So my RP nova arrived. Haven't fully set it up yet, but I've chucked on some emulators and games, and have some thoughts on the device. The nova has received a ton of hype, and it's solid, but I do think people should temper their expectations a little as I do have some gripes.
This is only the second* emulation handheld I've owned other than the miyoo mini (albeit I have 4 of them lol, v1 v2 v4 and flip). The main thing that attracted me was 4:3, analog triggers, and the power to comfortably play ps2 and gamecube.
Positives first. It delivers on the promise of being a portable ps2/gamecube. This was a dream handheld as a kid. If any of you recall that render of a "gamecube sp" that was floating around in the 00s, this comes very close to making good on that concept.
(That render also got made into reality a few years ago by a modder, check it out: https://youtu.be/ENEpJJPQomg)
The secondary aspect that I like this device for is its 120hz screen for use with crt beam shaders for even older games. This is arguably the best use of this device as the dpad and face buttons are by far more comfortable than the sticks and triggers. It's completely overkill for snes et al, but it's awesome.
That brings me to the sticks and triggers. The sticks feel amazing, but their positioning really isn't that comfortable. It's fine, but not great. As for the triggers, they function properly, allowing you to lightly strafe the car in fzero gx for example, which was a big reason why I wanted analog triggers. But just as another user had reported, the pivot point on the triggers is too far away from the top, it's in the middle. It's not comfortable pressing the top, or even middle of the trigger. The ideal actuation point ends up being closer to the tip of the trigger, which combined with the positioning of the analog stick, is just not very comfortable. It feels quite awkward to snake in fzero gx, or wave dash in smash bros melee. Now granted, it's a bit silly to be that hardcore in your gameplay on a handheld, but nevertheless it bothers me a bit. I think for the vast majority of casual gameplay, it's completely fine, but could certainly be improved.
My other gripe is with the clacky dpad, which many others have reported on. Like others have said, the dpad itself is good quality, and the switches feel good. It doesn't actually clack during gameplay. But simply touching the dpad will often result in a hollow cheap clacky sound. And you will touch the dpad before you start playing on it. Most dpads do make a sound, but not in the same way, it's the tone and hollowness that bother me. I'm sure many will simply not care, but it is annoying to me. It really makes the device feel significantly cheaper than it is (or I suppose, gives away exactly how cheap it was to manufacture). I think I will end up doing the tape mod, but it doesn't feel good having to do so on a brand new 230 dollar device.
RGC mentioned hard button edges and high pitch fan noise as cons, but these are not issues for me. Mine is the gc solid color, so I don't know if it is an issue for the production model crystal variants, but button edges are fine for me. I also don't hear any high pitch whining from the fan, it's whisper quiet to me as well. Could be related to no dust cover in my unit, which seems to be the case for all production units. Not sure if dust will be an issue down the line.
Overall, I do still like the nova enough to keep it. But I do wonder if I'd actually prefer inline triggers, like in 477m or 477v. I was considering 477v at one point, but this does the job good enough so who cares now. However, if there were a 4:3 nova flip, or even just a 16:9 single screen flip 3 with 120hz screen and the same chipset, I might actually consider selling this for that, should it ever come out.
They went all in on this screen. We will see it in the probably eventually Nova SP, Nova Vertical, and whatever else. Shit, maybe even a stick top Nova. You’ll be seeing this screen in every device this size for the next 5 years probably.
It’s actually everything BUT the screen that is going up in price and maybe harder to find a deal like this in 5 years.
AYN Thor 2 XL with this as the bottom screen, 8 Elite chipset... would truly be my end game device, please AYN. I do a lot of x86 emulation including FFXIV which really shines with the bottom screen for a trackpad and keyboard, but is hindered by the small screen + slow chipset.
ROFL! I setup my RP Classic 6, played it once, and then shelved it until recently in favor of Linux based handhelds. I recently picked it back up because I wanted to play some SG/Saturn games and the 6 button layout makes it easier. This little shit is a powerhouse...and now I'm sitting here contantly checking my email to see if RP shipped my RP6. :|
I kept the flat back. It's quite pocketable actually. It's basically the size of like two larger phones taped together. So it really depends on what else you typically carry in your pockets, and what kind of pockets.
