| Retro Duo | |
| Manufacturer: | Retro-Bit |
| Type: | Handheld game console |
| Generation: | Seventh generation (emulates third and fourth) |
| Cpu: | 8-bit & 16-bit |
| Controllers: | 2 SNES controller ports |
| Media: | NES/SNES/SFami ROM Cartridge |
| Compatibility: | NES, Super NES/Super Famicom |
| Successor: | Super Retro Trio |
The Retro Duo is a handheld game console developed by Retro-Bit and distributed by Innex, Inc. It plays game cartridges for the Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It plays North American, European and Japanese games and has the highest compatibility of any other clone system.[1] S-video is compatible when playing SNES games.[2] The console is not licensed by Nintendo and it's not fully compatible with every game released for the two game systems, but the majority of games function properly. While it has only been released in Canada and the United States, it can still be used in Europe and Japan with a power plug adapter. The console is compatible with official and third party SNES controllers.
Reviews of the Retro Duo have praised its compatibility for games many other clone consoles struggle with (due to hardware issues) such as on the NES, Star Fox on the SNES, and the Game Genie cheat cartridge. The Retro Duo is also compatible with the Super Game Boy device.[1] The Retro Duo was released in four different color schemes: white/blue, silver/black, black/red, and a red/gold limited edition version. The 3.0 release fixed many issues with the previous 2 versions, including the compatibility with Castlevania III, and came as a red/blue Mascot edition.
List of known incompatible games:
Most or all the PAL games listed below are not playable on a real NTSC Super NES (even with its security chip disabled). Their inclusion here does not reflect incompatibilities between the (NTSC) Retro Duo and a real NTSC Super NES.
Controllers / Accessories (compatible with NES to SNES cables but only ones with accessory support)
Retro-Bit also has a portable version of the console. The Retro Duo Portable, was released with a black case on 23 January 2012, and later with a red case on 25 September. The Retro Duo Portable is capable of playing Super NES cartridges via a large cartridge slot in the back. The Retro Duo Portable also supports NES, Genesis, and Game Boy games with an appropriate cartridge adapter for each system.