3 Affordable Retro Consoles You Can Buy From GameStop
By Google News Technology ·
There is no doubt: retro gaming is on the rise, partly because modern electronics are getting more expensive and partly because it's growing in popularity among collectors. While we can mitigate the effects of RAM and storage shortages by leaning on retro gaming to avoid the high costs of current-generation gaming consoles, the impact of collectors is harder to ignore.
The good news is that plenty of flash carts can lower the overall cost of retro gaming, letting gamers focus their budget on the consoles themselves. That is, if you haven't already built a retro gaming setup using hardware you already own.
Thankfully, GameStop has taken it upon itself to flesh out its retro selection for the modern day. This means it sells a wide selection of older consoles and games at affordable prices, which is precisely what this article is about: affordable retro consoles you can buy from GameStop.
We've chosen three consoles that each fall under $200: the PS1, the GBA for some handheld goodness, and the somewhat more niche Dreamcast to round out the selection.
Of course, these are all older systems, which means their condition will depend on the item you buy, so like all used goods, make sure to research and compare a few units to ensure you get one that looks and plays well. GameStop at least tests all units to ensure they work, with a pre-owned guarantee that includes a seven-day money-back window, but appearances can vary, so keep a close eye on it while you shop.
If you're looking for a large library of retro games, the PS1 is a great starting point. After all, the console sold over 102 million units, so there's a library of 4,000+ titles. While many were never released in English, the good news is that plenty of English hacks are available for games never released in this region.
This is where soft modding a PS1 comes in, which requires loading a PS memory card with custom software like FreePSXBoot.
GameStop tends to list the PS1 and PS1 Slim for around $70, which is highly affordable, though game prices can differ depending on whether it's a complete game in the box with the manual, or just the disc. But even the more coveted titles like Vagrant Story (~$50) and Suikoden II (~$100) aren't that bad compared to platforms where classics can sell for $300 or more a pop.
When it comes to retro gaming, prices are relative, but thankfully the PS1 hasn't yet been mined for all its worth like some other retro systems (looking at you, Neo Geo Pocket), likely because there are so many PS1 games and consoles still out there.
In other words, the PS1 is a fine retro gaming starting point for anyone who doesn't want to spend a fortune before they boot a title. One can scratch their nostalgia itch with some classics, and once you grow bored, there's a wealth of game hacks to explore, from fan translations to backports of non-PS1 games. It's easy to keep busy with a retro PS1 at home, all without breaking the bank.
The Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP is a retro console that can play just about every title in the Game Boy line, from GB to GBC to GBA. This adds up to 3,000+ games across all three. The only caveat is that the first SP (AGS-001) used front lighting, which can wash out a game's colors. Later models (AGS-101) switched to proper backlighting, with two brightness levels to choose from.
GameStop doesn't specify which model you'll receive when ordering online, so you may want to head to a brick-and-mortar store, especially since GBA SP models sell…
Originally published by Google News Technology
