Once again, Bringus Studios brings us a quirky mod that sees a LeapFrog LeapsterGS Explorer console run RetroArch with Linux.
With its proprietary CPU, the LeapFrog LF-2000 (Pollux SoC) ARM9. It competes well in the line-up of affordable emulators and shape and size-wise, clicks our ergonomic buttons.
Once flashed with Linux tools and installed, it does a decent job with most games. NES games work great, the controller layout fits well and the screen really lends itself to the bright colours.
Being a hand held console, Nintendo Game Boy games also find themselves at home especially Advanced, although there didn’t seem to be a way to alter the aspect ratio and the resolution doesn’t scale well, so doesn’t look that sharp. That said, it still beats the actual GBA screens themselves.
Sega Genesis finds itself at home here too and for the most part, Super Nintendo games run fine.
In the final test, it pushes past expectations and even runs Playstation 1 games, especially the 2D games at full speed. 3D games can be a stretch, but do play.
As a side note, Retroarch overclocks it and tweaks the CPU, so you may find it overdrawing from the batteries, but it can be run on DC power to avoid shutting down.
This has high nostalgia value, with a product that tugs at soft pre-school heart strings.
To be honest, though, that’s its main draw, as, beyond this, its quirky- cool status may not be enough to get you to push through the headache of the dance of the Linux. The 2GB memory is going to ultimately annoy most gamers as that means two Playstation games at best and unless it can be pulled from a drawer or raided from a young relative, it may not be worth the outlay.
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