My Arcade Atari Game Station Pro: Retro Video Game Console with 200+ Games, Wireless Joysticks, RGB LED Lights

This is my new favorite thing. But the out-of-the-box experience is admittedly weak... As this item arrives, it feels quality and the controllers are nice. But the game selection is not impressive (and my favorite console is the Atari 2600) and the UX/navigation is boring and confusing. There are only 130 actual atari games, and its missing many of the classics (probably due to licensing). The other 70 games are random NES/SNES/arcade filler, most of which are bad... Still there is Asteroids, Tempest, Centipede, Missile Command etc and in console and arcade variations. But the end result feels kind of like one of those cheap flashback systems. The controllers are gorgeous and feel very nice though-- in my opinion much better than the original cx40. But the button layout is awkward. Its not a problem for old one button games, but you'll keep forgetting which button is which on a 16bit title. It also includes all the accessories you need but it only has hdmi output. I would prefer an analog option for older tvs but there are adapters available. And the controllers take AA batteries which is kind of a bummer. So out of the box I would give this only 2 stars... Fortunately you can fix a lot of issues yourself. Start by installing the updated firmware (currently 1.30), which seems more complicated than it should be but there are plenty of tutorials on youtube. That improves the interface and rom loading experience. Then you can add a micro sd card of your own roms (games). It currently plays most any game on atari 2600/5200/7800, NES, SNES, game boy/color/advance, arcade (mame2003) and sega genesis/master system/game gear. This is where it really shines. There is no flashy interface for the games currently, just a text list, but new updates keep coming and certainly this will improve with time and hopefully support for colecovision/intellivision and c64. As it stands this is my new preferred way to play atari games, even over the retron77 and 2600+, but of which I also recommend, especially if you have cartridges too.

The first one I got was used, so I didn't even bother trying it. I don't blame this on Amazon, but rather the particular seller. I sent it back and ordered another one, which was new. This is a great system. It was easy to set up and get to playing. The selection of games on it is very good, though it is missing some of my favorites. However, the great thing about this system is that you can also play games it doesn't come with using a micro SD card. The console... It's well built and looks quite nice. The placement of the two USB-C ports on the front for wired controller connection is great, especially in comparison to other Atari retro consoles, and even the original 2600. The controller ports being in the back of those was always a bit unwieldy, while being in the front is just natural. The top is simple, with a Power and Home button, the latter of which is also on each controller. The ring lights are also nice looking, and they're adjustable, from the default, alternating rainbow colors to solid white and solid orange. You adjust the lights with the Menu button on the controllers. The USB-C power port and full size HDMI ports are on the back, and well placed. And the best part... the micro SD card slot, which is on the left side. The console has a bit of weight, which adds to it feeling more solid, though some of that weight comes from a metal plate on the inside that they added to make it feel heavier. Still, its heft is nice. The controllers... For most games they're very good. The joystick part feels quite different from a traditional CX-40 Atari joystick, both in its style and the way it feels, but it's quite nice. Not cheap feeling. They have a light ring around the bottom of the joystick, corresponding with the lights around the Power and Home buttons on the console. They also have a small rotatable knob used for Paddle games, and it's actually quite nice. It turns very smoothly, with just a little resistance. Now I say the controllers are very good for "most" games, as some games require the use of more than just the A button, and the positioning of the B and C buttons can make games that require the use of them, such as the Arcade version of Missile Command, much less enjoyable to play, if not downright unenjoyable. Other than that, the controllers are quite good. The weight is also quite nice when the batteries are installed. On the top, there are Home, Select and Start buttons. On the back is a Menu button, a connectivity light, a USB-C port and a power switch. Some people have found that input latency is a problem when using the controllers. Because it uses the common wireless 2.4GHz protocol, other devices that use 2.4GHz, such as routers, TVs, mice, etc. can interfere with the signal, causing issues. However, these controllers can be used wired, though you have to provide your own USB-C to USB-C cables. This will eliminate all of the wireless related latency. And when using them wired, you don't have to use batteries in them, though without the batteries they'll be considerably lighter in weight. With this said, I notice barely any input latency at all when using them wirelessly. The latency is so little that it's nearly imperceptible. In fact, it's less than with both my 2600+ and Flashback 12, and both of those use wired controllers. Other... Though the unit comes with a USB-A to USB-C power cable, it does not come with a power adapter. You need to provide a 5V adapter of at least 2A. It also comes with an HDMI cable. Summary... All in all this is a great system. It's a lot of fun. The selection of games is quite good and the game play is outstanding, even for the paddle games. There is also new firmware available and there are videos on YouTube that give step by step instructions on how to update it. Mine came with version 1.20, and the new firmware is version 1.30. It contains some bug fixes as well as changing the games layout on the screen, making it easier to sort through them. Two pieces of advice: - If you're using a modern TV, make sure to set the TV to Game mode in the picture settings. Without doing so, the latency can be fairly noticeable, as the TV processes a lot of things for the picture. Game mode disables all of that extra picture processing, making the picture response much more real time. - This is an important one. Look at the seller reviews before you buy this, and make sure to buy it from a good one.

