RetroUSB AVS Console In-Depth Review

This will be the most extensive review I have done on my channel. I purchased a review copy of the RetroUSB AVS console, which I am happy to say lived up to my expectations. In this review I showcase the physical package I received, compare the size to other consoles, test various games on the console, as well as review one of the seven cartridges that will be making its debut with the unit. Thank you to all my viewers who have been supporting me making more extensive videos. My new intro was made and donated by Mike Sanderson.
to purchase the AVS console and homebrew games visit:
www.retrousb.com/
to support my patreon:
www.patreon.com/user?u=904238
facebook page:
/ immortaljohnhancock
1:13 System Breakdown
6:37 AVS Menu
10:28 12 Seconds Homebrew
14:12 Famicom multicart
16:09 Recca Summer Carnival 92
18:41 Gauntlet II
20:19 Tecmo Super Bowl
22:30 Final Thoughts
Thank you again for all the viewers who took the time to look at this video. Please like and subscribe if you enjoy what you see!

[@EricHostile]

You recommend this to me on the clone console video and I finally just ordered one last night. Thanks for making me aware of this John, I am very stoked to play it!

[@neosolid22]

Thanks for the review John. I preordered mine yesterday and cannot wait to get it.

[@MrShadow2x]

The AVS seems like a really cool NES console alternative. Thank you for doing an in-depth overview! Love your personality and channel, John.

[@VidalSuperNinjaGaming]

Good Review. Been looking into the AVS quite a bit and after checking out this review I'm sold on it.

[@Schmeck626]

Great review, and I am glad you picked the Phila. Eagles in Tecmo Super Bowl!

[@jedirun]

just ordered one :) thank you for the review

[@davecates9095]

Great review. This console went all out for the classic NES look and style and adding those features is awesome.

[@dezm101]

nice review, looking forward to picking one of these up!

[@brandonwenzel2844]

Great product review John! Answered a lot of the questions I had about the system. Definitely one I'll have to consider. Also, myself personally, I think the longer format videos are great for some in depth content.

[@Migman77]

This is my first time watching your channel. And I subscribed. Great review.

[@brucewayne-px4lv]

Dude has the sickest hats. edit Videos are keep getting better and better. This one even has a time segment list . Cool.

[@eskimojoe6564]

I just subscribed.You are the legend when it comes to retro games and collecting. :)

[@Arcadiality]

Thanks John. A decent bit of kit. Much needed after the Retro VGS mess.

[@f3rns]

23 minutes of greatness thank you John.

[@esprithk]

Thx for the review. I am pre-ordering the 2nd patch, which will be delivered sometime in Summer 2017. And let's hope they fix the broken USB connector issue (there is a repair video available now. So not worrying).

[@dirtnapking6152]

I love your collection, I first seen you on metal Jesus. I have been a huge fan since

[@Jrizzle7426]

this looks very well done

[@RGT85]

I actually used my PS4 controller USB slot to power this. And it worked! Great review as always bud.

[@SLICK8116]

Shut up

[@RandomAssaultPodcast]

Cool intro! I actually pre-ordered mine yesterday

[@RandomAssaultPodcast]

Hey if I may make a suggestion (and I'm probably the only one who cares about this stuff) but if you ever want to get rid of the background hiss in the audio, just render the video as audio, pass it through audacity noise reduction, export that, and then match it up with the video again; thanks

[@empire0]

Great video, can't wait to get mine.

[@zanychelly]

Nice review man

[@user-xm7oj5xg7w]

Man I love your videos no BS just straight to the point

[@johnhancockretro]

what I aim for. Thank you very much.

[@SammeLagom]

Im gonna get me one of these. Good vid!

[@ceriux]

I cannot wait to buy this. been watching their posts on Facebook.

[@wabenhart]

It is available for pre-order now over at Retrousb.com

[@ceriux]

+wabenhart yeah I know. I'm just one of those people who don't buy things they don't get right away. I don't preorder anything.

[@roosteredwards6149]

I have been on your channel long let alone KZbin but man thank you for what you do i love your stuff I use to be a big collecter myself but lost everything in a flood don't even know where to start but I can live it thru you Thanks man love your channel

[@johnhancockretro]

So sorry that you lost things in a flood. Thank you for you support!

[@roosteredwards6149]

+John Hancock thanks life happens I just love I can relive so much thru your chancel man thanks for taking the time to do this

[@johnhancockretro]

You are most welcome

[@Drinkabeerandplayagameofficial]

This actually looks really cool. I don't know if I will drop 185 on it but if I would go for one of these machines this looks like the one to get. Great review

[@3l337gamers]

I love your classic Sega intro!!!

[@travisperegrine7329]

Very nice Sega inspired graphic in your intro. Now you just need a bad ass theme song to go with it!

