Boutique Game Consoles of 2021
There are new consoles other than the PlayStation 5 and Series X|S
Chances are, you are still looking to get your hands on the ever elusive PlayStation 5 or Series X. Perhaps you’ve had enough of bots buying all the online stock or stores doing under-the-table preorders. Some of you may have already decided to enter the next generation in the most economical way possible, thanks to the conveniently compact Series S.
If you’re after the next big video game novelty, then you may be surprised to learn there are consoles other than those by Sony and Microsoft. In an age where game consoles have once again become the trendiest of must-have tech, there are other consoles to consider, and for the sake of simplicity let’s call them “boutique” game consoles.
Coincidentally, at the time of writing all these boutique consoles have either already launched so far in 2021, or are scheduled to launch sometime during the year. With the PS5 and Series X stock situation getting worse, can any of these alternative systems fill the void? Let’s take a closer look at each.
Atari VCS
Confession: I have been mildly obsessed with this one, and this is despite having been lucky with getting my hands on a PS5. No, I am not going to spend $AU 850 on a new Atari machine.
After a controversial crowdfunding campaign, it needs to be said that the Atari VCS has indeed delivered on its word, and unlike the other boutique game consoles, this one actually has a semi-worldwide retail release. You can get one from most of the major game and electronic retailers, but depending on where you are, be prepared to pay a hefty sum if you wish to own a modern piece of Atari tech.
As it stands right now, at least where I am, the complete Atari VCS costs $AU 100 more than a PS5 and Series X. That’s right, more, and so the value proposition simply isn’t there.
If anything, the system should costs far, far less than a Series S to be a reasonable value. At most, nostalgic gamers who grew up with the Atari 2600, and have a strong attachment to the Atari brand, may find some sentimental value here, but even then the price tag is just too much right now.
What you get out of the box is a beautifully furnished micro-console, which comes with a modern gamepad, and also a modernised take on the classic single button Atari 2600 joystick. The Atari VCS certainly looks the part, but in substance, this is really just a dressed-up Linux PC.
What works against the VCS, more than its hefty price tag, is the complete lack of compelling exclusive games. Out of the box, you get all the major Atari classics via the Atari Vault, complete with 3D renditions of classic packaging. Still, there are far more economical means to enjoy these classic games, such as the comprehensive Atari Flashback Classics collection on Nintendo Switch.
In terms of newer releases, there just isn’t anything of note, as even the pack-in title Missile Command Recharged can be picked up for the cost of a cup of coffee on several other platforms. And so, aside from the nostalgic appeal of the wood-finished console and the modern take on classic controllers, there just isn’t much here in terms of pure gameplay substance. As a mini-PC, however, the VCS can be customized and tinkered with, but then that’s not the idea behind a game console.
Aside from setting a far more reasonable price and lining up some appealing games, the Atari VCS needs to firstly figure out just what exactly it even wants to be.
Intellivision Amico
A rival of Atari during the heyday of video games, the Intellivision brand is set to make a comeback towards the end of 2021 with the Amico. This is a brand new console, which is even aiming to have physical game media support.
So far the promotion and press behind the system have been consistent, as the console aims to be akin to the next Nintendo Wii. The goal is to target a casual gaming audience by making use of some clever tech involving motion-based controllers. More than motion-control, the controllers also have a dedicated screen, attempting some sort of evolution of what the Wii U and Dreamcast VMU attempted to do.
As for the games, most of them look no better than the endless shovelware library of the Wii. Most of the games are of the casual style, featuring rather underwhelming flash-based graphics. Still, there is one glowing and jarring exception to the software lineup, none other than Earthworm Jim 4.
That’s right, an official sequel by the original creators is set to be an Amico exclusive. Earthworm Jim is a classic in its own right, and no doubt this will turn heads of fans who grew up playing those games on SNES and Mega Drive. The teaser for Earthworm Jim 4 actually looks very cool, but only time will tell if this game will be enough to get people to purchase a whole new system.
Polymega
RetroN has long been a standard-bearer of video game preservation, by creating systems that can play all of your old dusty cartridges. Better yet, you can enjoy your physical collection on modern televisions. While the RetroN has largely covered all the cartridge-based gaming media, there has been little attention given to older CD-based consoles, where most of them have a rather limited shelf-life.
Enter the Polymega.
The Polymega is an all-in-one console designed to play CD-based media of older consoles right out of the box. Instead of purchasing another fragile PSOne or forking out a premium on the increasingly rare Saturn, the Polymega can play any of these discs from any region, along with the convenience of modern HDMI resolutions and other neat controllers.
While the console itself has been reviewed positively, and technically launched at the start of 2021, finding one today is still next to impossible, especially after a falling out with a few major retailers and major issues in production.
If you can manage to get one without jumping through major hoops, or going through an obscure and expensive supply chain, then the Polymega is just what you need to give a new lease on life to your PlayStation and Saturn game collection. Just check out the trailer for PS1 classic adventure Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver. It also supports TurboGrafx-CD, Sega CD, and Neo Geo CD. Optional add-ons can also allow you to play most cartridge-based media.
Playdate
Playdate is a fascinating concept, one that will either sell like hotcakes or simply be overlooked. Given the immense popularity of the Switch and mobile gaming platforms, it’s hard to predict just how Playdate will be received as a piece of gaming tech, but if this were 1999 then this handheld would easily be the trendiest item.
Playdate is a tiny monochrome handheld, making use of simple sprite-based graphics with the console design almost similar to a Game Boy Advance SP. Its standout feature is a lever of sorts that will be used as a gimmick for most of the games.
Speaking of games, Playdate is set to be a service-based experience, where new games are added to the handheld via seasonal packages. Although unveiled rather mysteriously in Edge magazine, there is a lot more information on the handheld at the moment, and you can also get a much closer look at the game lineup on the official YouTube Channel.
If this thing is priced appropriately worldwide, then Playdate could potentially be a fun and novel piece of handheld gaming, mixing old-school Game Boy sensibilities with clever modern gaming conventions. Imagine if the original Game Boy had an Xbox Game Pass style subscription service… now that actually sounds pretty awesome.
Cloud Gaming (Alternative)
Much like a confused Rocky Balboa in Creed going “what cloud?”, the idea of cloud gaming still needs a couple of years to really catch on. Still, it feels like something that will inevitably happen once tech and infrastructure get on the same level, and executing it on a global scale becomes more economical.
Google has already given up on Stadia, but in the meantime, Amazon is showing some measure of promise with the Luna. A future where the controller itself is the new game console does sound quite compelling, especially as mainstream tech consumers want to own less and less physical media. It is becoming more apparent that consumers would rather stream their favourite entertainment on any platform of their choosing.
If the success of things like Xbox Game Pass is any indication, then digital cross-platform cloud gaming could very well be where the future of gaming lies. Both Xbox and Sony are testing waters with their streaming services in a limited capacity, and while Stadia proves that the concept is still very much ahead of its time, it’s still only a matter of time before this becomes the norm.
One day, the very idea of a game console could very well become a piece of boutique nostalgia. Much like how physical editions of games are becoming a limited premium product, so will the idea of a hunk of plastic sitting next to your TV.
Do any of these alternative gaming platforms appeal to you? Let us know in the comments!
