Problem gameboy games on Advance?

[teh_L0ki]

According to the nintendo website it reads:

"A very small number of older games may not function properly on the Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, or Game Boy Advance SP. Common symptoms include scrambled images, missing graphics, or sound problems. "

http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/gameboy/compatibilitychart.jsp

However it doesn't list any indicator of what games would have issues. I was wondering if anybody here knew of any specific games with issues or of a list of all games with problems. Thanks in advance.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

Wow, I didn't know about this. I play a lot of old Gameboy games on the GBA and if there were problems I probably would have attributed them to the original games being buggy.

[burn_654]

the only one I can think of is the terrible, terrible Tarzan game for gbc. It has a loud audio whine on gba but not gbc.

I only have it because when I bought Zelda dx the seller threw it in as packing material/no givebacks LOL

[teh_L0ki]

I would hate to have to go back to using a gameboy / gbc for any games because I love the backlight. Gameboy player is solid too.

[Loremaster]

I know that Donkey Kong Land 1-3 all have graphical glitches on GBC, namely some of the graphics looking shredded. It does not impair gameplay though, other than looking fugly.

[Edmond Dantes]

I would hate to have to go back to using a gameboy / gbc for any games because I love the backlight. Gameboy player is solid too.

There was a backlit version of the Gameboy Pocket...

... in Japan.

I've never had any problems with GB games on the GBA, except that I really hate the GBA's button placement (I have an original GBA, not the SP).

[megasdkirby]

Wisdom Tree games wont work at all unless something is done to "activate" the pins inside the GBP and GBA. The systems will think it's a GBA game when it's not, all due to some notches on the cart.

[Edmond Dantes]

Wisdom Tree made Gameboy games?

[Cauterize]

Road Rash is one of the few games which refuses to work on the Advance. IIRC it only manages to load a bit of the introduction before giving up.

And as mentioned earlier, Tarzan is another one.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Rampart for Gameboy Color has MASSIVE audio issues on the GBA/SP. The gameplay is fine but there's non-stop static from the audio.

Which sucks because it's a really good version of Rampart.

[Darko]

Wisdom Tree made Gameboy games?

Indeed...unfortunately.

[teh_L0ki]

I guess what I plan to do is just keep trying the older games on the sp and unless I notice a problem I won't bother purchasing another system. If I get some problems though I'll pick up a gameboy color or a classic gameboy.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

the only GB/GBC game I have that doesn't work on the GBA is Kirby Tilt n' Tumble, but only because on all models except for the AGB-001 original, the cartridge slot is upsidedown.

[Sysop]

the only GB/GBC game I have that doesn't work on the GBA is Kirby Tilt n' Tumble, but only because on all models except for the AGB-001 original, the cartridge slot is upsidedown.
Just run it on the Nintendo Gamecube and have fun.

[Enigmus]

Just run it on the Nintendo Gamecube and have fun.

Same goes for the Game Boy Camera (the noise interference on the camera's video is inane.)

[j_factor]

The GBC game Pocket Music, which was released after the GBA was around, works only on a GBC. Putting it in a GBA or GB Player gives you a message that says it's designed for Game Boy Color only.

[Leo_A]

I disagree on Kirby Tilt n' Tumble being incompatible on the GBA.

It plays just fine on the initial model of the Game Boy Advance and loads just fine on the SP models, although with the change in location of the cartridge port, no one would actually want to play it because the controls are reversed.

So it seems to me like it deserves a special notation to describe it's special situation in a compatibility list since it's fully playable on one model of the GBA, and technically, it still loads in the other and runs, although it's unplayable due to the orientation of the cartridge slot.

It doesn't belong in the same category as something where it's code doesn't run correctly on the GBA, or doesn't run at all. In this game's case, the software runs just fine and it's a physical issue with the SP that causes the issue.

[teh_L0ki]

Just run it on the Nintendo Gamecube and have fun.

What? You would have to tilt your gamecube all over the place unless we are talking about a modded gamecube or some such.


I disagree on Kirby Tilt n' Tumble being incompatible on the GBA.

It plays just fine on the initial model of the Game Boy Advance and loads just fine on the SP models, although with the change in location of the cartridge port, no one would actually want to play it because the controls are reversed.

So it seems to me like it deserves a special notation to describe it's special situation in a compatibility list since it's fully playable on one model of the GBA, and technically, it still loads in the other and runs, although it's unplayable due to the orientation of the cartridge slot.

It doesn't belong in the same category as something where it's code doesn't run correctly on the GBA, or doesn't run at all. In this game's case, the software runs just fine and it's a physical issue with the SP that causes the issue.

No offense, but Satoshi_Matrix already basically explained how it only runs on the original gameboy advance. Although I do agree with you that this isn't a case of incompatible code.

