Analogue’s Nintendo 64 clone revitalized the N64 community when it launched last November, but its pricing was steep and availability extremely limited. Buyers looking for a more affordable alternative now have another option with the release of the M64 from ModRetro.
Co-founded by Oculus creator Palmer Luckey, ModRetro began as an online forum for retro gaming discussion before evolving into a full-fledged hardware company. Its latest creation, the M64, is an FPGA-based console designed to play original Nintendo 64 games on modern displays at up to 4K resolution and 60 frames per second. A dedicated CRT adapter is also available if you’d rather use the M64 with an older monitor.
The system is fully compatible with all original N64 games and controllers, and features a fanless thermal design that runs silently while you play. It’s built around a 16nm AMD Artix UltraScale+ FPGA, which ModRetro claims is the most advanced processor ever used in a retro console. The machine also supports overclocking for those notoriously slow games and includes a microSD card slot for storage.
Players will appreciate design touches not found on other clones, like the control dial on the console itself. It lets you navigate menus without a controller attached — or with unusual peripherals, such as the ones used for fishing games.
The ModRetro M64 comes in four eye-catching colors: clear, red, green, and AMD red. Pricing is set at $229.99, which doesn’t include a controller. ModRetro says it didn’t want to force everyone to buy a controller they might not need — which can save you some money if you plan to bring your own controllers to the party.
If you do need a controller, ModRetro has you covered with the M64 Expert. It’s priced at an eye-watering $89.99, but packs an aluminum rear shell, a semi-clear textured front face, drift-resistant TMR thumbsticks, and Bluetooth connectivity. The controller comes in the same fun colors as the console and is also compatible with Android devices and PCs.
Retro gaming on an FPGA system of this caliber isn’t cheap, especially when you can pick up a used N64 for a fraction of the cost on the reseller market. But features like 4K output are tempting, and given the current state of modern console gaming, investing in a retro setup like this can feel like a better deal than paying nearly double for a PS5 or Xbox Series.
Source: TechSpot
