Hardware

Nintendo Game Boy – 34 Years Later

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 05/25/2023
Posted in: Game Boy, Hardware, Nintendo, Retro Consoles. Leave a comment

Release Date: 07/31/1989

Colors: White, Clear, Red, Green, Yellow, Black, Blue, Grey,

This was the first handheld I ever had. I got it for my 7th birthday, used of course, with a copy of Tetris. I remember the copy of Tetris had a cigarette burn mark on the top of the cartridge and was stained yellow. I’ll never forget that! Sadly, I only ever owned two Game Boy games. The other was Galaga & Galaxian that I found at a thrift store. Despite only having this game for the longest time I played it a lot. I remember that green screen burned into my memory and the sound of the theme song chirping away in the background. I wish I knew just how many awesome games were for the system back in the day as I missed out on a lot.

And for 80’s hardware, the system is quite impressive. Being such a small 8-bit system is really something else. The worst part about the system is the awful screen. There is no backlight and it’s monochrome in green. People gave the Game Boy hell for this and still do it until this day. The Japanese market got an improved Game Boy Light with a backlight, but it was never released here. The system is quite chunky, but that can be a good thing. It has some weight and feels good in the hand even today. There’s a contrast wheel and a sound wheel as well as a link cable port. This thing took four AA batteries but didn’t burn through them as fast as people think. This wasn’t the Game Gear after all. The batteries could last as long as 30 hours. Not having a CFL backlight had its advantages.

The system also had a headphone jack, and the speaker was good enough. Systems are only as good as their libraries and the Game Boy had some great additions. Sadly, there was also a lot of garbage on the handheld. Some developers didn’t know how to optimize the hardware and made ugly games with sluggish controls and animations. While others defined the system. It may be hard to back to the original hardware today especially when newer Game Boys play these games with better hardware. I recommend modding this system with an IPS screen and maybe swapping the shell out. A lot of these yellowed over the years and the plastics became brittle. However, I will praise the large screen as it’s easy to see the sprites on the screen.

Overall, the original Game Boy’s worst problem was the terrible screen, but the batteries lasted a long time, it sounded pretty good, and the screen was at least large. It may be hard to go back to an original Game Boy today, but anyone who is curious or wants to own one is encouraged to modify it with modern hardware and make it more enjoyable to play today.

Neo Geo Pocket Color – 24 Years Later

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 05/23/2023
Posted in: Hardware, Neo Geo Pocket Color, Retro Consoles. Leave a comment

Release Date: 08/06/1999

Colors: Carbon Black, Solid Silver, Blue, Platinum Silver, Clear, Crystal Yellow, Camo Blue, Crystal White, Stone Blue, White, Pearl Blue

MSRP: $69.95

Everyone has played at least one Game Boy in their life, but the more obscure handhelds that tried to compete just didn’t get enough attention. It sounds odd that SNK of all companies would try to release an 8-bit handheld to compete with the Game Boy Color, but they tried and they did a good job. Their first-party lineup on the system was incredible and they really pumped quality into the little handheld. There was some third-party support such as Sega, Capcom, and Namco, but it just wasn’t enough. SNK was having a hard time getting Western support for the system as it just didn’t appeal to that audience.

The system itself is the successor to the short-lived black-and-white Neo Geo Pocket. The Pocket Color was ahead of its time being the first 16-bit handheld system on the market and beating the GBA to the punch by a few years. While it still suffered from not having a backlight like many handhelds in the 90s it still had a clear and crisp screen. There wasn’t much in terms of I/O, also like the handhelds of the 90s, but there was a link cable for multiplayer. What made the Pocket Color unique was the clicky control stick. It was the first handheld to have an analog stick and it was meant to emulate an arcade stick. I love this thing and wish more handhelds had this even if it is really noisy, but man does it feel good and is perfect for fighting games which the Pocket Color was famous for.

There are only two face buttons (A and B) and a soft power button and an options button. That’s it. It’s a pretty rudimentary system and I’m surprised it had so few buttons having a lot of fighting games on its system. You can imagine that these games are very simple at their core which they are. The display is slightly larger than the original Game Boy at 2.7″, however, the system does have a sub battery that’s used for keeping the clock as there are a few built-in apps on here. This was also the first handheld to do this. There is a calendar, horoscope, world clock, and an alarm setting. I’m not sure why you would leave your NGPC on all night to use as an alarm, but it’s there. You can pick a background color as well. It’s very simple and basic, but it’s there and is cute.

