A Nostalgic Journey with the Chromatic
What’s that? My 11-year-old son asked, pointing to the orange-colored console I held three inches from my face. I was playing Tetris, a game I hadn’t played via a handheld system since I was his age. I had planned to play for only 10 minutes—having just received the gaming console as part of a sample package. But 30 minutes and 40,000 points later (on this go-round), I wasn’t planning to stop until I hit a personal record.
“It’s called Chromatic,” I answered, my thumbs still working furiously. “Can I try?” my son asked, glancing at the stack of game cartridges that came with the sample bundle. “In a minute,” I answered. It was the same answer I gave my when they would ask if I was done playing the game I’d dedicated whole afternoons to. It was the answer that said, “As long as my thumbs are still attached to my body, I’m not giving up this game.”
After a week of playing the Chromatic, I think this piece of handheld nostalgia is ripe for today’s gaming families.
About the Chromatic
The Chromatic is a cartridge-based handheld gaming system from the company ModRetro. It’s returning to the gaming scene through mass production, after its initial run in late 2024 quickly sold out. The unit is designed similarly to the classic Nintendo Game Boy and Game Boy Color—and it’s even compatible with those games. But it does have its own library of Chromatic games, spanning a range of genres, including puzzle, RPG, and others. The library also features some re-releases and remastered classic titles.
The Chromatic comes in seven dominant colors: Cloud (white), Midnight (gray), Wave (blue), Leaf (green), Inferno (orange), Volt (yellow), and Bubblegum (pink). And it’s powered by AA batteries or via a rechargeable power core. There’s also a list of accessories that include matching colored over-ear headphones and a “Mod Kit” for customizing and repairing the console.
What Was Included in My Sample
In my sample package from ModRetro, I received the Chromatic Inferno along with seven total games. The packaging was really well-designed, btw, with graphics nice enough to display on your gaming shelf.
Included in the box were three AA batteries and Tetris for Chromatic. This was a big dose of nostalgia for me, as I still remember first unboxing my Game Boy that included the same game (albeit not in color).
The six additional games that came in my bundle included:
- Baby T-Rex: The classic 90s Game Boy platformer game, where you go on a 16-level adventure to rescue Rexette from the evil magician Sethron’s spooky castle.
- Toki Tori – Ultimate Edition: The beloved platformer game where you join Toki Tori on a quest to rescue his kidnapped siblings by solving puzzles.
- Project S-11: The sci-fi shooter arcade game originally made for Game Boy Color, where you go on a top-secret mission as a fighter pilot to save the plane from an alien threat.
- Sabrina: Zapped!: Based on Sabrina: The Animated Series, you have to help Sabrina and her cat Salem reverse a magical mishap.
- Tales of Monsterland DX: In this fantasy platformer, explore dungeons, solve puzzles, and fight in real-time and turn-based battles to stop a threat awakening ancient dragons.
- Dragonhym: A big world fantasy RPG, where you can spend over 20 hours exploring towns and dungeons as you unravel the mysteries of an ancient prophecy.
As a bonus, each game comes with a tiny Chromatic character charm–a cool collectable that feels very 90s.
I also received a ModRetro Link Cable, which can be used to sync gameplay between two Chromatic consoles for head-to-head competition. To take advantage of this, you’ll need two Chromatics and two multiplayer cartridge games of the same title. I only had the one console, so we couldn’t test out that particular feature. But it’s still a cool option, nonetheless.
My 3 Favorite Things About the Chromatic
As someone who grew up with a Game Boy as the only handheld gaming device I’ve ever owned, the Chromatic was like a welcome return home. The straightforward play and old-school utility was the perfect combo for making hours disappear in a blink.
Here are the top three things I enjoyed:
- High-quality materials: Everything about the Chromatic is well-made, from the aesthetics to the utility. Made from lightweight, durable magnesium, it feels good in the hands, with good response time on the buttons and clear images. And you have the option of selecting a console with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass or diamond-like Sapphire. Needless to say, I wasn’t worried about damage.
- Hassle-free gameplay: Even with all the advancements in games over the years, there’s something to be said for games that don’t require digital downloads. The tactile quality of putting the cartridge in the back of the console and jumping right into the gameplay without having to punch in a password was refreshing. It was like muscle memory with how natural it felt. And playing on battery life gave me more of a true “wireless” feel than some other devices that require a charge.
- Versatile system: Even with its old-school benefits, I was impressed by the Chromatic’s ability to still feel modern. Gamers have the ability to stream onto a Mac, PC, or Oculus Quest via USB-C. So for those who really do need a bigger screen, the option is available with an easy transition. I also like that you can play anywhere, solo or head-to-head.
Both Nostalgic and Kids Should Enjoy Chromatic
I did eventually let my son play the Chromatic. As he’s much more of a modern gamer than I am, I was pleasantly surprised to see him get hooked just as quickly as I had. I gave him pointers on Tetris, strategy suggestions on the RPGs, and shared old euphoric stories of finally getting past a certain level after hours of starting from square one. My son and I bonding over this console has been a great added benefit.
And, we’re not the only ones with this experience. ModRetro CEO, Torin Herndon shared some insight with about how the next generation of gamers is just as big a focus as the previous ones are; and how the Chromatic is already having an impact with families.
“As a parent of two young kids myself, I’m often wondering how gaming will continue to evolve for my children’s generation,” says Herndon. “Those of us who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s remember a time when gaming was simple and focused. Due to hardware limitations of the time, we had to bring a lot of imagination to the table to make the games truly come to life. Chromatic was created as the ultimate throwback to this era of gaming for nostalgic adults. However, we’ve been pleasantly surprised to receive an outpouring of feedback from that Chromatic is an incredible offline introduction to gaming for kids. We are excited to see kids once again sitting side by side on the couch playing these timeless games.”
In other recent interviews, there have been talks of ModRetro planning to re-create more classic gaming platforms, in order to expand the nostalgia stream even wider. If that is indeed the case, the Chromatic is a promising sign of what’s to come.
In the meantime, I’d better hide this one from my son before he starts using the refrain, “In a minute.”