Analogue3D Review – IGN

Lead: The Analogue3D has arrived and was tested on a 65″ 4K television to assess how an FPGA-based, modern take on the Nintendo 64 performs on contemporary displays. Over several sessions with original cartridges and third-party Bluetooth controllers, the unit delivers 4K output, robust scanline filters, and low-latency play for most titles, with a small visual artifact (combing) noted in some captures. Setup includes a 16GB SD card preloaded with Analogue’s 3Dos, a 30W USB-C power supply, a 4K HDMI cable, and four front-facing controller ports; preorders sold out quickly. The review finds the Analogue3D an excellent bridge between original N64 hardware and modern TVs, with a few caveats for capture and certain game-specific tweaks.

Key Takeaways

• The package includes the Analogue3D console, a 4K HDMI cable, a 30W USB-C power brick, and a 16GB SD card with Analogue’s 3Dos preinstalled; preorders sold out fast.
• Four controller ports are present; Analogue reports original N64 controllers and accessories are supported, and Bluetooth controllers (e.g., 8Bitdo) pair successfully.
• Expansion Pak and Memory Pak functionality are built into the hardware, with the Expansion Pak option toggling the N64’s RAM from 4MB to 8MB for compatible games.
• Display outputs include 4K or 1080p at 60Hz (NTSC) and 50Hz (PAL), plus HDR and an Auto Low Latency option to reduce input delay.
• Display modes are extensive—BVM, PVM, CRT, Scanlines, and Clean—each with deep submenus (beam convergence, edge hardness, image fit, interpolation algorithms).
• There are four overclock modes: Auto, Enhanced (RAM), Enhanced+ (RAM+video), and Unleashed (RAM+video+CPU); these are labeled experimental and may affect game behavior.
• Performance is strong across tested titles (Super Mario 64, GoldenEye, Donkey Kong 64, F-Zero X); input responsiveness notably outperforms Nintendo Switch Online emulation for several games.
• The only consistent drawback observed is intermittent combing artifacts in some captures and specific scenes, which are less visible with display filters enabled.

Background

Analogue has built a reputation producing high-end hardware that runs original game cartridges via FPGA rather than software emulation, prioritizing accuracy and low latency. The Analogue Pocket and other products established the company’s design-first approach, and the Analogue3D continues that lineage by targeting the Nintendo 64 library with a modern video pipeline and rich UI. The N64 originally shipped with 4MB of onboard RAM and relied on the Expansion Pak to reach 8MB for select titles; Analogue3D exposes that capability as a toggle to reproduce original or enhanced behavior.

FPGA-based systems aim to replicate console logic at a hardware level, which can reduce input lag and timing discrepancies that software emulators sometimes introduce. That technical route makes devices like the Analogue3D appealing to collectors and competitive players who want native cartridge play on modern TVs. At the same time, modern displays and capture workflows introduce new variables (resolution scaling, interpolation, and digital artifacts) that differ from CRT-era experiences, which the device attempts to manage through extensive display filters and per-game settings.

Main Event

Unboxing confirms Analogue’s premium packaging approach: the console, necessary cables, and a 16GB SD with the 3Dos preloaded are included. Also supplied with the review unit were four 8Bitdo Bluetooth 64 Controllers and physical copies of Super Mario 64 and GoldenEye; the reviewer also used an original Atomic Purple N64 controller. Tiny cartridge-cleaning pads (similar to Magic Erasers) were included and proved effective for removing grime from old cartridges.

The physical design references the N64 lineage while adopting a subdued modern aesthetic in solid, high-quality plastic. Four legacy controller ports sit on the front and each port has an LED that indicates active pairing, a small but useful detail for multiplayer sessions. The Nintendo Switch Online N64 controller does not pair with the unit, while original wired N64 controllers and third-party Bluetooth controllers do work as expected.

The UI centers on Analogue’s new 3Dos, which recognizes cartridges as soon as they are inserted, logs them in a Library, and optionally displays custom artwork. From the home screen and in-game menus users can toggle a wide range of settings: output resolution (4K/1080p), refresh (60Hz/50Hz), HDR, Auto Low Latency, and per-game display presets. Overclocking is presented as an ‘experimental’ set of four modes—Auto, Enhanced, Enhanced+, and Unleashed—offering progressively broader clock increases across RAM, video, and CPU domains.