[Leo_A]

No offense taken, I agree that he explained it pretty well and almost didn't bother to reply since there wasn't much need for further explanation.

But I think it was worth elaborating, just in case anyone is considering creating a compatibility list, that the game does in fact play on the SP (And the Game Boy Player, for that matter). So despite the physical orientation of the cartridge slot, Nintendo hasn't somehow locked the game out and the software will operate just fine on the SP and GBP (Although no one would actually want to play it for obvious reasons).

They've managed to disable certain things over the years, like the video cartridges when played on the GBP and some other things, so it seemed worthwhile to clarify a bit further that the software does run. It deserves a special notation on its incompatibility for anyone that may decide to try to create a database of problem games, since there's no issues with the code itself.

[squirrel_king]

Sachen games are usually incompatible with anything newer than whatever was around when it was released. I have one of their mono 4 in 1s from the mid 90s which doesnt work on a GBC or up. And Beast Fighter, which is also a mono game - even though it was released in 2000 - does work on a GBC, but not a GBA.. unless you use a Game Genie, then it works maybe 1 out of 10 times. Sachen is weird.

(oh and the music in the original mono Pac-Man doesnt play properly on my GBC, but not a GBA. not sure what that's about. apparently that problem was fixed on later model GBCs though)

[teh_L0ki]

I would be interested in creating and maintaining a list, but I'm not sure where I would be able to cull enough data to make a worthwhile list. Also I wouldn't include unlicensed carts because you can't really expect them to be compatible.

[SparTonberry]

I have heard there's an obscure Japanese RPG called Legend of Xerd that doesn't work on a GBC.
Though the only source I've heard that is some emulator documentation stating the game is supposed to crash under forced-GBC mode.

[SparTonberry]

I think there's another issue I just remembered: games that exploited the original GB screen's low refresh rate to create fake transparency effects.
I know Link's Awakening (original) has this issue (unsure of the DX version). In an emulator, you'll individual letters flickering during the credits scene. On my GBA SP, the whole text flickers uniformly.
From an emulator, I can guess Taz-Mania (NA-exclusive) is doing this with the tide in the first level.
I've heard there's another Japanese shmup, but I forget the name.

[Jorpho]

What is this, no one's mentioned Bionic Commando: Elite Forces yet? It is famously capable of hanging when played on a GBA.
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9748

There was also a blurb in Nintendo Power long, long ago regarding the sound effects in some of the old GB arcade classics (such as Galaxian). Apparently they would actually glitch on a Game Boy Pocket, but not the original GB. (Recall that the GBP used a very slightly different Z80 processor.)

[gaff]

I have a rather extensive collection of game boy games, and have never had any incompatibility issues on the advance. I do however appreciate the heads up though, and think it would be a great idea to compile a list of incompatible games. This would certainly be helpful to a lot of people I think. I am looking to buy a new gaming system, anyone have any suggestions? Would hhgregg (http://ir.hhgregg.com/) be a good place to look?

[Brianvgplayer]

There was also a blurb in Nintendo Power long, long ago regarding the sound effects in some of the old GB arcade classics (such as Galaxian). Apparently they would actually glitch on a Game Boy Pocket, but not the original GB. (Recall that the GBP used a very slightly different Z80 processor.)

I'm not sure about the GBP, but Galaga/Galaxian and Pac-Man b/w (not the color one) had sound issues on early GBCs. The issue was fixed on later models, though. I have two GBCs. On the earlier purple one, I had issues with both carts, but on the later green one I had no sound issues.

Edit: Tried the b/w Pac-Man and Galaga/Galaxian on the GBP and had no issues with sound.

[Callin]

What is this, no one's mentioned Bionic Commando: Elite Forces yet? It is famously capable of hanging when played on a GBA.
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9748
Interesting. Any idea why it only freezes on a GBA?

(I've been studying how the original GB operates, and the idea that some code can malfunction only on a GBA intrigues me.)

[BetaWolf47]

Isn't Bionic Commando: Elite Forces already pretty glitchy in itself though?

[Jorpho]

(I've been studying how the original GB operates, and the idea that some code can malfunction only on a GBA intrigues me.)Elite Forces is the GBC-only game, not to be confused with the earlier B&W GB game.

And I'm kind of interested about the technical details too, but I can't quite recall reading about the specifics. Maybe it had something to do with the cart's save RAM?

EDIT: http://www.gamefaqs.com/gbc/196763-bionic-commando-elite-forces/faqs/30432 says that the glitch can also occur on a GBC, and at http://www.romhacking.net/forum/index.php?topic=10631.0 there's someone who can't even get the game to start on an AGS-101. Maybe it was just defective hardware rather than some kind of GBA incompatibility.

