First Encounter with the V10: An Unexpected Surprise During Hospitalization

Just to be clear: this isn’t a 2026 “must-buy.” It’s a $20 surplus-unit experience.

The real value is GBA pixel-perfect display, not strong performance for every console.

ArkOS is no longer updated on this device, so it only handles basic emulation well.

The $20 price on Xianyu may not be replicable for buyers outside China.

I recently bought a surplus unit. The price-to-performance ratio is still very high, but it may not be suitable for everyone.

Last summer, I was sick and spent a month in the hospital. The internet connection there was quite poor. I thought about buying an open-source handheld to play games, and I stumbled upon the PowKiddy V10. It was cheap, and the gaming experience was decent. This handheld left a deep impression on me. It supports 2x pixel-perfect scaling for GBA games, which looks very different from playing on a phone emulator.

Although this technology is common now, for me personally, the open-source handhelds I bought before the V10 were not suitable for playing GBA games. This device gave me a different experience.

The Awkward Positioning of Being Born Too Late

Recently, I found surplus stock on Xianyu, a Chinese second-hand marketplace owned by Alibaba, priced at only 138 CNY (about $20 USD). It was brand new, a great deal, so I bought a second one.

Its biggest problem is that it was released quite late. The PowKiddy V10 launched in China in July 2024 with a starting price of 198 CNY. However, there are already too many handhelds that can play GBA games with pixel-perfect scaling, such as the Miyoo Mini Plus and the Anbernic RG35XX (2024 version), which have already matured this kind of experience. It has an obvious product positioning problem: players who demand high performance won't choose it, and players who want a hassle-free experience might buy more expensive handhelds.

Hardware Review: A GBA Beast, PS1 is Passable

The specifications of this handheld are as follows. Its biggest feature is that it plays GBA games very well.

There is a habit among Chinese handheld reviewers to test using the GBA game Dragon Ball Advance Adventure. The reason is that this game has vibrant graphics, making it easy to see the display quality of a screen. There is an interesting meme circulating among players: "Did you hit pixel-perfect today?" Many veteran GBA players care about this. The display effect is shown in the picture. Of course, you can use it for testing, and the game itself is quite fun.

Secondly, playing PS1 games is also not bad. Although it is not as suitable as playing GBA games, most games run relatively smoothly. Some games with higher hardware requirements may suffer from frame rate drops. I have no complaints about the hardware, especially since it is quite cheap.

Software Shortcomings: Discontinued System and Pain Points

However, the software aspect is quite average.

First, it does not support independent volume and brightness adjustment buttons; you can only achieve this using button combinations. Also, it defaults to maximum brightness and volume upon reboot. Second, the system updates have stopped. The ArkOS system uses EmulationStation as the default frontend, with RetroArch as the emulator backend. It can only meet basic functional needs. Finally, the DS gaming experience is very poor. It lacks a touchscreen, the screen aspect ratio is uncomfortable, and gameplay isn't very smooth.

Quick ArkOS Hotkeys

If you are new to ArkOS, these common hotkeys may help. On many ArkOS devices, Select + Start exits a game and returns to EmulationStation. Select + R1 saves a state, and Select + L1 loads a state. Select + X usually opens the in-game RetroArch menu. Brightness and volume are often controlled through combination keys rather than dedicated buttons, but the exact mapping can vary by device and firmware version. For the PowKiddy V10, it is best to check the current ArkOS build or test the hotkeys directly.

Buying Advice: Is the $20 Surplus Unit Worth It?

I believe that in today’s open-source handheld market, the system experience takes priority over the hardware itself. It is very suitable for playing GBA games, but that is about it. I hope you truly need the PowKiddy V10, rather than choosing it just because it is cheap. It is best to apply a tempered glass screen protector, otherwise, it easily collects fingerprints.

If you have a budget of $20 USD, would you choose to buy this handheld? Or would you spend a bit more for a safer choice?

All images in this article are from the internet, used only to illustrate the era. Copyright belongs to the original authors. The stories are all my own real memories.

This is not a review, and it's not a recommendation. It's a personal memory of a platform that once truly existed and now survives only as a shadow in emulators. For readers in English-speaking countries, this is probably a piece of internet archaeology from a parallel world.

I first brought this up with a friend online. He said he'd come across many platforms, but had never heard of Bubble Games. That surprised me, and it's partly why I decided to write this memory down.

When people talk about internet memories, many think first of dial-up. But in China there was a period when many people's internet memories came from agame platform on shanzhai phones — Bubble Games (in Chinese: 冒泡游戏, literally "bubbles emerging"). I used "Bubble" as a direct translation earlier, but "emerging bubbles" is actually the more authentic meaning for this platform.

Shanzhai phones could suddenly go online, and that itself was an accidental experience. They were very different from the regular armies like Nokia and iPhone. Back then many Chinese shanzhai phones were based on the MTK platform. We generally had no concept of specs. We thought a loud speaker, a touchscreen, long battery life, durability, a flashy look, and a low price were the biggest selling points — not whether the system was easy to use or how powerful the hardware was.

In 2009, Bubble Games was launched and operated by Sky Mobi, and it could run on these shanzhai feature phones. Many middle-aged migrant workers in rural areas couldn't afford a computer or a Nokia phone, but they still wanted to get online. All they had to do was type *#220807# into an off-brand phone and they could enter Bubble Games. You could use your SIM card's data to download all kinds of games, and there were even chat, web browsing, and music apps. You can think of Bubble Games as an app store.

My first phone that could go online wasn't a Nokia or an iPhone — it was a Changhong Hummer, a feature phone from a home appliance brand. Changhong no longer makes phones. Its selling points were low price, good quality, and long battery life. It was not a smartphone, cost less than about $150, and became the most popular phone in my small town.

There were two versions. The upgraded version could run J2ME (Java) games; the standard version didn't have that function but had a built-in Bubble Games entry, so you didn't need to type *#220807# to play. As a kid I didn't understand any of this. I thought the upgraded version couldn't play Bubble games and that downloading games was a hassle, so I chose the standard version without hesitation.

Back then mobile data cost 5 yuan for 30MB (about $0.70 at the time). Bubble games took up less than 1MB, and their graphics and gameplay were relatively simple, but they hold a lot of Chinese people's mobile internet memories.

The billing traps of that era, and users' cat-and-mouse games with them

Most of the games on Bubble were shanzhai works and ports from other platforms; only a small portion were original. They used an in-app purchase model — mainly selling game items.

I was in elementary school then. I really liked a shoot-'em-up game, even though it had a lot of shanzhai elements. I remember one level I could never get past. After failing, it offered to revive me immediately for 2 yuan (about $0.30), upgrade equipment for 5 yuan (about $0.70), or unlock the best equipment for 10 yuan (about $1.40). I really wanted to get past it and spent 10 yuan — but it only worked for one round. It wasn't a one-time purchase.

I also remember a side-scrolling action game. Its tutorial level drew me in, but then it said I needed to pay 2 yuan to unlock the next level. I didn't have much phone credit at the time. I wanted to choose "cancel payment," but another pop-up appeared asking me to confirm whether to pay. I didn't understand the trick back then. I didn't know that in Chinese grammar, a double negative means an affirmative. I thought I was choosing not to pay, but it turned out I paid. I saw "processing payment" and, to avoid the payment going through, I panicked, turned off the phone, and pulled the battery — but it was too late. After that, whenever this happened, I would turn off the phone or pull the battery in advance. Tech-savvy users back then had cracked the billing, but I never went through that. I could only use the dumb method to deal with the charges. The following method comes from the internet.

