Nintendo Game Boy Advance Gray Console
- Processor: 16.78 MHz
- Display: LCD TFT (Active Matrix)
- Platform: Game Boy Advance
- Console Type: Handheld
- Gaming Type: LAN Gaming
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Gameboy gets its first complete facelift after 10 years, was it worth the wait?
Pros
Great launch software lineup. Nicely designed system. Great for wasting time.
Cons
Screen a little dim...BUT GET OVER IT. Great for wasting time
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Face it, sooner or later you will buy this little system. There is no denying it, and I officially validate your purchase here.
Parents be prepared you will be buying this snazzy unit for your youngins sooner or later...trust me...
Nintendo's Gameboy...
...it has almost become a pop Icon, as big as Michael Jackson was, as big as N'SYNC ever will be...
The Gameboy formula has been tried and tested, and anyone who has dared to compete with it has failed...
...miserably...
I remember hearing about the Gameboy Advance long ago; its 32-Bit RAM processor with embedded memory 8-bit Z80, its 2.9" TFT reflective screen, the 240x160 resolution it was capable of, its enhanced 40.8mm x 61.2mm screen size, the 32,768 possible colors it possessed, the 511 simultaneous colors in could do at once in character mode, the 32,768 simultaneous colors in bitmap mode, its 10 to 15 hour lifespan for only 2AA batteries, and the ability to play both old Gameboy Color, and regular Gameboy games.
There is no doubt this thing is a technical monster in terms of all 140 (grams!) that it weighs.
First thing is first though...if someone is asking for a Gameboy Color and you thought you would do some research first, I would reccomend...no make that demand...that you NOT purchase the Gameboy Color and go ahead and get a Gameboy Advance.
Pretty soon Gameboy Color will lose developing support and no more games will come out for it, and no Gameboy Color does not play Gameboy Advance games. Undoubtedly if you were to purchase a Gameboy Color for a child as soon as he saw another kid showing off his shiny new Gameboy Advance he would feel inadequate and would be quite disturbed for the majority of his or her youth (note: we would not want this).
So to the $99.95 system...
I promised myself I would not buy this, as I knew it would take countless hours of my life from me, but as soon as I walked into Electronics Boutique and saw it's swave little packaging and the sweeet list of launch titles, I know my prior promise was more than hopeless.
It will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine...and it was...
I soon ran home.
Popped in the 2AA batteries that were in fact included.
And marveled at the fact that there is in fact a new gameboy.
I purchased the Artic color, which is pretty much just a straight white face. I found it to be stylish in its simplicity. There are also Indigo (which is a blue color with a purple tint), Glacier (I had a tough time deciding between this one and the Artic, Glacier is a blue but it is see through and you can see the chips inside of it), and Fuchsia (for the girls, see through like Glacier, but pink)...
I've always liked the idea of different color systems and what not, lets you personalize.
I quickly put in a game and turned on the system with the switch on the bottom left of the unit. On the bottom right is the volume, the sound is quite an upgrade over the regular Gameboys, its very impressive. I was playing with a lamp directly over it and the screen flaired with radiant colors, without a direct light it is a little dimmer, but I have no problem with it. Remember how hard it was to see the original Black and White Gameboy screen when they were first manufactured?
Simply put if you have a problem with the screen play with a lamp over it or by one of the lighting peripherals, and stop your complaining.
The Graphics are astounding, I would put them slightly above the SuperNES. I could even see some polygons in some games, HOW IMPRESSIVE!
I like this little unit so much I have started sleeping with it like a teddy bear!
Ok maybe I'm exagerating...then again maybe I'm not.
The system is easily worth a $99 upgrade from your original Gameboy or Gameboy Color. It is sleek in its design and the games are ridiculously fun.
The unit has two shoulder buttons, and your regular A and B buttons on the right, with the directional pad on the left.
Another reason I always knew I would get one of these is that I am eagerly anticipating the release of Nintendo's new system (call me a Nintendo junkie) the GameCube. Gameboy Advance will have the ability to hook into the GameCube adding the possibility of such features as choosing your play on a GameCube football game on your Gameboy Advance so that your opponent cannot see the play you are choosing, etc., etc.
