Sega Astro City Mini V Review - Is It Any Good?

[@lordbacon4972]

Thank you for your great no-nonsense straight to the point review. I agree 100% the input lag is horrible - wow. I was seriously considering buying this but I'm glad I decided to wait and see. You saved me money, thank you so much!

[@barbul666]

Apparently I'm not particularly sensitive to input lag. If I just start a game with Astro City Mini V, I have a smile from ear to ear and its play great, I will not experience any control delays. I can see them clearly in videos with ACMV gameplay, but when playing on the built-in joystick or using an external arcade stick, I don't feel lagging. For me, it's a great gaming machine and I'm happy with my purchase. THX 4 anoyher Gr8 review )

[@ianswift3521]

there is no lag if you use a proper ac adapter and plug it into your tv! there's also a reason why my ancestors fought a war against this youtuber's ancestors!

[@retroremy]

Although the Astro City Mini V is not exactly perfect, there is one huge bullet point of misinformation in reviews regarding the lag because no one bothered to look into the voltage needed to run this device properly. Better communication on Sega's end would have remedied the issue at hand. [Ex: With a voltage meter, Battle Bakraid requires approx. 3.18A to run w/out lag or lets just say nearly no lag for the enthusiasts]. Also if anyone bothered to translate the Japanese text for instruction, the device requires a minimum of 5V/2.0A using up to 10Watts, but higher Amp would run the device accurately for all titles such as 5V/3.1A. Also there are a few titles that were never ported or released outside of the arcade and to have them included in here for shmup fans is quite exciting to say the least. These minis are created for a larger audience to discover Sega's library and I couldn't help but hear the crass comments throughout the review. It's an opinion, some I agree on and some I don't, but please do more research before spreading misinformation on a product and calling it garbage.

[@TeamPandory]

Yes, there is a lot of misinformation, mainly from those mentioning that "The Astro-City Mini-V with more than 3amps runs without latency" This has been proven time and time again to be false information. Nice try in discrediting our work, but there has been NO PROOF that more than 3amps has even lowered the latency, nevermind "without lag" (an impossibility)

[@TheRealDonnyJepp]

Thank you for the honest review!!!! Just cancelled and ordered a fully loaded PCE/TG16 Custom Pi4 instead. Appreciate you as always.

[@TeamPandory]

Glad I could help- Keep it real D! :-)

[@Zudden666]

Really wanted one, but the input lag kills it for me! :(

[@maniacsatwork]

I've got mine powered with a 5V 2amp power adapter, it's connected to a Samsung monitor (using sharp pixel mode) and I'm using a Sega joypad connected to port 1. I'm getting no lag at all when playing on the monitor.

[@TeamPandory]

So you're not using the stick/ buttons or the actual display itself? Even if it were using the mini-v's controls / display, I'm always up for watching a user scream "there's no latency" when there clearly is. ;-)

[@maniacsatwork]

@@TeamPandory I'm only using it via my monitor and Astro City joypad, never played it using the device's controls.

[@maniacsatwork]

Using Raiden as an example, I've compared it to my Pi400 running Mame with an 8bitDo gamepad connected via USB and my PlayStation running Raiden Project, and the response time on all three is pretty much exactly the same.

[@SP95]

I don't think this latency is normal. Have you tried a different kind of power adapters ? And of course thanks for this very quick video right after the release date. The Arcade 2 filter looks really good ! It seems like SEGA doesnt mind making other Astro minis in the future, I hope we get at least an horizontal version of this screen some day.

[@TeamPandory]

Arcade 2, really good? I thought they must've been smoking crack 🤣

[@dangunheadachron1603]

@@TeamPandory "Boohoo everyone will finally play my holy grail Truxton II for my yellowed FM Towns Marty soon so I'm gonna give this thing the worst review possible 🧐"

[@TeamPandory]

@@dangunheadachron1603 😆 Play Truxton II on the Egret instead! In case you missed the point, Sega must have fired their Quality Control team when it came to feedback and testing... Or ran out of funds before the project got to that point.

[@Monitor1CC]

@@TeamPandory Truxton II aka Tatsujin Oh isn’t on the Taito Egret Mini, just the original Truxton.

[@Shinobi33]

BTW you can probably use the Sega Genesis Mini 2 six button controller on it. It works on the first Astro City mini

[@SandroSensei]

Hmmm the egret mini 2 had ussues due to the power adapter. Have you checkt with a different one? That kind of unput lagg is weird. On the possitive side, you just can hold the buttons with these kind of games 😅

[@TeamPandory]

We used the same power adapter as always... It's actually a power strip type used for all the other minis too. Can check again just in case, but I doubt that's the problem here.

[@TeamPandory]

Okay, tried two cables, four different power adapters rated at over 2A each. Same deal.

[@SandroSensei]

@@TeamPandory ahw, thats to bad. Thanks for checking. Did you find the input lagg a dealbreaker? Im not sure if I should buy one now, based on your review. I was wondering, did the first astro city mini also had input lagg?

[@TeamPandory]

@@SandroSensei The first astro mini had only a little bit, but 1. It wasn't as bad as this - I'm thinking it is due to the different display 2. Those games weren't all shooters. It's definitely a deal breaker in the case of the Mini V, so much as to I've returned the unit! (I'm keeping the others!) - Currently testing them all for latency now.

[@hyperdreamsurfer9141]

Me as a kid would have loved a miniature arcade machine design like that. Shame it's a bit naff. I used to have a little slot machine around the same size!

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

I found that for shmups its much nicer to just use a vertical LCD monitor with an arcade stick, in combination with a switch or PC. But then you don’t have a cabinet

[@TheStuffMade]

It looks nice, but I don't understand how they thought it would be ok to release a product with this much input lag. I guess it'll be more of a collectors item to display on a shelf than something to actually play games on.

[@TeamPandory]

Perhaps THAT was their target audience?

[@TeamPandory]

@@michaelromeo9567 well he can expert all day long. Never trust the experts, or us! - I think it's important to take it all at face value and see how this plays out.

[@TeamPandory]

Did you just respond with a video attachment Michael? - I pushed approve but now I can't find that comment.

[@reagandow850]

They haven’t delivered mine yet (damnit) ;) Thank you so much for this video. I have NO IDEA how I missed this for the last 7 hours. I saw your one Minute teaser this am and have been waiting all day. Thank you thank you thank you!!! 💪💪💪💪💪💪. Edit: INPUT LAG AGAIN??!!!!! Nooooooo WHY SEGA, WHY! Can’t you guys do anything right these days????

[@TeamPandory]

I've done the same. Want to watch premiere then totally miss it. No worries 🤠

[@barrywilliams3053]

The biggest or only problem with these is input lag.. retroarch with runahead or the snes classic are the only emulators worth there time.. you would get a better experience just making your own

[@TeamPandory]

The latency of this unit is in another league of it's own. We wouldn't even need to use runahead to compete.

[@TonyTony-zj6wt]

It would be weird on my shelf since I already have the older one next to neogeo mini and egret . Since almost identical for the price it is , I think skip.

[@johnboydojo]

Yeah that's totally unacceptable. You can see the lag from the moment you started playing! Not surprised you're returning it

[@nikolazgeo]

Is the screen bezel the exact same as the original astro mini but just rotated? Because i think the left side is not the same as the right side. If thats the case that is some laziness

[@Shinobi33]

I bought it a few months ago and haven't opened it yet. I like my regular Astro City mini but neither is better than my Egret Mini

[@ValentinesEve1996]

Limited Run Games had just released the Sega Astro City Mini V today. Unlike the Japanese version, the LRG version also includes an additional exclusive arcade title called Super Zaxxon.

[@TeamPandory]

Zaxxon... TBF the games were never the issue on this- it was the performance that tanked it.

[@mickael486]

Does this have Revenge of Death Adder? I can't find that damn game anywhere apart from the $600 arcade 1up cabinet.

[@TeamPandory]

Not on the vertical cab. Check the standard astro city mini, I think it actually might be on there.

[@mickael486]

@@TeamPandory k thank you

[@jak_1894]

I heard that input delay can be affected by the power brick you choose to use with this device. Sounds strange I know, but may be worth checking. Something to do with the voltages I heard?

[@TeamPandory]

We tried 4-5 different adapters all rated at 2.0A or above, which included a strip

[@jak_1894]

Well it must be just crap then 😂

[@TeamPandory]

@@jak_1894 there's been mention of using a 5.1V 3A adapter to get rid of lag, but there's still been no video released to support the claim. The burden of proof lies with them.

[@jak_1894]

@@TeamPandory interesting, because it wasn't cheap by all accounts.

[@GG-sn4cw]

Hi my friend the stand for the Astro mini v does it fit also on the first Astro mini thanks is

[@TeamPandory]

That's in the video ☺️

[@VirajKathwadia]

Should be getting mine today so too late to turn back, i'll have to see for myself how bad the input lag it myself. However it is a shame that it is a problem.

[@SandroSensei]

Hi there 🙋🏽‍♂️. Well, I have mine and I have to say that I didnt notice a thing. Maybe its because I dont play that much schmups, because with the MegamanX collection I notice the inputlag immediately. So maybe its what you have grown up with. But I dont notice it 🙈

[@nahim7134]

Hi, I already have the first Astro City Mini and now I was thinking about buying Astro City Mini V or Taito Egret Mini II. I´d preffer the Taito game list to be honest so would you recommend me to buy the Taito instead the ACMV? Kind Regards.

[@TeamPandory]

We would, yes. Actually sending the mini v back today

[@Aitor]

Get the Egret 2. Bigger screen (rotatable), less lag and much better joystick and buttons. Also, it's probably cheaper to find. Try to get the extra controller for Arkanoid, it's awesome!