[@Thomaniac]

Really love my AVS. Great device!

[@wabenhart]

Great Video John. As always. Thanks for helping get the good word out! PS...Scoreboard is now available for all if you want to do a follow up video :)

[@johnhancockretro]

No problem. I think the product is a good one. I was honest in my review of it.

[@pooyan6969]

Great review

[@PCGamer77]

0:05 I bought that Nintendo Games Strategies book behind you when it came out. And now it's sitting on my bookshelf just a few feet away from me. :)

[@MisterBlinds]

This looks really great! ...and is that name-card opening new? Lovin' it! Nice touch...

[@tonylenzi166]

thats 12 sec game is the same as one of the xmas games i believe. gamester 81 does a review of it on his channel its obviously lil different but the gameplay is the same really cool gameplay style ill def b getting that one, great review as always!!

[@CapnPicard]

Nice vid!

[@Warbob11]

That Twelve Seconds Homebrew looks fun

[@jeff97ish]

Thanks for all you do for the gaming world John! It is much appreciated.

[@r680187]

LOVE the title card!

[@Vanecroft]

That was a great review John! Although I would have liked to see the use of the scaline generator, in comparioson to others. Nonetheless, keep up the great work!

[@johnhancockretro]

Video was getting long, so some things were cut.

[@Vanecroft]

No worries! I figured as much.

[@burningsoul1365]

nice vid man

[@43DRS]

Cool logo intro

[@coreyruttle8712]

I love you john you have so much passion for video games i really appreciate your knowledge and i have learned a lot of stuff from you and i found out about you from metal jesus rocks and your awesome i just wanted to thank you for being such a nice a lovable guy i live in gresham Oregon and hope to meet you some day my name is Corey R and hope to shake your hand and thank you for all you have done for me i have learned a lot from Cheers bro

[@WildWillow]

really cool!

[@King86832]

hello John your youtube i verry good. love your game room it's aswome.. keep it up. i live in sweden

[@jhammond8888]

I have the AVS and the RetroN 5 both...I can assure you that both work/play great. AVS has a slightly better picture quality because every square pixel is represented as it was back in the day....however, the RetroN 5 smooths out the square pixels to "round" out all the corners so to speak.

[@MegaGamer84]

ha like the master system case intro

[@brandonwhitson1611]

John i love your channel bro, great review. What are some great options out there for playing snes games on a hd tv, any recommendations?

[@coreyruttle8712]

Ps your room of DOOM is so inspiring i really pray that you will achieve your goal to start a video game museum that would be RAD!!!

[@pekalion]

John, amazing review. I have a doubt, what would you recommend? Getting one of this or a regular NES with a SCART cable and then a SCART to HDMI?

[@JJMcClosjr]

I really love your videos! On another note, I'm really glad you didn't compare it to the Analogue NT. All other reviews are saying its better than the NT. It is not...The only downside is the priceof the NT...other than that the NT puts out 1080p, has an awesome menu that you can bring up in the middle of playing your games, its firmware can be update (all reviews say it cannot be updated) and the best part, it's quality is AMAZING! Is there a way you can get your hands on a new Analogue MINI NT to review?

[@jd-py5nm]

buddy at work told me about this i need to talk to my local game shop and grab one

[@TheTopLoader82]

I like the top loaders, can't you tell ? .. 12 seconds reminds me of Jump Man on the c64 with those sound effects .. and the blocks looks similar too

[@atranfanatic]

I loved playing Jump Man on my C64 when I was a kid! I still have mine to this day!

[@TheTopLoader82]

atranfanatic Great system.. dont have mine ..but >> still love it today !

[@JJMcClosjr]

I never understood why the music and sounds in recca had this annoying poping sound. I thought something was wrong with my receiver in my entertainment center the first time i played it. does it use enhanced audio that can be adjusted?

[@Imtired170]

Do hyperkin cadet controllers or retrobit power stick work for this console? Thank you!

[@jook13]

I'm really curious about the anti-flicker feature. first game that came to my mind is super dodge ball. I'd love to see how that game runs on this thing...

[@camouflage81]

No emulator has ever gotten the sound in punch-out when king hippo falls to the ground right. How does the AVS do there if you compare?

[@boilingmanTV]

If the console can be powered by hooking it up to a computer via USB- can you also just power it with a standard USB av power socket adaptor?

[@jaym5118]

Did you get that little, mini NES cartridge keychain thing with the AVS console? Or did that come with the Twelve Seconds game? Because I just got my AVS console, and it didn't have this in the box.

[@johnhancockretro]

Jay M this was sent to folks who were doing reviews. It is a usb with media files used for reviews

[@brianmaglinger2005]

I have the Retron 5 John. But I'm just now coming in contact with issues on the Retron 5.Certain high power gameboy advance games like Need for Speed Carbon Own the City, Iridion 2 etc..Running those games on the Retron 5 is pushing it it has constantly stopped playing the game.I have the original Gameboy Advance hardware and they play fine on them.BUT it has played every Sega Genesis and Super Nes game I've put in it so that's good.

