As soon as upon a time, in case you needed to play Neo Geo video games, it took severe monetary funding. The unique Neo Geo AES (Superior Leisure System) house console launched at $650 in 1991, equal to about $1,535 in 2025. Video games would promote for round $200, round $472 immediately.
The hook, for an rising underground of avid gamers, was that the AES was an identical at a {hardware} stage to producer SNK’s MVS (Multi Video System) coin-op cupboards, which means video games performed at house had been indistinguishable from these performed in arcades. In the event you needed that genuine expertise, you fairly actually paid the worth.
How occasions have modified. Now you will get among 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 wish to expertise some true gaming classics, however there are a number of compromises to swallow earlier than you possibly can take pleasure in 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 identify rings a bell, that is as a result of it is the identical producer behind the Evercade hardware system, which incorporates handhelds, house consoles, and mini arcade cabinets, all of that are linked by common assist for bodily Evercade recreation cartridges.
Though launched underneath Blaze’s “Hyper Mega Tech!” model, the Tremendous Pocket can also be suitable with these carts, so at a look it’d seem like one more {hardware} variation, swapping the horizontal orientation of the Evercade EXP for a vertical, unabashedly Sport Boy-inspired structure for maximum retro clout.
Nevertheless, the Tremendous Pocket is sort of completely different to make use of. It is even smaller than the Evercade handhelds, measuring 125 mm tall, 78 mm large, and 25 mm thick—your phone might be bigger general. That diminutive stature, mixed with its vertical orientation, means it will possibly really feel too small in bigger palms.
It is surprisingly well-appointed with inputs, although, with a properly responsive D-pad with clearly outlined instructions that guarantee it feels incredible underneath 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 manner.
