Opnions on buying an extra Gameboy Advance

[T-1000]

...sorta.

I just bought a Nintendo DS. So far I love it. I got Sonic Rush to go with it & I'm thinking of picking up Puzzle Quest this Thursday.

Here's my dilema. I bought it because a lot of great games are coming out for it but also for it's GBA backwards compatibility. I used to have an SP & loved that thing. I used to play all the Marios, Sonic Advance, all sorts of stuff. But sadly along with a ton of other video game stuff I sold it all off years ago. When I bought my new DS in addition to Sonic Rush I picked up some cheap GBA games also. Capcom Classics Mini Mix, Metroid Fusion, & Sonic Advance 3. However apon playing them on my DS I realized that I don't like them on it. There's this border that makes the screen seem so small. My eyes actually got sore after just thirty minutes of gameplay. Maybe I'm imagining this. Maybe my old SP was just as bad. But I sure don't remember it being this small. Plus I really hate the way the cartridges stick out the bottom making an otherwise sleak system unsightly. Kinda like a huge pimple in the middle of someone's face.

I'm rambling on here. At the mall at a Game Exchange there is a nice black SP. I don't believe it's the one with the brighter backlight because I think those ony came in a lighter shade of black & this thing is pretty dark. It's $50. What I want is opinions on if I shoud pick it up for GBA games. I know I'll be browsing GBA games often as they're becoming quite cheap. Do you guys think it's a waste? Should I just tough it out & get used to how the DS plays them or would it feasible to own both? I have the money...just want some opinions other than my friends who are , & there really isn't anything wrong with this, PSP fanboys who think both the DS & GBA are crap.

ps. Sorry, I wasn't sure where to put this..modern or classic. Kinda both.

[Jimid2]

I have all three, but what I would "recommend" you do is look for the newer SP with the brighter screen (it's a marked improvement!) or even buy a Game Boy Micro: it's got a beautiful, high-res backlit screen, and it's uber-portable - it's smaller than my cell phone! - and you can tuck it into a jeans pocket no problem... I've played GBA games on my DS without any issues - I finished FFVI that way a few weeks back - but I like the extra portability I get from the Micro or GBA SP+; lets face it, the DS is much bigger than either...

[T-1000]

The micro just seems too small to be comfortable. I'd assume the screen is about as big as the DS's GBA mode. Do the brighter screened GBAs come in anything but baby blue & pink. Those are the only colors I've seen in the wild. I read once that it also comes in a black only lighter than the old ones but I have never once seen one of those.

[FantasiaWHT]

I'd get an SP2 just to avoid having the cartridge stick an inch out of the bottom... oy...

[heybtbm]

Do the brighter screened GBAs come in anything but baby blue & pink. Those are the only colors I've seen in the wild. I read once that it also comes in a black only lighter than the old ones but I have never once seen one of those.

Yes, it comes in "graphite"...

http://image.www.rakuten.co.jp/gameexp/img10573827559.jpeg

I'll take my GBA SP any day over playing GBA games on a DS. The "brighter" screen isn't a bunch of hype...it's truly a huge improvement. I took this picture about 2 years ago...

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/4845/spvssp2ix1.jpg
Older silver GBA SP vs. graphite "new" GBA SP

[suckerpunch5]

I have every model of GBA, and I really do prefer the micro. I, like you, didn't care to play GBA games on the DS, it just seemed wierd to me that one screen was blank. The micro is awesome, the screen is great, but it does take a little getting used to cause the screen is small. It is really high resolution, but small. I do enjoy it though!

So to sum up, there is nothing wrong with picking up a second GBA to compliment your DS, and the SP is a really sweet little package. Prolly, if I didn't have my micro, I'd use the SP with the newer screen, cause after using the micro and then switching back to the old SP its screen just seems kinda dingy.

[neogamer]

...sorta.

I just bought a Nintendo DS. So far I love it. I got Sonic Rush to go with it & I'm thinking of picking up Puzzle Quest this Thursday.

Here's my dilema. I bought it because a lot of great games are coming out for it but also for it's GBA backwards compatibility. I used to have an SP & loved that thing. I used to play all the Marios, Sonic Advance, all sorts of stuff. But sadly along with a ton of other video game stuff I sold it all off years ago. When I bought my new DS in addition to Sonic Rush I picked up some cheap GBA games also. Capcom Classics Mini Mix, Metroid Fusion, & Sonic Advance 3. However apon playing them on my DS I realized that I don't like them on it. There's this border that makes the screen seem so small. My eyes actually got sore after just thirty minutes of gameplay. Maybe I'm imagining this. Maybe my old SP was just as bad. But I sure don't remember it being this small. Plus I really hate the way the cartridges stick out the bottom making an otherwise sleak system unsightly. Kinda like a huge pimple in the middle of someone's face.

I'm rambling on here. At the mall at a Game Exchange there is a nice black SP. I don't believe it's the one with the brighter backlight because I think those ony came in a lighter shade of black & this thing is pretty dark. It's $50. What I want is opinions on if I shoud pick it up for GBA games. I know I'll be browsing GBA games often as they're becoming quite cheap. Do you guys think it's a waste? Should I just tough it out & get used to how the DS plays them or would it feasible to own both? I have the money...just want some opinions other than my friends who are , & there really isn't anything wrong with this, PSP fanboys who think both the DS & GBA are crap.

ps. Sorry, I wasn't sure where to put this..modern or classic. Kinda both.

