So recently I looked at a Chinese clone handheld from 2017 and then an Indian Famicom clone
with Mega Drive Branding.
Well, today I thought it was time to kind-of combine them and cover the HD Mega Drive by
Fei Hao. or HD RETRO GAME as it says here.
Now this is a machine which has been on the market for a few months.
It's not the Tec-Toy officially licenced release we saw earlier this year - that doesn't have
an HDMI out, but it does do composite.
It's also unlike the AT Games Mega Drive, because THIS is a full size Mega Drive clone.
You may have seen a few videos about it by these stupendous Youtubers.
But I think the best way to test this machine is to use as many of the original Mega Drive
peripherals with it as I can, so let's get stuck in.
Here's the box, very reminiscent of original Mega Drive packing from 1990.
I should probably clear up that the original Mega Drive was released on Japanese land in
1988 and then started to make it's way overseas from 1989 on-wards.
On the box we're told a number of points, including not to blow on the cartridges.
MY ENTIRE LIFE HAS BEEN A LIE.
Inside the box we get the HD Mega Drive unit, which is incidentally very light.
We also have 2 wireless controllers, a game cartridge, an HDMI cable, a power adapter
and a flappy piece of paper.
I'm so happy I could sh*t.
Right, before we get stuck in with the proper testing, let's do some quick comparisons with
original hardware.
Here they are side by side.
Aesthetically this clone looks closer to the Japanese Mega Drive than my PAL version and
indeed the Genesis.
You may notice that this new system doesn't have the cut out cartridge shape on the trap
doors.
That's to allow both Japanese and North American cartridges to fit the slot.
That means you need to be a bit more careful when inserting cartridges because there's
nothing to guide you into the slot.
In terms of feel, the switches on the clone are a little bit waggily and the reset button
sometimes gets stuck, but yeah, they're alright.
They haven't got quite the same quality feel of the original, but no one expected them
to.... did you?
As well as coming with wireless pads, you can also plug in the original pads, which
is a nice feature.
The sockets are much looser than the original, even after 25 years of wear and tear, but
they function just fine.
So let's load up a cartridge.
First Micro Machines 2 Turbo Tournament.
Everything seems fine, and indeed the picture looks crisp and vivid, but then the title
screen keeps looping.
We can't get past it!
Which brings me to this switch on the back.
Here you can see it says "J" and "O".
"J" standing for Japan and "O" for Overseas.
Overseas in this instance means America, or NTSC regions.
So the problem - for me, and anyone in Europe - is that there's no PAL region selector.
That may explain the problems with Micro Machines, but most region locked cartridges will simply
tell you they're region locked rather than glitching out.
So this suggests a compatibility problem.
I suspect because it's a J Cart.
Meaning it has these extra control ports on the cartridge itself, the clone just doesn't
like it.
Here's an example of a PAL cartridge which won't work on this machine in either Japanese
or North American mode.
And here's a game so British it doesn't display anything...
Jimmy White's Whirlwind Snooker.
British Pig Headedness right there.
But its ok, we won't hold it against Jimmy.
I've got plenty of cartridges which will work just fine.
For example, Streets of Rage II works in Japanese mode.
We can see it displays the Japanese intro text and the name of the game in Japan; Bare
Knuckle II.
So let's compare the quality here with a few titles.
Sticking with Streets of Rage II to begin with.
This is what the HDMI signal looks like captured directly though my capture card.
It looks alright, although a little bit soft.
This I believe is because the hardware is just converting the composite signal to HDMI
and pushing it out at 720p.
You can see on the back of the machine we also have the ability to output straight through
composite as well as HDMI.
Because it's through HDMI the image is also stretched to 16:9, so let's correct that.
There, that's better.
Let's compare this to a Mega Drive outputting composite through this £10 HDMI upscaler.
You can see, the clone's image is vastly superior to this.
We've got blurry edges on the original, less vivid colours.
Well actually the palette is a little off on the clone, but it still looks very nice.
Also, remember that my Mega Drive is running at 50Hz here, hence the slight slowdown.
The clone is running at a full 60Hz.
BUT, the original Mega Drive can output RGB, so if I run a proper RGB cable through this
scart to HDMI upscaler, then we get this image, which is pant wettingly clear.
I'll just leave you with this for a few seconds so you can take it in.
Now, compared to the clone, you can see how good a standard Mega Drive image can be and
what we have here.
For the sake of argument I'll plug the clone into the same 1080p upscaler that I put the
Mega Drive through, because it only outputs at 720p.
I mean it's still pretty good, especially for a piece of kit which cost me £40.
