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The Super Pocket remains one of my go-to best retro handheld contenders to this very day, but it's getting harder to find for under $50. That said, while doing my usual rounds, checking in on portable prices, I stumbled across the Data East Edition at a record low price, and it's well worth a look if you're fussed about playing Banjo Kazooie on the Game Boy-inspired Evercade console.
If you mosey on over to Woot, you'll find the Super Pocket Data East Edition down to $44.99 from $69.99. The compact gaming handheld is also discounted at Amazon, but the retailer's main site brings it down to a pretty weak $66.49. If you're looking for other flavors, you'll want to go for the Capcom version instead, since it's down to $59.99, but that's actually the original MSRP for the system before US tariffs sparked hikes.
For those of you unacquainted with the Super Pocket, I want to run through how the format works. Available in a variety of publisher-themed flavors ranging from Data East and Taito to Capcom, Neo Geo, and even Atari, each version boasts its own themed colorway and collection of built-in games.
Games: B-wings, Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja, BreakThru, BurgerTime, Burnin’ Rubber, Chain Reaction, Crude Buster, Gate of Doom (Dark Seal), Joe & Mac Returns, Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja, Karate Champ, Lock ‘N’ Chase, Peter Pepper’s Ice Cream Factory, Spinmaster, Super BurgerTime, Edward Randy, Tumblepop, and Wizard Fire (Dark Seal 2).
That is to say, while you'll be picking up one of Blaze's budget-friendly handhelds, potentially for the included games, you'll stay for the range's Evercade cartridge compatibility. Yes, the Super Pocket is one of the last systems out there to boast its own physical library of games, and if you're into buying extra compilations and ports for your handheld, you'll have access to over 500 romps from across most of the best retro consoles and arcade machines of the '80s and '90s.
There is a slight caveat when it comes to choosing specific Super Pocket versions, though. While most of the Evercade releases do indeed live on cartridges you can buy, some of them are locked to specific handheld versions. For example, the upcoming Super Pocket Rare Edition is set to feature Banjo-Kazooie, Battletoads, and Conker's Pocket Tales, which had been trapped on the Game Boy until now.
What I'm saying is that if you do care about some of those exclusives, it's wiser to pick up a specific version like the Rare Edition for £49.99 (still waiting on US listings, FYI). Otherwise, I'd just go for whatever version is cheapest, as every model features the same 2.8-inch IPS screen, USB-C charging, a battery that will run for around 4 hours continuously, and Evercade cartridge compatibility.
The button offering is the same too, as each handheld features a disc-shaped d-pad, four face buttons, and a shoulders bumpers at the rear. Those are particularly handy for if you decide to pick up something like Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver or the Tomb Raider Trilogy, and while the layout is cramped, it's far more usable for early 3D games than you'd think.
Naturally, some of you will get on much better with emulation devices like the Anbernic RG35XX Plus or RG28XX since those handhelds will let you use your own ROMs. The Super Pocket and other Evercade systems are technically using emulators, but you won't be able to play your own backups or mess around with settings. That might actually be a selling point for some players who can't be bothered with faff, and while you can find some devices online for under $45, Blaze's compact console really stands out thanks to its physical game support.
Using Valve's handheld to play the classics? Swing by the best Steam Deck docks and turn the portable PC into a hybrid console.
