Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I got my Retron 3 today and it already replaced my Genesis and SNES. It's very lightweight and the build quality is definitely not up there with Nintendo or Sega, but it looks decent (the gray one, not the red one) and does what is advertised. It's very convenient to go from playing Genesis to SNES with just a flick of the knob instead of having to plug and unplug av cables, in addition to how much shelf space and power outlet space it saves. On the NES side, there is composite video and dual mono output (s-video doesn't work on NES). For Genesis and SNES, there is composite video, s-video, and stereo audio output. Composite video on NES is ok, but it's very dark for Genesis and SNES. It's not really a problem since it's better to use s-video for Genesis and SNES anyways. Compared to composite, s-video output is very sharp and bright. Even the standard Genesis systems don't feature s-video output, so this is a very nice feature of the Retron 3. Since the NES side doesn't work with s-video, it is a bit annoying to have to plug and unplug the s-video cable to play NES games. The Genesis sound is a little inaccurate. I noticed in Sagaia that the sound effects are louder than the music and a bit of the soundtrack is off key. Also, there is a little buzzing noise on NES and Genesis games. I can live with it. At least it doesn't sound totally butchered up like the Atgames Genesis clones. Most of my other games don't sound too different than on a model 1 Genesis. SNES sound is perfect. I don't know how accurate the NES sound is since I never owned one. The packed-in wireless controllers are only good for NES games. For Genesis, not only are the A/B buttons swapped, but so are the X/Y buttons. Sometimes I forgot and pressed the wrong buttons. For SNES, L is C and R is Z, unlike what the box and the back of the controller suggests. These controllers don't work too well for games like F-Zero or Mario Kart where you have to use L/R and the face buttons at the same time. The controllers use IR so you have to point them at the system. I would have gladly paid more for RF controllers like the ones that are included with Yobo's FC-16 Go. I also noticed the problem with rapidly pressing a button or the dpad and not having all the presses registered. Also, the diagonals on the dpad aren't very good. This controller is totally useless for fighting games and beat-em-ups. Fortunately the controller ports don't have any problems so you'll want to use your original NES/SNES/Genesis controllers. Also, the NES and Genesis cartridge slots have some sort of deathgrip. I have to press against the system so that I don't lift the whole thing while I attempt to yank the cartridge out. The SNES slot is surprisingly smooth and easy to insert and remove cartridges. I've heard from other Retron 3 owners that Street Fighter Alpha 2 (SNES) doesn't work, but it works perfectly fine on mine. Here's my game compatibility list: Working: Genesis: Air Diver Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle Alien Storm Altered Beast Art of Fighting Ayrton Senna's Super Monaco GP II Battletoads Battletoads/Double Dragon Beyond Oasis Bimini Run Bonanza Brothers Bubsy II Budokan: The Martial Spirit Burning Force Championship Pro-Am Chase H.Q. 2 Chiki Chiki Boys Columns Comix Zone Crossfire Cyborg Justice Dashin' Desperadoes Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf Double Dragon Double Dragon 3: The Arcade Game Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun Ecco the Dolphin El Viento Elemental Master Eternal Champions Gadget Twins Ghouls 'n Ghosts Golden Axe Golden Axe II (pack-in controller's Mode button doesn't seem to do anything, so you have to use original Genesis controller) Gynoug (European) The Humans Jungle Strike King of the Monsters Lotus II: RECS Lotus Turbo Challenge Marble Madness Mega Bomberman Mercs Mortal Kombat Mortal Kombat 3 Mortal Kombat II Ms. Pac-Man Paperboy Paperboy 2 Phantasy Star IV Phelios Pit-Fighter Populous Ranger X The Revenge of Shinobi Road Rash Road Rash 3 Road Rash II Rocket Knight Adventures Sagaia Samurai Shodown Saturday Night Slam Masters Shadow Blasters Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Maste Sol-Deace Sonic & Knuckles (and any lock-on combination) Sonic 3D Blast Sonic Classics Sonic Spinball Sonic the Hedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Space Harrier II (European) Steel Empire Street Fighter II -- Special Champion Edition Streets of Rage Streets of Rage 2 Streets of Rage 3 Strider Sub Terrania Super Hang-On Super Monaco GP Super Street Fighter II Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist Thunder Force II Thunder Force III ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron Top Gear 2 Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 Urban Strike Valis III Vectorman Virtua Fighter 2 Virtual Pinball Whip Rush SNES: Darius Twin Donkey Kong Country Gradius III HyperZone Mario Paint Mortal Kombat Mortal Kombat 3 PilotWings Sim City Star Fox Street Fighter Alpha 2 Street Fighter II Stunt Race FX Super Bomberman 2 Super Double Dragon Super Mario All-Stars Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World Super Mario Kart Super Mario RPG (I heard only version 1.0 of the game works, so mine must be one of them) Super Mario World Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island Super Nova Super R-Type Super Star Wars Thunder Spirits Top Gear Top Gear 2 U.N. Squadron Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game NES: Batman Pro Wrestling Ring King Super Mario Bros. Super Mario Bros. 2 Super Mario Bros. 3 Non-working: Genesis: Ecco: The Tides of Time Virtua Racing NES: Dragon Warrior Laser Invasion Accessory compatibility list: Working: official controller (SNES) Performance Superpad (SNES) official 3-button controller (Genesis) official 6-button controller (Genesis) official 3-button Megafire controller (Genesis) official/Majesco 6-button turbo controller; 6-button-style casing (Genesis) official/Majesco 6-button turbo controller; 3-button-style casing (Genesis) official 6-button arcade stick (Genesis) Game Genie (Genesis) Non-working: official wireless controller (Genesis) - controller port spacing is different so receiver won't fit; might work with extension cables Acclaim Dual Turbo wireless controller (Genesis) - same issue as above