Its worth noting here that some upscalers won't actually output RGB and will only process
a composite signal, it's also worth noting that some CABLES won't take the RGB signal
either... here you can see a 5 din connector which only shifts composite vs. the full 8
pin RGB din.
The eagle eyed of you may notice the standard Mega Drive footage is a little squashed here.
That's because PAL images are compressed into a smaller vertical area.
I've just sped the footage up to match it to the NSTC 60Hz speed.
So what about the sound.
Well there are variations in the original Mega Drive models already.
Using one of the first Mega Drive issues with the High Definition Graphics / Stereo Sound
writing around the rim it sounds exactly like it should.
With the clone - which incidentally has AV INTELLIGENT TERMINAL, HIGH GRADE MULITPURPOSE
USE, around the edge - everything sounds a little compressed.
The sound also clips and distorts a little at the edges.
But then if you compare that with one of the later batch Mega Drives, without the writing
around the rim, it's pretty similar.
The Mega Drive II was even worse for sound, so really the clone is still fairing reasonably
well.
But there is one more point definitely worth mentioning; it only outputs sound in mono.
Now I know the original Mega Drive only output sound in mono, but it had a stereo jack on
the front which could be mixed into the signal, like through my scart cable here.
The clone however, outputs mono from the front jack (which is still a neat feature to have)
and from the rear.
You can hear the difference here, especially if you're wearing headphones.
Let's compare a few more games.
Interestingly most of my PAL games actually work fine on this machine.
I'm going to swap the audio between the Mega Drive and clone here, you can notice some
of the sound issues going on.
You can see there are some palette differences here.
The clone looks more vivid in some places.
Notice here that Polterguy actually disappears on the clone.
It looks like it struggles with the highlight and shadow features of the Mega Drive, which
are often used to imitate transparency.
They may well be missing entirely.
OK, so how about responsiveness.
I heard there were some issues with the AT Games system, and like that, this comes with
2.4GHz wireless pads.
Well, using original pads, I can't notice ANY lag at all.
Some Mega Drive aficionados may be able to, but for a layman like myself, nothing.
Using the wireless pads is a bit of a wobbly affair in terms of controls, but lag seems
to be minimal.
If there is lag isn't really not affecting my abysmal playing in any case.
The select button does nothing by the way, but they do function as true 6 button pads.
If you plug an original 6 button pad in, the top row of buttons seem to function as turbo
buttons, which is weird.
Owners of the Turbo Touch 360 will be happy also because it works just fine, turbo buttons
included.
I do love this pad.
It just feels so utterly 90s.
OK, lets see what else we can get working with this beast.
I would start with an Everdrive cartridge, but I don't have one and both Retro Core and
Modern Vintage Gamer have both confirmed it works, so that's more than good enough for
me.
Let's move onto Virtua Racing.
This game has the Sega Virtua Processor on board, so it could have a tough time integrating
with the Mega Drive on a chip... and no, it doesn't appear to work.
But then I do have a PAL copy.
Thankfully RetroCore has done the same test with the Japanese cart and had no success
either.
This is to be expected given the cart doesn't even work with the Genesis Model 3, nor through
the 32X add on.
Talking about the 32X.... shall we?
Well, the first problem is that because the cartridge slot is actually lower down inside
the casing, the 32X won't connect with it.
See, there's the little blighter.
Tucked away like Ronnie Corbett standing in a valley.
So we're gonna have to....
DIG UP THE ROAD...
No, not that.
I'm going to take it apart.
This involves the removal of 6 screws and voila.
This is the inside of the Fei Hao Mega Drive.
You might notice given the sparseness here, that testing with the MegaCD is going to fail
also.
That's because the edge connector is decidedly absent.
Rather than a large main board we have 4 smaller boards connected by ribbon cables.
That explains why it's so light.
We've got what looks like a controller PCB attached here, which will be the components
for the wireless pads.
The main chip has TCT-6803 etched across it, a quick search of which reveals... well, some
discussion over at the Sega-16 forum with pictures of machines with more than a fair
share of hot snot smothered over their connections.
Genesis32XCD on this forum also confirms that if you plug an HDMI cable in, it turns off
the composite outputs, something I hadn't tried and likely confirming my earlier point.
Anyway, back to the 32X.
With the lid off, you can slip it right on there.
But then I have a problem.
I mean me personally, because my 32X is PAL, and as we know this isn't a PAL console.
In fact, it's more like an ENEMY.
Geddit?
Haaahhhhhhhhh
But the greater problem is actually wiring it up.
We haven't got the Mega Drive's usual RGB pin out here.
