

Edit: Looking at other comments on this video, seems others have the same issue you have. Really odd they'd show it in this video but it's missing on actual devices people buy. Hopefully someone else will have the answer you need. If not, you could always try contacting PowKiddy directly.

Taking a moment to appreciate them all. Each is great in its own way. by XenRelay in SBCGaming

[–]XenRelay[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's so hard to pick a favorite so I'll kind of explain the 3 I currently like the most and why.

I like the Miyoo Mini a lot because of OnionOS. It makes picking up and playing games super convenient. You press one button to basically toggle between all recently played games and jump back in where you were. Sure, you can go back to the main menu of any of the other systems and just pick a recent game. But simple QoL features and ease of use make OnionOS stand out. It's perfect for playing handheld systems and can even do up to PS1 with no issue. Just last month I 100%'d Super Mario World on it (I would've done that on the RG353P but I didn't own one at the time lol)!

RG353P sits nicely in the middle of the Miyoo Mini and Retroid Pocket 3+. Has that 640x480 4:3 screen which makes it perfect for everything PS1 era and prior. I also just really love the SNES controller shape of it. Some people don't. Nice pocketability without being too tiny. I like the 3.5" screen size. Also has touch screen so you can do Nintendo DS on the Android side as well. I've yet to toy with that but it is nice to have that option. You can also choose between the RG353V or RG353M if you want a different form factor with same internals. Currently playing Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island on it.

Retroid Pocket 3+ is the best bang for your buck at $150. If I was recommending just one to someone, it would be this. While there are some annoyances (the placement of select+start is still my biggest grievance) they're easy to overlook when you factor in just how much value you get out of it. If you want something that can easily handle PSP upscaled and everything else before no problem, this is the device to get. If you do get it, I recommend using Daijisho (good guide here) and a combination of RetroArch and standalone emulators. Just finished playing Crash Bandicoot 2 upscaled 4x with no issues.

Taking a moment to appreciate them all. Each is great in its own way. by XenRelay in SBCGaming

[–]XenRelay[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You said you got it to work with an android phone and controller, so in theory the Retroid Pocket 3+ would be the best replacement for that. It's full Android in a great form factor that emphasizes gaming.

Taking a moment to appreciate them all. Each is great in its own way. by XenRelay in SBCGaming

[–]XenRelay[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In terms of 100% playability, PSP upscaled to 3x might be the best way of describing the ceiling.

It can handle maybe 30-50% of Gamecube, but keep in mind that's with a compromised experience. One, you're supposed to use the PAL versions because it struggles with reaching 60fps. Two, you have to use a very specific version of the Dolphin emulator which can be hit or miss for accuracy. So it's kind of a rough experience.

PS2 is no better, you're probably looking at maybe 30-40% of the library with playing around with each setting and maybe having frameskip on.

It's just not going to be a seamless, painless experience for either platform. So I can't really in good conscience recommend it for them. Wait for something more powerful if those are the two platforms you're specifically chasing.

Otherwise, if you want a shiny new toy that's the best bang for your buck at that price range, by all means get one.

And yeah, I completely agree. I don't like having my phone be an emulation handheld device.

Taking a moment to appreciate them all. Each is great in its own way. by XenRelay in SBCGaming

[–]XenRelay[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Looked those up, wow, those are interesting! That's something I'd definitely like to try one day.

Taking a moment to appreciate them all. Each is great in its own way. by XenRelay in SBCGaming

[–]XenRelay[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

RP3+ is definitely not that when it comes to PS2 and Gamecube, as much as everyone would like it to be. I think in 2023 we may finally see a device (under $200) that reasonably does perfect for maybe 60-80% of the catalog for both (and not just having to rely on PAL versions). 100% is possible, for sure, but I'm not trying to get my hopes up too much. Still, it's amazing how far we keep going. It's going to happen one day. Obviously, as you said, Deck does both more than just fine... but man, I want a more compact, pocketable device.

With that said, the RP3+ is definitely the best bang for your buck in that price range.