Is $50 really that much to you? Just buy it.

[Pantechnicon]

I read once that it also comes in a black only lighter than the old ones but I have never once seen one of those.

It's true. This is the model I've got. Model II GBA SP, which now functions as my designated "legacy" Gameboy. Yes, GB and GBC carts jut out the bottom when inserted, but I can live with it for the sake of the superior backlighting compared to the Model I SP, let alone the nonexistent backlighting of previous Gameboy models.

I agree with that "pimple" analogy of GBA carts on the DS lite. Oddly enough, GB/GBC carts sticking out of the bottom of an SP doesn't bother me as much as this does.

Between myself and my kids, we've got every bit of Nintendo portable hardware except the Micro. Therefore, based on extensive personal testing, my recommended hardware combination is a Model I DS and a Model II SP.

[Vectorman0]

Moved to Modern Gaming. GBA is something like 9 months newer than PS2.

[VACRMH]

I'm a fan of the SP2 as well, that bright screen always looks so nice.

Have you ever considered using the gameboy player for the Gamecube?

[Family Computer]

why do you prefer a model 1 DS over a model 2?

Anyway I say...

GB Pocket Light for B/W GB

GB SP2 for GBA/GBC

DS Lite for DS/GBA (when you only carry one)

Get those 3 and you are set plus a Super Game Boy 2 for Super Famicom & GB Player for GC

it kind of pisses me off the DS doesn't support B/W or GBC games. I loved how Nintendo kept keeping the systems fully backward compatible.

[c0ldb33r]

Definately pick up a GBA.

I can't stand playing GBA games on either my DS or DS Lite. It's not the pimple aspect that bothers me but rather the extra screen being blank. I give my vote to the micro, unless you want to be able to play GB/GBC games.

Of the more recent nintendo portables, I've got a GBA, GBA SP, GB Micro, DS and DS Lite and I still want a GBA SP II. The SPII screen is pretty sweet, and after using GB Micro, going back to GBA SP for my GB/GBC games can be pretty rough ;)

[Jimid2]

...Yes, GB and GBC carts jut out the bottom when inserted, but I can live with it for the sake of the superior backlighting compared to the Model I SP, let alone the nonexistent backlighting of previous Gameboy models.

...{snip}...

Between myself and my kids, we've got every bit of Nintendo portable hardware except the Micro...
Well then, if you've got one, why don't you use your Game Boy Light for your Game Boy carts? :)
http://www.vidgame.net/NINTENDO/Nintendo/gb_light/gbl_front.jpg (http://www.vidgame.net/NINTENDO/gb_light.htm)
They were a Japan-only release, and they were made for less than a year, but if you can track one down I highly recommend it for playing all your original Game Boy carts. They're almost exactly the same size as a Game Boy Color, with a bulge in the back for batteries. I've had mine a while and I love it for playing any of the old black & white games....

[Trebuken]

I'm going to disagree with everyone...this might not be for you but I'd get a Gamecube and the GBA Player. I think it's the best way to play GBA games...

Not sure if this works with the Gamecube battery pack and LCD screen, but is it does it could be portable too...

[Promophile]

does the GBA player work with Original GB / GBC games?

[Kitsune Sniper]

does the GBA player work with Original GB / GBC games?

Yes, it does.

[c0ldb33r]

Well then, if you've got one, why don't you use your Game Boy Light for your Game Boy carts? :)
For the price of a GB Light you could get an SP 2. Although the GB Light is neat, it's nothing compared to an SP2.

[Jimid2]

For the price of a GB Light you could get an SP 2. Although the GB Light is neat, it's nothing compared to an SP2.
While it's true that it's not cheap, I wouldn't say it's "nothing" - if you like the "old school" hardware, it's a neat addition to your handheld arsenal... :)

But from a purely practical perspective, you're absolutely right - the GBA SP+ is the superior system.

Of course, compatibility with the old GB/GBC library is another strike against the Game Boy Micro, as it doesn't play those old carts....

[JerseyDevil65]

[QUOTE=Trebuken;1240290]I'm going to disagree with everyone...this might not be for you but I'd get a Gamecube and the GBA Player. I think it's the best way to play GBA games...

[QUOTE]
I have to agree. I am playing Minish Cap on the GB Player and its definitely better than playing on a tiny screen.

[c0ldb33r]

I have to agree. I am playing Minish Cap on the GB Player and its definitely better than playing on a tiny screen.
I really like my GB Player. I've used it to beat a few RPGs (tiny text on a tiny screen is too difficult for my eyes). However, I've never liked using the analog stick on my wavebird for control. Also, I find the D-pad on the wavebird useless :(

But, if I had one of those old Hori gamecube gamepads, I'd use nothing but the GB Player :D

[T-1000]

Thanks everyone for your opinions. I think I'll just wait it out until I find one of those bright-screened SPs.

I don't care much for the Micro because of th open-faced design. One of the reasons I sold my PSP is I couldn't ram it into my pocket for fear of it's screen being messed.

The GB Payer is cool & all but I want a Gameboy for portability & I don't actually own a Gamecube. I'm going to enventually buy a Wii so then a Gamecube would be useless to me.

I'll check back at the mall just to make sure that's not a SP2. If it is it's one hell of a deal!