Game Axe
A portable Famiclone with color screen and TV-out capability.
The Game Axe is a portable, unlicensed Famicom clone developed by Taiwanese company Legend Technology Co., LTD. It runs Famicom cartridges and, with an included adapter, also supports NES games from North America and Europe.
First released in 1989, the system saw a resurgence around 2000, sold in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan under the Redant brand. Its horizontal design resembles Sega’s Game Gear. Depending on the model, it features either a 3.5-inch (FC-812) or 4-inch (FC-816/FC-868) color LCD screen. Two controller ports sit at the base, alongside an AC jack and an RCA jack, allowing the device to connect to a television and function as a standard Famicom.
Power comes from 9 volts DC (500–1000mA) or six AA batteries. The CPU is an NMOS 6502 running at 1.8 MHz, paired with a PPU for graphics and a pAPU for sound. The display is a 3.8-inch passive matrix LCD with a backlight. Connectors include DC in, a cartridge slot, A/V out, and RCA A/V in (using a component video Y-cable that connects to a 1/8-inch mini jack). The A/V out uses a standard Sega Genesis A/V cord, and there is also a headphone jack.
The NES cartridge adapter introduces a notable stability problem: when the handheld is moved or jostled while playing NES games, the connection can break, causing the game to freeze or shut off.
Quick Facts
- Aka
- Game Axe Color
- Manufacturer
- Legend Technology Co., LTD. / Redant
- Family
- Famicom hardware clone
- Power
- Six AA batteries or AC adapter 9VDC/500mA
- Cpu
- NMOS 6502
- Display
- Passive Matrix LCD screen with backlight
- Sound
- pAPU (pseudo-Audio Processing Unit)
- Controllers
- Digital joypad; A, B, Turbo A and Turbo B buttons
- Cpu Speed
- 1.8 MHz
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Launched in 1989, the Game Axe made a comeback around 2000, being sold in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan under the Redant brand. The design of the Game Axe was horizontal and similar in appearance to Sega's Game Gear. It had a 3.5-inch (model FC-812) or 4-inch (models FC-816/FC-868) colour LCD screen, two controller ports at the base, an AC jack, and an RCA jack, allowing the Game Axe to be plugged to a television and essentially replace a Famicom.
Technical specifications include a PPU (Picture Processing Unit) for graphics and a pAPU (pseudo-Audio Processing Unit) for sound. Due to the necessity of an extra adapter, the Game Axe suffers severe stability issues if playing NES games while holding the device. Any jarring of the hand held causes NES games to lose enough contact to freeze or shut off.
Reader's Guide
The Game Axe occupies a niche as an unlicensed portable Famiclone that predates many official handheld consoles. Its ability to play both Famicom and, via adapter, NES games made it versatile, though the adapter introduced notable stability problems when the device was handheld. The inclusion of two controller ports and RCA output allowed it to function as a home console replacement, a feature uncommon in handhelds of its era. Its horizontal design and color LCD screen drew visual comparison to the Game Gear, but its internal hardware was based on the Famicom architecture. The later Redant-branded re-release around 2000 extended its availability in Asian markets. The Game Axe is often mentioned alongside other portable console variants such as the Sega Nomad and TurboExpress, though it differs in being an unlicensed clone rather than an official product. Its legacy is tied to the broader phenomenon of Famiclones and the demand for portable NES/Famicom gaming before Nintendo's own Game Boy line dominated the market.
Did You Know?
- The Game Axe was made by Taiwanese manufacturer Legend Technology Co., LTD.
- It could play both Famicom games and, with an adapter, American and European NES games.
- The device had two controller ports and an RCA jack, allowing it to replace a Famicom when connected to a TV.
- Playing NES games while holding the device caused severe stability issues due to the adapter losing contact.
More in Video Game Consoles by Generation, Part 6 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced