In many ways, microcomputers like the Atari 400 are my Roman empire. The THE400 Mini has made that fact even clearer to me, as the experience of flicking through my personal collection of old microcomputer games and trying them out on the plug and play homage became a hyper fixation during testing. I can’t say any other mini console has managed to steal several hours of my time at once quite like this one, and that in itself is a testament to its capabilities.
Coming in at $119.99 / £99.99, there’s no getting round the fact that the THE400 is an expensive mini retro console. For that reason, I was expecting quite a lot from PLAION and Retro Games Ltd’s collab, especially since better known systems have released in the past with a lower MSRP. Thankfully, this latest recreation strikes a balance between style and substance that will be universally appreciated, whether you’re a vintage gamer or someone who casually appreciates old classics.
