When Blaze Entertainment announced that they were releasing a Super Pocket as part of their HyperMegaTech! brand that would focus on Rare games, I had one hope in mind - that it would include Banjo-Kazooie. It's one of my all-time favourite games, up there with Ocarina of Time and Donkey Kong 64, another absolute Rare classic. Sure enough, there it was, advertised on the box itself with Banjo and Kazooie taking pride of place.
Blaze have been kind enough to send me this Rare Super Pocket out ahead of release so that I could put it through its paces. I'm going to be honest with you from the top; while this handheld comes with 14 games pre-loaded, I'm going to be spending a lot of time talking about Banjo-Kazooie and how it plays, because for me, its inclusion on a dedicated, Rare-themed handheld is worth the £49.99 price tag alone. As far as I'm concerned, the addition of Battle Toads and Conker's Pocket Tales is just an amazing extra!
I'm sure you've got lots of questions about the controls, the screen, and how the N64 classic works on a smaller handheld without a joystick. Don't worry, folks, because I've spent the past few days throwing everything at the Rare Super Pocket, and I've got all the answers right here!
- Price: £49.95/$69.99/€59.99
- Games Pre-installed: 15
- Available From: Amazon
- Release Date: June 26th, 2026
What's In The Box
Inside the box, you'll find the Rare Super Pocket packed tightly and securely in a cardboard sleeve. Each handheld comes with a USB-A to USB-C charger which is long enough to ensure you can charge the handheld safely and securely. There's nothing worse than dangling a console from a plug or resting it precariously on the corner of a cabinet just waiting for the dog to knock it off.
As you guys all know, I'm getting on a little bit now. I know I feel like I'm eight years old inside, a by-product of writing about the 90s all the time, but I can't escape the fact that I grew up in a time where games came in cardboard boxes. They also came with instruction booklets, which for me, was one of the best parts of the experience. Evercade games come with instruction booklets, something that I love, but I didn't expect to find a brief Banjo-Kazooie guide in the box with the console. It just proves that, like me, Blaze know that a lot of people are going to be buying this console for the Bear and Bird - they've got true N64 star power!
It's nice to see information giving first-time gamers some tips and tricks on how to get ahead in the game too. The sheet also has information on the two different control styles, though I'll get onto those in a minute. For now, I need to try not to be biased and list the other games on offer too.
Games List
Ok, here's the full game list for the Rare Super Pocket, 15 classic Rare games from their impressive and influential back catalogue:
- Banjo-Kazooie (N64— enhanced and optimised for Super Pocket)
- Battletoads in Battlemaniacs (SNES)
- Conker's Pocket Tales (Game Boy Color)
- Battletoads (NES)
- Cobra Triangle (NES)
- R.C. Pro-Am II (NES)
- Slalom (NES)
- Snake Rattle 'n' Roll (NES)
- Solar Jetman: Hunt for the Golden Warpship (NES)
- Jetpac (ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro)
- Lunar Jetman (ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro)
- Atic Atac (ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro)
- Knight Lore (ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro)
- Gunfright (ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro)
NB - There are a lot of listings online stating that Blast Corps is part of the collection of pre-installed games on this handheld. I can confirm that the only N64 game on the handheld is Banjo-Kazooie.
Let's Talk Banjo
Ok, I know that this is the main reason that a lot of you will have come to the review. For me, this is the best way to play Banjo-Kazooie in 2026. Sure, you can play it on Nintendo Switch Online on the Switch 1/2, but you have to pay a subscription to get onto the N64 game catalogue as well as buy an expensive console. And even then, you don't own the game.
Seeing Banjo and Kazooie on a little handheld like this is perfect. First of all, the graphics are brilliant. The visuals have been enhanced from the early days of the N64, with everything looking much brighter and crisper than I remembered.
How does a game that was made for the N64 and a controller with a joystick work on a smaller handheld with only a D-pad? That's the question I asked myself when I first heard about the Rare Super Pocket, and to be honest, I was skeptical. Blaze know what they're doing, and Rare wouldn't let one of their most beloved IPs work feel janky and risk people complaining about it (they had enough of that with Nuts and Bolts, after all).
I can honestly say that Blaze have nailed it. The game plays brilliantly, and you wouldn't even notice that you're not using a joystick at all. I know Banjo-Kazooie like the back of my hand having replayed it on various consoles and handhelds over my life thus far, so I was primed and ready to get stuck into the game and test out all of the controls, and I've had zero problems with the D-pad. Banjo circles like he would with a joystick when you spin your thumb around the pad, and it's incredibly responsive when it comes to using Feathery Flap to get to new areas and when swimming.