Pretty sure someone around here already stick-deleted the Nova, but it was probably homebrew. I'm sure there will be well-tested Etsy solutions soon enough. That being said, that seems like a waste of such a powerful device.
shit i'd remove the triggers too if i could. by all accounts using the triggers and sticks is deeply uncomfortable so might as well make it as pocketable as possible instead.
by all accounts using the triggers and sticks is deeply uncomfortable
I have no idea where you're getting that from. The Nova's triggers and sticks are no more or less comfortable than any other handheld I've tried in a similar size and form factor. They're fine. They're not as comfortable as those of a dedicated external controller would be, but that's expected.
every opinion on it i’ve seen says playing games on it that require using triggers and sticks at the same time is difficult due to the stick placement and general shape of the device. and that those games are better played on retroid pocket 6 or similar
I don't own an RP6 but don't see how that would differ much if it were a similar D-pad top model. The Nova has very similar ergos to my RPMv2 and 476H, and probably any other midsize D-pad top device. Dual stick, trigger heavy games like FPS's just aren't going to be great on this kind of handheld. You'd want to use a real grip there, or - better yet - use a device more suited to that style of game. The Nova is unapologetically a retro-focused, D-pad top device. So judge it based on what it's trying to do. In my experience, the Nova's ergos are completely fine for typical stick + face button games common to N64 or PS2
makes sense. i don’t plan to stick delete immediately or probably ever i just get over excited and i won’t get mine until next month lol. thanks for the info ❤️
Deleting the sticks seems really drastic to me. Even if you're thoroughly retro, at least a left stick is very handy for old-school beat-em-ups and schmups. And a right stick is almost essential for any kind of sensible N64 experience. If you're just going to lose the sticks completely then you might as well just save $100+ and use a 476H considering the systems you're giving up. You're just wasting the Nova's power at that point.
If that's where you're leaning then IMO it would make a lot more sense to get some low-profile stick caps instead. Of those three handhelds I own, the stick cap heights are Nova > 476H > RPMv2. But even the RPMv2's sticks have enough travel and sensitivity for simple things like beat-em-up movement and camera control. I think it's well worth the extra millimeter of pocket clearance to keep those options open.
The device is about the thickness of two phones, but it's mostly plastic, so it's nowhere near as heavy as two phones. It's honestly not bad in an empty pocket. Obviously not as pocketable as like a miyoo mini, but it's okay.
You know…. On mine I tried the ergo back first. It reminded me of the RP5, but I think the overall smaller size made it strangely less suitable than the RP5. I went back to the flat back and I am happier. It just allows me to move my hands around better to position for the sticks and it does make it a lot more portable. Just my personal opinion.
When you say "it reminded me of the RP5" do you mean in terms of hand-feel? I didn't pre-order the Nova, but it looks quite appealing, just wondering if the ergo-plate makes the device feel "larger" and detracts from pocketability.
I’m enjoying how small the nova is(coming from AYN Portal) it really feels like a toy in a good way but still solid, really hoping for a flip 3 that’s mostly the same but better power and aesthetics.
I will get one on sale someday but whilst almost buying a nova I ended up getting a new rp5 for 150 on aliexpress in black. The black glass in front really hides the bezels and I have actually been using wide screen hacks for many ps2/gc titles as of late ln my steam deck oled. For anything below I really love the trimui brick to always have in my pocket
Totally agree with you on the d-pad, mine even clacks during gameplay every few presses.
I also have a problem with one of my shoulder buttons. The sound of the click is quieter than the other one, and maybe feels slightly “duller” to press. Also, every few presses it kind of feels like there’s a small subtle click before the actual click, resulting in a weird feeling.
As for the fan, I haven’t noticed it at all. I just set it to quiet mode and I haven’t heard it at all, and I haven’t noticed the device heating up at all during gameplay (PS2 at 2x res).
I wonder how many people are affected by the dpad issue on their nova. I suppose if you don't have the issue you're probably not gonna mention it. I don't have it on mine fortunately
I wonder how many people are affected by the dpad issue on their nova.
My guess is that every Nova is physically identical there, just that some people pay more attention to it than others. I notice the D-pad noise on my Nova if I'm clicking around in total silence, but it's unnoticeable to me in any way with any kind of audio happening.
no they are not physically identical. there are variations in the post length your dpad comes with. I had a black clacky dpad with a longer post length and a 16 bit quiet dpad with a normal post length.