Change the phone's SMS center number to a specific overseas number. Among them, +447785012998 was a "code" almost everyone in player circles knew back then. It apparently stopped working later — of course, I only looked this up recently when recalling all this.

"Some readers might ask: what if I had chosen the upgraded Changhong Hummer back then? My dad used the upgraded version. It came with Plants vs. Zombies, and it didn't seem to charge via SMS — I vaguely remember it being charged through data traffic, but I'm not even sure. I just couldn't understand how a single-player game could cost me money at all. I also remember other off-brand feature phones that charged for Bluetooth transfers too, without clearly telling you, let alone having any payment password."

Back then, there was no payment password. Even if you complained to the carrier, as a kid, you had no way to get the money back. So pulling the battery was our only "physical defense."

Big fun on a small screen: Fantasy Three Kingdoms OL gave me a whole new experience

Before Bubble Games, I played FC and MD games on a compatible console. Because Chinese pirates often picked games with no save function, I thought every game had to start over from the beginning. But Fantasy Three Kingdoms OL gave me a whole new experience. It had a built-in save function — close the game and open it again, and your progress was still there. For me, used to "starting from scratch every time," that alone was a shock. To be clear, though, this is my personal memory, not a shared experience of most Chinese players.

First, it was a turn-based RPG online game. You could create a character and team up with other players to fight enemies. These designs seem ordinary now, but to me back then they were amazing. So I could actually make friends with strangers. Besides the Three Kingdoms theme, how could there be no Journey to the West? For Chinese people, their status is important. Journey to the West OL gave me a feeling that emphasized strategy more. I even gave myself some very domineering names, though my skill level was very limited.

Epilogue: How I see Bubble Games, and can you still play it now? In my view, Bubble Games was a special product of China's national conditions, a way of getting online during a period when mobile internet was underdeveloped. Maybe many people look down on it and think it's a scam, very low-end. But I want to say it did let some people come into contact with the internet. I'm not saying it was good — it's an experience from China's mobile internet era that needs to be remembered.

Unfortunately, now you can only play it through Mrpoid2, an MRP emulator. You ask me whether these games are still worth playing? I'd say apart from nostalgia, it's more about curiosity. As for the game ROMs, you can look them up yourself.

Just to add a bit of context: a friend told me it might have been running on MTK's Nucleus OS with a custom layer. But I'm still completely clueless about how the Bluetooth billing worked.

To all the hardware and software geeks here: I still don't know how they managed to charge via GPRS data for a single-player game (this is just my guess), or how Bluetooth transfers could trigger phone bills. If any devs know the trick, please enlighten me! I'd love to hear the technical magic behind this 2009 Shanzhai ecosystem.

First of all: This is a Chinese fan-made project. Not official merchandise, not genuine game, just for fun.

Here is what happened. I seemingly got the NS2 launch title Pokémon Emerald for only $14. The seller said he had exclusive access, and even claimed his friend worked on manufacturing NS2 game cartridges.

He sounded really confident. I thought if I could get this for $14, posting it online would blow up. He told me this was top secret, do not share it publicly, and he would send me more updates later.

Three days later I got the package. What was inside was nothing like what I expected. I thought the NS2 Pokémon Emerald box looked a little small… And it works perfectly on 20-year-old GBA and DS consoles! I get it now. Nintendo wants old players to enjoy this game. I want to ask everyone, did I get scammed?

The big reveal

Actually, I had a buddy in the modding community build this for me at cost (total $14): The cart is based on the open-source Chis Flash PCB with RTC support (cost $11, playing this romhack while waiting for my authentic copy to arrive), and I added a standard blank GBA cart ($3) just to round out the order. Let's keep it on the down-low—he only charged me for the pure hardware and DIY labor, this is absolutely NOT some scalper flipping roms for profit.

Box: A fan-made NS2-style GBA storage case from another shop. I originally planned to buy a normal case and found this by accident. The maker likes NS2 cartridge boxes and is a veteran GBA player, so he made this custom case. It uses a tape-style outer shell + 3D printed PLA inner tray + custom high-res cover art. Single unit costs $3.5, discount if you buy three. I also pretended I own GBA Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure and Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow. Genuine physical copies of these three GBA games are very expensive right now. These are great for personal play!

Disclaimer: My friend only charged for the bare PCB hardware. Theoretically, you can put any GBA game into this shell and flashcart.

Lastly, for hardware mod fans, I share a comparison picture of chips used on different homemade GBA cartridges. What is fully integrated hard-packaged chip? What is COB soft-packaged "cow dung chip"? You can see the difference clearly. Decide yourself if it is for collection or casual play.

Quick info: Chis Flash is a well-known open-source GBA flash cart project from the Chinese homebrew community. People can order PCBs and solder it themselves. It focuses on RTC and low cost.

The above is personal testing and community feedback, not purchase advice. Please decide based on your own needs and budget. When I researched flash carts recently, I played GBA ROM hacks. I kept getting crushed when playing Pokemon ROM hacks on Air. I found save states were a lifesaver. Later I got the EZ Flash DE-B, and immediately the experience felt completely different.

Disclaimer This article refers to the selling price of distributors in China. The actual final price is subject to the distributor. If you want to ask about game compatibility, please include the specific game version number in your comment for reference. Due to copyright and community rules, I will not share related ROMs, and I hope everyone complies. Based on my own tests and community feedback, actual performance varies by firmware version and game.

This test uses a DS console. First, the conclusion: EZ Flash DE-B is not a replacement for Air. They have completely different positioning. If you play GBA seriously, especially Pokemon ROM hacks, the experience is noticeably better. $44.70(dealer price at the time of writing, final price subject to actual cost). I hesitated for two days before ordering. Now I think it is worth it — not because the spec sheet looks good, but because I no longer need to fight with the cartridge. I own three cartridges that support RTC (real-time clock): Chis Flash RTC, EZ Flash Air, DE-B. Chis Flash is cheap, suitable for DIY users who like soldering. Air has good value for money, great for carrying around and playing during commutes. DE-B costs more, but it shifts your focus from troubleshooting the cartridge to enjoying the game.

I used to have a misunderstanding. I thought the NOR area was just extra storage. It was not until I used DE-B to play a 32MB ROM hack. When I booted it from NOR for the first time, the load speed was as fast as an official cartridge. That’s when I fully understood — NOR is not storage warehouse, it’s a race track. I used to take the bus, now I can drive.

Hardware: 512Mb + 960Mb NOR area, supports ROMs up to 512Mb (previous limit was only 256Mb). Total NOR flash capacity is 960Mb, with roughly 120MB usable space (M here is the common Mb unit for flash carts, converts to around 120MB, enough for several 32MB ROMs to swap between). You can delete any ROM in NOR and flash new ones freely. Press START to check usage status with one click. These two upgrades look minor, but they are really convenient in actual use.

Power consumption: According to community test results (tested under same brightness, same game and same battery state), it uses roughly 30% less power than EZO and SC carts. It draws slightly more power than official cartridges, and a little more than EDX5 Mini. From my personal experience, for a 2-hour round trip commute, DE-B drains battery noticeably slower than Air. No strict instrument tests were done, for reference only.

