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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Is Gameboy Advance right for you?
Pros
Improved graphics and sound.
Cons
Screen can be difficult to see when not in the best lighting conditions.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Definitely improved over Gameboy Color, but check out the games available before running out and buying it.
With all the hype out there about the Gameboy Advance, my kids had the "I have to have it" attitude even though they had just finally gotten Gameboy Color for Christmas, thanks to their grandparents. Seeing the price of the console, we decided that we would rent it a few times to try it out to make sure it's worth the price. Is it? Well, we've rented it from Blockbuster about 3 times now, having it for 5 days each time and I'm still not really sure yet.
The unit itself is long instead of tall, like Gameboy Color, although I'm no game guru or anything like that, I think that having it wider instead of taller makes it easier for older kids and adults to play it for longer periods of time without having their hands cramp up. I know when I would play with the Gameboy Color, my hands would start to cramp up and get stiff after a while, even though my kids had no complaints or problems with this. With the Gameboy Advance my hands wouldn't get stiff or cramp as easily after a period of time, but if I played it long enough it is inevitable.
The Screen
This is one of the biggest things boasted about when it was first announced. Yes, because of the setup of the unit, the screen is bigger than in the original Gameboy Color, but it doesn't seem that much bigger, I guess the way they were talking, I was expecting a screen twice the size.
This is also where I have one of my complaints about the Gameboy Advance. The screen can be very difficult to see unless you are in very good lighting. I had to adjust where and how I was sitting to be able to see the screen well enough to play. I have had this problem with the Gameboy Color also, but it seems worse with the Gameboy Advance, a worm light is definitely recommended.
Graphics
I do have to admit that they did improve the graphics, the characters and scenery in the games don't appear to be drawn on the screen and the colors seem to stand out more on the new games. A definite improvement in this department.
Sound
This is another area that they seemed to greatly improve. No more pings and monotone sounds, granted you aren't going to have the same sound as your stereo system, but at least it sounds like music now.
Controls
The controls are setup just like the Gameboy Color with the addition of the R and L buttons on top of the unit, just like the controllers for the Nintendo 64. All the buttons are within easy reach when holding the game and there is no need to adjust the way you hold the unit in order to use the buttons. The major buttons that you will use are the A and B buttons, located to the right of the screen and the control pad, which is located to the left of the screen. The start and select buttons are located on the bottom left, under the control pad and then you have the L and R buttons on the top of the unit. So far, we haven't had any problems with the buttons sticking or not responding to the slightest push.
Battery Life
This is another area I am disappointed in. Although the many reviews I've read claim longer battery life, I don't find this to be true. It takes 2 AA batteries, just like the Gameboy Color, I find that when the kids play for long periods of time throughout the day, I am replacing the batteries the next day, compared to every other day with the Gameboy Color. I guess it is understandable with the improvement in the game, it's just frustrating to replace the batteries that much. We use an adapter with the Gameboy Color at home, just so we don't go through tons of batteries for the game and I would definitely recommend getting one for the Gameboy Advance.
Games
There are already quite a few games available, but we have only tried a few, among the favorites of the kids were Bomberman Tournament and Konami Krazy Racers, but there are many more available. The game cartridges are a lot smaller, about half the size of the Gameboy Color games, they slide in the back of the unit just like they do in Gameboy Color. My kids like the fact that they can play the Gameboy Color games on the Gameboy Advance. Those games don't fit the screen size since it was made larger, but you can expand it to full screen just by pushing the L button, but it will distort the picture by stretching it.
Is it worth the cost?
With the cost at about $100, only the consumer themselves will be able to tell if it's right for them. The unit itself is good, but I would suggest you take a look at the games available before running out and buying it. Right now, there aren't a lot of games that interest my kids, only one or two, so I don't think it's worth the cost of buying it yet. Granted you can play the Gameboy Color games on it, but if I'm going to get this for the kids, I want them to be interested in the new games available and not just play their old games on it.
