ModRetro Color Review: Stylish and durable

Sheer nostalgia is a powerful marketing force, after all. Devices like the Analogue Pocket have already taken a high-tech approach to playing old Game Boy cartridges. Chromatography does something similar, and it turns out very well. It was launched late last year and quickly sold out. In July, ModRetro started selling units again, this time with some upgrades like an additional battery pack and streaming support. And now it’s finally left in stock, so purchasing is much easier than the first time.

The handheld comes in several fun colors and can play any old Game Boy cartridge, assuming you take the time to get the dust out of the connector slot. ModRetro also sells approx Dozens of original games In their cartridges. A few others are official recreations of old classics, e.g Rayman and Toki Toure. Prices range from $30 to $100, depending on the game.

A blast from the past

I spent most of my time using Chromatics diving into the rabbit hole that is ModRetro recreations Tetris. And yes, the game still holds up. Especially in such a raw way to play it. The chromatogram is lightweight, about 6.2 oz. The outer shell is made of “cool-touch magnesium structure” that prevents your palms from sweating while playing. The 160 x 144-pixel screen is made of Corning Gorilla Glass, but for a $100 upgrade, you can get a screen made of sapphire crystal, the same stuff Rolex puts on its watches.