The new cart and EZO do not require kernel files on the TF card. You can just put games on it and play. However, kernel update files are not interchangeable. It uses FRAM chip for saves. The battery on the cart only powers the real-time clock. Normally, after FRAM saves, the save file will automatically write to the saver file on the memory card on every boot. So saves will never be lost no matter how long the battery lasts. Rumble support works for all NDS games that need rumble expansion pak, plus GBA Drill Dozer. When inserted into NDSL, it sticks out a little bit, same as official GBA cartridges. This is normal. It does not affect insertion and removal. Just pick a slightly loose case; it will not press against the joystick.

GB/GBC/FC games run via emulators, not native hardware compatibility.

Compatibility: DE-B supports about the same range of games as Air. The differences are mainly in loading method, smoothness and patch support. Some 32MB GBA games loaded from memory card perform nearly the same as Air. Games with heavy text and frequent scene changes like Mother 3 do not feel like waiting for the cart. Demanding games like Tekken Advance can run smoothly directly from the memory card without flashing to NOR. This is a very important feature. Previously everyone assumed large games had to be flashed into NOR. Now DE-B gives you an option: just play directly if you don’t want to flash.

Patch and Chinese support are what I find noticeably better than Air. Patched Chinese ROMs you downloaded can be played directly after loading. For Pokemon ROM hack players, it removes the worry of “will this even run”. My friend and I tested several patches, and DE-B is much more stable.

Mode B is one of the key differences between DE-B and Air. It has three powerful features: GBA & DS game link, Pokemon series data transfer, and rumble support for selected games. Single-cart mode can flash the first ROM on the list into NOR for standalone play.

Pokemon series data transfer: I tested transfers from GBA Gen3 to NDS Gen4. Multiple transfers completed without failure. Still, I recommend saving before transfer. Some hacked ROMs need separate testing for transfer compatibility.

Real experience: I played a Pokemon ROM hack on Air. Opponent’s team was far higher level. I fought for almost an hour, nearly getting wiped out every time. Air has no save states, so I had to use cheats to modify HP to get through. After switching to DE-B, I pressed L+R+START to make a save state halfway through the battle. I went out for a 30-minute walk, then came back and kept playing, and won on the first try.

Save states are not perfect: some games occasionally have audio glitches after loading a save state. It is recommended to create multiple save state slots and alternate between them. Also, alternate between save states and in-game saves; do not rely only on save states.

It is best to turn off cheats when making save states to avoid compatibility issues.

DE-B can also play official GBA movies. It is not practical today, but it lets new players know this feature really existed back then.

3-cart comparison: Chis Flash RTC ($14.65, dealer price at time of writing): For hands-on DIY users. You need to solder, flash firmware and configure save solutions yourself. It offers high freedom, but it is not plug-and-play.

Air (great value): Good for casual play and carrying around for commutes. But when you play Pokemon ROM hacks where save states are critical, you will miss DE-B.

DE-B (,$44.70 dealer price at time of writing): The extra cost shifts your effort from troubleshooting the cartridge to enjoying the game. If you play Pokemon ROM hacks seriously, use Chinese translation patches, or even want to try official GBA movies, this is worth the money.

I am not saying DE-B replaces any other cart. They have different positioning. But if you ask which cart to pick for serious GBA play, my answer is clear.

Back to my history of troubleshooting: Over the years using flash carts, I dealt with lost saves on SC carts, struggled through games using cheats on Air, and now with DE-B I can make a save state, go for a walk and resume playing. The hassle has not gone away, it just moved. Previously I fought with the cartridge. Now I fight with the game. For me, that is enough.

At 44.70 $, I am very satisfied for this price range. Firmware is still being updated, so it will get better over time. I tested with the stock firmware that came with the cart. I suggest checking for the latest firmware after you receive it before testing compatibility, as experience may vary between firmware versions. If you want to confirm compatibility for a specific game, leave a comment with its exact version number and I will test and reply.

Thanks for reading.

Hope your next flash cart lets you spend less time fighting the cartridge and more time fighting in the game.

A few days ago, after I published my review of the Super Chis, I received a lot of recognition from netizens, which gave me a lot of motivation to keep writing articles about GBA flashcarts. Today I want to talk about the EZ Flash Air that I recently got—another new product from the EZ Flash team. Even if you don't choose it after reading my review, that doesn't change the fact that it's still worth paying attention to.

Disclaimer: Technical details are based on the official manual and community resources, and all gameplay impressions come from my own hands-on testing. Prices refer to those from distributors in China (the actual price depends on the card you get). Game compatibility is for reference only—there are simply too many games, so some omissions are unavoidable.

An advanced GBA flashcart using a new architecture. Many people assume the EZ Flash Air is an entry-level product the moment they hear about it, and I thought the same myself. But after playing with it for two weeks, I found that it's actually a "trickle-down advanced model"—it inherits many practical new features from the EZ Flash DE-B, while making its own trade-offs.

Of course, the EZ Flash Air is not a completely weakened version of the EZ Flash DE-B—it also has its own characteristics and target audience. Let me start with the conclusion: in one sentence, if you're on a limited budget but still want to experience new features, the Air is a choice that can keep you caught up with the pack. If you want to try a new experience, you can go ahead and buy it, but be prepared to change your usage habits. If you want better compatibility and a more convenient experience, please choose the EZ Flash DE-B. If you already own an EZ Flash DE, this article is very suitable for you to read—just treat it as a way to learn about the EZ Flash team's product lineup.

The biggest difference between the EZ Flash Air and previous products: it uses a new hardware architecture. There's a design you may not be used to: games can only be played after being flashed to NOR first. Each game only needs to be flashed once, but it also requires waiting 1-3 minutes. The card's built-in NOR has about 120MB of actual usable space (officially claimed as 960Mb), which means that for regular GBA ROM files, you can flash about 5-7 of them, with the specific number depending on the ROM size.

Current latest firmware kernel: FW5 K1.06. EZ Flash AIR gains the ability to delete games freely and NOR check feature after update. However, it has some features that entry-level flashcarts lack: it supports RTC (real-time clock) and Mode B (rumble and linking). These used to be features only found on high-end flashcarts, and they're both practical and fun. I don't think everyone needs to choose the EZ Flash DE-B—why not first take a look at my gameplay experience with Mode B before making a choice? That way you'll have a better understanding of your real needs.

The practical and fun Mode B, and the compromises of the EZ Flash Air. The EZ Flash Air, the EZ Flash DE-B, and the previous-generation EZ Flash DE all come with Mode B, and the core experience is similar. The most fundamental differences lie in the hardware and the design philosophy. EZ Flash products released even earlier do not support Mode B.

The Mode A / Mode B toggle switch is in the upper right corner of the flashcart, above the memory card slot, on the side—you'll need a card ejector tool.

Let me first explain the difference between Mode B and the traditional Mode A: Mode A is suitable for everyday gaming, and is more streamlined and stable; Mode B adds three functions—rumble pak, memory expansion pak, and linking/single-card mode. Although these three functions aren't essential, you can experience the interesting designs of that era, which is also a kind of experience, I suppose. · Rumble Pak: can serve as a rumble pak for the DS, and can also be used to play GBA games that have rumble functionality. · Memory Expansion Pak (RAM): uses the flashcart as a memory expansion pak for the DS, for use with the browser or homebrew programs. · Linking/Single-Card Mode (LINK): linking mode can exchange data with, for example, Pokémon games on the DS; single-card mode lets you use a game flashed to NOR as a standalone cartridge, and it supports switching to a different game.