[@gavmes]

I wonder if they'll let you submit high scores if you used the cheat codes.

[@skippyb.coyote895]

Awesome review! I was just wondering if you have encountered any NES games that don't play properly on the AVS? I know some games like Castlevania III tend not to play on other NES clone systems so I was curious to know if Castlevania III ran correctly on it? Thanks again for all the great videos!

[@johnhancockretro]

Castlevania III plays great.

[@jam237]

what was the expansion emu option? the powerpak works great with it too I read.

[@johnhancockretro]

I think it has to do with famicom accessories. I did not have any to test with it.

[@charleywaynehinkle6358]

you look and sound like a more handsome version of that guy from step brothers.

[@facufeg86]

can i use clone cartridges or only original ones? thanks

[@jasonpepper5228]

we suport u 100% john rox on bro

[@kaikiske7436]

how does it look with the scanlines turned on? this is a make a break feature for me. thanks!

[@johnhancockretro]

looks great

[@gooseygoose604]

how is the input lag i know it says it's lag free. but on reddit they say the nes classic is also lag free.. if it's the same as the nes mini I won't bother as I notice the lag vs Mr. Dream who I can beat on a regular nes with ease at this point but can beat 1/10 times on the nes classic.

[@gooseygoose604]

@@39zack I already got one with a gaming monitor I can beat mike tyson without taking a hit. I know people can do that on the NES classic but I can't

[@DuckiesUnite]

Thumbs up :)

[@PEACEWALKER1992]

Wait the USB Plug delivers 5 Volt right? So I can I plug it into an European USB Power Outlet as well?

[@PEACEWALKER1992]

Edit: Yes

[@thetinpin]

Why didn't you mention the Ron Jeremy cameo at 12:06 ?

[@mlwg9317]

Just bought an AVS, anyone know how many times you have to insert/remove a cart before it takes less than 50 lbs of force to insert/remove one? I wanted to be able to play my old games without breaking them and scraping lines in the back of the plastic carts. ( No I am not at all being even slightly sarcastic )

[@millgiass]

Can you save your game genie codes so you can just toggle them instead of inputting them?

[@JMLRetroRoom]

They're actually built right in. Once you insert a game and go to Game Genie, your codes are already there. Unless your playing a homebrew game then there won't be any codes.

[@DvdXploitr]

what about typing your own codes? There are literally THOUSANDS of Game Genie codes for Super Mario Bros that can alter music, graphics, game play, levels, enemy behavior, etc....so if you type your own code in, can the system save it?

[@jorgazoo7533]

Does the Famicom Disk System work with this?

[@pixelplayer140]

Yep And I think it can even work with the famicom 3D system and having these Japan exclusive addons work on the system is definitely one of the features that makes this system worth it

[@sudicalwig]

You should have put the scanlines on. Would have been nice to see.. Does it play all region carts? Even 60pin famicom without adapters? Someone commented on that it didn't play PAL-B. That's bullshit if it''s true. I'm Swedish so 89% of my games are that.=/

[@Wheels8504]

Would have been cool to see Game Genie codes and gameplay of TMNT 2

[@grizzlywhisker]

i want one so bad.

[@chrisw8069]

My only complaint is they don't have a cost reduced version with just 2 controller ports and no famicom disk system port.

[@daveybones13]

John, I know this is completely off topic, but I just bought a game off the cuff called Stormlord for Genesis. I don't like looking up videos for games I've never played, however I would love to get your thoughts on it if you've heard of it. Thanks pal.

[@johnhancockretro]

An interesting game. Ported over computer game that plays like a European Platformer. I like it and and has killer artwork. Thumbs up.

[@voltz15]

240p supported? What about Castlevania 3's extra sound channels?

[@retrocollectoruk7632]

Hi John, is this better than then Retron 5, i presume the AVS is not emulation but the retron is. Aslo over a standard NES it has HDMI. Am i missing anything else?

[@johnhancockretro]

Retron 5 does some different things, but also cannot play many homebrews or certain multicarts. Retron 5 has save states, but this does not. Retron 5 does have some known quality issues. A standard Nes with HDMI mod will cost more than this.

[@retrocollectoruk7632]

+John Hancock Okay, the homebrew point is a good one. As im in the UK i have a scart to HDMI upscaler. Just trying to weigh up if I would benefit anything. luv they r make this though!!

[@retrocollectoruk7632]

+RetroCOLlector UK making. typo

[@rebelscum6356]

Does it have the death grip that a lot of these clones have?

