Hyperkin Supa RetroN HD clone games console

Nintendo is set to release the SNES Classic on September 29 for $80 with pre-orders expected to open later this month. However, there are concerns about availability following the disaster that was the NES Classic. Nintendo didn't make enough of them, and in response to demand the company ended production.

Hopefully Nintendo learned its lesson and will make lots of SNES Classic mini-consoles, but as Nintendo Life spotted, if they don't there's going to be an alternative available. And arguably it's superior to the SNES Classic.

Hyperkin is best known for making the $160 RetroN 5. It's a clone console capable of playing original NES, Famicom, SNES, Super Famicom, Genesis, Mega Drive, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games. However, in response to the SNES Classic, Hyperkin decided to create a SNES-focused clone console just revealed as the Supa RetroN HD.

Unlike the SNES Classic which includes a limited set of games, the Supa RetroN HD supports original SNES cartridges. You can insert any cartridge from any region and it will be playable using hardware emulation. The games will be output at 720p via HDMI with both 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios offered. There's also composite AV support.

For comparison, the SNES Classic will ship with 21 games, with the games varying slightly per region. In all cases, the unreleased Star Fox 2 will be included as well as two wired controllers. The Hyperkin Supa RetroN HD will ship with no games, but is capable of playing all 783 officially-released SNES carts. It will also ship with at least one of Hyperkin's own SNES controller, but I also expect support for original controllers.

Hyperkin hasn't announced pricing or a release date yet, but I suspect both will be similar to the SNES Classic. As for which system you should buy, I think the answer is both. That way, you'll unlock the full SNES game library and secure yourself a copy of the otherwise unavailable Star Fox 2.