Defender on GBA? Opinions?

[NoahsMyBro]

So, for a while now I've had a Game Boy pocket, and have been very content just playing Tetris. Never really even thought about getting any other games for it.

A few weeks ago I found an online deal to buy a GameBoy Advance, and e-card reader bundle with one ecard for $35. (I posted about it here (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41662&highlight=gameboy).)

So I've been happily playing tetris on the GBA for a few weeks.

This weekend I started thinking about maybe finding something else to play on the system. I saw Defender at Gamestop today, and saw there is an arcade collection with Defender as well.

Have any of you played either? How are they?

[Lady Jaye]

Do. Not. Buy. Midway Arcade Greatest Hits. It's a crappy compilation. The port of Defender is hard to control, as the size of enemies is so tiny that your frustration at trying to shoot them.

As for the other version of Defender for the GBA, I can't give any advice either way, since I haven't played it.

[Ed Oscuro]

Why buy a GBA to play Defender on it anyways? Not that this isn't something we'd all LIKE to be able to do, but you gotta think about what will work well on the system! There are all the e-Reader games, in any case.

So, have you thought at all about traditional 2d scrollers? I've got a list of good ones as long as my arm, and some are for the Advance, too! LOL

[NoahsMyBro]

By 2-d scroller, do you mean things like Mario Bros, or things like Xevious?

I liked Xevious, found Mario broing. (I know, heresey, sacrilege, etc... Sue me.)

[davidbrit2]

If you can find the Gameboy Color version of Joust + Defender, get it. That is easily the best console port of Joust available, and Defender is no slouch either.

But the original GB Defender + Joust isn't too hot, and GBA Midway collection flat out sucks. I've never seen a version of Sinistar with worse control, and I've played the Game.com release too.

[Querjek]

DO NOT BUY DEFENDER FOR THE GBA.

I paid $5 for a new copy at Circuit City late last year. I felt very rippiedoff and ended up including it as a freebie in a trade.

[Ed Oscuro]

Mario GB wasn't terribly exciting, yeah. Xevious...hmm...I was thinking something more along the lines of R-Type or Gradius: Interstellar Assault. Plus the recent GBA Castlevania games are worth their weight, playtime-wise, in pure gold, Aria of Sorrow anyway.

[NE146]

If you can find the Gameboy Color version of Joust + Defender, get it. That is easily the best console port of Joust available, and Defender is no slouch either.

Agreed. Follow this wise advice if you want Defender on the GBA. And when it's stretched out it works even better :)

[JR]

since were talking about Defender, Anyone play Defender 2000 on the Jaguar? Im wondering if its worth picking up. I still love that game!

[DigitalSpace]

The GBA version of Defender got an average of 38% on GameRankings.

http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/562106.asp?q=Defender

Ouch.

[NoahsMyBro]

Regarding Defender on Jaguar >>>
I loved the classic mode. I never really bothered to learn the Plus or 2000 modes.

The classic mode is excellent.
BUT, Protector and Protector SE are each also excellent, and similar games, so any of the 3 would be a terrific addition to your Jag collection if you liked Defender.

[bargora]

Since I have excellent vision and hand-eye coordination, I have no problem iwith the miniscule graphics in the GBA Defender. :P

I do, however, take issue with the gameplay changes. All humanoids that fall to the ground are killed, not just the ones that fall from a great height. Also, the mutant waves are easier than the regular waves. And while the game is supposed to give you a new planet every five waves (right?), the GBA cart seems to keep you in mutant waves perpetually. Weird

[Ed Oscuro]

Hah, Nintendo Power gave it a 60%!

Oh my. LOL

[Melf]

Another classic like Defender that suffers control-wise is Time Pilot on the Konami Arcade Advanced collection. The D-pad just kills it.

On the GBA Player, it's another story. The analog pad is sweet and very precise.