Is the GBA closest to the 3DO, 32x, or Jaguar?

[fishsandwich]

I just bought a GBA for my father, and I am amazed by this little thing's capabilities (yes, I am three years behind the times and I have not yet played the PSP. I don't get out much.)

http://pocketmedia.ign.com/pocket/image/nfsunderground_111903_001.jpg


I'd always assumed the GBA was just a SNES with a little more processing power, but I see I was wrong. This thing does 3-D WAY better than the SNES ever could, regardless of how many FX chips you could cram into a SNES cart.

I mean, there's no way that a SNES could do Need for Speed Underground, or a respectable version of Duke Nukem, or Sega Rally, or Driver 2, or even that shit Star Wars Falcon game.

What do you gamers with experience with a lot of consoles think that the GBA most closely resembles in terms of power? The 3DO? The Jaguar? The 32x? Is it a SNES with a little Saturn thrown in?

The 32x is a hard call... very few games utilized the hardware, but I don't see the GBA doing Virtua Fighter or DarXide.

The Saturn and PSX have dedicated 3-D chips (unlike the GBA) and both can beat the crap out of the GBA when it comes to pushing polygons.


http://pocketmedia.ign.com/pocket/image/dukenukem_051702_3.jpg

http://pocketmedia.ign.com/pocket/image/crazytaxi_013103_8.jpg

http://pocketmedia.ign.com/media/previews/image/iridionGBA/Iridion_2.jpg

http://pocketmedia.ign.com/pocket/image/driver2_090902_8.jpg

http://pocketmedia.ign.com/pocket/image/nightfire_020603_3.jpg

http://pocketmedia.ign.com/pocket/image/segarally_020703_8.jpg

http://pocketmedia.ign.com/pocket/image/nightfire_020603_4.jpg

http://pocketmedia.ign.com/pocket/image/flightofthefalcon_082803_006.jpg

http://pocketmedia.ign.com/pocket/image/mortalkombattournamentedition_pree3_2.jpg



I say the Jaguar. That's it... the GBA is a cute little portable Jaguar with better games.

Hm!

:D

[CreamSoda]

Whoa, I am impressed(seriously), mind you I haven't played my GBA in along time. I said I wouldn't/I told myself not to, but I have jumped on the PSP bandwagon and I'm loving it! :)

Those 3D shots are very nice for the GBA, I think it is closest to SNES... Because, if the SNES was alive in this day and age I think games like this could be made for it(or better?) with the technology and programmers skill of today. I think the 3DO and Jaguar are abit above the GBA's league though.

Anyway, seeing those has made me want to get some GBA games again(always did like seeing 3D on it like Mario Kart)

[davidbrit2]

The GBA can pull off some really impressive 3D in the hands of skilled developers. Need For Speed Underground 2 was REALLY freaking good - it's easily the best racing game I've played on the system. I'd say it damn near approaches early PS1 quality. Crazy Taxi was pretty butt ugly, though. The color choices are poor, the rendering is slow, and cars are all just pre-rendered sprites. It still plays fairly well, fortunately.

A few more recommendations for impressive 3D graphics:

Super Monkey Ball Jr.: There isn't much in the way of texture mapping here, so the game runs at a very speedy pace. The stages are full 3D, with a background texture for atmosphere. I can't really tell if the ball is rendered in 3D, so either it is, or they've done some really clever 2D trickery.

Smashing Drive: This is probably the most accurate GBA port of an existing 3D game ever. The rendering engine is just about the only difference between this and the Gamecube version.

Gamecube screenshot (http://media.cube.ign.com/media/017/017271/img_1301840.html)
GBA screenshot (http://pocketmedia.ign.com/pocket/image/article/528/528599/smashing-drive-20040706051556207.jpg)
Another GBA screenshot (http://pocketmedia.ign.com/pocket/image/article/528/528599/smashing-drive-20040706051553207.jpg)

[downfall]

You can't forget Stuntman - which I believe beats that port of Smashing Drive by the way! ;)

http://gbamedia.gamespy.com/gba/image/6075_2004-03-22_14.jpg

http://media.gba.gamespy.com/media/550/550094/imgs_2.html

GBA vs. PS2

http://gbamedia.gamespy.com/gba/image/6075_2004-03-22_07.jpg - GBA

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/playstation2/stuntman/stuntman_screen018.jpg - PS2

[Gamereviewgod]

Stuntman actually plays better than the home version too. It's far easier and more entertaining plus it has a great 3-D engine.

