Fakes are getting harder to discover. I have a friend who buys and sells retro games for a living, and he continually says that it's getting harder to spot counterfeits when it comes to the likes of Pokémon Crystal for the GBC and FireRed for the GBA. Repros are getting more realistic, with makers getting wise to the key elements we've been looking out for to tell the duds from the real deal.
Epilogue have released a new app called Retrace which is doing its bit to help tackle the growing wave of fake games. Working alongside their GB operator for all Game Boy games and their SN operator for SNES titles, Retrace can detect whether your game is real or not right from your mobile, meaning you can test out cartridges before you buy them to double-check whether they're real or fake, giving you a level of confidence in its decision after searching for specific markers.
It would also cover you if a seller offers a money-back guarantee too if they've sold a fake by mistake, making it a pretty useful tool to make sure you're buying the real article.
Retrace doesn't just spot fakes, however. It also identifies games, letting you know their size, region, and revision. It will also tell you the size of your save file too. And, if you're thinking about selling your game, it will tell you the market value for both loose and boxed versions whether you were to sell online or to a store.
Hooking up your GB or SN Operator to your phone is as simple as connecting a USB-C cable, sticking in a cartridge, and waiting for the app to do its thing. If you want to get a better grasp of what you're playing or buying, then this app is a must-have. And it's free to download from the App Store and Google Play Store!
The GB Operator costs $59.99 and is ready to ship from the Epilogue website. The SN Operator is available in April and is priced at $71.99.
Check out our review of the GB Operator for more information!