A system is only as good as its library and the NGPC is widely loved for its small, but high-quality library. Only 82 games were ever released, and a surprising amount was released in the West. The games were fun, had great visuals, and just played and ran well, however, they are insanely expensive. Most complete games will cost on average $100 a piece. It’s also recommended to modernize the system by installing a drop-in LCD mod. This makes the system much more enjoyable and you can play in the dark!

Overall, this is the little system that could. There are a few Japanese-only games that had fan translations, but you need a flash cart to play these, and they are expensive (about $100). You also must like SNK games to really enjoy this system. The King of Fighters, Neo Turf Masters, Samurai Shodown, Metal Slug, and games of that nature. If you love those classic arcade games you will also enjoy this system.

Sony PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 05/20/2023
Posted in: Android, Hardware, iOS, Linux, Mac, Mobile Reviews, PC Reviews, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Sony Consoles. Leave a comment

The PlayStation controller is iconic. It was the first controller that had force feedback built-in, and dual analog sticks, and became a worldwide icon. I remember buying my first DualShock controller as a kid. It was a green one too. The controller improved with the PS2 by adding pressure-sensitive buttons, but overall still being the same thing. The DualShock 3 was the most controversial originally being a SixAxis controller with no force feedback due to the lawsuit that Sony was in over their force feedback tech. The DualShock 3 did eventually come out, but the SixAxis motion was a gimmick and was never utilized outside of the first two years of the system’s life. It also had triggers that weren’t well done and the analog stick rubber degraded over time. It just wasn’t a fantastic controller. On the other hand, the DualShock 4 wasn’t the greatest either. The forced light bar needed to communicate with the PlayStation camera that no one had drained the battery and the added touchpad didn’t really add to any one experience just like the SixAxis didn’t. It had improved rear triggers and analog sticks, but that was about it.

Here we are the scrapped DualShock name. I have to salute that name and it will be missed. We are now in the DualSense era. This controller is probably the first ever to be truly as innovative as the built-in analog sticks and force feedback from the DualShock 1. The haptic triggers literally change how a game plays and feels. These aren’t gimmicks. There is a resistive force on the triggers in the game. You can hold down a trigger partially and it will stick with a motor. Pull down harder to actually shoot a gun or arrow. You can feel the swings of an axe in God of War: Ragnarok. The triggers can even vibrate a bit and feel suddenly loose or tight like in The Last of Us Part 1. It changes the way I shoot in games. Spider-Man Remastered lets you feel the webs that you shoot with physical force.

This is the best part of the entire controller and I miss it in every game that doesn’t have it. The rest of the controls are just slightly tweaked with a better hand feel of the grips and the top light bar was finally removed. However, there are still lights around the touchpad which is fine. The controller just looks so good now too. The change to a pure white launch color was strange, but also brave. The texture of the controller is improved as well. It doesn’t feel as slippery and the plastic doesn’t feel as cheap as the DualShock 3 (I’m sorry, but that controller was my least favorite from Sony). The D-Pad also feels better this time around and less mushy. I also love how the controller is now USB-C and we can finally get away from the micro connector. You still have Bluetooth availability and it seems to be more compatible with devices than what the DualShock 4 could do. I do like the actual PlayStation logo as the home button now, and the controller retains the speaker and mic features. There is also a mic mute button right on the controller which is a great feature.

Overall, the DualSense controller is the first controller revolution since the Wii remote and the original DualShock before that. The haptic triggers literally change the way you play and feel the game. There are so many things you can do with this type of resistive technology and many first-party games are coming out swinging already. The battery life is improved over the DualShock 4, the ergonomics have been tweaked just enough, and finally, get USB-C! I’m not sure how Sony can improve from here.

Jsaux Transparent Back Plate for Steam Deck – Purple

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 05/14/2023
Posted in: Hardware, Linux, PC Reviews. Leave a comment

Jsaux, despite them being a nobody, took the shot to be the first third party to produce high-quality Steam Deck accessories. It all started with their original dock, and now they have over a dozen accessories available. Their latest and first accessory to modify the Deck itself is a transparent back plate. These are high-quality injection molded and feel just like the OEM plate. I was honestly shocked at the quality. They also feature a metal plate with a thermal pad that goes over the APU housing which the original plate doesn’t have. This keeps heat in one area and away from the back of your hands which would normally start sweating.

You get a lot of stuff in the box. There is the plate itself along with three different types of buttons. The standard rear buttons are installed, but you get buttons that raise up and away from the plate so you have less travel to press the buttons. There are low-height and high-height buttons. I actually like the low height as I now don’t have to squeeze the Deck so hard to press the triggers. You also get a screwdriver, plastic pry tool, extra screws, and some weird anti-static finger gloves which are stupid and completely pointless and a waste of packaging. Sadly, the screwdriver and pry tool is garbage. The pry tool broke during the first use so I had to use a flathead screwdriver to pry the back plate off. The screwdriver is made of very soft metal so the driver head strips really easily. Thankfully I had my trusty iFixit kit handy instead.

Once you unscrew the 8 screws on the back (you should use the original screws as they are of slightly higher quality) and snap the new plate on you’re good to go. It’s a seriously painless installation and anyone who has never taken a handheld apart before could do it with ease. The plastic feels good and you wouldn’t know it was a third-party plate when using it. It also looks damn cool. I went with the Atomic Purple plate as a homage to the GameBoy Color. I played a high-end game for about 30 minutes and the thermal pad draws the heat away from the rest of the plate so my hands didn’t get sweaty. It’s a fantastic accessory and for the low price, it’s well worth it.

Is there any reason not to get this? Maybe you don’t like seeing the innards through the backplate or you don’t like the colors. Don’t be scared about taking the backplate off as it doesn’t void the warranty with Valve. It’s as easy as replacing a battery cover on a toy. It takes around 20 minutes and is well worth it. If you want a cosmetic update and a way to keep the back cooler then this is a two-for-one deal that you shouldn’t pass up.

Nintendo Game Boy Micro – 18 Years Later

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 05/09/2023
Posted in: Game Boy Advance, Hardware, Nintendo, Retro Consoles. Leave a comment

Release Date: 09/19/2005

Colors: Black, Silver, Green, Blue, Pink, Red, Lavender, Famicon 20th Anniversary, Final Fantasy IV, Lite blue, Mother 3, Pokemon

MSRP: $99.99

Nintendo’s constant quest to reduce and miniaturize their handhelds has its fans and some detractors I personally think it’s great as we can still keep and own the larger handhelds. The Micro, however, may have been pushing this limit a little too much. The tiny handheld improved on a single feature: We finally got a good screen and a backlight. The Micro has the best screen out of any of the systems, even the Game Boy Advance SP AGS-101.

The system was designed with the idea of putting on your keychain or a lanyard and being able to put it into small pockets and pack it away. The system had interchangeable faceplates (which you can still get new ones made today by third parties), but the tiny design irked a lot of people. It’s about 1/4 the size of the original GBA and to many, the SP was the perfect GBA system. It retained the same button layout, and rechargeable battery and the screen brightness could be further adjusted.

However, all I/O was removed. This meant no multiplayer and any accessories that connected to the GameCube, e-Readers, and backward compatibility was out the window as well. To many, this is just a novelty, especially with the tiny 2″ screen. Does having a really good screen and backlight make up the difference for such a small form factor and cutting every other feature? Probably not. The system is still plenty playable and I have enjoyed many hours on mine.

Sadly, due to the low sales and poor marketing, and lambasted reviews, the Micro didn’t sell well so these systems are expensive, especially in good shape or complete in-box. thankfully the faceplates and rear housing can be replaced by third parties, and mods don’t really exist for this system. They’re not really needed. This system is really only for those who collect Game Boys or just want a really good OEM backlight without any fuss or mods. If you don’t use any accessories such as the ones mentioned above you won’t miss those either. You also must remember that there is no backward compatibility with older Game Boy titles and need to be okay with just Game Boy Advance games.

The system does feel good in the hands despite the size. There are only two face buttons so this can work fine. I would complain about the small screen, but it’s so clear and crisp and high-res for the size that you can see everything clearly. Adjusting the volume and brightness requires a button combo which is unintuitive without the manual and it has its own proprietary charger not compatible with the GBA SP. There is also a headphone jack so keep that in mind as well. This is just a raw GBA playing system.

Overall, the Game Boy Micro is a fun little system that cuts everything out to give us a fantastic OEM backlight and customizable faceplates, but to some that may not be worth the cost of size and accessories. It at least has a rechargeable battery still and comes in really awesome variations.

NYXI Wizard Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 05/06/2023
Posted in: Hardware, Nintendo Consoles, Switch. Leave a comment

Retro controllers are making a comeback thanks to retro enthusiasts. Many companies are finally catching on to this and making controllers compatible with older systems but with newer tech and sometimes better designs. NYXI might be a generic Chinese brand, but they’re the first to make GameCube WaveBird style Joy-Cons that slide onto the Switch and include a centerpiece to turn them into a controller. This got me really excited and I love my original WaveBird. The excellent purple (Indigo) color brings back memories that I wish I had as I didn’t play GameCube games until I was an adult.

The controller itself feels good in the hand. It has a nice weight, doesn’t feel super cheap, and looks the part. The button arrangement on the front is just like the original GameCube controller. There are a few changes such as added turbo buttons (I personally don’t ever use these) and there are two buttons on top where the Z button normally is on the GameCube to represent L and R. There are also two buttons where the grips are and these can be reprogramed to be anything you want. While all this seems fine the controller does have some flaws.

First off, the buttons don’t feel all that great to press. There’s a cheap hollow pinginess to them and the shoulder buttons are micro switches rather than rubber domes. It’s an unsatisfying feel and most people will be turned off by this. The controller buttons are also very loud. The large A button makes a loud clunking sound. This is a huge letdown despite how good it feels in the hand.

The analog sticks work just fine and the right stick has an interchangeable direction gate to make it like the default 8-way gate or a regular round one. The 8-way gate would be great for the N64 emulator on the Switch. As a bonus, the face buttons are backlit which was a really nice touch and looks pretty cool. I just wish the joysticks lit up as well. They of course make the Switch incredibly bulky when used in portable mode. Especially the OLED Switch. It makes the entire system nearly a foot long! Another small annoyance is the overly bright status lights on top. They won’t turn off and outshine the otherwise nice glow of the face buttons. It’s a distraction.

Are you ready for the worst part of the controller? The vibration function. One side is about double the strength of the other side. This makes no sense. You can adjust the vibration strength with a button combo, but I had to put the stronger side all the way down to match. This isn’t all. It’s incredibly loud. You can hear the motors vibrate and shake the controller. It’s some of the worst vibration functions I’ve ever seen. For the high asking price, I’d expect more. This definitely looks better as a display piece or for casual emulation rather than a main controller.

Overall, the NYXI Wizard controller is a note nostalgia trip, but for anyone who may not have fond memories might want to stay away. The buttons don’t feel that great, the controller creaks and the vibration function is awful. I do appreciate the backlit buttons and the interchangeable analog gate, but it’s not enough to offset the weaknesses.

Logitech G502 X Plus Lightspeed

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 04/29/2023
Posted in: Hardware, Linux, Mac, PC Reviews. Leave a comment

I’m not one to buy mice very often. Maybe once every 2-3 years just like keyboards. I already had the G502 Lightspeed, but what prompted me to spend $160 on a simple upgrade? Well, it’s worth it to me, but anyone who is seeking a high-end gaming mouse should look no further.

The mouse retains the signature G502 ergonomics and look. The X Plus means the mouse is a bit heavier at 114 grams over the original’s 104 grams, has better button switches, and has a removable sniper button that can disable it this time around. Best of all, the battery life has doubled with RGB off clocking in at 130 hours and around 40 with RGB on. The scroll wheel has also been updated. The RGB lights are now across the palm of the mouse rather than just the Logitech G logo. It’s a fantastic update and well worth the money in my opinion.

This may seem small compared to the original Lightspeed mouse, but it feels better and it’s the small things that matter here. The weight helps quite a bit, the buttons feel more clicky and less mushy, and the RGB effects are awesome. While the battery life has doubled the RGB lights are very bright, so turning them down to 50% can net you upwards of 50 hours easily. If you have the Power Play mat you don’t need to worry about charging ever again, but that’s another $120, and most may not care for that. Who games for 50 hours straight?