[@johnhancockretro]

Nope

[@rebelscum6356]

John Hancock Thanks, man. Love your videos. Keep it up!

[@highballgaming1427]

The AVS is now on Amazon for those who want that option.

[@pixelplayer140]

“Was” on Amazon that is

[@realtrisk]

This looks really awesome, especially since my NES has trouble reading cartridges even after replacing the ZIF socket in the console with a new one. Now for the $10,000 question: If you were going to sit down and play an NES game, would you use this or an old NES?

[@atranfanatic]

Sorry to say that is the mistake you made by replacing the original 72 pin connector. As the aftermarket ones are not as good. I have read about that online. I am glad I still have the originals in my NES's. Sometimes they just get dirty or go out of of adjustment. With a little patience, time, and Windex and Q-Tips you can get it to work better. I just took both of mine apart the other night and they work again. Hope that helps you out.

[@realtrisk]

atranfanatic I can attest that you are correct, it's total crap. Luckily, I've still got the original. The new one grips way too hard anyway and is just generally no better whatsoever. 8-bit guy suggests soaking in a vinegar bath to clean them, so maybe I'll try that. I tried to get in there with Q-tips and fine grit sandpaper, but it's just not possible on the inner pins. I can see they're all coated with yellow crud...

[@atranfanatic]

realtrisk That's good you kept the original. The big thing is if you clean the contacts on the games before putting it in your NES. You will keep the 72 pin connector from getting dirty again. And I would encourage you to look online to be sure and use the correct stuff to soak the 72 pin connector in. And if it works out let me know, and I may do the soaking thing as well with mine. Good luck.

[@MovieFanatic25]

on the site can you pay with paypal?

[@kimmosakko7283]

Does this have some kind of save game functions ?

[@johnhancockretro]

+Kimmo Sakko save states, no

[@kimmosakko7283]

Ok, that makes it a no go for me at this price. Thanks for the answer :)

[@steviepat01]

Are these available in the UK?

[@pixelplayer140]

Well on retrousbs site right now. Yes for £189 and £62 postage

[@meckatz]

tried a flash cart yet?

[@joedigger9919]

Seems AMAZING BUT..........can it play Truxton?

[@magog123]

Immortal. Quick questions. 1) Did you notice a lot of input lag with games like Punchout or any of the Mario's? Thx

[@johnhancockretro]

I did not.

[@8bitDNA]

that was only 1 question

[@magog123]

I was going to ask if the carts went in and out easily as I've never used third party contacts that were as good as original ones, especially the NES Top Loader. Not sure why no ones been able to duplicate them. Maybe that's a question for the Gaming Historian. Lol

[@johnhancockretro]

the carts have to be aligned just right, but feel like a perfect balance. Most times in all cases the company that makes the original does not share how exactly to make something with anyone else. Could be many reasons.

[@TortureBot]

That shooting game at 16:45 looks like it's running twice normal speed! I don't see how you can play it! I love bullet-hell games but it just looks in the video like it's running faster than standard speed or something.

[@CanineCampPlymouth]

This dude has punched some walls playing games hahaha look at those knuckles!

[@fordxbgtfalcon]

Apparently he anger management issues, not even joking…

[@sousaorobitg1]

Analogue NT or RetroUSB AVS?

[@moulinexm7600]

AVS definitely

[@hyzenthlay7151]

It looks great, but I would have added a standard AV out to it for CRT TVs, because HDMI is great, but a little hard to play Duck Hunt on :D

[@supersnappahead]

What's with Super Bowl? I picked it up today and played it on my AVS and thought something was wrong with it. The colors are hideous. All those pinks and powder blues... Great game, but not crazy about the palette.

[@johneygd]

12 seconds play's as horrible as action 52 BUT that's what's make it'so fun about it, it keeps you want to come back for more.

[@sagrat6235]

Why do you not open the thing ?

[@johnhancockretro]

+Sagrat open what?

[@sagrat6235]

Open the console.

[@pinfarmer]

Worried that lid will snap at the hinge . Otherwise awesome.

[@johnhancockretro]

A valid point. I do know that the company is great to work with.

[@sheastallings4668]

Have you tried a tengen cart like rbi baseball? Thanks.

[@fordxbgtfalcon]

It works perfectly.

[@sandplasma]

Does this support translation patches for famicom games like the retron 5? I love the retron 5 but it's such a piece of shit. I wish we could get a quality clone without the death grip.

[@jaym5118]

For anyone who's wondering, this console does NOT play PAL-B NES games. That's my biggest complaint so far. I was hoping I could play my Disney's Aladdin and Lion King games, but still can't. I guess I'll have to get a PAL B-NES console just to play those games.

[@sudicalwig]

Are you sure? Their website states that it is region-free?

[@sudicalwig]

Maybe they fixed it now with their second batch?