MY HANDHELD BLOG

Second thoughts on the Anbernic RGCube

November 15, 2024

Do I still love my pink device?

I have been playing a lot of games on my Anbernic RGCube and wanted to share you some of the things I have learned. Was it worth getting this odd shape screen device or not, and how about the emulators that came with the device that I didn’t delete?

Let’s start with the Retro Arch emulator the device came with. I already said in my previous blog that I really liked how they set up the overlays. It saved me a lot of time and some gray hairs not to add them myself. The only thing I did change were some of the hotkeys but that is something personal. I honestly have nothing bad to say about this preinstalled emulator.

The AetherSX2 emulator is also still running without trouble I did not have any weird glitches or other problems and I have been happily playing Rule of Rose, Tomb Raider Legend and some other games and again I have no bad things to say about this one either. I really had expected I had to reinstall this one since I had some beginner’s problems with this one on my RG556. There was only one thing I had changed and that is under graphic settings, game display the aspect Ratio to Stretch so my PS2 games are in full screen, because I found the screen way too small to play comfortable. I honestly had more trouble with the emulator I installed myself on the RG556, probably some beginners mistakes.

Dolphin MMJ2 I just tested this one since I prefer this variation. I have been playing Zelda Twilight Princess without too much trouble there were some small lags in the open world but I think that is not because of the emulator but because the game is maybe a little heavy to play for the handheld. Also, games like Mario party are fun to play on this device. The only down point of this preinstalled emulator is how the controls are set up. Yet again this is something that is easy to change.

Yaba SanShiro is the same as Mupen64 they also gave me no problems. Except the controls with Mupen64 but well I don’t think I see that as a big thing I mean the same with the MMJ2 you can easily change that. The roms I have added all play like they should. Redream and Citra I haven’t been able to test since for Citra I play 3DS games on my modified DS and for Redream I just haven’t found games I would like to play.

I have to say that Anbernic did a pretty great job with this handheld and their emulators. I also still use their Anbernic button when I play SNES games for example so I don’t need to use the separate emulator or look for something in Retro arch itself. Keep in mind that if you switch the Micro-SD card you have to use the setting from the Anbernic button to change the map where your roms are in.

The one thing I did wish they did better but this is a known problem is their joystick and D-pad controls. Mainly I do not play games in this one with precise controls but I wish I could play some of those games sometimes on this one, and maybe a branded Micro-SD card I heard too many stories about those cards break. Maybe I’m going to test this with the next device to see if those cards really live that short, and maybe seeing what is really needed to break those cards.

My overall thoughts about this device

I think that this device is actually a joy to have for me, and I still really like that it is small and compact and easy to hold. Some of the trouble I run into with the PPSSP emulator had an easy fix with reinstalling the app on the Play store. I also think that even if you are a beginner, you can have a lot of fun with this device and the card that comes with it. Even if this device is a little more expensive, I would still say as a first one you will not be totally disappointed because it’s quite plug and play. I would recommend to check the setting for PS2 and MMJ2 for a stretched screen. That would be the only disappointing thing otherwise in my opinion.

A last thing I want to say is like always keep an eye out on AliExpress the cheapest one I found is around 135 euro at this moment and with a sale with coupons you can sure get some more euros off making this one I think a little more affordable.

Till the next blog everyone

Alexia