Let me talk about my actual gameplay experience. I played The King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood, and this game supports the GBA's native rumble functionality. It gave me a very novel experience—it's just so cleverly designed.

When the character I was using and the opponent attacked each other, I could feel the feedback—I just want to say this feature was designed just right. I haven't used the memory expansion pak much; after looking up some information, I found it was used more during the early DS era, and nowadays it's more of a feature with nostalgic significance. I'm not very skilled with the linking function, since I've just started playing the Pokémon series. Simply put, you can transfer Pokémon to play across games—this feature is amazing, and I really admire the creativity of the DS back then.

Having talked about these three features, what I mainly want to discuss now is single-card mode.

First of all, as a game in single-card mode, it must be flashed to NOR. Playing games in single-card mode does not require a memory card. EZ Flash Air currently has a limitation: only the first game in the list can be used in single-card mode. The EZ Flash DE and EZ Flash DE-B do not have this limitation. Some people say this feature isn't practical and that it's more cost-effective to just insert a memory card, but I want to say that this feature is meaningful.

Let me first talk separately about the ChisFlash-MBCX. It can be understood as a derivative version of the open-source flashcart ChisFlash, taking the direction of an MBC3 clock cartridge. Although the hardware cost isn't high, using it does have a certain threshold after all. But the EZ Flash Air is very simple and can also achieve this kind of effect—it's just that it leans more toward software. Of course, I'm not comparing which one is better, but rather saying that this kind of feature is also quite meaningful.

There may be a misconception you have about Mode B.

You need to first enter Mode A, choose between the linking and rumble functions, and then switch to Mode B to play. If you switch directly to Mode B without having flashed a game to NOR, it will be recognized as no cartridge inserted, and in linking mode your DS game card also won't show up. So if you only want to experience the rumble function, it's better to choose Mode A, and then switch back to linking when you need to use single-card mode.

I once thought about a question: can the EZ Flash Air enable linking and rumble functions at the same time? The result of my experiment is that it cannot. Mode B can only be recognized as one device at a time—either a rumble pak or a GBA cartridge; it can't serve both roles at once. I feel this is a very reasonable design, perhaps to make games run more stably, though the official explanation hasn't detailed the specific reason.

Where are the compromises of the EZ Flash Air? Why did I still buy it? Actually, I struggled for a long time myself before deciding to buy the Air. The biggest compromise is that the Air doesn't have PSRAM, so games must be written to NOR to be played; saves rely on SRAM plus a coin battery, and if the battery dies, the save is gone. As for the coin battery model, the EZ Flash Air uses a CR1220, while the EZ Flash DE-B uses a CR1025—please refer to the actual cartridge for specifics. Actually, if you're not the kind of heavy gamer, coin battery memory can still meet most of your needs; stock up in advance, and this battery can last a long time.

But I ultimately bought it because I especially wanted to try Mode B. Secondly, regarding compatibility with ROM hacks and cheat codes, the EZ Flash Air is slightly worse. Fortunately, though, it can play quite a few Pokémon ROM hacks, and many such works have file sizes reaching 32MB, which many entry-level flashcarts can't play. At the same time, I also tested other Pokémon ROM hacks, and the results were also decent.

However, if you're the type who plays many GBA games at the same time, especially Pokémon-related ones, I'd still recommend you buy the EZ Flash DE-B. Compared to the EZ Flash DE of back then, its cost has come down, and the user experience is also a bit better. And the most important point: currently the EZ Flash Air doesn't support save states, while the DE-B does.

Finally, let me talk about a ROM hack I've been playing recently. At least domestically, the very popular Pokémon Edición Team Rocket has a great experience when played on the EZ Flash Air. This is a ROM hack by the Spanish creator Dragonsden, based on Pokémon Emerald. The story is set around Team Rocket, which domestic players abbreviate as the "Spanish Team Rocket." It runs smoothly, I haven't run into any problems with saving, and it's very fun to play.

If you want to know the compatibility of specific games, you can reply in the comments with the game name + region version + whether it's a ROM hack. Due to game copyright and community rules, I will not share related files, and I hope you will also follow the relevant rules.

This doesn't mean the EZ Flash Air isn't worth considering at all. The price from distributors in China is $24.50, while the EZ Flash DE-B is $41.86(as of before this article was published)—the difference is still quite significant, making it very suitable for players with a limited budget to consider.

Taking everything into consideration, the EZ Flash Air lets some players experience new features like Mode B—that is its greatest significance.

EZ Flash Air Usage Tutorial

Here is the English translation of the image content:

The new card, like the DE-B, does not require specifically copying a kernel to upgrade.

Kernel upgrade method: Download the new version of the ezairkernel.bin file, copy it to the root directory of the storage card, then insert the flashcart back into the console. Hold down the R button while turning on the power. After the blue EZ-FLASH logo appears on the screen, release the button, and it will automatically flash. Never turn off the power during the flashing process.

Kernel rollback method: It is mainly divided into two steps. Whether upgrading or rolling back the kernel, you must follow the order. Rolling back means flashing the modified version first, then flashing the original version, stepping back to a stable version in two steps, for example, FW3/K1.04. Getting the order wrong can easily cause problems, and in severe cases, it can cause a freeze/death.

Here is a detail: First, rename the modified version file to ezairkernel.bin, and after a successful flash, delete the modified version file; rename the original version file to ezairkernel.bin as well, and flash it one more time. Remember that the order cannot be reversed, and do not flash repeatedly to avoid wearing out the NOR chip. After the rollback is complete, it is recommended to format the NOR and rewrite the games. If you are using this method for the first time, don't be afraid—just understand the principle and follow the process. You can also consult the distributor; they are more familiar with it.

The common key combinations for the EZ Flash Air are as follows:

Main Menu Operations · L + R: Switch tabs · A: Enter folder / Pop up the launch menu · B: Return to the previous folder / Close the menu · ← / →: Page through the file list · ↑ / ↓ + A: Select an option and confirm

In-Game Shortcuts · L + R + SELECT: Toggle cheat codes on/off (requires enabling the cheat code function in settings first) · L + R + START: Soft reset, immediately return to the main menu (requires enabling the soft reset function in settings first)

Note: The cheat code and soft reset functions are turned off by default when starting a game. You need to manually enable them on the settings page first before you can use the corresponding shortcuts.

That's basically all the basic operations. Thank you for reading. Personal experience is inevitably subject to omissions.

I've been using this card for a while now, and I've also been wondering whether it's worth keeping for the long term. You ask if I'll still hold on to a card like this? I want to say that this counts as an experience, and I want to keep this story—even though there are many areas that could be improved in actual use. I believe it will become a very promising GBA flashcart. So, do you prefer the Air or the DE-B? If your budget allows, which one would you choose? Or are you already struggling over whether to buy something with Mode B? You're welcome to share your situation in the comments—based on the number of games you play, your save needs, and how often you play ROM hacks, I can give you the most practical advice directly.

I suggest using it with SuperFW firmware. I will also share some usage tips.

I want to play GBA games. The fun and sense of ritual of playing with cartridges is completely different from emulators. I bought an original DS console. Its shape is very recognizable. Chinese players also call it the lunchbox machine. This is an interesting folk name.

Note: This is a personal review, not a commercial promotion. The tutorial link comes from the creator's official documentation. The document may contain a QQ group contact for the Chinese community, which is the official support channel provided by the creator and does not involve payment.