We've just got composite and HDMI.
So we could use a Mega Drive II AV cable to connect the composite to the 32X and then
output the 32X to composite with the same cable, but this is unlikely to work anyway.
Remember on Bad Influence when they tried to do it with the Scorpion 16 clone?
Yeah, they failed.
Interestingly Youtuber RetroGameTech kinda got his Scorpion 16 to work with the 32X with
some modification, but the timing is still off, and I think that's the issue we'd have
with this clone as well.
But that's probably best case scenario, remember, it doesn't work with Virtua Racing, so it's
unlikely to work with the 32X.
But then this guy has managed to get Virtua Racing working by modifying his Fei Hao Mega
Drive...
So there IS hope, but its a long shot at best.
So using the cable setup I mentioned, wow, it actually works.
Nah, I'm kidding, it doesn't even output a signal.
We know it won't work with the Mega CD.
Although it does fit perfectly on top, it's even got the mounting slots, and looks rather
swell.
So... how about the original Master System Converter.
Well with the case on, we have the same problem as the 32X.
Without the case it slots in fine but like an unwelcome industrial estate... once you've
lined it up correctly at least.... annndd, Master System games work fine.
Although some did take considerable and vigorous blowing before they yielded.
Oh but good god, the box told me not to do this.
What have I done?
Meh, I guess I just can't help myself.
Here's Streets of Rage working fine.
God I love Master System versions of Mega Drive games.
They feel like they shouldn't exist, but yet here it is running beautifully.
Sonic 2 also works, although there is some slight artifcating on the title screen and
throughout the game.
You'll be pleased to know that the pause button works though.
Alex Kidd in Miracle World 2 worked absolutely fine, no artifacting and looking crystal clear.
Also, the sound is spot on.
Chase HQ also looked fine, until I got into the game.
Yeahhhhhhh, there's some significant road flickering going on here.
It doesn't make the game unplayable by any means, but it is a bit distracting.
Other Youtubers also had similiar issues through the Everdrive.
So then, the one you've all been waiting for...
Yes!
The cartridge which came with the system.
Well it has numerous games, they all work.
Lovely job.
Wait a minute, ARM Wrestling, that sounds familar.
Ahhh, yes, its the Street Fighter 2 Turbo prototype I investigated a few months back,
clearly the menu just pulls the ROM header and dumps it in this list.
OK, what you were really waiting for...
The SEGA MENACER.
Does it work.
I think you know the answer to this already.... but prepare to be amazed...well, slightly.
Here it is on the original Mega Drive.
I'd forgotten what these games were like.
But you can see that although it complained a few times about the brightness of my monitor,
it works fine.
Although the recommended distance of more than 3 feet is a crock of crap.
You need to be about a foot away for it to work properly.
With the clone.
Well, the sensor plugs into the second controller port, so that's fine.
But the Menacer also relies on TV scan line timing, and having an HDMMI out, I doubt this
clone is going to replicate that, even through the composite connections.
Curiously though, it kinda, almost, wants to, kinda doesn't.
I can select things on the main menu.
I mean, I can't choose what I select but I can randomly select a game.
But then it makes me go to this target calibration screen and at first I thought BOOM.
I got bullseye.
No.
Alright, I know the problem.
It's because I'm only using half the MENACER.
LOCK AND LOCK.
Yeahhhh boiii, that's what I'm talking about....
Nope, the Mega Drive didn't recognise a damn thing.
So that's out the window.
But while we're here, let's take a look at this console via. composite.
It seems appropriate to try a knock of cartridge in a knock off machine, so here's Dr. Robotniks'
Creature Capture.
As you can see here it sets the correct ratio of 4:3, and looks very good.
With older televisions - many of which are mono - and a standard lead this beats the
original system, and I could play it for weeks.
Non stop.
Without break.
So there we have it.
The Fei Hao HD Mega Drive.
Not a bad piece of kit.
If you're looking for the best sound and video, then its worth sticking with an original Mega
Drive through an upscaler, but it is cheaper than buying all the kit separately.
It's also handy for people who want to play NTSC cartridges or be able to balance a system
on their finger.
The original is simply too weighty for that.
Of course if you're looking to use the original Master System converter then you'll have issues,
but the 2nd version and indeed, current models should fit fine.
As usual, I'd recommend the original hardware, but this thing is worth a look out of curiosity
if nothing else.
Anyway, I'm off, thanks for watching and have a great evening.
Oh, also, feel free to subscribe, support or click another video.
Go on.
Do it.
You know you want to... it's Christmas! :D
-Have a Great Christmas all you sub-title users-
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