One thing I was really pleased to see was the changes in Bottles the Mole's instructions when it comes to the new handheld. Instead of saying 'press Z + C-button', he tells you to hold down L2 or R2, and to use X and Y. Sometimes, when I've played this game on handheld emulators, you don't have a clue which buttons are going to bring up which moves. In fact, I usually test Banjo-Kazooie on a handheld pretty early on for that reason, because pulling up C-button moves is an integral part of the gameplay.
There are also some new quality of life features like being able to head straight back to Grunty's Lair from the menu without having to go back and find the level portal, which is super handy. There are also new options when you Quit and Save that allow you to head back to the title or Main Menu screen, allowing you to fully exit the game to pick a new Rare title instead of just replaying the opening scene with Banjo, Mumbo, and Tootie (although it's a great little scene, I'm not gonna lie!).
Controls
In the past, I've been a little on the fence about the Super Pocket's back triggers, buttons you would usually class as 'shoulder buttons' on other handhelds. This is where you'll find your L1/R1 and L2/R2 controls, and up until this point, I've not had much use for them on an Evercade game. Now, however, they really came into their own, allowing me to access moves in a new way that doesn't mean I have to pull off hand yoga in order to stretch and reach for specific controls.
The Talon Trot is one of the moves that you'll use a lot in this game, and I was unsure how I would pull it off with the absence of C-buttons. Pressing R2 +L2 brings up the Talon Trot and keeps it held, however, which is super simple. Likewise, R2 gives me access to firing eggs from Kazooie's mouth and butt, with X and B providing me with controls for both, respectively.
There's a new Tiptoe feature too which allows you to move really slowly, accessible by pressing R2 once. No matter whether you're walking or swimming, movement becomes more controlled, allowing you to creep up on enemies. I wouldn't advise using it while swimming as you'll probably end up drowning, but it's great for going long thin edges or for sneaking. You can keep Tiptoe triggered until you press R2 again, or you can turn off trigger mode and hold onto the button manually.
Blaze have nailed it with a toy-like yet sturdy product at an affordable price point that promotes a relaxed playstyle.
Replay vs Retro
Blaze understand that for some gamers, old habits die hard. In the settings, there is an option to swap between Replay and Retro controls. The game comes with Replay controls set as standard, a control scheme that is meant to make the game feel easier on the new handheld. You'll use X as your B button, mainly because B was to the left of the A button on the Nintendo 64 controller. As I've said above, the Talon Trot is super easy to use too.
The Retro controls replace the actual B button as the main B button. They also make L1 and L2 the egg firing buttons and revert the Talon Trot to the old Z + C-button format, requiring you to hold down R2 and press the X button. This feels a little cumbersome to me on a small handheld, and I end up having to use my little finger to hold the handheld while I change my hand position. You might like this option, and I'm glad that Blaze have included it to give the user some choice, but for me, Replay mode is perfectly fine. You can check out the controls on the handy little slip that is included with the handheld when it arrives and see which ones you like the look of best.
How Easy Is It To See?
I've spoken previously about my thoughts on the 2.8" displays on the Super Pocket and how great it is for such a small display. For the other games on the Rare Super Pocket, you can choose from Original Ratio, Pixel Perfect, and Fullscreen for the display size by pressing the middle button. You also have the option to have a clean filter and two different options for scanlines which I've played around with on titles like Jetpac.
Banjo-Kazooie doesn't follow suit. It loads the game with preset settings to give you the best possible experience. As I've said already, everything is easy to see on the screen despite its small size, and the text is easy to read too. No complaints from me here!
Super Pocket User Experience
Ok, we know I love Banjo-Kazooie, but what about the rest of the handheld?
The Super Pocket is really easy to navigate, with a simple scrolling menu that shows images for each of the available games as well as the game's title. I like the menu music too; it's got a bit of a kick to it as opposed to the kind of limp, lobby music that you get on some handhelds. It's also easy to access options and load up other Evercade games from external cartridges too.
In terms of ergonomics, the Super Pocket is a great pocket-sized console (the clue is in the name, really). I have no problem using the front-facing action buttons, and I've finally come around to liking the back triggers now that I've had much more use for them.