[goldenband]

Old thread, but I can say that several Game Boy games have weird audio issues on a Game Boy Advance, including:

Ren & Stimpy: Veediots!
Top Rank Tennis

What's the other licensed monochrome GB game that simply doesn't work (i.e. besides Road Rash)?

[Tanooki]

Tarzan for GBC isn't happy with the GBA either, don't remember the specifics as I haven't owned it in like a decade.

[goldenband]

Tarzan for GBC isn't happy with the GBA either, don't remember the specifics as I haven't owned it in like a decade.

It's a sound problem. I just found an interesting list of problem games here (http://spong.com/article/1257/Nintendo-reveals-the-first-wave-of-GBA-Incompatible-Game-Boy-Games):

Densha de Go
Densha de Go 2
Hamster Paradise 3
Hamster Paradise 2
Disney's Tarzan
Sakura Taisen GB
Koro Koro Kirby
Doreamon - Study Fighter 99 Games
Japanese Chess
Battle Athletic
Game of Go
World Soccer GB2
Tokimeki Memorial Pocket: Chapter of Culture
Tokimeki Memorial Pocket: Chapter of Sports

And they note:

"The gameplay on the games is unaffected and there have been no graphical faults found. The problem lies in sound compatibility. The GBA’s new sound processor just will not run some of these games and no one knows why."

However I can vouch for the incompleteness of that list, as Veediots and Top Rank Tennis definitely have sound issues, and folks have already mentioned the audio issue in Rampart and the crashing problem with Road Rash.

[Tanooki]

I remember that list. The good of it though it appears that much of what failed on the GBA somewhat if not completely stayed in Japan and those that didn't, enough of it wasn't high enough profile for most to care.

[SparTonberry]

Koro Koro Kirby? Isn't that the tilt game?
I suppose it's not too surprising if something might mess up (especially with GBA SP, with the cart facing the opposite direction. And thus why the GBA tilt games needed a menu for the user to tell it which system they were playing on)

[Tanooki]

Yes that's Tilt n Tumble, and the reason it fails is that the sensor is too dumb to realize it's upsidedown when it's in various GBA systems so it renders the game useless.

[MetalFRO]

Elite Forces is the GBC-only game, not to be confused with the earlier B&W GB game.

And I'm kind of interested about the technical details too, but I can't quite recall reading about the specifics. Maybe it had something to do with the cart's save RAM?

EDIT: http://www.gamefaqs.com/gbc/196763-bionic-commando-elite-forces/faqs/30432 says that the glitch can also occur on a GBC, and at http://www.romhacking.net/forum/index.php?topic=10631.0 there's someone who can't even get the game to start on an AGS-101. Maybe it was just defective hardware rather than some kind of GBA incompatibility.

I bought Elite Forces as a new release, but never got very far in it before getting distracted by other games. I'll be interested to go back and see if I can uncover that glitch when I do play through it.


Old thread, but I can say that several Game Boy games have weird audio issues on a Game Boy Advance, including:

Ren & Stimpy: Veediots!
Top Rank Tennis

What's the other licensed monochrome GB game that simply doesn't work (i.e. besides Road Rash)?

I just picked up Veediots a week or so ago, but it wouldn't boot up in my GBA SP, presumably because the pins are corroded and need to be cleaned, which is the case with about half of the GB games I buy these days. I'll have to open that up and give it a good cleaning and try it out. I don't have an original, non-backlit GBA, but I have an original Game Boy, GB Pocket, the atomic purple GBC, and the GBA SP, so I'll be able to test it out and see what differences there are.

I love discussions like this :)

[Rickstilwell1]

Yes that's Tilt n Tumble, and the reason it fails is that the sensor is too dumb to realize it's upsidedown when it's in various GBA systems so it renders the game useless.

Not quite useless though. You can set the game back upright in the SP by plugging it into a Gameshark.

[davidbrit2]

Burai Fighter (the original monochrome one) doesn't work right on the GBA, and possibly the GBC. You die almost instantly as soon as the first boss appears.

Also, Turrican has a really minor issue that doesn't affect gameplay at all. Unless you play it on an original GB or GBP, you'll miss out on an amusing little startup animation involving the Nintendo logo.

[SparTonberry]

I thought I read someone say Wisdom Tree carts are incompatible. (supposedly used some trick to get around the Nintendo TM logo thing on an original Game Boy. Maybe the legality of the Genesis TMSS stuff hadn't been decided yet, as it was pretty much the same idea?)