GBA flashcarts are discussed a lot among retro game players. I still remember when I first came into contact with this kind of product seven years ago. At that time, the mainstream products in the Chinese market included Super Card, EZ Flash, and EverDrive series, corresponding to entry-level, advanced, and high-end positioning respectively. They are all products worth paying attention to.

Last week I came into contact with Super Chis by chance. This is an open-source project. ChisBread is responsible for the hardware architecture reconstruction, and Davidgf (the author of SuperFW firmware) is responsible for the firmware. By the way, ChisBread is a Chinese hardware expert.

Disclaimer

1. This is my personal usage experience. Mistakes are unavoidable. Friendly discussion is welcome.
2. The hardware prices appearing in this article are only current reference prices in the Chinese market. Overseas players need to pay attention.
3. I will not provide merchant information or game download services. I can help test.
4. This is an open-source project. If someone sells public content for a fee, please report it.
5. I will not pretend to be a DIY hardware expert. The content of the article comes from real testing and the internet.
6. Making a Super Chis flashcart requires soldering. You need to find tutorials yourself.
7. For purchases in China, it is recommended to find merchants cooperating with ChisBread. He himself does not sell it.
8. Due to hardware cost, RTC function is not supported for now. Someone has implemented it for Pokemon rom hacks.

Super Chis flashcart price, and why I am very optimistic about its development

Its current price is about $15 USD. It uses SRAM battery and does not support RTC (real-time clock). It has a certain impact on playing the Pokemon series. For example, berry growth time cannot be synchronized with the real world. If you only want to play the story, you can use an emulated clock. The time accuracy may not be perfect, and some fun is missing.

At present, the parts that can be modified are mainly save battery memory and NOR, such as ferroelectric (battery-free) and MT 01G, and upgrading SDRAM. The price of EZ-Flash Air is about $24 USD, which is about the same as the price of a modified Super Chis. If you play Pokemon series games, I recommend EZ-Flash Air more, after all, it has RTC function and better compatibility with modified versions of Pokemon. The battery design is similar to the modified Super Chis. This battery is used for saving. If it runs out of power, the save will be lost. After replacement, it will become a blank save. It is recommended to back up the .sav file in advance.

Secondly, EZ-Flash Air can only write games to NOR when loading. I remember Super Card also has this limitation. However, Super Chis can write directly to the storage card.

SuperChis lacks support for the GBA-DS link feature and rumble function found on the EZ-Flash Air. These were interesting designs back in the day, which makes sense when you look at the product positioning.

I think there are two aspects in which Super Chis truly has development:

In hardware, it has reached a balance between cost and player needs. At around $15 USD, it seems very friendly. Super Card is about $11 USD. Perhaps it is even better in cost performance. After all, Super Card also has a problem: no virtual clock.

The role of SuperFW. Super Card looks completely new, and Super Chis is even more unique.

1. In software, it remains open, enhancing the subsequent product vitality. SuperFW has more possibilities in soft reset, cheats, save states, and even emulators.
2. When I was playing Tekken A, I found that choosing to load to NOR can significantly improve the playing experience.
3. You can also save SuperFW settings on the storage card. Changing to another Super Chis saves the time of setting up again.
4. The interface is relatively user-friendly. It supports folder secondary directories, history play records, multiple languages, and a more powerful soft reset function.

Let me first explain that Super Card is a classic entry-level GBA flashcart developed by the SC team. Its representative works also include DSTWO, which can be considered a high-end DS flashcart.

The Super Chis flashcart is a hardware reconstruction based on Super Card, improving some of the original defects. It is not from the same production team as Super Card. The main connection is that it uses SuperFW firmware. When downloading, be sure to choose the corresponding file. Cross-file kernel upgrades are not supported.

Super Card was not designed to support playing GBA games without flashing at the beginning. The capacity limit for storage cards is a maximum of 2GB. Some games have slowdown problems. SuperFW solved no-flash playing and storage limitations, and slightly improved the slowdown problem. Note that the slowdown problem is a hardware design defect. If you can accept this situation, then you may not necessarily need to buy a Super Chis flashcart. If you know DIY hardware relatively well, you can also make it yourself. I do not know whether ChisBread has written an English tutorial.

What hardware upgrades does Super Chis have compared with Super Card?

More efficient CPLD, larger capacity NOR Flash, optimized storage card read and write speed, and SDRAM latency optimization.

At the software level, compatibility with Pokemon series games is better, but compatibility with modified versions has certain problems. When the ROM file reaches 32MB, it is very likely that it cannot run even with a patch. This is a design limitation of the GBA.

For example, the modified work Pokemon Edicion Team Rocket is called the Spanish Team Rocket in China. Super Chis cannot run it directly. It is said that flashing a modified version of SuperFW can play it. However, in order to avoid freezing problems with the flashcart, I did not try it. But I can provide three ideas:

1. Use an emulator to play. It can break through the GBA native limit on ROM and also supports RTC. 2. When ordering custom cartridges, RTC can be added as an option. Chinese finished-cart vendors profit from this technical work.
2. Choose other GBA flashcarts. EZ Flash series products can play it, and the cost performance is also good.

Super Chis production tutorial

Source from Chis Bread's official community. Players who love DIY hardware can refer to it. Overseas netizens can use translation software. Specific material prices can be found by yourselves.

https://docs.qq.com/doc/DVmpqR3V5ZXZ4aWpT I don't know much about DIY hardware, but I can still help test whether a ROM runs properly. I will not actively share ROM files. If you want me to test a ROM, you can reply with: game name + language version + whether it is homebrew or a mod. I will help as much as I can.

ChisFlash V1.1 RTC single cart has both hardware RTC and FRAM save memory, but it is not SuperChis. SuperChis is the TF-card flashcart series that only uses firmware-emulated RTC. The ChisFlash V1.1 is a NOR single-cart with no TF slot, requiring a programmer to write ROMs. Although they share the same project developer, they belong to completely separate hardware product lines.

Why Did I Pay Extra for a 17-Year-Old Handheld? A Chinese Player's Gaming Story

This is a personal nostalgic essay, not a hardware review.

Half a month ago, I spent about $39 on a blue, original, unmodified DSi. It looks very nice. The only flaw is that the screen has some yellowing, which is caused by the natural aging of the LCD. The only way to fix it is to replace the screen. I'll share my experiences playing on the DSi. By the way: Chinese players are used to putting the letter N in front of DS. If overseas friends search for "DS" on the Chinese internet, they can easily end up with a lot of unrelated results. But I believe that everyone's love for games is universal.

Opening: From Emulators to a World Different From the PSP

Eight years ago, I bought a PSP with money I earned from a part-time job. It wasn't a collector's item, but it meant a lot to me. When I was a kid, I only knew about the PSP as the mainstream handheld, and I was always curious about who its rival was back then, and whether it was even more fun than the PSP.

I looked things up online and found that phones could run DS emulators. I tried Super Mario Bros., and the experience was pretty good. I didn't live through the GBA era as a kid. Before the PSP, I had only played on pirated handhelds that could run Famicom games. Phone emulators could play the games, but they couldn't reproduce the unique feeling of the dual screens. Not long after, I got a DS Lite for about $17, and it brought me a lot of surprises.

Anyone who has played the Famicom version of Super Mario Bros. knows that Mario grows bigger after eating a mushroom. Chinese players gave this scene a very vivid nickname: "eating a mushroom to grow bigger." If the DS had become popular in China earlier, this nickname would have fit even better. On the DS, Mario not only grows bigger after eating a mushroom, but also becomes invincible. That was one of the reasons the DS attracted me back then.

I Sold My DS Lite Cheaply to Buy an Overpriced DSi, and I Don't Regret It

A year and a half ago, the A button's rubber pad on my DS Lite had poor rebound, and the screen yellowing had become more obvious. It could still play normally, but I was fairly busy at the time. It just so happened that a high school student online wanted to buy one. At that time, the second-hand market for DS Lites in China had already started to rise. I told her that this DS Lite could play GBA cartridges, came with two flashcarts and a memory card, and I even taught her step by step how to use it. She said the handheld let her relax amid heavy schoolwork, and she had a lot of fun with it.

I only charged her about $29 for the whole package. Now it could sell for at least $7–$14 more, but I don't regret making less money. Compared with obsessing over the price difference, letting idle devices continue to be useful matters more to me.

So do I regret buying the DSi at a premium? My thought is: if I had bought it back in the day, the value for money would definitely have been better. But second-hand old machines vary a lot in condition, and this one is in pretty good shape, letting me experience a kind of fun different from the DS Lite. I'm not encouraging everyone to jump on the retro handheld bandwagon. For playing retro games, the best time is the present.

The Misunderstood DS: Chinese Players Jokingly Called It a "Dual-Screen PSP" and Thought It Was Just a Kids' Console

In China, the DS was far less popular than the PSP. A big reason is that besides games, the PSP could also be used as an MP4 video player, and a large number of knockoff handhelds also rode the PSP's popularity. I'll go into that story in a later article.

Once, I was playing my DS Lite on a train. The young person across from me curiously asked what kind of game console it was. Maybe because the art style looked cute, they thought it was a dual-screen version of the PSP, and that it was just a machine for kids.

Later I learned that they had never really played this kind of handheld, and just called all handhelds PSPs. I explained to them that this was Nintendo's handheld from the same generation as the PSP, and that its global sales were even twice as high as the PSP's. They didn't really understand, so I brought up Mario — Nintendo's signature IP, aimed at all ages, not just kids.

In the early years, there were also TV quiz ads in China with prizes labeled as PSP and DS. But after dialing the number, people would be charged exorbitant phone fees, and almost no one could actually get the prizes. The ads only promoted the DS as a "Mario console," which led many people to mistakenly believe that the DS could only play Mario games, causing them to miss out on the fun this handheld had to offer.

Chinese Players' Obsession With the DQ9 Fan Translation, and Why That Version Froze So Often

Chinese players back then had a deep obsession with fan translations. Early Nintendo handhelds almost had no official Chinese versions, and many DS fan translations were very high quality. But Dragon Quest IX ran into trouble: The Chinese font file in the DQ9 fan translation was very large. When run on an ordinary R4 flashcart, it would exhaust the DS's limited memory and cause random freezes. The only stable way to play the Chinese version of DQ9 back then was to buy the expensive DSTWO flashcart. Many players were willing to pay for it.

Back then, the atmosphere in Chinese gaming forums was great. Players paid out of their own pockets to buy all kinds of flashcarts, test game compatibility, power consumption, cheat functions, and so on, and posted side-by-side reviews, comparing both original and domestic clone cards. I also learned a lot from those posts.

Nowadays, the DQ9 fan translation is somewhat more stable, but there is still a chance of freezing. We developed a habit: manually save every few minutes to prevent losing progress. I also bought an official DQ9 cartridge as a keepsake.

DS flashcarts for Chinese retro gamers: Relive your childhood for just $2.80

There are two mainstream DS flashcarts in China: clone R4 flashcarts built on domestic PCBs, and the DSpico flashcart. Each has its pros and cons.

The biggest difference between them: the R4 project long ago stopped official maintenance, but its DS game compatibility is very strong, and it can run DS games on a 3DS; its weakness is that native GBA game compatibility is very poor. DSpico is an open-source project deeply optimized for DS/DSi, and it cannot run 3DS-exclusive games; its DS game compatibility is a little weaker, but its GBA emulator compatibility is better. My DSi paired with DSpico gives a very good DS gaming experience.

If you have a DSi, I recommend installing the TWiLightMenu++ frontend, and I will share my experience.

Pros: Built-in emulators, custom themes, overclocking, and extra features.

Cons: Compatibility with modified ROMs is mediocre. Save corruption and cheat codes may stop working. It loads ROMs via nds-bootstrap instead of reading them at the flashcart hardware level.

Note: Cold boot and soft reset may seem similar, but they work very differently. When a game crashes in TWiLightMenu++, using soft reset raises the risk of save file damage. In this case, cold boot is recommended. When the game runs normally, soft reset is preferred and usually won’t cause issues.

Soft reset operation: Hold L+R+SELECT for 2 seconds inside a game to return to the TWiLightMenu++ game list. Hotkeys can be customized in TWiLightMenu++ settings.

Addendum: DSpico does not natively support soft reset (cold boot and soft reset look alike but function differently). TWiLightMenu++ is third-party boot software that loads games through nds-bootstrap, rather than reading ROMs directly from the flashcart hardware. Most sellers in China only document native cold boot functions on their product pages and manuals, without mentioning this third-party soft reset feature.

Disclaimer: This post combines online resources and my own real hardware testing. My knowledge is limited, so my observations may not be entirely accurate. Corrections and discussions are welcome.

Why are prices so low in China? I think production costs have come down, and these are not scarce items. That’s why they are affordable and durable. I plan to keep writing about my original Nintendo DS experience later on. I will also test the Chinese GBA flashcart, SuperChis. It uses the SuperFW firmware and offers good value for money. It does not support RTC for now.

Final Interaction Question: Do You Have Any Interesting DS Stories or Questions? Welcome to Share Them.

A Sega Console Worth Getting to Know

From Getting Burned on My First Saturn Purchase, to Finding the Right Console, to Meeting a Dedicated Creator of Replica Controllers

This all started two months ago, when I decided to get into retro consoles. Before that, I already owned a PS2 and a PS3, and I loved them. My original target was a PS1, but I learned that the PS1 requires modding, and the N64 doesn't look great on modern displays. After comparing my options, the Sega Saturn (SS) stood out—no complicated mods required, beginner-friendly—so I decided to give the SS a try.

Why I Chose the Saturn Over the PS1 and N64

I suddenly wanted to experience a Sega console. As a kid, I played a bootleg Mega Drive, so I had a good impression of Sega and wanted a different kind of retro gaming experience.

Looking back at the era when 3D games were just getting started, the Saturn's visual style actually suits my taste better today. That's not to say the PS1 or N64 were bad—I didn't live through that era myself. I simply prefer the Saturn's visual texture.

I've always liked Sega. In my view, the company's work started from a very high point, and while some titles varied in polish, the experience Sonic gave me was completely different from Mario's. That cemented my decision to buy a Sega console.

Some people would say that this budget could go straight toward digital Sega games, giving Sega direct revenue. But to me, the value of a retro console isn't just about playing games. Emulators are already very mature, but the experience of physical hardware is irreplaceable. When I hold a piece of hardware from over twenty years ago, I can't help imagining: if I'd been born twenty years earlier, standing in front of the PS1, N64, and Saturn back then, would I have made the same choice? That kind of imagination seems useless, but it's genuinely fun.

