ModRetro Chromatic Review: An Arms Dealer’s Game Boy Ranks Among the Best Ever Made

ModRetro Chromatic Review: An Arms Dealer’s Game Boy Ranks Among the Best Ever Made

Alphaanalytics

This article is a review of the ModRetro Chromatic, a $200 handheld gaming console designed to look and feel like an original Game Boy. The reviewer, Sean Hollister, praises the device’s hardware and build quality, but expresses ambivalence about its creator, Palmer Luckey, who also founded Anduril, a company that manufactures advanced drones for military and law enforcement use.

Luckey has made statements in the past that have been criticized as pro-war and celebratory of violence. Hollister writes that he is "fearful" that the joy of playing games on the Chromatic might be "intertwined with a general fear: that Anduril’s real weapons might be misused." He notes that while the Chromatic itself may not fund or contribute to Luckey’s drone business, the emotional association is still there.

The review highlights several issues with the ModRetro Chromatic:

  1. Pricy cartridges: The console requires individual cartridges for each game, which can be expensive and impractical.
  2. Lack of new game development: ModRetro primarily releases existing games in cartridge form, rather than developing new ones specifically for the platform.
  3. Association with Luckey’s drone business: The reviewer notes that the Chromatic’s creator is also involved in a company that manufactures advanced drones for military and law enforcement use.

Despite these issues, Hollister concludes that the ModRetro Chromatic has "no qualms" recommending it on the strength of its hardware, but acknowledges that its creation and association with Luckey’s drone business may be problematic for some readers.

Key takeaways:

  1. The ModRetro Chromatic is a well-designed handheld gaming console that feels like an original Game Boy.
  2. However, its creator, Palmer Luckey, has made statements that have been criticized as pro-war and celebratory of violence.
  3. The reviewer expresses ambivalence about supporting the product due to its association with Luckey’s drone business.

Questions:

  1. How does the ModRetro Chromatic compare to other handheld gaming consoles on the market?
  2. Can Palmer Luckey’s statements about war and violence be seen as a reflection of his values or simply a misguided attempt at self-justification?
  3. Do you think the association with Luckey’s drone business should affect one’s decision to purchase the ModRetro Chromatic?
Technology