Super Pocket Technos and Atari Models Bring More Evercade-Compatible Options

The Hyper Mega Tech! Super Pocket from Evercade maker Blaze Entertainment is intended as an easy entry point for its ecosystem of cartridges, as well as an affordable standalone stocking stuffer candidate. We looked at the first two devices in the line, showcasing built-in games from Capcom and Taito, but now the company’s added two more options: Technos and Atari.

The Super Pocket is a 60-buck device that takes the full game-playing capability of the Evercade EXP handheld and fits it into the form factor of a particularly robust bar of soap. There are a few compromises, as we discussed before: the inputs are a little stiffer, and the shoulder button placement isn’t the best. It seems like it’d be fine for kids, though we see it fitting into an adult’s life a bit better as a portable companion device for the TV-tethered Evercade VS (and VS-R). That way, if you’re really serious about playing something, you can upgrade your setup in a pinch but still keep a pocketable option.

For the first time we’ve seen in Evercade history, these Super Pockets cause something of a licensing overlap. The first two were Capcom, a company that Blaze has found it easier to license as built-in software, and Taito, which has only appeared on that one device. The second wave of Super Pockets, Technos and Atari? Those companies have a history with Evercade. That said, both of those licensors’ carts are out of print, so it might not affect that many of you?

Still, if you want to know the breakdown, here it is! The Technos Super Pocket contains 15 games. Five were on the Technos home cart: Crash ‘n’ the Boys, Double Dragon, Super Double Dragon, Super Spike V’Ball and River City Ransom. The three from that cart that didn’t make it: the NES versions of Double Dragon 2, Renegade and Super Dodge Ball. Six inclusions were on the Technos arcade collection: Block Out, The Combatribes, Double Dragon 2, Double Dragon 3, Minky Monkey and Mysterious Stones. That leaves only motorcycle action game Battle Lane Vol. 5 and wrestling title Mania Challenge as that cart’s only exclusives.

The brand-new-to-Blaze titles on the Technos model are the Game Boy port of Double Dragon, the arcade version of Super Dodge Ball and the original arcade Double Dragon release. It’s perhaps understandable that these weren’t on the old carts — none of them are really the preferred version of their games — but for Technos fans, they’re cool to see here.

The Atari Super Pocket has a whopping 50 games, so there’s both a ton of overlap and a generous list of exclusives! So given that, let’s look at the new games in particular. First, it’s an opportunity to fill in the gaps of Blaze’s already-fairly-generous Lynx representation. There’s Kung Food, the groceries-themed beat-’em-up known for how weird it is. Rounding out the selection is Dirty Larry: Renegade Cop, Robo-Squash, Turbo Sub and Warbirds.

This also marks the first appearance of the Atari 5200. Bounty Bob Strikes Back!, Countermeasure, Final Legacy, Miner 2049’er and Xari Arena make for a rather flattering cameo for the ill-fated system’s library. As we found out when covering Atari 50, the software support wasn’t necessarily there for that platform to succeed. Still! Nice to see. There are a handful of other exclusives, too! Like maybe you’re a big fan of Berzerk and Frenzy? That said, players have had a ton of opportunities to get budget devices with some Atari games on it. So it’s nice for it to be part of the lineup, but probably less interesting for a more plugged-in audience.

We noted this when we talked about the first batch, but this approach really allows them to make the systems fun just by swapping out the colors. Technos is blue and white, while Atari is black and red. There was even a limited edition woodgrain model, which was a nice touch! This larger lineup introduces the possibility for swapping the decorative cartridge slot cover, but with the options we have now, we’re not sure there’s one that makes sense. (Also, as a minor note: the white in the Technos model is not the off-white of all the Evercade cartridges, so just be prepared for that not to match.) We’re big fans of Technos around here just generally, but we’d understand choosing the Atari model as a blind gift for a young relative. Those games are timeless for a reason.

Blaze Entertainment’s latest Hyper Mega Tech! Super Pocket models, Technos Edition and Atari Edition, are available now. For more coverage of the company’s Evercade line of devices and game collections, check out our archive.