Inexperience Leads to a Bad Purchase

I spotted a Saturn listed for about $30 on a domestic second-hand platform—a very tempting price. The seller noted: the player 2 controller port had been repaired, the power board was modified, the Japanese console had a modchip installed, it was adapted for China's 220V mains, and it had been running stably for a long time.

At first, everything worked fine. But a month later, the console powered on with the light on, yet produced no image or sound. I took it to a repair technician, who said the machine showed heavy signs of repair, the modified power board was low quality, and it had burned out the motherboard. If I continued repairing it, more faults would likely appear, and the repair quote wasn't worth it.

The technician gave me two options: salvage the working parts as spares and scrap the rest to cut losses, or sell the whole unit to a hobbyist who enjoys tinkering. In the end, I sold the faulty console for about $13 to an enthusiast who wanted to practice repairs. Later, talking with people online, I learned that a Saturn PTU power board can serve as a replacement part. After researching, I found it is indeed a good spare, but domestic channels for buying one are limited, and a reliable off-the-shelf Chinese transformer is cheap and easy to get—so I didn't try that route.

I'm grateful to the people online for the repair ideas. This isn't a complaint—I just want to remind everyone to pay close attention to the power solution when buying a Saturn. I'll attach photos of the faulty machine, and I welcome everyone to share their thoughts.

Meeting a Seller I Hit It Off With, and Getting a Reliable Console

A friend of mine mainly deals in game discs and cartridges and knows retro consoles well. He told me the domestic second-hand Saturn market: a complete-in-box unit in good condition costs at least $85; a bare console in nice condition runs over $55; if you want something practical and stable, $40–$55 can get you a well-maintained machine; anything under $40 likely has hidden problems.

After that, I found a suitable seller who specializes in importing Japanese game consoles and vintage electronics. He's 17 years older than me, but we share the same hobby. He recommended a $50 Malaysia-made Asian version Saturn. Compared to the $42 Japanese model in his shop, this one was more stable, had better optical drive compatibility, and had already undergone routine maintenance before arriving.

The Saturn worked great once I got it. Chatting with the seller and exchanging our gaming stories added a human touch to the purchase. I'll also attach photos of the console's internals for reference.

The seller repeatedly reminded me to use a transformer. I spent about $14 on one with automatic voltage detection. He also recommended I try the Saroo Saturn flash cart, which I bought as well. It plugs directly into the Saturn's accelerator card slot and costs about $25 domestically.

A Saturn Fighting Game Enthusiast's Self-Made Replica Saturn Controller

One of my main reasons for getting a Saturn was to experience classic 2D fighting games. I happened to come across a self-made replica Saturn controller by a fellow player. At first I was skeptical: big companies rarely release new Saturn controllers—can an individual maker do it well? The price was very affordable: about $8 for the original Saturn connector version, about $14 for the version supporting Android and PC with a turbo IC. I ordered one on a whim, and it exceeded my expectations.

This replica controller isn't meant to replace big-brand products like 8BitDo, Beitong, or Hori. Instead, it's specifically designed with fighting game players in mind. I won't say it's better than an original Saturn controller, but the button rebound feel is solid. A friend of mine who's been playing fighting games for 20 years tried it and also gave it a positive review.

The maker is very professional. When I wanted to use it with an emulator to play Saturn games and asked about compatibility, he recommended Yaba Sanshiro 2, which makes button mapping easy. Once I ran into an issue where buttons weren't responding—I initially thought it was an emulator configuration problem—but he suggested I check the in-game button settings, and it was resolved quickly.

I'll include photos of this replica controller. As for how good it is, I'll leave that for everyone to judge—welcome to discuss.

To close the story, here's a photo of a complete-in-box copy of Sakura Wars 2. I picked up this set for about $20, just for market reference. I love the Sakura Wars anime and story, and I've always hoped the series would come to modern gaming platforms.

Have you ever had a bad experience buying a Saturn? What’s your favourite Saturn fighting game?

I spent $3.50 to pick up a ten-year-old vibration-free Betop Bat gamepad, just for nostalgia. I own many controllers. Their specs keep getting better, yet I cannot recapture that old feeling. I suddenly remembered the first time I connected a gamepad to my PC. Compared with cheap no-name controllers, the experience was totally different. This is the rumble-free Betop Bat. Back then it sold for $6.85, while the rumble-enabled version was priced at $10.90. Its hand feel is mediocre, and the dpad is its biggest weakness. I do not even see the lack of wireless support as a downside. Most cheap generic controllers in that price range back then only supported DInput. Still, its build quality was far better than off-brand alternatives. It was popular among students and retro game players for its solid value. If we only look at practical value, spending $3.50 on this old pad is not a good buy, since brand-new entry-level gamepads are very cheap today. Even so, it works well enough for casual retro gaming and reminiscing about the old days.

Betop has grown into a gamepad brand with solid technical expertise within China. When I chatted with friends recently, we all remembered that this brand has grown alongside Chinese gamers for 29 years.

Looking back at 2015, options for gamepads at this price point were very limited, in both developed and developing countries. You could only pick up no-name controllers with terrible feel, unreliable lifespan, and messy in-game setup. If you wanted something with solid build quality and decent ergonomics, you would have to pay significantly more. Betop gave more players access to a relatively decent gaming experience. Even though the brand has had its share of debates over these 29 years, I’m just posting this to document a personal memory.

Note: I do not intend to compare the modern Betop Kunpeng with controllers like the DS5. This post only documents the old Bat gamepad and the story of Chinese retro gamers from that era

With emulators extremely mature now, why buy a $37 compatible console and plug in physical cartridges?

When I was young, I loved Mega Drive games. That blue hedgehog running at high speed, the varied level routes. The gameplay felt very different from Super Mario on the Famicom. For players in China, most games we had back then were pirated copies. I wanted an original Mega Drive console, but finding a good working unit is a matter of luck. A seasoned Mega Drive player friend suggested I try a handheld that accepts physical cartridges; I might get a nice surprise. I bought the Neocade MD200, and overall the experience is pretty good.

1. What kind of game console is this

Important note: The Neocade MD200 is not licensed by Sega. It is a third-party product from brand Neocade. It comes with 18 built-in NES games and an included 12-in-1 licensed reproduction Mega Drive cartridge published by PIKO. PIKO acquired the copyrights for these old games. So this is more of a third-party compatible handheld, not the pirated game consoles made by domestic manufacturers in the old days. One reason I chose it is its good after-sales support.

I got the Chinese domestic version of the unit. The agent sells it for $37, and the price can drop lower during promotions. The overseas version only differs by sales region.

Cheap price does not mean it suits everyone. I keep thinking: now that open-source handhelds are very mature, is there really a reason to play games on a cartridge-based console? I care not only about gameplay experience, but also the stories that happen while playing. My answer is it still has value.

First, hardware specs. This handheld has compatibility issues with flash carts, but works well with licensed physical Mega Drive cartridges.

• Screen: 3.5 inch LCD, resolution 320×240 ​
• Cartridge slot: Standard Mega Drive (MD) cartridge port ​
• Battery: Built-in lithium battery, roughly 6 hours of play on full charge ​
• Output: HDMI for TV out, 720P ​
• System: Linux ​
• Buttons: Standard Mega Drive 6-button layout (ABC XYZ) + D-pad, Start/Select, volume keys ​
• Form factor: Portable handheld, pocket-sized ​
• Box contents: Console + PIKO 12-in-1 MD cartridge + USB charging cable + manual

Pictures of gameplay are attached. Here are pros and cons, feel free to disagree and discuss.

