Analogue Pocket vs FPGBC: No Competition

I wrote about my experience playing the Game Boy Color on various Gameboy Color-like devices back in March. Funny, playing FPGBC turned out to be my favorite method of play among those—the form factor winner. Specifically, I didn't discuss the Analogue Pocket, which I only received the week this piece was published.

After two months, I've spent some time with the Pocket and a significant amount of time with the FPGBC. I recently listed one of them for sale here in May. Although I want to keep my belongings, I don't frequently find myself in that circumstance, yet there is no contest over which gadget is superior. The main factor influencing my decision between these two is my personal opinion.

Come along and see how I compare and experience the Analogue Pocket and the Funny playing FPGBC over the past few months, as well as why one of these eventually left my hands. Other writers on the RH writing team may even share their thoughts with you.

The Analogue Pocket Experience

I have a few remarks to make on the Analogue Pocket. It's bigger than I anticipated to start. I thought it would be a little smaller, especially with a 3.5" display that has 10 times the resolution of a GBC. My experience with the RG353V spoiled me, or I overlooked how massive the bezels would be; it was simply bigger.

Secondly, it's high-end, pleasant to hold, and performs well even though it's only a slab. However, it isn't my favorite in terms of ergonomics. I have nowhere to hold on to, and that small shoulder ledge isn't very helpful either.

In any case, the Pocket is a pleasant and well-rounded experience. You insert your cartridge, switch it on, and start playing. Even with my small GBC library, it functions and I haven't experienced any compatibility problems. I'll confess, though, that my copy of Super Mario Land looks fantastic on this screen. The software is operating well. I'm a massive admirer of MinUI, so I like it. Navigating, making adjustments, and finishing tasks are all simple. I genuinely enjoy it as a software experience.

What is it that I dislike? The buttons, that is. Tetris DX is one of my favorite GBC games. Similar to how Tetris Effect was one of my favorite Xbox One games, or Apotris was one of my favorite GBA games, or—well, I guess you get the idea. Tetris is my favorite game, and I play it a lot.

Additionally, the Pocket's D-Pad isn't quite proper for me. It doesn't feel right to me; I'm not sure if it's tight enough or if I've just grown used to using the D-Pad on my GBA for Apotris. Also, mention the shoulder buttons on my GBA. I don't like the tic-tac-toe shoulder buttons on the Pocket, but they're fine on the SP.

Please. There, do something better.

The Analogue Pocket is a fantastic technology, but the corporation that makes it chooses to use phony scarcity techniques, which is the biggest shame. Or, the Analogue Pocket is an excellent portable for the Game Boy Color, but it doesn't offer a wonderful Game Boy Color experience.

Don't just believe me, though.

JaLanimal's Thoughts on the Pocket

I'm sorry, but I'm here to split some hairs. I sold the Analogue Pocket last week after owning it for more than a year, and it was a liberating experience. Because I paid a premium price for the Pocket, I felt compelled to defend its superiority all the time, even though I actually detested it.

Please understand that the screen and feel are excellent. But it has to rank among the worst D-Pads I've ever used. I received a lot of false diagonals, and it feels really loose. "But to avoid that, you can open it and add tape." That shouldn't be the best option for anyone, considering the cost of this item.

Those shoulder buttons, speaking of poor buttons, are awful. They feel so loose, and pressing them is such an odd angle. Those factors alone prevented me from using my Pocket for any gameplay unless I needed to snap a photo to demonstrate the screen's quality, which is excellent once more.

After purchasing the Miyoo Mini Plus, I realized I no longer wanted this item. Man playing without Save States, Fast Forward, and other quality-of-life features seemed insane after a while, even though I realized the game is meant to mimic a real console experience. I adore role-playing games, and some of the older ones are difficult without the fast-forward feature. Because of the price, I also felt compelled to nurture the Pocket, but with my Miyo, I would throw it in my Pocket.

Although docking the Pocket is a good feature, I doubt I would use it at all because it is a pricey accessory—the portable nature of these gadgets appeals to me. Thanks to the Pocket, I became the portable equivalent of the obnoxious person who boasts about only using their CRT TV to play music. Instead, I'll be the obnoxious person who plays on his emulation portable, DMG, GBA, or GBC.

In contrast, the FPGBC is a do-it-yourself experience. The buttons and membranes are purchased individually after purchasing the kit from Funnyplaying. After assembling it, the FPGA portable device appears. Okay. Not so simple. It was easy to assemble. You connect the device to the device and assemble everything? However, I had trouble plugging in several of the connectors because I had some unsteady fingers. Specific plastic tools that can fit into those tight spaces address this problem. However, I'm not a smart guy, and it wasn't until I plugged in the battery at the end that I realized I had the kit.

Putting together? Alright. Hardware? Well, I love that it feels like a Game Boy Color in your hand. I had a GBC with me for a long time because I had stolen my brother's when I was a little kid, and this one had the ideal shape for that. The buttons? Yes, they required some breaking. They were rather stiff at first, which I didn't much like. I may be insane, but they don't feel nearly as stiff now that I've gotten acclimated to their feel over time. Although it's undoubtedly inferior to the original, I'm still pleased to use it frequently.

Software

Most work has to be done here. Since I first wrote about it, FunnyPlaying has released numerous firmware updates. Original cartridge support hasn't raised any issues for me yet, but Flash carts continue to raise issues.

The games I want to play are the ones that people might want to play on a Gameboy, but they don't appear to have any problems. Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, Shantae, and Tetris DX all play nicely on my little $20 flash cart. Yoshi's Cookie? It looks good. Additionally, I'm likely to attempt to beat the system in a few GBC games that I completed most of before giving up.

This is still my favorite way to play Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, even with the smaller screen, odd software, and awkward build experience.

Final Thoughts

As I said at the beginning of this experiential comparison, I sold one of these devices. Suppose you have already figured it out; well done. The Analogue Pocket was the one. What I wanted to take up was the crucial factor in the end. I maintained using my imitation flash cart and the FPGBC for Tetris DX. I tried to play it, and I wanted to bring it with me.

These two devices are not in competition with one another. The only remaining comparison is that it is an FPGA device for the Game Boy and Game Boy color. An excellent example of a retro handheld is the Analogue Pocket. Its Open FPGA cores allow it to play more systems. It's a better device overall, and you can dock it to have a retro gaming system on your TV.

However, it falls short in terms of accessibility, cost, and offering a Game Boy Color experience. Depending on shipping and if you're purchasing the Pocket brand-new or from a second-hand store, the FPGBC can be anywhere between $100 and $150 less expensive. You may order the components there and then, or you can visit Funny Playing or Retro Game Repair Shop (get 10% off with code seems).

It's neither the greatest nor the superior handheld—absolutely not. However, it provides the perfect mood and hits the experience exactly. In the end, the FPGBC was the superior Game Boy Color. There is no rivalry.