Another wonderful Gameboy Advance quirk is that you only need one cartridge to play multiplayer games. For example on Gameboy or Gameboy Color, to play a game with more than one person each gameboy connected would have to have the game. On a Gameboy Advance however only one person needs to have the game, and everybody linked in can play.
I think I have established it clearly that this is a wonderful little toy, It only looses a star for the fact that somepeople have problems seeing the screen when it is not directly lit, and that the unit is so light that it feels one good drop on concrete could be the end of it...
THE GAMES:
Two that I own so far:
This is the best thing about the Gameboy Advance. After the success of the original Gameboys every developer on the planet wants a Gameboy Advance game, leading to some wonderful launch titles, here are the BIG ONES...
Tony Hawk Pro Skater Advance
My first purchase for the system. If you love the Playstation game this captures its essence wonderfully, the 3/4 view is perfect, the graphics are almost unbelievable for a handheld, the music is great, all the elements are together, the most addicting and fun handheld game EVER.
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
My second purchase. I have always been a Castlevania junkie and the sidescrolling 2-D game is just what I've been looking for. It plays much like the critically aclaimed Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for playstation, but dare I say...it is better?
The ones that I have played and will own:
Super Mario: Advance
A perfect port of Super Mario 2 on the NES. A different type of Mario game that I personally love, the graphics are crisp and clear, and even better than the Super NEW version. This is definately a must own.
F-ZERO: Advance
This is one of my alltime favorite Super Nintendo games, and it would have been my first purchase had it not been sold out...WOW...looks and plays like the original which makes me a happy boy.
Others I have not played, but judging by reviews and what I've seen of them are definitely worth a purchase:
Rayman Advance - most stunning sprite based graphics so far on the system
Chu-Chu Rocket - addictive puzzle game, I loved the dreamcast version
Earthworm Jim - another SuperNES classic comes to GB Advance
And there are many, many more games that will be released before Christmas...
Things you may need with the system
- AC adapter so you can plug it into the wall and not worry about wasting batteries
- A light that hooks onto the unit and lights the screen anywhere
- Link cable so you can hook up with other GB Advance and play multiplayer games
Ok parents, I am validating your purchase right here, your kid will want a Gameboy Advance, and it is worth the money and they will love you forever (until the next system comes out of course)...
Heed my warnings: Go ahead and purchase one. Every kid will want it this Christmas, and like PS2 last year...come November and December it will be a tough find...
Nintendo's Gameboy...
...it has almost become a pop Icon, as big as Michael Jackson was, as big as N'SYNC ever will be...
The Gameboy formula has been tried and tested, and anyone who has dared to compete with it has failed...
...miserably...
I remember hearing about the Gameboy Advance long ago; its 32-Bit RAM processor with embedded memory 8-bit Z80, its 2.9" TFT reflective screen, the 240x160 resolution it was capable of, its enhanced 40.8mm x 61.2mm screen size, the 32,768 possible colors it possessed, the 511 simultaneous colors in could do at once in character mode, the 32,768 simultaneous colors in bitmap mode, its 10 to 15 hour lifespan for only 2AA batteries, and the ability to play both old Gameboy Color, and regular Gameboy games.
There is no doubt this thing is a technical monster in terms of all 140 (grams!) that it weighs.
First thing is first though...if someone is asking for a Gameboy Color and you thought you would do some research first, I would reccomend...no make that demand...that you NOT purchase the Gameboy Color and go ahead and get a Gameboy Advance.
Pretty soon Gameboy Color will lose developing support and no more games will come out for it, and no Gameboy Color does not play Gameboy Advance games. Undoubtedly if you were to purchase a Gameboy Color for a child as soon as he saw another kid showing off his shiny new Gameboy Advance he would feel inadequate and would be quite disturbed for the majority of his or her youth (note: we would not want this).
So to the $99.95 system...
I promised myself I would not buy this, as I knew it would take countless hours of my life from me, but as soon as I walked into Electronics Boutique and saw it's swave little packaging and the sweeet list of launch titles, I know my prior promise was more than hopeless.
It will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine...and it was...
I soon ran home.
Popped in the 2AA batteries that were in fact included.
