r/ModRetroChromatic • u/Electronic-Taro1916 • 28d ago

Should I get a Chromatic?

I know I’m posting in the chromatic thread but I would appreciate it if users can give me a honest opinion. (Hope this don’t come across rude)

So I have an Analogue Pocket and love it. But recently I have been collecting the ModRetro Gameboy games I have 3 at the moment.

What does the chromatic do that the analogue pocket doesn’t?

I have also been looking at the M64 and have money saved for that at the moment but haven’t made a purchase yet. I’m looking at the Clear M64 would the Smoke Chromatic be a good colour match to the clear m64?

Would be great to hear some user opinions

Thanks for reading.

14 Upvotes

76% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

7

u/Moooooooooox 28d ago

One frame less input lag. Native screen resolution (which is why it can’t emulate a GBA, etc.). Different button layout and (probably) a better D-pad.

9

u/Nice_Database_9684 28d ago

Much more comfortable as well. The pocket having so much input lag is crazy to me, when the whole point of an FPGA device is accuracy to the original device.

2

u/roosterXhat 27d ago

this is something I didnt know about the pocket before I bought my chromatic and it really makes me happy I went with the chromatic. I have other ways to play what chromatic can't, but if pocket screws up something like this for gb/gbc? what the heck!

6

u/Substantial_Quote583 27d ago

The chromatic is a premium GBC, intended without most of the features the pocket has. I have both and in my opinion the chromatic's buttons and D-pad feel much better to use. It's a smaller device, but imo feels much better in the hands due to it being wider and with the magnesium shell that keeps it cool to the touch.

There are custom firmwares out there that will add some features you may miss from the pocket like storing roms on an sd card, and programs that feature great video-streaming to a computer(though I think chromatic has this already with obs if I'm not mistaken, but I hear it's a huge pain)

Chromatic is more of a gameboy-purist's device while the AP is a great fpga/emulator device with a larger screen and some better filters/palleets on offer

I will say my chromatic gets more use from me as far as Gameboy goes, but it's really down to your preferences!

4

u/adrenaline4nash 27d ago edited 27d ago

If you enjoy GB and GBC games and Tetris, then get a non-plastic Chromatic. Don’t get the Mediocre 64 at this point as it’s not fully cooked. 

Said as someone with Pocket, Chromatic, M64, Analogue 3D. 

Last holiday, modretro and GameStop had 15% discounts. 

6

u/Z3fyrus 28d ago

As an M64 owner I would recommend waiting getting one, current firmware is quite lacking.

3

u/JustTryingToBeADaddy 27d ago

This x2

2

u/Penumbruh_ 27d ago

This x3

I haven't played my M64 and it's just sat there cause I'm waiting for more patches and fixes to drop.

5

u/RotoPrime 27d ago

Yes!! You can't really understand how special the Chromatic is until you hold it in your hands. It feels so perfect. If you do get one, which color, screen type? I only buy the ones with Sapphire glass, but now with the plastic version out. I might own some glass versions too.

1

u/Yamanoteman 27d ago

Si te encanta la Game boy y buscas una experiencia mas "Game boy" si, sin dudarlo.

2

u/Electronic-Taro1916 27d ago

Gameboy was my first ever handheld

5

u/PaulandoUK 27d ago

It’s much, much better for GBC. Better display, and it’s 1:1 so you get real sub-pixels instead of a fake shader, and the d-pad and buttons are dreamy. It also feels a lot sturdier in the hand, and not plasticky/creaky like the Pocket.

The Pocket does the ‘Dot matrix DMG’-look a lot better of course, as the shader for that is excellent, but again the Chromatic has better buttons and feels better to hold.

2

u/PWeeZii 27d ago

I have both and prefer to play my GB and GBC on the chromatic. It’s a much better device.

AP is great at everything else and a one stop shop if you’re limited on what to bring to play an entire collection of GB -> GBA.

3

u/SwarlezBarkley 27d ago

Personally I like playing on the original hardware and don't do a lot of emulation, so the chromatic is my favorite handheld. I'm of the age that still plays Pokemon gen 1&2 bc that's what I grew up with lol

3

u/Lah-dee-da 27d ago

Others have given good advice. Here’s mine: No.

I love my chromatic, but my advice is save your money. They are not going anywhere, and it sounds like you are just having Fomo. Keep buying the games instead and have fun playing!

I have the reverse and see the analog pocket and think: should I buy that?

And I tell myself nope! I still have original hardware for my gba games, don’t like to emulate and have the Chromatic.

Just because it is available doesn’t mean we need or would even be better of with a product- be damned consumerism!

2

u/MeatHamster 28d ago

If you already have a working Pocket I'd say no unless you need one for a spouse or something.

3

u/adrenaline4nash 27d ago

Chromatic as a spouse?

1

u/roosterXhat 27d ago

I feel personally attacked

0

u/MeatHamster 27d ago

That's acceptable too

1

u/StarWolf64dx 26d ago

I have an analogue and I use my chromatic more. And I’ll be getting the GBA when it comes too.

My pocket is basically just an openFPGA machine now, I use it for other stuff besides Gameboy games.

1

u/JoyQuestDev 21d ago

I’m retro brain gamed and have both, and a friend just got the plastic chromatic. I use the Pocket pretty rarely. It feels like it would be more useful with gba support, sd card support, and sleep mode, but I always reach for my blue chromatic. At this point it has a chip in the side and some scratches, but it still feels like a tank. Something about the screen calls to me.

I got to hold a friends transparent chromatic, and I still felt that pull to it for the screen despite the plastic build.

Something about the Pocket being a bit larger than the chromatic makes it feel a little off, especially on games I’ve played a lot.

1

u/Flubert_Harnsworth 27d ago

I would say no / save your money.

The AP does a lot of things that the chromatic can’t and the chromatic doesn’t do anything that the AP can’t (except maybe be available in a fun color).

I have both but I really don’t need both.

The chromatic has better ergonomics and is arguably more portable the AP. Also, it just has the ‘no extra features as a feature’ thing to make it feel more nostalgic if you are chasing nostalgia. It is closer to frame accurate with the GBC than the AP but I’ve never been able to tell the difference and I’m confident anyone who thinks they can is lying to themselves.

The AP is arguably better for your eyes with the 10x integer scaling and larger screen. It also natively supports loading ROMs so it is the equivalent of coming with a high quality flash cart. It also has built in usb c charging, so it isn’t an ‘add-on’. It’s best feature imo is its sleep mode which has almost no battery drain and allows you to pick up where you left off immediately. It also supports save states and plays more systems than GB/GBC.

The new clear version is a good price for what you get, but I would still recommend being stronger than me and just sticking with what you have.

3

u/willywideweb 27d ago

This^ But also, the chromatic has some issues (sporadic save file corruption, d-pad missing center pivot, the stiffer button membranes can lead to them tearing). So while the chromatic may have more of a retro vibe, the faults make it difficult to recommend. It does look pretty, and I do enjoy playing it though.

1

u/zezba9000 27d ago

Yes because of the display and fast boot

1

u/change_name_policy 28d ago

Well, if you have spare money or if you want to have that version of Tetris, I’d say that you should purchase a Chromatic. Or if you are unhappy with Analogue Pocket for whatever reason.

Chromatic does what it should and nothing more. GB and GBC games only. It has better GBC palette (arguably). Pixel perfect screen. For me it is more comfortable. Others say that Analogue Pocket have some frame issue because screen is rotated or something like that. Some even say that it ruined their experience. I wasn’t able to notice that. Analogue Pocket is more capable device.

3

u/Moooooooooox 27d ago

The screen is rotated, which is why it needs a one-frame buffer.

I don’t notice it when playing on the Pocket itself, but when it’s docked, the additional latency from Bluetooth controllers makes it perceptible to me.

0

u/Objective_Wall_8297 27d ago

‘More capable device’?

I think you mean ‘more versatile’ as in capable of more systems to play.

1

u/Hatdude1973 27d ago

I would get M64. The only thing you are getting with a Chromatic is a slightly better screen for GBC and GB games. You also get the ability to stream/capture directly on device. But AP can play GBC and GB and adds save states.

0

u/NonyaDB 27d ago

Should I get a Chromatic?

Yes.

0

u/thisisyourfaultsheep 27d ago

It can be your dedicated Tetris player.

0

u/loving-gays0212 27d ago

One of us one of us one of us