Overall
Gameboy Advance is definitely better in sound and graphics, it's hard to say which one they improved on the most. If you liked the Gameboy Color, you will probably love the Gameboy Advance. The only suggestion I have is to take a look at the games available before running out and buying it. If there are not a lot of games that interest you, I would wait until more games are made available, no need to spend $100 on something for one or two games. As of right now, the kids like the Gameboy Advance, and we will probably end up buying it once more games become available that interest them, but for now, they are content with renting it everyone once in while.
The unit itself is long instead of tall, like Gameboy Color, although I'm no game guru or anything like that, I think that having it wider instead of taller makes it easier for older kids and adults to play it for longer periods of time without having their hands cramp up. I know when I would play with the Gameboy Color, my hands would start to cramp up and get stiff after a while, even though my kids had no complaints or problems with this. With the Gameboy Advance my hands wouldn't get stiff or cramp as easily after a period of time, but if I played it long enough it is inevitable.
The Screen
This is one of the biggest things boasted about when it was first announced. Yes, because of the setup of the unit, the screen is bigger than in the original Gameboy Color, but it doesn't seem that much bigger, I guess the way they were talking, I was expecting a screen twice the size.
This is also where I have one of my complaints about the Gameboy Advance. The screen can be very difficult to see unless you are in very good lighting. I had to adjust where and how I was sitting to be able to see the screen well enough to play. I have had this problem with the Gameboy Color also, but it seems worse with the Gameboy Advance, a worm light is definitely recommended.
Graphics
I do have to admit that they did improve the graphics, the characters and scenery in the games don't appear to be drawn on the screen and the colors seem to stand out more on the new games. A definite improvement in this department.
Sound
This is another area that they seemed to greatly improve. No more pings and monotone sounds, granted you aren't going to have the same sound as your stereo system, but at least it sounds like music now.
Controls
The controls are setup just like the Gameboy Color with the addition of the R and L buttons on top of the unit, just like the controllers for the Nintendo 64. All the buttons are within easy reach when holding the game and there is no need to adjust the way you hold the unit in order to use the buttons. The major buttons that you will use are the A and B buttons, located to the right of the screen and the control pad, which is located to the left of the screen. The start and select buttons are located on the bottom left, under the control pad and then you have the L and R buttons on the top of the unit. So far, we haven't had any problems with the buttons sticking or not responding to the slightest push.
Battery Life
This is another area I am disappointed in. Although the many reviews I've read claim longer battery life, I don't find this to be true. It takes 2 AA batteries, just like the Gameboy Color, I find that when the kids play for long periods of time throughout the day, I am replacing the batteries the next day, compared to every other day with the Gameboy Color. I guess it is understandable with the improvement in the game, it's just frustrating to replace the batteries that much. We use an adapter with the Gameboy Color at home, just so we don't go through tons of batteries for the game and I would definitely recommend getting one for the Gameboy Advance.
Games
There are already quite a few games available, but we have only tried a few, among the favorites of the kids were Bomberman Tournament and Konami Krazy Racers, but there are many more available. The game cartridges are a lot smaller, about half the size of the Gameboy Color games, they slide in the back of the unit just like they do in Gameboy Color. My kids like the fact that they can play the Gameboy Color games on the Gameboy Advance. Those games don't fit the screen size since it was made larger, but you can expand it to full screen just by pushing the L button, but it will distort the picture by stretching it.
Is it worth the cost?
With the cost at about $100, only the consumer themselves will be able to tell if it's right for them. The unit itself is good, but I would suggest you take a look at the games available before running out and buying it. Right now, there aren't a lot of games that interest my kids, only one or two, so I don't think it's worth the cost of buying it yet. Granted you can play the Gameboy Color games on it, but if I'm going to get this for the kids, I want them to be interested in the new games available and not just play their old games on it.
Overall
Gameboy Advance is definitely better in sound and graphics, it's hard to say which one they improved on the most. If you liked the Gameboy Color, you will probably love the Gameboy Advance. The only suggestion I have is to take a look at the games available before running out and buying it. If there are not a lot of games that interest you, I would wait until more games are made available, no need to spend $100 on something for one or two games. As of right now, the kids like the Gameboy Advance, and we will probably end up buying it once more games become available that interest them, but for now, they are content with renting it everyone once in while.