Be prepared to be underwhelmed. The joysticks are an abomination to use. The sticks have very little travel. The B button is positioned quite awkwardly on the top of the stick, and the C button is right where you'd grip the controller. The trackball emulator is alright for what it does, but it's awkwardly positioned on the upper right side of the stick. The emulation is fine, but you can do better with OSS and a PC. Which brings me to the real reason this gets ONE star (a half-star if I could). NO support for firmware update for Mac OR Linux users. So you must have a Windows machine to update the device. In 2023, it's not difficult to provide Linux support for firmware updates. It doesn't have to be simple, nor does it have to have a GUI, though it takes a TRIVIAL amount of work to make a Linux firmware tool. I have made them myself, and i have used them for other devices like keyboards and portable music players. It's a TRAVESTY that in this day and age, you have to keep a Windows 10 (or later) PC around to update firmware for things like this. It's a trivial job to do and nothing Windows has makes it "better" suited for firmware updates. It's as if My Arcade can't port things to Mac or Linux? Fine, if the programmers at My Arcade are not versed in Windows, hire some. But to avoid Mac too? That's tragic. This could've been a decent emulation station *IF* it had better support for the millions of enthusiasts who like retro gaming but do NOT own a Windows machine. Sad. You really duffed this one, My Arcade.

First off, there are quite a few games included but unfortunately many of the best Atari arcade and console games were not amongst this collection. However, that is where the SD Card comes in. You can use 2600, 5200, and 7800, and other systems ROM images loaded on to the card. Before you start with the SD Card, ensure you update the firmware from their website. It includes a lot of enhancements as to the SD Card management. Most of all it allows you to use a folder structure. From what I have tested, most of the 2600, 520, and 7800 ROMs all work. I am not sure about the homebrew games, but I've read they are hit or miss. MAME Roms also work. However I am not sure what version of MAME emulation is being used so not all of my ROMs are loading. I'm mostly using older retro ROMS which the system can handle. I wouldn't try using ROMS from the mid 90's or later. The system is probably not powerful enough to handle most of those. I've gotten games like moon patrol, Elevator Action, Dig Dug to work, but other older games like Galaga don't load. I'm sure it is just the ROM version I have and that the correct one would load. I've also attempted NES, Colecovision, Genesis and Intellivision ROMS. NES and Genesis work (have to be extracted from the ZIP file) but I have not been able to get Coleco or Intellivision to work. In fact the directory shows empty when I point to them to try and load the games. The controllers I am not a huge fan of. Although they are similar in style to the Atari 2600, the button placement (especially the B) seems awkward to me. I've read people have been able to use other controllers but I have not tried yet. For basic games the controller is fine however. I do like how they integrated a paddle onto the controller as well. Another issue with the controller is that I have had a bit of latency once in a while, but most of the time it is fine. Overall definitely worth buying for a mini-retro console even though there are more powerful out there and it has a few quirks. Maybe they will continue to update features in firmware to enhance it even more in the future

The Atari game console is replicated and represented perfectly. Quite an experience for someone who appreciates nostalgia as I do. Plenty of built-in games to create a positive gaming experience. However, expandable with an SD Card to download hundreds of other compatible titles while utilizing the controllers packed in. Basically, most any program that uses 3 buttons or less will be quite playable from most retro systems throughout the 70's to the early 90's!