Display options are the device’s standout feature: five primary display modes (BVM, PVM, CRT, Scanlines, Clean) each contain additional controls for beam convergence, edge overshoot, edge hardness, image size, and three image-fit modes (Original, Stretch, Cinema Zoom). Clean mode exposes four interpolation algorithms and five sharpness levels, allowing finely tuned presentation for different titles and personal taste.

Analysis & Implications

For collectors and players who prioritize playing original cartridges on modern displays, the Analogue3D offers a compelling proposition. FPGA fidelity combined with deep display controls means users can approach CRT-like visuals or clean digital output depending on preferences. The built-in Expansion Pak emulation removes the need for additional physical modules and simplifies compatibility for titles that required extra RAM, which is an important convenience and preservation advantage.

However, converting N64 output to 4K reveals trade-offs. Many N64 games were designed around CRT behavior—scanline bleed, phosphor glow, and analog timing—that do not map perfectly to sharp, high-resolution panels. While filters do a strong job approximating analog displays, some games or scenes reveal combing (alternate-line mismatches) when captured or shown in Clean mode. That artifact is noticeable in specific animations (for example, the Donkey Kong 64 and Rare logo sequences) but is often masked by the filtered display modes.

The device’s abundance of tweakable options is both a strength and a friction point. Enthusiasts will appreciate per-game profiles and deep CRT emulation parameters, but casual users may feel overwhelmed. Overclocking profiles can deliver smoother framerates in some titles (the review reports improved smoothness in Donkey Kong 64 when set to Unleashed), yet the ‘experimental’ tag is accurate—clock adjustments can alter timing-sensitive behavior in certain games, so community testing and documented presets will be valuable going forward.

Comparison & Data

These comparisons show where the Analogue3D modernizes the N64 experience: digital high-resolution output, built-in Expansion Pak support, and a modern OS with library management. They also highlight the fundamental difference between analog-era hardware and contemporary displays—features like CRT bloom and scanline behavior are simulated rather than reproduced natively.

Reactions & Quotes

The reviewer summarized the experience with a succinct endorsement of classic gameplay:

“Donkey Kong 64 rules.”

IGN reviewer

This captures the broader sentiment that many classics ‘feel right’ on the hardware when settings are dialed in. Analogue frames the product as enabling original cartridges on modern displays:

“Supports original controllers, accessories, and deep display customization.”

Analogue (product information)

Community response, as seen in preorder activity and forum threads, reflects high demand and a desire for shared optimization data:

“Preorders sold out quickly; retro communities are already compiling per-game settings.”

Retro community reports

Unconfirmed

• Whether combing appears consistently across all cartridges and TV models is not established; the artifact was observed in specific scenes and may be display- or capture-dependent.
• The long-term effects and compatibility implications of the Unleashed overclock mode across the entire N64 library remain unverified; more community testing is needed.
• Firmware updates may alter controller compatibility (for example, third-party or platform-specific controllers), but timing and scope of such updates are not yet confirmed.

Bottom Line

The Analogue3D is a thoughtfully engineered, high-end approach to playing original N64 cartridges on modern displays. It combines a polished industrial design with a powerful set of display and hardware configuration tools, built-in Expansion Pak functionality, and solid low-latency performance that, in this reviewer’s experience, surpasses Nintendo Switch Online emulation for many titles. Minor issues such as occasional combing in captures and the learning curve for deep display menus do not outweigh the considerable benefits for collectors, competitive players, and anyone seeking faithful cartridge-based play on contemporary TVs.

For potential buyers: if you prize cartridge authenticity, precision controls, and per-game tuning, the Analogue3D is highly recommended. If your primary goal is flawless, capture-ready digital output on every title without tinkering, be aware that some scenes may require filter choices or capture settings to minimize visual artifacts. Community-sourced presets and future firmware updates are likely to address many of the remaining edge cases.

Sources

• IGN — Analogue3D review (media/review)
• Analogue — official product information (official)