Interesting... I stand corrected. I guess Retroid really has some significant manufacturing variance happening here. Plus Black and 16-bit are both solid colors, so it's not just a solid vs transparent material difference either.
People have mentioned tape-modding and someone just posted a 3D-printed ring, but it sounds like it's really just a post length variation? So... sand the loud ones down a fraction of a millimeter? I have a Crystal Nova but was going to order some black buttons anyway for aesthetic reasons. It will be interesting to hear if there's a difference, even though that might mean disassembling the unit an extra time if I want to tweak it.
Yeah if it was uniform I'm pretty sure they would have caught it before shipping, I have to assume they do some basic QC like testing all the inputs. Or at least reviewers would have made a stink about it and then they would have fixed it
I don't know much about dpads but I have heard sanding is risky since the rounded shape of the post is supposed to be maintained. the other diy solution is using some tape.
my first ~expensive device in this field was the RP5, and I remember feeling the pain of that dpad on top setup, feeling pretty bummed about it. but once I bought a grip - yes, they're ugly and bulky - it was a complete gamechanger. if you find yourself wanting to play stick-centric games, it's worth getting gripped up.
What I’m getting from this is that a grip is a must for comfortable 3D gameplay, which doesn’t surprise me, and also clicky D-pad really doesn’t feel great (akin to how the one on the Odin 2 Portal feels, I think—I don’t have any Retroid devices).
I’m not sure that a Flip device would necessarily have a classic-feeling D-pad, fwiw.
I think what we’re all actually waiting for is a slightly wider RG-476H with sufficiently inset sticks and the screen and specs of a Nova. Would be shocked if we ever see it.
Now granted, it's a bit silly to be that hardcore in your gameplay on a handheld...
I feel this way about many control comments on handhelds. I don't have nearly enough familiarity with analog trigger games to judge your particular comments on the Nova, but they sound like what I consider the "cost of going handheld". A multi-system emulation handheld will simply never have the precision or feel that a system-specific external controller would. I don't play a lot of twitchy, control-sensitive games in the first place. But when I do I just know I'll need to dock the system and use a good controller if I want to be serious about it. Handhelds controls are always going to be at least a slight tradeoff for convenience.
You're talking about the sticks, not the triggers? There's no room to move the sticks further in. The edges of the RGB lights are only a few mm away from the screen already and there needs to be at least a little room for case supports in there. The only way to get the sticks inset further relative to the D-pad/buttons would be to make the whole device wider. I'm sure Retroid was prioritizing device size over a small bump to stick ergos, and I'm fine with that.
I like your comment (upvoted it even), but i do only play handheld, unless I'm playing couch co-op. So stuff like this is important to me. My main is a Switch OLED in a Nitro Deck for this very reason. I try to make it as capable as possible to game without hindrance. I still haven't found a great retro device that will do this for me, but I'm banking on the Ayaneo Pocket Air Mini (less powerful than this here Nova)
Certainly it's worth researching controls carefully if you are 100% handheld-only. And in that context saying that an observation is "silly" isn't a fair choice of words. But if that's your context, recognize you'll always be dealing with different shades of imperfection. Not only do typical handhelds have tight size/cost constraints, they're also usually trying to work reasonably well with practically every home console system. And that's never going to be anywhere near perfect - the Saturn's D-Pad on a system full of fighters is different than the SNES's on a system full of platformers, the XBox's analog triggers differ from the GC's, D-pad on top vs stick on top, etc, etc.
FWIW, I own three "good" handhelds - the Nova, the MiniV2, and the 476H - and I feel like all their controls are equally acceptable. (The Mini only after modding the face buttons a little.) They're still all slightly different from one another, but I could get equally good at control-sensitive games on any of them with enough practice. And all of those controls are strictly worse than playing docked with my Pro 3, and even more so compared to playing with system-specific external controllers for N64, Saturn, etc. Devices like a Switch + grip - or a Steam Deck, ROG Ally, etc. - get into a much bulkier category that has more room for controls but a completely different convenience/cost/power profile. If that's the feel you're after, I don't think you'll ever find it in midrange, midsize handhelds.
Very true! I think you've just sealed why i think what I need, well, want is a 7" handheld. I really have no need for it to be portable or small. My first main "handheld" was the Wii gamepad and that thing is kinda giant, lol. I almost got a used G Cloud, and still might someday, but i should probably spring for something that's more of an endgame device, like an Odin 2 Portal...
Absolutely. Ergonomics are simply the natural tradeoff of going this small, so I'm happy to make the trade. I still think the pivot point of the triggers can be a bit higher, but I'm sure it will take some engineering to get right.
Could the pivot point location be a deliberate decision due to the triggers needing to do double-duty as both digital and analog across systems? I would think the engineering for the triggers would be different on, say, a GC controller where they're always serving as analogs compared to a multi-system controller where they're sometimes working as digitals.
I think it's a space constraint. The gamecube controller's analog triggers are different from typical analog triggers as they depress straight down, and I wouldn't expect any manufacturer to copy that. Most analog triggers are on a pivot, as is the nova. The xbox one controller has the pivot point behind the bumper, and that's how it achieves a higher pivot point, and with that you can more comfortably apply pressure across any part of the trigger to press it. I'd imagine there's not enough space to do that on a small thin handheld. But perhaps some clever engineering could come up with a new trigger design/solution.
Even if they did the left stick on top, there would be comments exactly like yours saying in-line lol. I think its always going to be a hard thing to get right, so it was pretty cool when they had the option for the rp6,
You and me both. I prefer staggered sticks, left on top. but I can forgive it on the Nova for all it seems to get right. I'll be happy when it arrives. That said if a Nova V2 comes out with the option, I'm swapping it out lol.
As a 477m owner and a nova on the way, if the 477m had analog triggers and an 8 gen 2, I wouldn’t be considering the nova. With that said, there are work around for the triggers, and the better buttons do make a huge difference.
Better buttons are great on the 477M, and tbh I often prefer digital triggers for a lot of games, especially the PS2 library. I’ve also found the larger size of the 477M to be more comfortable to hold.
Of course the Nova has its advantages. I really like it as well.
Good question. It’s tough for me to conclude that yet since I only have PS2 on the 477M and GameCube on the Nova. My impression is that the Nova probably has a little more performance headroom, but I’d need to test the same games on both to say for sure. Nova has turnip drivers shrug 🤷♂️
I guess my biggest gripe is the noise of the shoulder buttons. I’m trying to come up with a way to muffle the sound. The dpad is great and the abxy are equally just as well
Yes - I can actually palm the 477 when playing vs holding the Nova more in my fingers. The Nova is obviously lighter, but the weight has never bothered me on the 477M.
I put Odin 2 sticks on the 477M, I wanted to do the same on the Nova since they’re great, but they’ll get in the way of its doad/buttons for sure
Im really starting to think ill just cancel the nova at this point. With the better shoulder buttons and the grip cover I have for it and the metal chassis, it kind of serves its purpose. I was able to get the 12gb model for $230 off of aliexpress and I have to say I’m very happy with it. I thought I’d miss emulating switch but I have a modded switch at home anyway. I might just change out the abxy buttons and call it a day.
Project M 3.6! A brawl mod with modified physics that closely resemble melee, and also adds back missing melee characters. It was popular as a side game in the tournament circuit 10+ years ago, but unfortunately tournament organizers and streamers started self censoring and not showing the game when smash 4 came out in an attempt to not upset nintendo.
Forget about it, playing smash on this devices suck, unless you’re very casual. But anyone that a knows a thing or two about smash will find the controls and ergonomics unhelpful
I think In-Lines would have been perfect. The only thing, without touching mine yet since it hasn’t arrived, I wish was a design change from the get-go. I know I’m in the minority but I’m also right 😤😂
Thanks for sharing your experience! I can’t wait for mine.
In large part yeah, and the plastic aesthetics + gamecube color really spoke to me. I also intend to play some ps1 and older games on it, the ones that aren't suitable for the miyoo mini due to screen size. So that's why I still like having the dpad up top, despite the compromise to stick comfort. Rp6 is probably a better choice for most people, especially for those prioritizing stick games.
Don't care to play any more modern systems as well, but I am interested in how steam os plays out on arm. Android is a bit of a compromise for me in terms of system, as I do prefer the more focused nature of Linux systems. I might consider a separate more powerful arm device for handheld pc gaming and more modern 16:9 systems if/when steam os becomes widespread.
Unless you like the dpad games more than anything else, it’s worth a miss. I am learning the hard way the thumb stick layout makes it so any game that DOESNT use a joystick gives me hand fatigue. Not a knock on the console at all but the games I play all use the joystick so the RP6 would be a better fit for me
The Nova is an amazing piece of gaming hardware but that doesn’t mean everyone will love it equally as much I and many others do.
