The Sega Saturn controller-styled ARC-S retro console has landed… Comfy, fun and packed with Nostalgia!
Anbernic has done a great job recreating the feel of the Sega Saturn controller in this retro gaming handheld. The RG ARC-S evokes nostalgia while playing a wide collection of Saturn games well.
Anbernic has released another impressive product, encompassing controls, screen quality, playability, and, of course, capturing the essence of the Sega Saturn design, evoking nostalgic sentiments from Sega’s early 1990s gaming era.
The Sega Saturn controller, famed for its floating D-pad and six-button setup, has a large fanbase and following. While this marks Anbernic’s first foray into floating D-pads, once you get used to it, there’s a lot to like. It’s worth noting that ARC has no JoyPad, so if that’s a non-negotiable, the Arc might not be your best choice.
With two additional buttons, the revised layout will delight fans of games like Street Fighter and Marvel vs. Capcom, offering an arcade-like experience. With six buttons, users gain flexibility in mapping actions such as braking, accelerating, looking up, down, forward, backward, and more, in addition to standard controls. Spare buttons can also be mapped to RetroArch actions for added convenience, enhancing gameplay, while the Sega Saturn library can now be played how it was made to be enjoyed.
Noteworthy is the comfort and feel when holding and accessing buttons on the Anbernic ARC S, making it arguably one of the most ergonomically pleasing retro gaming consoles on the market. The crystal-clear 4-inch 4:3 Aspect Ratio 640 *480 IPS screen further enhances the gaming experience, while the dual forward-facing speakers add to the gaming experience.
The ARC-S is also one of the retro gaming handhelds that supports video and audio output via its Mini HDMI port.
What games can the RG ARC-S emulate?
Regarding performance, the ARC S uses the RK3566 chipset, already found in the RG353P, enabling smooth emulation of titles up to the PlayStation 1 era. Supported consoles include Atomiswave, Dreamcast, Final Burn, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, Game Gear, MAME, MSX2+, Nintendo 64, Naomi, Nintendo DS, NEO-GEO, NES, Neo Geo Pocket, PC Engine, PlayStation 1, SNES, and WonderSwan Color.
However, performance varies beyond the PS1 era. While consoles like the N64, Dreamcast, and PSP offer well-played games, some titles may struggle, so set your expectations accordingly.
As for Sega Saturn emulation, while a selection of titles will play well, not the entire library is supported. Performance depends on the demands of individual titles, with some playing smoothly while others may require frameskip or show signs of slowdowns. Thus, Sega Saturn gameplay on the ARC S can be hit-or-miss.
While the Anbernic ARC-S isn’t the perfect solution for those looking to play the whole Sega Saturn library, it does bring a lot of upside and is packed with Nostalgia.
What’s in the box
1 x RG ARC-S console
1 x USB type C charge cable
1 x Tempered glass screen protector
2 x Micro SD cards (16GB OS and 64GB games card)
1 x User manual
The boring stuff
– Based on your screen settings, product colours may differ.
– Sizes may be slightly different based on manual measurement.
– Button and controller finish may vary depending on the selected model/ colour.