The Retroid Pocket 3+ has become a popular device in the retro handheld community, especially for its ability to emulate PlayStation 2 games. This article provides a comprehensive PS2 compatibility list with AetherSX2 settings, based on personal testing and community contributions, to help you optimize your gaming experience.
Many enthusiasts have been testing Playstation 2 game performance on devices like the AYN Odin Pro and the Retroid Pocket 3+. To contribute to this effort, here’s a PS2 Compatibility list with AetherSX2 settings based on personal testing.
Even though I’m making my own PS2 Compatibility list, we shouldn’t be limiting ourselves to a single source of information.
I’ve got my own default AetherSX2 settings that I start with on every performance test.
Note: The latest OTA update (version V1.0.0.221) is said to have improved PS2 performance significantly.
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## Understanding Playable PerformanceWhen evaluating game performance, "playable" generally means the game runs at or close to full speed.
Playable: Either full speed or close to full speed.
A useful trick to boost performance on the Retroid Pocket 3+ involves using sleep mode. Here’s how to do it:
- Right after you turn your Retroid Pocket 3+ on, put it immediately into sleep mode by pressing the Power button.
- Leave it in sleep mode for 20-30 seconds, then wake it up.
I’ve tested this on two PS2 games in AetherSX2 and I’ve gotten good performance boosts from it!
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Here is a list of games tested on the Retroid Pocket 3+, along with notes on their performance and any specific settings required:
Here’s an overview of games with playable settings on the RP3+ post V1.0.0.221 OTA:
- Aug. 20, 2023 - 15 games
- Sep. 30, 2023 - 21 games
- Nov. 3, 2023 - 25 games
- Dec. 10, 2023 - 35 games
- Jan. 22, 2024 - 40 games
Below is a detailed compatibility list based on individual game performance:
| Game Title | Performance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Crash Nitro Kart | Playable | Great performance on optimal defaults but will sometimes slow down when Crash dies (e.g. |
| Crash Tag Team Racing | Playable | Dips are more frequent in special modes (e.g. |
| Gran Turismo 4 | Playable | Metrics say 100% game speed but you can feel the frame skipping. Races start slow but they get to 100% game speed after a few seconds. |
| Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition | Playable | App says 100% game speed but feels closer to 90%. |
| Need for Speed: Underground 2 | Playable | Intro movie is at 50% but game itself plays well. |
| SSX Tricky | Playable | Occasional framerate drips. |
| WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain | Playable | Up to four wrestlers. At 5 or 6, game slows down to 80%. Do the Sleep Mode trick (see above). |
| WWE Smackdown! Shut Your Mouth | Playable | Do the Sleep Mode trick (see above). |
| WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw 2006 | Playable | Do the Sleep Mode trick (see above). |
The Retroid Pocket handhelds run on Android, offering flexibility and customization. Here are some general tips to enhance your experience:
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The Retroid Pocket handhelds are seemingly simple devices to set up - they run on Android, so how hard could it be?
### Initial SetupWhen first starting your Retroid device, it will have you go through some initial setup for WiFi, time zone, etc.
Once you have gone through the first setup screens, I recommend restarting the device once before going further.
Once you have restarted, go to Settings > System > Updates and run a system update so you are using the most recent version of the Retroid image.
I recommend the Xbox ABXY button layout since it will work natively with Android games and streaming apps.
While in the Settings menu, also go to Display > Screen timeout and change the timeout from 1 minute of inactivity to something more reasonable (I personally set mine to 30 minutes), and turn off notifications by enabling “do not disturb” mode.
### Storage and ROMsA 128GB or 256GB card will allow you to load EVERY 8-bit and 16-bit game out there, just all of the arcade games that work, and quite a few PS1, Dreamcast, PSP, GameCube, PS2, and Sega CD games (those systems have the largest file sizes).
If you don’t have a nice microSD to USB adapter, you might want to think about getting one.
For older Retroid handhelds (RP3+/Flip/2S), I recommend getting PAL region ROMs for PS2/GameCube, because they cap out at 50Hz which will give you better performance than struggling to reach the standard 60Hz found in NTSC region ROMs.
When organizing ROM files, I recommend using the “No-Intro” naming convention, which is the standard naming used for ROM sets within RetroArch and other emulation communities.
Additionally, an important component of a ROM library is maintaining BIOS files.
### Controllers and ConnectivityAdditionally, the Retroid Pocket devices double as a pseudo home console, thanks to its HDMI output function as well as the ability to connect to controllers via bluetooth or USB.
Speaking of controllers, there are plenty of options out there, but I prefer to use something that’s somewhat retro-friendly.
You could use a bluetooth controller like the 8BitDo SN30 Pro, or a wired controller like the Betop BD2E.
Note: that in order to use a USB controller, you will also need an OTG adapter to plug the controller into the device’s USB-C port.
### App RecommendationsAfter your initial Android set up, you can jump into the Google Play Store app and start downloading emulators and games.
For RetroArch, I recommend using the nightly build.
Once you have installed the app, I strongly recommend going through my RetroArch Starter Guide to orient you to the platform itself.
Regarding Dolphin (GameCube and Wii), most games will run well at a 2x (RP4/Pro) or 3x (RP5/Mini) upscaled resolution with the Vulkan backend.
For PS2 emulation, I recommend NetherSX2, following this video guide.
NetherSX2 PS2 Emulation on Android Setup Guide (ROMs, BIOS, Cheats, HD Textures & More!)
For the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro and the Retroid Pocket 5/Mini devices, I have found that NetherSX2 Classic (3668) generally provides more stable performance.
When using a Snapdragon-based handheld like the Retroid Pocket 5 or Retroid Pocket Mini, you can install third-party (“Turnip”) drivers to certain emulator apps to improve compatibility and performance.
### Updating AppsFor apps that you installed via the Play Store, updating the app is as simple as going to the Play Store and then updating the apps under the “Manage Apps” function.
Some apps may give you an error (“this app could not be installed” or “installation failed”), if that happens, you can uninstall the old app (be sure “keep app data” when prompted), then install the new one.
### SD Card SetupTo start, plug your microSD card into the device. You may get prompted to “set the SD card up”.
Portable storage means that you will be able to freely take the SD card out of the device and plug it into your PC, as demonstrated in the video guide.
One other note: plugging the SD card directly into your PC to transfer files will give you much greater transfer speeds, about 4x the speed of USB file transfers.
### RetroArch HotkeysFor more specific RetroArch settings, I recommend using my RetroArch Starter Guide as a reference.
If you want to use the RetroArch N64 cores with a frontend (like ES-DE), there is a bug where sometimes the controls won’t register after launching a game.
To fix this, open up an N64 game and then go into the RetroArch Quick Menu.
### Control MappingOne of the biggest challenges in setting up these devices is mapping the controls to mimic the original controllers from retro systems.