Pros Handheld mode plays well. Volume adjustment works nicely. Buttons have firm travel, grip feels comfortable. I like the modern USB-C and Mini HDMI ports. The included cartridge has PIKO licensed games. They are relatively obscure titles but decent quality. I enjoyed the American football game on it even though I know nothing about the sport.

Cons The D-pad is not the design of the original Mega Drive controller. It works fine for most games, but some players will mind. The six action buttons are packed close together; fighting game players may find it uncomfortable.

There are compatibility issues between Mini HDMI cables and displays. The cable included with the unit did not work with my monitor, but switching to another cable that came with my monitor fixed it. The same applies to TVs. When outputting to a display, it defaults to 16:9 aspect ratio. There is no automatic adjustment; you need to manually change the picture ratio on your display.

Full game list, total of 30 games: 18 built-in NES games + 12 MD games on the included cartridge.

Built-in 18 NES (Famicom) games

1. 8 Eyes ​ 2. Bad Street Brawler ​ 3. Dash Galaxy in the Alien Asylum ​ 4. Eliminator Boat Duel ​ 5. The Immortal ​ 6. Little Lancelot ​ 7. Metal Mech ​ 8. Motor City Patrol ​ 9. Mutant Virus: The Crisis ​ 10. Power Punch II ​ 11. Road Raider ​ 12. Stanley ​ 13. Target: Renegade ​ 14. Thunderbolt ​ 15. Top Race 2 ​ 16. Water Margin ​ 17. Gadget Twins ​ 18. Legend of Wukong

Included PIKO 12-in-1 MD cartridge

1. AWS Pro Moves Soccer ​ 2. Risky Woods ​ 3. Sword of Sodan ​ 4. Street Racer ​ 5. Brutal Sports Football ​ 6. The Immortal ​ 7. Thunderbolt II ​ 8. BOB ​ 9. Beggar Prince ​ 10. Switchblade ​ 11. Deflektor ​ 12. Tinhead

My opinion on this console: If you want to play licensed physical Mega Drive cartridges and experience these 30 games, it is worth considering. If that is not your goal, buying it may not meet your expectations.

2. Sonic 2: Memories Across Time on an Old Cartridge

Before I got the MD200, I hunted down a physical Mega Drive copy of Sonic 2. It came complete with box and manual. The yellowed reply card has handwritten level select codes and short comments left by its previous owner. It is clear that the original owner loved this game. I paid $29 for the set, price for reference only.

For Japanese collectors, old cartridges with previous owners' handwriting may be common. For me, it means something different. Looking at those handwritten cheat codes, I keep imagining the player who wrote them decades ago, experimenting with Sonic 2's levels. If I had known this cheat back then, I would have been the cool kid among my friends.

This cartridge is more than a game medium. It carries emotional heritage between players across time. Even though I can buy Sonic games on Steam now, physical cartridges have a unique warmth that emulators struggle to replicate.

3. A Strange Accidental Firmware Bug and a Pleasant Customer Service Experience

While testing the included PIKO 12-in-1 cartridge, I encountered a weird behavior. When inserting the cartridge, the handheld would not load the multi-game menu. It would boot straight into Deflektor. Only occasionally would it open the normal game list.

I contacted the store's customer service. They said they had never received reports of this issue before, but they were curious about this strange behavior and checked with the factory. Their solution: send me a brand new replacement 12-in-1 cartridge. They also shipped an extra PIKO licensed reproduction Mega Drive cartridge so I could keep testing compatibility with different physical cartridges.

This extra cartridge was not leftover old stock. They just wanted me to test more cartridges out of curiosity about this bug. This support experience left a deep impression on me.

After checking information to figure this out: this is not an official easter egg. When the 12-in-1 cartridge has poor contact, the handheld detects a cartridge is present, but fails to read the cartridge header ROM data. Instead of throwing an error as the firmware was designed to do, it falls into an unexpected code branch and loads Deflektor stored inside the handheld firmware. The agent had never seen this before. It is a glitch triggered by chance.

I did not make up any events. The customer service offered the extra cartridge voluntarily for testing. I will keep testing different physical Mega Drive cartridges on this console and share more about the MD200 cartridge compatibility later.

I have bought many Sonic games on Steam, and they are great to play. I plan to look at more Mega Drive cartridges in the future, and I hope I can share more gaming stories with everyone.

Hello everyone, I’m a Chinese player. I met Saturn by accident. When I was young I played pirated MD games. I saw Saturn for sale before, but I thought it was overpriced and I didn’t buy it. I thought maybe I get a SS. Its game library can complement my PS2 and PS3, and it has many fun games.

I talk about my console purchase and current condition. I don’t know repair or mod techniques. I bought this Japanese Saturn one month ago. It has a power supply modification, no transformer needed in China. The second controller port is damaged, fixed with UA glue and still stable. The optical drive works, and it has a modchip. I paid $29 for bare console.

Now the problem: I used GBSC and RGBS cable to play. It worked well last week. Yesterday there is sound but no picture. Power light on, flash cart light on, optical drive works normally.

At first I thought the power board broke. I asked a local repair shop owner online. He said this model’s power board is durable. Probably mainboard problem. Even if soldered well, other parts may fail again. Need testing. After he knew my goal: I want to fix the machine and share this story. He said it is too troublesome. He has many spare parts, but it is not necessary. Buy a better machine for flash cart use. I asked if he has spare console. He has one decent Saturn. I do not need modchip. My PS2 is only used to test game discs from different regions. I want to buy some games I like or games with interesting design for memory and collection.

I will post photos of my mainboard. Hope you can share your opinion for discussion.

My questions:

1. My priority: sentimental value > gameplay > collectibility. Which choice should I take? ​ 2. What maintenance do I need for this retro console? ​ 3. If my old machine is not worth repairing, how to pass it on with memorial meaning? I hope someone who really needs it takes it, not become trash e-waste.

Also I have another idea: find a donor console with same mainboard model, but broken shell and bad optical drive. Try to build one working Saturn by mixing good parts by myself. What do you think?

I stumbled across a niche Sega Saturn title originally made for visually‑impaired players. I really liked the concept and the price was reasonable, so I purchased it. The listing showed all accessories complete. When it arrived, however, the outer game box had obvious damage. The seller explained a family member handled the shipping and suspects the damage happened during sea freight. They offered me a partial refund.

Returning the game would be bad for both of us: the seller would cover return shipping, and there is risk of further damage in transit. Also, I might not find another copy at a decent price with acceptable condition.

I’ve come up with three options and I’m wondering what this community would do in my situation:

1. Get a PET protective sleeve to safeguard the cracked original box, preventing cracks from spreading. ​ 2. Source a second‑hand genuine original empty long‑box from another collector. I want to understand how swapping the box affects the item’s overall condition rating and scarcity value. ​ 3. Store only the disc inside a standard CD jewel‑case, and keep all original accessories sealed in storage bags.

Even if a future buyer wouldn’t mind these issues, disclosing the full truth might lower the resale price and make it harder to sell. Still, I want to be completely honest about its condition.

I’m curious about the community collectors’ perspective. What are the pros and cons of each option for long‑term personal collection and future resale value?