[Tanooki]

So what's the animation on Turrican that only works on the pre-GBA Gameboy systems? I know where to pick that game up locally for I think $10 (or less.) I never did get into it back in the day, but I never was exposed to it well, just went in on the PC version or something blind and got shot to hell totally lost in the open world having no idea what was going on.

[davidbrit2]

Turrican is supposed to drop down and land on the Nintendo logo, then I think the whole thing slowly scrolls off screen. Whatever trick it was doing to keep the Nintendo logo in the video memory apparently doesn't work on the GBC or GBA, so he just drops down from the top of the blank screen right off the bottom. Then it goes to the title screen like usual.

Great game, too. It's a lot less confusing than it seems at first, kind of like Sonic games. There isn't nearly as much open world exploration as, say, Metroid. It's got a decent number of stages, though.

Fun fact: Universal Soldier is actually Turrican II with the movie license pasted on.

[Tanooki]

True enough, shame they did hack it into Universal Soldier.

Hardcore 101 has a whole writeup of everything Turrican. Just like how they point out that Super Turrican 1 and 2 are their own thing too and not just a 'Super version' of the original. Also the NES release in PAL land is a really interesting hybrid 100% made only by Manfred Trenz which leads to a very short credits screen.

I take your fun fact, and raise you another.
http://www.pekaro.de/t2002.html

T2002 is a Windows and Game Boy Advance remake of the famous C64/Amiga game Turrican featuring original graphic, sound and music by courtesy of original producer Factor5 and composer Chris Hülsbeck. The first level resembles the original. After that we provide completely new levels. Can you beat our infamous alien level?


Try that out. :)

[goldenband]

Burai Fighter (the original monochrome one) doesn't work right on the GBA, and possibly the GBC. You die almost instantly as soon as the first boss appears.

Aha, that's great information. I'll have to try that out with my EverDrive GB.


I thought I read someone say Wisdom Tree carts are incompatible. (supposedly used some trick to get around the Nintendo TM logo thing on an original Game Boy. Maybe the legality of the Genesis TMSS stuff hadn't been decided yet, as it was pretty much the same idea?)

I thought post #7 said it was a physical incompatibility (not triggering the GB mode)?

[Tanooki]

That's possible, the carts are slightly different shaped on a legit one, and if the form Wisdom Tree used wouldn't account for that then yeah the GBa could be confused and use the wrong boot up.

[SparTonberry]

That's certain a possibility, which wouldn't be unusual for Nintendo.
I remember when I first tried the GC link cable with the GBA, it was with an unofficial cable on an SP. Couldn't fit the cable in the port without it pushing either the L or R buttons (obviously causing incorrect input in the GC game). It's like they made it to EXACTLY fit the official cable! ;)

[MetalFRO]

In my play through to write my review of the game, I've discovered that Pit-Fighter has some pretty terrible sound issues when playing on a GBA or GB Player. When any sound effect plays, there's a chance you'll get a loud, high-pitched "gym whistle" sound that makes it sound like you never left gym class. It's pretty awful. The weird thing is, there are times when this will drop out, and you'll actually get the sound effects and voice samples as they're supposed to sound, but it doesn't last long, and you'll likely be hearing those sounds again. The game works fine in the original DMG, GB Pocket, GBC, and the Super Game Boy, so it appears to only affect the GBA line. I'll be making a video to put up on my YouTube channel soon, demonstrating this phenomenon, specifically with regard to Pit-Fighter.

[goldenband]

In my play through to write my review of the game, I've discovered that Pit-Fighter has some pretty terrible sound issues when playing on a GBA or GB Player. When any sound effect plays, there's a chance you'll get a loud, high-pitched "gym whistle" sound that makes it sound like you never left gym class. It's pretty awful. The weird thing is, there are times when this will drop out, and you'll actually get the sound effects and voice samples as they're supposed to sound, but it doesn't last long, and you'll likely be hearing those sounds again. The game works fine in the original DMG, GB Pocket, GBC, and the Super Game Boy, so it appears to only affect the GBA line. I'll be making a video to put up on my YouTube channel soon, demonstrating this phenomenon, specifically with regard to Pit-Fighter.

The exact same thing happens in Ren & Stimpy: Veediots! and Top Rank Tennis. It might be significant that Pit-Fighter and Veediots! are both THQ games.

[MetalFRO]

The exact same thing happens in Ren & Stimpy: Veediots! and Top Rank Tennis. It might be significant that Pit-Fighter and Veediots! are both THQ games.

One assumes, then, they were using a common sound font or sound library with some of their games, and that particular set of sounds or sound generation method is simply not 100% compatible with the later GBA hardware. Pretty interesting stuff!

[Tanooki]

Tarzan GBC only cart has a problem with audio on GBA, just I don't remember what it is as I haven't owned a copy in like 10 years.