Modretro Chromatic review: a mostly pixel-perfect Game Boy console, ideal for the modern era

Retro game consoles are big business. The current craze of gaming hardware specialists centred on nostalgia seems to be thriving at the moment. After all, companies such as Evercade and Anbernic have made this avenue their primary business, being all too happy to appease millennials with disposable income craving to recapture their youth.

Up until now, when it comes to all things Game Boy anyway, the best method of doing so has been the Analogue Pocket - one of the best retro game consoles. But that hasn’t stopped new manufacturer Modretro from trying to eat some of that device’s lunch with its debut offering. Like many initial products the aptly named Chromatic isn’t perfect, but it’s still a handsomely made, well-built way to play Game Boy and Game Boy Colour classics – especially if you’ve got the physical collection to support it.

Having tinkered around with my review unit for a few weeks now – becoming absorbed in the likes of Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins, Pokémon Blue, and Donkey Kong '94 all over again – I can confidently say there’s a lot to love about this unabashedly cartridge-based device. Providing you’re not fussed about emulation or the ability to play Game Boy Advance cartridges, the Chromatic is an attractive and relatively affordable way to celebrate what is arguably the golden era of handheld gaming.

Chromatic review: in the box

For the £159 asking price out of the box you get the Chromatic handheld console itself, of course, plus a copy of the Chromatic-specific version of Tetris and three AA batteries already charged up and in the device. However, don’t despair if you’re the type of retro player who enjoys keeping your gear powered via USB-C cable; rest easy knowing that the Chromatic supports this too – you just need to have a spare cable handy and purchase the rechargeable battery pack separately.

While compatible with most (if not all) original Game Boy and Game Boy Colour accessories and cases, at present there is a line of ‘Porta Pro’ headsets available in multiple colours designed to be paired with the Chromatic. For £39 I’d say it serves as a nice extra for players wanting to complete the nostalgic 90s look, but it isn’t essential considering that the console sports a 3.5mm audio jack and so will work with pretty much any wired headset you already have.

Chromatic review: design and build

There’s no denying just how fantastic the Chromatic looks from a design perspective. Available in a suite of both garish and understated colourways ranging from ‘Leaf’ green, ‘Wave’ blue, and even ‘Bubblegum’ pink, you’re almost guaranteed to find a style ideal for your tastes. I myself was sent the Midnight Black colour variant, and though subtle in its aesthetic I really appreciate how neat it looks when sat alongside my other retro devices.

Where the Chromatic shines brightest, however, is with its 160 x 144 pixel backlit display, which is entirely scratch resistant, can be viewed perfectly in even the sunniest of environments, and renders all your Game Boy games in an exceedingly crisp manner. Such attention to detail is exactly what retro enthusiasts have come to expect from modern handhelds of this ilk, so it’s nice to see Modretro nail this aspect out of the gate.

The screen is further complimented by a crush-proof, magnesium alloy metal shell, which as well as giving the Chromatic a welcome sense of heft should do well to protect it against any accidental bumps and tumbles. Overall, the device is anything but fragile.

Chromatic review: performance

Specifically designed to work solely with genuine Game Boy and Game Boy Colour cartridges, as you’d expect the Chromatic runs and presents both game types flawlessly. The picture remained clear, the built-in speaker is generously loud when not using headphones, and thanks to FPGA-based technology I didn’t experience any noticeable latency.

One area that was a bit hit or miss unfortunately was in getting certain cartridges to be read right away; sometimes it would take two or three inserts to have the game fire up the load screen. That said, this is more often than not an issue with my selection of 30-year-old cartridges as opposed to anything the Chromatic is doing.

Further leaning into the inherently retro experience is the inclusion of a Display options menu, where with just one press of the right-side button you can tweak the console’s brightness level, frame blend, and colour correction. You can even choose to run games in silent mode if you never want to toy around with volume using the turning wheel, but the absence of specific filters is a shame. I could say the same about the lack of a MicroSD slot. For better and worse, no form of emulation seems to be on the cards for the Chromatic’s future.

Chromatic review: the games

In addition to running the entire catalogue of official Game Boy and Game Boy Colour releases by both third parties and Nintendo, alongside the Chromatic Modretro has released a unique line of Chromatic cartridges that look and play just as well. Much like the original handheld its mimicking a version of Tetris is there to play on day one, but more exciting is the range of totally new Chromatic games such as undead platformer Hermano, sci-fi puzzler In the Dark 2, and so on.

All are available separately at launch from Modretro’s website, and are ideal to add to or kick off your existing cartridge collection. This is similar to Evercade’s strategy with the Super Pocket and Evercade EXP; the idea being to support modern developers making retro style games in a way that builds a tight-knit eco-system around both the games and the device itself. Here’s hoping that new waves of Chromatic titles get added in the future.

Chromatic review: should I buy one?

In the end, while not quite the Game Boy juggernaut the Analogue Pocket has slowly become, the Chromatic is still a refreshing way to play your old 90s Nintendo cartridges. The pixel-perfect screen allows you to see these classic games with fresh eyes, while the heft of the magnesium alloy shell screams comfort and luxury.

While it is a bummer that emulation isn’t of interest to Modretro and Game Boy Advance titles are presently not compatible, the Chromatic celebrates the Game Boy to an extent few other retro handheld devices are able.