Sheer nostalgia is a powerful marketing force, after all. Devices like the Analogue Pocket have already taken a high-tech approach to playing old-school Game Boy cartridges. The Chromatic does something similar, and turns out, it’s very good. It launched late last year, then quickly sold out. In July, ModRetro started selling units again, this time with a few upgrades like a snap-in battery pack and streaming support. Now it’s finally staying in stock, so it’s much easier to buy than the first go around.
The handheld comes in several fun colors and can play any old Game Boy cartridge, assuming you take the time to blow the dust out of the connector slot. ModRetro also sells around a dozen original games in their cartridges. A few more are official recreations of old classics, like Rayman and Toki Tori. Prices range from $30 to $100, depending on the game.
Blast From the Past
Courtesy of ModRetro
I’ve spent the majority of my time on the Chromatic, plunging into the rabbit hole that is ModRetro’s recreation of Tetris. And yeah, the game still holds up. Especially in such a primo way to play it. The Chromatic is lightweight, about 6.2 ounces. The outer shell is made with a “cold-touch magnesium build” that keeps your palms from getting too sweaty while playing. The 160 × 144 pixel screen is made of Corning’s Gorilla Glass, but for a $100 upgrade, you can get that made from sapphire crystal, the same stuff Rolex puts on its watches.
