The C64

If you ever owned an amiga you'll love this. It looks great and is simple to set up. It has 25 games built in. These are very good, but everyone's taste is different. However it's also easy to add you own games via USB (there are YouTube videos on how to do this). Potentially you could have a huge library of games in no time at all.The mouse is really good and looks like a genuine mouse from the 80s, but it's wired and you might want to use a wireless mouse. The controller looks like nothing I'd seen plugged into an amiga before (I had a joystick), but it is apparently based on the amiga cd32 controller. It looks good and works well.The A500 mini could have a few small improvements, for example it could use another USB port at the back and for the price your paying they could include a plug (it has a USB charging cable only, I guess they assume everyone has a plug laying around). However, these are minor issues and the overall experience is great. I had good fun playing Speedball 2 and Worms, amongst others.There have been lot of mini consoles available in the last few years. If, like me, you grew up playing on an Amiga then this the mini console you want.

I already have original Amigas and in the modern age, there are a lot of extra solutions to getting them working and loading software. Sometimes this involves nice simple solutions inside the case and sometimes a lot more faff. The A500 mini is brilliant. Connects via HDMI, not SCART or Amiga RGB and works lovely with a modern telly. Some of the games on it wouldn't be ones I'd play, but there are enough classics like the incredible Chaos Engine and Worms: The Directors Cut to keep me busy for ages and show off the best of the 80s 16bit scene to today's youngsters. Some people seem to have questioned the shape of the controller, being based on the CD32. I think the controllers are just fine and whilst they might not be as ergonomic as modern console controllers, they were clearly a compromise to keep the style retro looking. Older players might prefer a joystick but I can't stand using those so I bought a second one at the same time and also use these pads on The C64 instead of the sticks. Not tried them on the PC yet. I've added all the WHDLoad games too (google how to do that if you don't know) so this is my main Amiga for games now. The keyboard is non-working but the buttons would have been ridiculously small if they had made them functional and it would have pushed the price up. A USB keyboard can be used when needed and there are plenty of USB ports. Original looking tank mouse was a nice touch.I wanted one of these as soon as I heard about them and eventually gave in when they were on offer for under £100. I can see at the time of writing - April 2024 - that they are currently discounted to £85. You'll read some nitpicking over the games included and the pad design but for me it's a cracking bundle for a decent price. Writing this has made me want to go and play it now!

As someone who never had an Amiga growing up - but always wanted one - the A500 Mini has been my first introduction to this unique personal computer.For those who *did* grow up with an Amiga 500, this is a wonderful piece of kit. What separates it from other mini consoles, and makes the A500 mini perfect for enthusiasts, is the ability to add any Amiga game via USB and a simple-to-use software loader. No modding required - this is available out of the box. As someone who is still exploring the vast and diverse Amiga library, this is a wonderful addition.It also demonstrates how the Amiga 500 is *not* your average console, and for those more used to plug and play consoles such as the SNES or Genesis, there will be a learning curve. There’s a reason this comes with a mouse and a joypad, and supports all USB keyboards. Quite simply, the console is more diverse and more open than your average console experience, and if you aren’t willing to tinker with settings, provide a couple of your own hardware additions (lest you grapple with the less-than-perfect virtual keyboard), this will be a very odd experience indeed.The game library included is also a very mixed bag. Not that the quality is bad (although Titus the Fox can do one!) but you’ve got such a broad range of genres, styles and scopes that a number are bound to leave you cold. It’s for this reason that the ability to add your own Amiga ROMS is so welcome.Part of what makes this console so special is also part of what takes a lot of getting used to. Once I did, however, I discovered a fascinating console that I missed out on all those years ago; one that will be peculiar to newcomers but a wonderful nostalgic revisit for enthusiasts.