Swing and a miss with this unit. Looks gorgeous and is well packaged. I was initially attracted by the number of games included natively, and the manufacturer listening to consumer requests for paddle options and ability to access other ROMS. Unfortunately, the controllers are terrible. They are heavy and require 4 AA batteries (each!) to work - for some reason, I thought they were LED rechargeable, but the USB connection is only if you want to wire them up during play and skip the batteries. Strike 1. The connection and boot up work great, and you can use an SD card to save games and/or play other ROMs that don't come with the system. Nice! There's fun background music and a nifty screen saver that runs while the unit is on but not in use. Very ATARI inspired art. I also liked the LED light display and ability to work with menu options directly from the controller. I also liked being able to save games, and you get up to 2 saves per game (base unit), and 2 more per game if you add an SD card. The save files are micro small so you don't even need a large SD card. HOWEVER, the extra ROM list boots in a separate window to the main menu, in a generic alphabetized (or time stamped?) list, no indexing or organization by sub-folder if you want to store ROMs for multiple systems. (As off 12/30/2024 they did release a firmware that finally supports sub-folders in the SD Card, previously you just had all ROMs in a single list.) Strike 2. The controllers again... ugh. The "paddle" is a tiny radio knob on the right side of the joystick controller. You cannot operate it with one finger, it requires you to pinch the tiny knob to get anything done and WOW after 5 minutes my hand is really feeling it. You can set the paddle sensitivity to account for latency, but compared to running actual paddles it just doesn't feel the same. Breakout is jerky. The heavy controller is not responsive, either. Even something simple like Pac-Man routinely ignored obvious joystick moves. Yes, you can plug in a (wired) XBox controller, but this defeats the purpose of buying the unit. Strike 3 is the selection of games - due to licensing and compatibility reasons, some of the all-time greats (Frogger, Pitfall) are missing. Also missing were some of my personal faves (Atlantis, Berserk). Some that are included have paddle interface swapped to Joystick (Tempest) so it's just weird. If you do NOT use an SD card, the selection of games is wanting. Good enough for basic nostalgia only. I can only recommend this for people who want a taste of nostalgia, an easy HDMI compatible way to play their collection of games, or for those who want to try out the feel of the old ATARI games. It's not for people who truly want to play the games or have an extended gaming session. I wanted to give it 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 because they really did try to make a neat little system. I think it's a good start, but has a ways to go, especially at $100.

I received this a little more than 24 hours ago, I am impressed with it so far. It has a lot of 2600 games along with a few 5200, 7800 and Arcade games. It has a lot of games I played as a child. It does have a lot of the popular titles for the 2600, just not space invaders pac man or galaga. This was super easy to set up, plug in the USB and HDMI to the TV, install batteries in the controllers and you are up and playing in 10 minutes. The controller works well and is responsive with little to no lag. Mine was shipped with update 1.30 right out of the box and was brand new. There's plenty of game ROMs on the internet to install along with tutorials on YT. Google is your friend on this one. There's tons of free open source games out there written by amateurs based on past games. I wouldn't ever suggest anyone download official ROMS illegally, it's best to pay for them and get them legitimately. I read a lot of the reviews for this on here, and I can't speak to their experience or expectations but it seems a lot of people don't understand that games can be added easily through use of the SD card slot on the side. There's even custom operating systems out there to add to make every game download to have cover art and description just like it has originally, instead of just a list on the SD card. Most ROMS are kilobites in size so a 32gb SD card will afford you space for over 10,000 games. (Yes you read that right 10,000 games). It won't run any Xbox PS games but the Xbox one controller is amazing on it, right of the box with default button mapping. PS 4 and 5 controllers work but some of the buttons are not standard use. My kids that grew up on Xbox and Wii can't fathom that this was all we had in the early 80's and 90's to do. I still have my original Atari 2600 and brought it out to compare with this. This is so much better, I think some people have a distorted memory of what the 2600 played like after seeing and playing this. The 2600 was like pushing a lawnmower with square wheels compared to this being a riding lawnmower. You can actually connect a USB C cable to the controller from the console if you have any lag on some games a 10 foot cable is all you really need being any farther away than that doesn't seem right as we had to sit 4 feet away from the TV originally because the cords were so short. Anyone that buys this and is disappointed in it needs to search YT for "Adding games to the Atari Gamestation Pro" before they throw it in the trash or return it. But if you still aren't literate enough after watching YT to get more games then ask a 10 year old they can do it for you.

This Atari is packed with old-school favorites and delivered exactly what we hoped for. Like most of us remember, it’s incredibly hard to stay alive for more than a few minutes, which turned into the best part of the night. We passed the controllers around for a couple of hours and had a blast. It turned into great, simple family fun. The only downside is that two classics I expected to see, Space Invaders and Pac-Man, are not included. That was a little disappointing. Even so, it was a hit. My kids had a great time and quickly realized just how far technology has come since the 70s.