The Action discount store chain is currently selling a portable retro game console with 240 cult games already pre-installed at the incredible price of 7.95 euros. But is it really worth it?
Brands offering consumer products at knockdown prices are on the rise! Lidl, Aldi, Netto and company are very practical in times of widespread inflation, when our purchasing power continues to decline. It’s very simple, you can find everything there… including portable consoles. At Action, one product in particular caught our attention: a retro gaming console – the box says so –, QSS Retro Gamer as it goes by, with 240 games from the 90s integrated. All for the modest sum of 7.95 euros at the moment, with the Week of Action promotion – its usual price is 12.95 euros. Suffice to say that with such an attractive price, the product quickly managed to join the top of several recommendation sites. So, good plan or catch?
Action retro console: 240 retro games in your pocket
The QSS Retro Gamer looks like a small, somewhat cheap Game Boy. Available in three colors (gray, green and blue), it is rather cute, although its plastic and its buttons are really low-end. Afterwards, for this price, it’s hardly a problem. It promises old-school, 8-bit graphics – but we’re actually closer to 16-bit – with a 2.8-inch “high-resolution” screen, and offers “classic melodies” – but So what did the marketing department smoke? To make it work, you need four AAA batteries – that’s a bit much.
In terms of games, the manufacturer promises us 240, in rather varied styles on paper: action, puzzle, combat, sport, shoot and racing. I might as well tell you right away, don’t expect to find major licenses or cult games here. Most are completely unknown, and the others are hacks of Nintendo NES or Super Mario games. According to user feedback, they don’t have very pleasant playability, especially with the lack of responsiveness of the keys. Of course, you can’t emulate or install other titles.
In short, you will have understood, the QSS Retro Gamer is not worth stopping for. At the same time, given the price, you shouldn’t expect anything else. It’s more of a gadget to buy while shopping for your children, to please them for a few minutes before making it gather dust in a cupboard – the console, not the child. The YouTuber Oldschool is beautiful was able to test the beast some time ago and will share his conclusions with a lot of humor.