HappyChick (Free)
Named after its developer, Happy Chick contains classic titles from every gaming platform. Players will have access to popular games like Super Mario and all its variations. Installation of the app itself is quick and easy, but the actual games will take some effort.
For the Android version, there’s a compatible controller. Other OS will need to configure their own buttons. You can back up games or save your progress using their Cloud service. There’s an extra step for that privilege. Most of the titles are free, but some of them you’d have to buy.
Happy Chick has games from all kinds of sources, including the Nintendo, PSP, PS, and Xbox. Unlike other emulators that save your progress on the hard drive, this app keeps it in the cloud space. You can enjoy all your favourite titles without worrying about storage. Keep in mind that the actual playable files will stay on your SD card.
Platforms integration
Most of the available games are free, and you can play them online with other players. But, since the main server seems to be in China somewhere, multiplayer is a rocky road. The forums aren’t accessible, either, if you’re not within the region.
Downloading games is a process
You do have the option of getting unlimited downloads. You will first need to have a Twitter account. Then, find the GameSir homepage and follow it. GameSir is a partner of Happy Chick and didn’t take part in the development of the app. The process is fast, and you can have more than one download at a time.
While easy to navigate, Happy Chick has one of the smallest UI seen on any app. You’ll have to squint to read all the tiny text. Message input is clunky and sometimes freezes out of nowhere. Not the message, but the entire application.
Great social aspect
Profile editing is an elaborate task. You can upload photos, gain rankings, and receive whispers from people. Add friends and share games or high scores with them. This social media aspect seems to be growing as users are still seeing regular updates. The homepage will keep you on top of new features and changes.
Fast installation
Happy Chick promises high performance, quality graphics, and variety. In those aspects, it does deliver. Any game will download in minutes despite its size. They will need separate installation setups as opposed to what the developer claims. Each of them comes with special access requests. Some of these are as invasive as changing the settings on your SD card.
The emulator itself doesn’t use up that much resources. When you’re running downloaded games, it’s a different story. Since they’re individual apps, they will perform on their own terms. Make sure you force stop one game before starting another.
