Nintendo`s NES Classic isn`t just a convenient way to play beloved NES games: it`s an easy-to use console that looks the part and plays games the way you remember with a few new quality-of-life features. Marketing and distribution woes aside, it`s the best example of a multi-game classic console to date, precisely because it does what you expect without major caveats.Nearly a year later, we are now experiencing the fallout of the NES Classic`s success: the arrival of competing classic consoles. This in theory is good news, but there`s something important to keep in mind: Nintendo had direct control over the NES Classic. It understood the hardware, the games, and most importantly, how to deliver a user-friendly device that worked as expected. Without those advantages, any company producing a similar device faces an uphill battle in the face of passionate fans on the lookout for an authentic experience.How easy is it to screw up a classic console like the NES Classic? Based on our time with AtGames` new Sega Genesis Flashback console, the answer is clear: very easy. The microconsole isn`t without some merit (it technically works and includes some great games), and it may be the quick-fix some folks are looking for, but by-and-large it fails to play Genesis games the way you remember, has a misleading pitch, and relies on an unintuitive `operating system` that`s not only difficult to use, but one that is also garish and finicky.Looks can be deceiving.Let`s start with the basics: The Sega Genesis Flashback is a console that`s packaged with 85 built-in games, two 2.4 Ghz wireless controllers, and a cartridge slot that allows you to use Sega Genesis and Mega Drive cartridges--Mega Drive being the name of the Genesis throughout Europe and Asia. It plugs into your TV`s HDMI port and outputs a 720p video signal.The first thing you notice when you open the box is the look of the unit. Barring AtGames` logo emblazoned above the system`s familiar `16-BIT` decal, it`s a clos ...
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