The sound quality is also great on this thing too. You'll find the volume buttons on the back of the console towards the top, giving you access with your index finger while you're playing. I turned it up full while playing Banjo-Kazooie and listened to the iconic sounds of Banjo's feet on the wet slopes inside Grunty's Lair and all of Kazooie's sound effects when she's chirping and flapping through the game. The music didn't distort at all, either.
I get around 4 hours from each charge of a Super Pocket, and it charges back up pretty quickly when I use a fast charger. It would be cool if Blaze included a USB-C to USB-C cable instead of the older style, but as most people have that older style plug kicking around the house, I can completely understand why.
Other Rare Titles
I told you that I was going to focus heavily on the Bear and Bird for this review, as I genuinely believe that it's the main draw that is going to pull a lot of you in. I wanted to touch on some of the other titles here too, however, as there are some fun games to play when you want to take a break from beating Grunty's goons.
Banjo isn't the only furry guy in this collection; Conker also makes an appearance with his GBC title Conker's Pocket Tales. It's nowhere near as debaucherous as his N64 outing and offers quite a cutesy little 8-bit game. Then there's Battletoads and Battletoads in Battlemaniacs, two games that give me that beat-em-up, button-mashing action fix that every compilation needs.
The rest of the games, while all influential titles in their own right, are titles that you probably won't spend a ton of time playing on. They're great to check out and are all legendary titles that have helped to shape the gaming scene, but compared to the games above, they're probably suited more towards an older audience who grew up with those games.
Another reason why I've focused mostly on Banjo-Kazooie is that many of the pre-installed games on this handheld are available as part of the Rare Collection 1. Blaze know this - they're marketing this product towards Rare lovers who want to use the handheld to play select titles and not have to buy the collection, saving their money to add other Evercade carts into the mix instead.
Why You Should Pick The Super Pocket
There will be people out there who just say, 'Why not get an emulator and download the ROM?' The Super Pocket is a console that's for everyone, and it's ready to play straight out of the box. You don't need to mess around trying to figure out how to get ROMs onto it - it's ready to use, it doesn't need WiFi updates, and it comes preloaded with all the games you could need. What's more, you can insert Evercade cartridges to get access to over 600+ other games. I can stick Glover or Tomb Raider in here if I want a change from Banjo-Kazooie with no problem whatsoever.
- Affordable, fun product that plays Banjo-Kazooie perfectly
- Great for playing at home or on the go
- Toy-like nature brings maximum nostalgia
- 14 games pre-loaded
- Add to your collection with Evercade cartridges
- Some of the games are available in the Rare Collection 1
Remember, you might know how to set up an Ayaneo handheld and get ROMs working on it, but not everyone does. I can give this Super Pocket to my Mum who used to watch me play Banjo-Kazooie as a kid, or hand it to my partner's daughter who is just getting to grips with games, and they can both navigate it and get playing straight away. That's super important for a product designed to be used by anyone of any ability. No messing around with RetroArch, no googling what Vulkan is - just fun gameplay from the outset.
I've said before that the Super Pockets feel more like toys than handhelds, and I stand by that as a positive. This Rare handheld design especially takes me back to the days of owning the Toy Story Tiger Electronics handheld that I used to take everywhere with me. It's unapologetically fun and bright, just like Rare's games. What's more, it's something that I would just chuck in my pocket and pull out on trains and planes.
When I take my Nintendo Switch 2 anywhere, a £400+ console, I'm always worried about dropping it or making sure it's gone back in its protective hard case properly. I don't have that feeling with the Super Pocket. I've taken it with me in my pocket to play between climbing sessions and on walks over the weekend, and it's been fine. It's designed to be enjoyed without stress, and I think Blaze have nailed it with a toy-like yet sturdy product at an affordable price point that promotes a relaxed playstyle.
It's worth noting that Blaze will be bringing out the Evercade Nexus later on this year with a Banjo-Kazooie/Banjo-Tooie double game pack for £169.99/$199.99, complete with an Analogue stick. I'll be getting one for sure, but I'm not going to tell you to 'wait it out' and buy one. This won't be a device that you just sling in your pocket and run for the bus like the Super Pocket is. The Nexus is also a lot more expensive too, whereas the Super Pocket is an affordable console that would make a good present, especially if you have a couple of kids who both want to get into Retro Gaming.
All in all, I'm loving the Rare Super Pocket. If you want to check out my thoughts on some of the other Super Pocket consoles like the #5 Neo-Geo and #6 Data East themed consoles and collections, then check out my dedicated review for more info!