The addition and update to USB-C is really nice as well. You can use any USB-C cable as there is no weird proprietary shape for the port this time around. The software lets you customize the RGB effects, change power settings, and set macros or change what the extra buttons do. It’s nothing special, but the Logitech G Hub is nice and clean, and simple to use.

The G502 series has been my favorite mouse over the last 5 years and that doesn’t seem to like it will change any time soon. With a Power Play mat I can foresee this being the perfect wireless mouse setup. At the price of $160, it’s high-end, but well worth the price if you want great RGB effects, good battery life, and probably the best mouse sensor on the market right now. I don’t know who is crazy enough to have a 25,000 DPI setting on their mouse, but it’s there. I only go as high as maybe 4,000. The addition of USB-C puts this mouse in 2023 and beyond. I can’t recommend this one enough.

Jsaux Upgraded Carrying Case for Steam Deck

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 04/04/2023
Posted in: Hardware, Linux, PC Reviews. Leave a comment

The case that the Steam Deck ships in is fine on its own. The fact that a console ship in a protective case that’s used as the packing material in the box is revolutionary and should be done more. Sadly, the case for the highest-end Steam Deck is the only one that’s really great. Even so, there’s no storage inside the case, and as time has moved on and we’re one year into the Deck’s life many accessories have come out and you need more storage. Jsaux has come to the rescue with a larger case that has more room.

The case feels similar to the standard Deck case. It’s made of a canvas-type material and feels great on the inside. There’s a fold-out piece that stores SD cards and has a molded inlay just like the original case. Everything is the same there. What makes this case magical is that this molded layer flips out and reveals the bottom of the case that can be filled with a charger, cable, dock or anything else you want. The hinge of the flip-out layer has elastic along with the edge of the zipper. This allows the case to expand when large items are put in the bottom and zipped up with ease.

I was also to put the Jsaux dock, cleaning cloth, Anker charger, and 10′ USB-C cable and still had room inside. It all zipped up easily and didn’t put much stress on the zipper. There’s a nice rubberized handle to carry it around with and the grey color is nice too. The outer shell is also made of a tough foam so which will protect it from falls and drops so there’s no need to worry there.

Overall, the new case is fantastic and a must-have for those who have extra accessories for the Deck. Even if you just want your charger more protected and not on the underside exposed like on the original case this would be fine as well. Just know that this makes the case very bulky and heavy. It’s massive and may not even fit into most small bags because of this, but it is sturdy and protects the Deck nicely.

Logitech G915 Lightspeed Full-Size – Clicky

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 03/25/2023
Posted in: Hardware, Linux, Mac, PC Reviews. Leave a comment

Price: $229.99

Colors: Black/White

Release Date: 05/2020

Keyboards aren’t something I buy very often. Good keyboards are really expensive and are even more personal than mice. The weight of the board itself, the looks, keycaps, switches, layout, and everything can get very complicated for some. I tend to go for high-end gaming keyboards and usually wait 2-3 years before purchasing a new one. Wireless keyboards have kind of been terrible recently especially gaming keyboards with RGB lighting. I’ve always been fine with wired keyboards as they always stay put, but they do need cable management and their cables can sometimes be very thick. A positive side of wired keyboards is USB pass-throughs which would drain a wireless keyboard.

I cut the cord on mice 15 years ago. The technology for responsive mice has been here for a very long time. This is my first wireless gaming keyboard and I was very skeptical at first. There are three key types available. I chose clicky as I have heavy hands and like the sound of bright clicks. There is also a tenkeyless version available as well. When taking the keyboard out of the box I have to say that this is the thinnest keyboard I’ve ever seen. It’s so sleek and low profile. The brushed aluminum is also a nice touch. Despite the thinness, it’s surprisingly weighty. It also sports feet to raise the back up higher.

I was sad to see the plug is USB mini and not USB-C. It comes with a wireless dongle and a USB cable for charging. You will notice how close the keys are compared to other keyboards. The caps are low profile so they are similar to some laptop keys, but the switches are nothing like that. Logitech is using unpopular GL switches here so there are almost no third-party keycaps available on the market. I’m not sure if Logitech did that on purpose or if it was just bad judgment. The typing feel on this keyboard is very nice and I can rest my hands on the home row without the keys pressing just from the weight of my fingers resting.