And marveled at the fact that there is in fact a new gameboy.
I purchased the Artic color, which is pretty much just a straight white face. I found it to be stylish in its simplicity. There are also Indigo (which is a blue color with a purple tint), Glacier (I had a tough time deciding between this one and the Artic, Glacier is a blue but it is see through and you can see the chips inside of it), and Fuchsia (for the girls, see through like Glacier, but pink)...
I've always liked the idea of different color systems and what not, lets you personalize.
I quickly put in a game and turned on the system with the switch on the bottom left of the unit. On the bottom right is the volume, the sound is quite an upgrade over the regular Gameboys, its very impressive. I was playing with a lamp directly over it and the screen flaired with radiant colors, without a direct light it is a little dimmer, but I have no problem with it. Remember how hard it was to see the original Black and White Gameboy screen when they were first manufactured?
Simply put if you have a problem with the screen play with a lamp over it or by one of the lighting peripherals, and stop your complaining.
The Graphics are astounding, I would put them slightly above the SuperNES. I could even see some polygons in some games, HOW IMPRESSIVE!
I like this little unit so much I have started sleeping with it like a teddy bear!
Ok maybe I'm exagerating...then again maybe I'm not.
The system is easily worth a $99 upgrade from your original Gameboy or Gameboy Color. It is sleek in its design and the games are ridiculously fun.
The unit has two shoulder buttons, and your regular A and B buttons on the right, with the directional pad on the left.
Another reason I always knew I would get one of these is that I am eagerly anticipating the release of Nintendo's new system (call me a Nintendo junkie) the GameCube. Gameboy Advance will have the ability to hook into the GameCube adding the possibility of such features as choosing your play on a GameCube football game on your Gameboy Advance so that your opponent cannot see the play you are choosing, etc., etc.
Another wonderful Gameboy Advance quirk is that you only need one cartridge to play multiplayer games. For example on Gameboy or Gameboy Color, to play a game with more than one person each gameboy connected would have to have the game. On a Gameboy Advance however only one person needs to have the game, and everybody linked in can play.
I think I have established it clearly that this is a wonderful little toy, It only looses a star for the fact that somepeople have problems seeing the screen when it is not directly lit, and that the unit is so light that it feels one good drop on concrete could be the end of it...
THE GAMES:
Two that I own so far:
This is the best thing about the Gameboy Advance. After the success of the original Gameboys every developer on the planet wants a Gameboy Advance game, leading to some wonderful launch titles, here are the BIG ONES...
Tony Hawk Pro Skater Advance
My first purchase for the system. If you love the Playstation game this captures its essence wonderfully, the 3/4 view is perfect, the graphics are almost unbelievable for a handheld, the music is great, all the elements are together, the most addicting and fun handheld game EVER.
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
My second purchase. I have always been a Castlevania junkie and the sidescrolling 2-D game is just what I've been looking for. It plays much like the critically aclaimed Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for playstation, but dare I say...it is better?
The ones that I have played and will own:
Super Mario: Advance
A perfect port of Super Mario 2 on the NES. A different type of Mario game that I personally love, the graphics are crisp and clear, and even better than the Super NEW version. This is definately a must own.
F-ZERO: Advance
This is one of my alltime favorite Super Nintendo games, and it would have been my first purchase had it not been sold out...WOW...looks and plays like the original which makes me a happy boy.
Others I have not played, but judging by reviews and what I've seen of them are definitely worth a purchase:
Rayman Advance - most stunning sprite based graphics so far on the system
Chu-Chu Rocket - addictive puzzle game, I loved the dreamcast version
Earthworm Jim - another SuperNES classic comes to GB Advance
And there are many, many more games that will be released before Christmas...
Things you may need with the system
- AC adapter so you can plug it into the wall and not worry about wasting batteries
- A light that hooks onto the unit and lights the screen anywhere
- Link cable so you can hook up with other GB Advance and play multiplayer games
Ok parents, I am validating your purchase right here, your kid will want a Gameboy Advance, and it is worth the money and they will love you forever (until the next system comes out of course)...
Heed my warnings: Go ahead and purchase one. Every kid will want it this Christmas, and like PS2 last year...come November and December it will be a tough find...
