As a retro gamer, I’ve tried all manner of consoles aiming to replace my OG Game Boy Color, but not many that scratch the itch of the recently released Chromatic Transparent from Modretro. It’s, honestly, the best way to replicate the feeling of the original hardware while improving in so many key ways.

I have a decent number of original gaming consoles from the 90s, but the Game Boy is arguably the handheld that I covet the most. I was a little too young to really enjoy the DMG model, but the Game Boy Color was the first EDC I ever owned. It still has a special place in my heart that very few things can match.

Luckily for me, my parents didn’t throw my original clear “Atomic Purple” Game Boy Color away under the guise of ditching clutter at home. It’s a piece of art, one that I love dearly, but it’s missing out on the fundamentals of a good gadget by 2026 standards.

Using original hardware isn’t always ideal. You miss out on a backlit display, the battery longevity is often subpar, and, in the interests of hardware preservation, I don’t want to break something that means so much to me.

That’s kind of why I picked up the original Modretro Chromatic last year. That is a high-end FPGA Game Boy clone that replicates software emulation with hardware-level logic recreation. You’re able to play original cartridges with supremely accurate visuals, sounds, timing, all that good stuff.

The original Chromatic was kind of pricey at over $200 with the Sapphire glass display and all-metal chassis.

Source link