CheckMag | The Atari Gamestation Pro is a shining example of why mini retro consoles are literally rubbish

Retro gaming has seen a resurgence in recent years with a number of Chinese manufacturers releasing consoles for playing a multitude of different systems. Without getting into the legalities of these systems, they at least scratch that nostalgia itch whether you grew up with the NES, Saturn or Dreamcast, or simply want to explore titles from days gone by.

While there are arguments for having a legal way to take a trip down gaming memory lane, most of these “mini” consoles and computers offer a watered down experience. With someone else's curated list of games you are left hoping that your favourites are included in the package, and quite how you relive the heady days of Amiga or C64 ownership without a functioning keyboard is anyone's guess.

As influential as Atari and the 2600 was, the one thing that differentiated them from the consoles that followed is that the games just weren’t very good. Sure, in 1977 when the console was originally released these games were mind blowing. Something that most people only ever got to see in arcades could now be had on your home TV. But in 2024 how long is missile command or super breakout going to last before the Gamestation Pro gets tired.

Let’s not pretend that the Gamestation Pro or any other “mini” console will appreciate in value over the next 50 years. These are not and never will be collectors items. So what do these consoles offer beyond that initial nostalgia hit?

The short answer is nothing. They are short sighted cash grabs from companies that have already made their money selling these games. The sole selling point is nostalgia and the Atari Gamestation Pro seems particularly reliant on this given its $99 asking price and the fact that 50% of the included games run at a resolution of 160 x 192. While the Gamestation Pro also includes some games for the Atari 5200, 7800 and Arcade you’d be hard pushed to recognise most of them, and even the best graphically (Mighty Warriors) is a poor clone of Street Fighter 2. Particularly when you factor in the limitation of playing with a joystick and a single button. 

So once these consoles have served their purpose they either end up as obsolete bricks at the bottom of peoples draws, or tossed into landfill once the realisation hits that Pitfall (arguably one of the best games on the Gamestation Pro) isn’t the powerhouse graphical adventure that we remember.

It might seem unfair to single out Atari given the number of "Mini" consoles to be released in recent times. However the Gamestation Pro simply doesnt have the catalogue of games to make it worthwhile. So don't contribute to the e-waste problem. Try Batocera on a cheap Raspberry Pi, or get yourself an Anbernic RG35XX from Amazon* for $10 less. If the legalities around retro gaming don’t sit well, buy an Evercade. With all of these options, you’ll at least be able to emulate a bunch of other consoles once you realise how truly awful Atari games are in 2024.