[@TeamPandory]

@@Aitor for Tetris!? (Interested now in getting the controller now!)

[@Aitor]

@@TeamPandory Sorry, just woke up XD I meant Arkanoid!

[@TeamPandory]

@@Aitor close enough! :-)

[@ph_stuff]

In other words, a quite expensive TOY.

[@chrisr529]

Exactly how many frames of latency are you claiming?

[@TeamPandory]

More than is acceptable.

[@chrisr529]

@@TeamPandory huh ? In the video you said it's bad ?

[@TeamPandory]

@@chrisr529 you can visually see there's a delay in this video. It is very noticeable. To ask for an exact value is irrelevant.

[@chrisr529]

@@TeamPandory irrelevant? No , more likely you just aren't capable of providing the information. Which you could have just said . Instead of giving the runaround.

[@SP95]

One reviewer from my country says 4 frames but this is clearly not what we are getting here

[@ianswift3521]

i dont have any delay on the US version.

[@Marcolubus_]

Oh no, input lag. So, Tatsujin plays much better on the Egret 2 mini.

[@TeamPandory]

Yep. Darker blacks, too. Everyone knows how much we love Tatsujin 😁

[@Superdimensional]

Somehow I feel “over all garbage” is going to be once again a great exaggeration. I’ll have mine in a couple of days tho, so we shall see!

[@rgk5554]

Yea I doubt its as bad. These big brands typically product decent quality

[@TeamPandory]

Will be interesting to hear what you think. TBH it felt as if they used a larger, slower screen and didn't really think of the impact it would make to the input latency.

[@TeamPandory]

@@rgk5554 We thought so too. SEGA usually deliver

[@Superdimensional]

@@TeamPandory you think if I mainly play through to my TV I will have a different experience? I kinda only use the screen on it as a novelty and when I actually play I use the controllers and output to my OLED 55”

[@TeamPandory]

@@Superdimensional maybe. Usually TVs are a main culprit of adding latency, especially the smart TV ones

[@ghostbombl8034]

Its better just buy a full size one for that price.

[@kevinbbadd]

Whats wrong with micro usb for this?

[@TeamPandory]

We should have gone into a bit more detail, sorry about that. It introduces user error. There are plenty of people who have many sub-par microusb cables tucked away from a decade ago that isn't rated for 2A or more. USB-C is set to a far higher standard, and now microusb has all but been phased out.

[@GamayObera]

1:41 How choosing Micro USB as power source is considered "lazy?" Like, you was expecting to be USB-C instead? That would only increase the final price at all, since its benefits will be barely noticeable on consumer's end.

[@TeamPandory]

Yes. USB-C. It's 2022, not 2012. Lazy? Yes. It's a carbon copy of a two year old product.

[@GamayObera]

@@TeamPandory it is understandable both products being similar (manufacturer is the same after all), but Micro USB still is a thing on many places around the world. The world still is in a pandemic status, making it a less viable option to choose USB-C over Micro USB ports.

[@chedhead3278]

Ohh ... that's not a great implementation of a nice niche product, what a shame. Thanks for the review.

[@dangunheadachron1603]

Someone's bitter that his rare shmup PCB collection is now widely available. 😂

[@reagandow850]

I had to leave a second message because I’m so disgusted. How could Sega make the lag WORE then the previous Astro City mini?? Almost $200 shipped for this (more if you order one now) and the latency is THIS BAD!!?? Good thing I already have extra controllers for this as it seems they didn’t even release more extra controllers and if someone wants them they have to buy them for some crazy price from scalpers. MORE LAG FOR SHMUPS??? Please tell me they will offer a way to flash these with new software??!!! I’m seriously disgusted and tired of Sega screwing up just about everything they touch lately. (Again)

[@TeamPandory]

I dunno man, it is what it is. Let's see how they respond, as it's an Amazon release- thinking many may get sent back.

[@tom11zz884]

Seems like SEGA once again dropped the ball on these minis.

[@ASAN2042]

It's a real shame that they dropped turd on this one 😡

[@TeamPandory]

Incoming! :-D

[@TheFrenchy82]

"terrible input delay " .... fuc*** in Hell ! I pre order this junk !!! :-(

[@TeamPandory]

You never know, we might have been a bit anal with our review :-)

[@TheFrenchy82]

@@TeamPandory Sadly... you are right ! 😞. other reviews highlight the problem of input delay....

[@TeamPandory]

@@TheFrenchy82 What!? 😵

[@merman1974]

Well, your review saved me from spending money on it. Disappointing.

[@benlogan4038]

Latency is a deal breaker. Too bad!

[@danlethal]

Offensive UI! Brutal... All style and no substance

[@TeamPandory]

Style? Nah man, that UI is like a hyperactive noisy kid screaming at you.

[@danlethal]

@@TeamPandory I meant style more for the mini itself... That UI is nasty😆