I’m not the biggest fan of the other keys as they are soft rubber and not solid buttons. I’m glad there are dedicated media keys here and a volume wheel and the texture of the buttons is kind of velvety. It’s a bit odd. At least there is a bit of an indentation in each key so you know if you are on one. There are four profile keys, wireless selection, a game mode button, and a brightness button. There is a battery indicator light at the top. It lets you know when your battery is below or above 15%. You can also press a key combination to change between RGB patterns that are in the internal memory. You technically don’t even need Logitech G Hub software.

The software itself is used for setting macros, changing power settings, creating shortcuts, and changing the lighting. The keyboard allows for animations as well if you want to get technical and fancy. You can also see how much power you’re consuming based off of current settings. The battery can last about 30 hours with full RGB brightness. I tend to reduce mine to around 70% and I get nearly 40 hours. With RGB off you can easily get over 100 hours of battery life according to the software.

Overall, the G915 Lightspeed is a fantastic keyboard. The slim profile, brushed metal, and fantastic clicky GL keys feel really nice. I wish the extra buttons were more tactile and not a squishy velvety rubber, but at least they’re there. There is also no palm rest which is surprising for the premium price you are paying and it’s not USB-C. I’m impressed with the battery life quite a bit and overall it’s just an incredibly solid keyboard and is a delight to type if you like clicky keys.

Microsoft Xbox Series X|S Wireless Controller

Posted by BinaryMessiah on 03/12/2023
Posted in: Android, Hardware, iOS, Linux, Mac, Microsoft Consoles, Mobile Reviews, PC Reviews, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S. Leave a comment

Microsoft isn’t someone to mess with when it comes to controllers. Sure, the original Duke is lauded as one of the worst controllers ever made, and it has its fans, but the Xbox S controller really changed things up. Not to mention their analog stick orientation which is copied to this day by even Nintendo. The Xbox controller made built-in headset plugs a thing too. The Xbox 360 controller was considered the best controller ever made at the time. The ergonomics were fantastic and the later improved rotating D-Pad was a huge plus. The Xbox One controller only made things better with bumper button rumble, and just overall improved ergonomics and build quality. Microsoft messes the least amount with their controllers. They just like making it feel good and work. They also have a battery fetish that a lot of people don’t care for.

Fast forward to today and we have Microsoft’s next-generation controller. It’s probably the least changed compared to other companies, but it continues its design DNA. The ergonomics are slightly tweaked still, the built quality feels even better, and they took the idea of the rotating D-pad and the D-pad from their Elite controllers and made it standard. Xbox has the best D-pad out of all three companies. The bowl-shaped D-pad works so well with fighting games as it feels almost like an arcade stick. It’s very clicky and detents in the right spots. You can roll your thumb around for those quarter-circle moves with ease.

The trigger texture is also improved and feels very bumpy and gritty. The haptic feedback hasn’t changed either, but I guess that’s okay. It’s a stark contrast to Sony’s fantastic DuelSense controller. There isn’t much tech packed into this controller either. It’s probably the most basic controller available right now, but many gamers prefer that. You still get a headset input at the bottom and that’s about it. This feels like the Xbox One 1.5 update rather than a next-gen controller. There is an added share button in the center with Microsoft taking notes from Sony from the DualShock 4 controller. This makes sense with streaming and social media has blown up since the Xbox One debuted. The controller does have a USB-C port just like the DualSense so I applaud Microsoft for not making me get out the USB micro.

You still get your Bluetooth functionality, and they are still using AA batteries. Some praise this as that means this controller will always work and you won’t need to get a battery in a few years and tear it apart. Some hate it saying it’s not very modern of them to do. You can get rechargeable AA which I have been doing since the Xbox 360 era so there’s no need to whine.

Overall, the Xbox Series X|S controller is the least changed, but it still works. Microsoft is the poster child for “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” USB-C is nice with the added texture to the bumpers and triggers, but the biggest change is the D-pad. It just feels great. If you liked the Xbox controller up until now then you won’t be disappointed.