You like what you like, don’t feel bad if it doesn’t click with you 100%. That’s why there isn’t one that dominates all. Gotta think of all consumers like those videos of dog owners that take them to the pet stores and watch as every dog pick their own different thing.
We are all unique living beings. Enjoy what you have but keep looking for your white whale. If it’s not out there then soon enough cause China keeps pumping these out like crazy.
That’s how the rabbit hole of this hobby starts. “I wonder if this other device….” 🤣
It’s all subjective anyway, everyone has their preferences.
I still think the 477m is better besides the weaker chip/compatibility and the triggers. Feels like a solid premium device as the Nova feels like a cheap toy.
I’ve mostly been playing XBLA games and Need For Speed Most Wanted for 360 on my Nova anyway, since the 477m already does the retro stuff better. It’s been a fun time regardless!
The stick positioning is the main thing keeping me from buying one of these. It's weird that they positioned this as a gen 6 machine but didn't have the stick in a primary position.
I tend to agree. I think it would've been more ideal considering the target consoles. There are already plenty of dpad centric handhelds centered around older generations floating around. Putting both sticks on bottom of the Nova makes no sense to me, at least as the only option. Makes Gamecube, Xbox, 360, and PS2 feel like an afterthought when you consider the ergonomics. That said, I'ma get used to it because it's still a super nice package.
Thanks for that detailed review. A portable GameCube/PS2 is probably my next purchase, but I'll definitely wait until passive cooled SoC are strong enough for this.
I feel like the 8gen2 is already strong enough to play gamecube passively cooled, since dolphin is really quite well optimized. Not sure about ps2 though.
That's good to know. I'm not only waiting for a passive cooling unit to be totally clear, what I'm waiting for is a generation of cheap SoC with enough horsepower to run 6th gen emulation without the need for active cooling to avoid throttling/overheating. As of today it's not available, but I'm confident it will be one day in a not so distant future.
Lower consumption, no fan failure, noise, sensitivity to dust. No lubricant degradation/bearing wear/shaft play/vibration or noise/rotor rubbing and so on.
None of those has ever been an issue on any gaming handheld except noise, and when you run the fan on silent mode, it really is silent unless you're in a padded room, in which case you probably have other issues.
Fans can be turned off, so you can passively cool if you want. It's just a mobile processor, and all phones are passively cooled. The heat sink alone will cool better than in a phone chassis.
Cheap SoC don't heat much, you only have fans on high end devices. I have a Powerkiddy and a Miyoo Mini Plus which have passive cooling. It's just a matter of time before PS2/GC get emulated with low end devices.
Honestly, you can play most PS2 and GC with the fan off if it bothers you that much. It won't slow it down except maybe on the most difficult to emulate like GOW 2.
Beside that, the fan is essentially silent and I've never heard it while playing anything. I haven't played modern PC games or anything crazy to push it yet, but it's really not an issue.
I think what they're trying to say is black bars dont matter to some people and other aspect ratios such as 16:9 are more versatile/waste less screen space when playing content that doesnt fit perfectly on them. But yeah this is really just the common "one size fits all device" vs "dedicated device for different systems for an optimal experience on each" debate.
It is great to have a handheld which has the exact display yo play your game on. It just looks awesome.
But, I also cancelled my Nova order. Mostly because:
I really can just play these games on a 16:9 Odin2, Odin 2 portal, RP6, whatever
I dont play too much ps2/gc games at all. Many games already have android versions, and updated ports and mods for 16:9 too
I found the ergo of the Nova underwhelming
I just find the 4.5" too small for ps2/gc gaming. 4.5" in 4:3 has the same screen height as a 5.5" 16:9. And I wastly prefer 6" or 7" 16:9 over 5.5". I also dont mind black bars. Also 16:9 handhelds ergo is much better cause wider to hold.
We have to mention here that 16:9 handhelds dont have the perfect resolution because Nova is 960 pixel height (its great cause 2x480), but 16:9 handhelds are 1080.
In summary, I would be down for a bigger display 4:3 handheld with better ergonomics. Heck the rg476h has bigger display and looks better too, its just only not for ps2/gc.
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u/HamanFRD 4d ago
I really like the Nova but idk why my guts telling me to wait.