The Activision Super Pocket is a new entry in Blaze's increasingly broad family of compact Evercade-compatible handhelds, and it may be the most immediately eye-catching version so far. Its black casing is decorated with a bright rainbow wave inspired by Activision's vintage visual identity, giving the unit a look that feels distinctly rooted in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It is the kind of hardware design likely to attract attention whether it is sitting on a shelf or being played during a commute.
That visual confidence is a major part of the appeal. The Super Pocket range has already covered several classic brands, and each model is defined in part by the games installed directly on the machine. Activision's catalogue is historically important, particularly for players interested in the formative years of third-party console development. Yet this edition's 34 included games are also a reminder that retro libraries are highly personal. For some players, this will be a compact celebration of Atari-era classics. For others, another Super Pocket edition with a more immediately recognizable selection may be a better starting point.
The key distinction is not hardware capability. Like the other Super Pocket models, the Activision Edition is an Evercade device. That means it can use most Evercade cartridges, turning the system into more than a fixed collection of preloaded titles. Someone who already owns Evercade carts, or intends to build a library, can select this handheld largely on its design and still access games outside Activision's built-in range. In that context, the colourful Activision shell has a strong case for being the most attractive Super Pocket to date.
A portable showcase for Activision's early catalogue
The included collection contains 34 games and reaches back to the era when Activision helped establish the idea that independent publishers could create major releases for home consoles. The library is not designed around one modern genre or a cinematic centerpiece. Instead, it offers the quick, repeatable arcade-style challenges that defined much of early home gaming.
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Pitfall! and Pitfall II: Lost Caverns are the obvious headline games. The original Pitfall! remains one of the better-known adventure-platform games from the Atari 2600 period, built around timing, hazards and a sense of discovery spread across a large network of screens. Its sequel expands that formula, giving the collection a pair of games that still communicate why Activision's releases became so influential. Their simple controls and short gameplay loops suit the Super Pocket format especially well: pick it up for a few minutes, make an attempt, and keep pushing further through the jungle.
There are plenty of other standouts beyond the Pitfall games. Beamrider offers fast, focused shooting action, while H.E.R.O. is a particularly memorable rescue adventure with a distinctive underground setting. Keystone Kapers brings a lighthearted chase across a department store, and Moonsweeper provides the sort of score-driven loop that can unexpectedly consume a long session. These games may be comparatively uncomplicated by current standards, but the best of them remain readable, responsive and surprisingly moreish.
That said, the full 34-game number should not be treated as a guarantee that every title will have equal value for every owner. The selection also includes sports and board-style games such as Boxing, Skiing and Checkers. They have their place as historical releases, but they are less likely to be the games that convince a newcomer to return regularly. This is a collection where personal nostalgia, curiosity about the medium's past and appreciation for high-score gameplay matter more than sheer quantity.
The complicated legacy of Imagic games
The Activision Super Pocket's library also includes titles associated with the long-defunct publisher Imagic, including Dragonfire and Demon Attack. Both are welcome additions from a gameplay perspective. Dragonfire, in particular, remains an energetic challenge, mixing rapid movement with hazard avoidance in a way that lends itself naturally to repeat attempts. Demon Attack is another strong fixed shooter, delivering a frantic format that still makes sense on a small handheld screen.
However, their presentation raises a small but meaningful archival issue. Rather than using the original Imagic box art, the games are presented with green Activision-style cover designs. Activision acquired rights to some Imagic properties during the 1980s, which helps explain the current branding. Even so, the absence of the original artwork removes a little of the historical texture surrounding these releases.
This does not change the games themselves, and it should not overshadow their inclusion. But packaging, logos and cover illustration are part of the identity of vintage software. Imagic's silver-and-red boxes were a recognizable part of the Atari-era retail landscape, and preserving those visual details can matter to collectors and enthusiasts. Interestingly, Demon Attack still retains the Imagic name on its start screen before play begins. That small surviving detail underlines the unusual history behind these games and the publishers that shaped the early console market.
Built-in games should decide the first purchase
Blaze's Super Pocket line creates an unusual buying decision. Because the systems are compatible with Evercade cartridges, none of the editions are limited forever to the games installed out of the box. Still, the bundled library is the biggest reason to choose one model over another, especially for someone who is purchasing their first Evercade handheld.
The Activision Edition is aimed squarely at people who want early home-console games and arcade-style design. Its best titles reward familiarity and practice, often using a few simple mechanics to create challenges that steadily become harder. A player who enjoys mastering routes in Pitfall!, chasing a better score in Beamrider or repeating short sessions of Moonsweeper will find a great deal to explore.
Players with different tastes may find the other themed units more compelling. The Neo Geo edition is an obvious alternative for fans of fighting games and arcade action. Meanwhile, the Rare edition has a very different kind of selling point through its inclusion of Banjo-Kazooie-games-but-rare-has-rejected-past-ideas/">Banjo-Kazooie, the celebrated 3D collectathon platformer originally associated with Nintendo 64. The Rare model contains only one 3D title, but Banjo-Kazooie is a substantial draw for anyone specifically interested in playing that kind of game on a portable.
That comparison is not an argument that one collection is objectively better than another. It simply highlights the importance of matching the preinstalled library to the player. Someone seeking a compact machine centered on landmark 1980s releases may prefer the Activision version without hesitation. Someone hoping for more expansive 3D exploration may naturally gravitate toward the Rare handheld. The strongest advice is to examine the built-in lists before choosing a Super Pocket, rather than assuming the external design alone should decide the purchase.
Evercade support makes the design matter more
For owners who plan to buy Evercade cartridges, the equation changes. The Activision Super Pocket can play most games available through that ecosystem, so its installed collection becomes only one part of a wider portable library. Blaze is also preparing a Banjo-Kazooie double pack, meaning players interested in Rare's platforming icon are not necessarily required to choose the Rare handheld in order to play those games through Evercade.
That flexibility makes the Activision Edition's aesthetics more significant. If two prospective buyers expect to use cartridges often, choosing the model with the design they most enjoy can be entirely sensible. The rainbow graphic is bold, distinctive and closely connected to the period Activision represents. It also differs sharply from the more restrained look of many modern retro handhelds. There is no mistaking what this device is trying to celebrate.
The compact form factor is another practical advantage for revisiting these games. Setting up original Atari hardware, a compatible display and physical cartridges can be rewarding, but it is not always convenient. A Super Pocket provides a much simpler way to return to a collection of older games without building a full retro setup each time. For games designed around immediate play, that convenience has real value.
An excellent-looking handheld for a specific kind of retro fan
The Activision Super Pocket succeeds most clearly as a themed retro device. Its design is exceptional within the Super Pocket range, and its best built-in games reflect a crucial moment in video game history. Pitfall!, H.E.R.O., Beamrider, Keystone Kapers, Dragonfire and Demon Attack provide enough quality to make this much more than a novelty shell, even if some of the wider selection will be of limited interest depending on the player.
It is not necessarily the default choice for everyone shopping for an Evercade portable. The 34-game Activision lineup is specialized, and other editions may offer a closer fit for fans of fighting games, 3D platformers or other genres. But for people who love the fast, demanding loops of Atari-era software--or for collectors who want the most visually striking Super Pocket available--the Activision Edition has a compelling identity.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to whether the built-in library is the destination or merely the beginning. Choose it for the included classics if Activision's early catalogue is meaningful to you. Choose it for the shell if Evercade cartridges will be doing much of the work. Either way, this is a handsome little machine that gives a foundational chapter of console gaming a fittingly vibrant portable home.
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