Drome racers has a polygonal engine too.

What's the fifth game from the bottom Fish? The one with the Sniper rifle.

[davidbrit2]

What's the fifth game from the bottom Fish? The one with the Sniper rifle.

I think it's 007 Nightfire or something.

Protip: Right click picture, open in new window, examine URL. ;-)

And holy shit, Stuntman looks incredible.

[MegaDrive20XX]

I would have to say, a lil bit of 32X, with an odd sound chip that varies, some games have perfect BGM while others sound like classic 8-bit.

Imho, it's like SNES and Genesis in one when it comes to 2D...but a step up with 3D abilities like 32X, but not as smooth in polygon textures. Reminds me of early PS1/Saturn titles at times, everything looks jagged on all kinds of angles. Yet, delivers a solid gameplay feel.

Except in some cases, those textures pull a miracle or two, making it look stunning.

GBA is a lovely piece of hardware. The only thing I would really change is the sound chip, it's kind of outdated on some levels. (Sonic Advance BGM is like nails on a chalk board sometimes for me :()

[robotriot]

Btw, has anyone tried if 3D GBA games have higher frame rates on the DS? Or is it a cycle exact "emulation"?

[davidbrit2]

Btw, has anyone tried if 3D GBA games have higher frame rates on the DS? Or is it a cycle exact "emulation"?

It just throws the CPUs into GBA mode, so it's the same. The screen does make it look a hell of a lot brighter, though.

[Zadoc]

I think the 3DO and Jaguar are abit above the GBA's league though.





Really, I was just thinking that the Jaguar can't touch the GBA.

[Arqueologia_Digital]

I think the 3DO and Jaguar are abit above the GBA's league though.





Really, I was just thinking that the Jaguar can't touch the GBA.
mmm...i think Jaguar is better...

[robotriot]

I believe the Jaguar and 3DO are above the GBA power-wise, just because of the higher resolution they have to cope with.

[KJN]

I would have to say, a lil bit of 32X, with an odd sound chip that varies, some games have perfect BGM while others sound like classic 8-bit.
The GBA doesn't have a dedicated sound chip at all apart from the one that was in the old gameboy. The rest has to be done with the main cpu so more effects heavy games tends to have simpler sounds (unless there is a really well written sound driver (Shin'en)).

[Damon Plus]

I´d say it lies between the Snes and the 32X (but closer to the later one).

[davidbrit2]

Just in case anybody is still interested in GBA 3D, Tokyo Extreme Racer Advance just came out. I didn't even know it was scheduled, but I walked into Best Buy today and saw it sitting there for $20. Crave has put together a very competent 3D engine, too.

http://pocketmedia.ign.com/pocket/image/article/542/542530/tokyo-xtreme-racer-advance-20040826032425662.jpg

The cars are all fully polygonal, too. I haven't dug too far into the game yet, so I can't give a very qualified review, other than the fact that it's got 6 tracks, and it's pretty. :-)

Oh, the timer seems to have some really weird glitches. I played a time trial, and the clock was running about three times normal speed. Ha ha.

[Daniel Thomas]

On the 2D front, I think the Advance is an amazing little machine. It's clearly superior to the 16-bit consoles, although the quality tends to vary a bit. Most developers seemed content with ports or relying on a brand-name license, but the really skilled people could make this handheld shine. It's quality is subtle, but it's there, in the terrific color and smooth animation.

Some examples from my own GBA reviews:

Advance Wars 2 (http://www.danielthomas.org/pop/videogames/aw.htm)
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Broken Sword (http://www.danielthomas.org/pop/videogames/bs.htm)
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Gekido Advance (http://www.danielthomas.org/pop/videogames/gekido.htm)
http://www.danielthomas.org/Assets/gekido6.gif

Hikaru no Go 2 (http://www.danielthomas.org/pop/videogames/go.htm)
http://www.danielthomas.org/Assets/go3.gif

Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer (http://www.danielthomas.org/pop/videogames/kellyslater.htm)
http://www.danielthomas.org/Assets/kellyslater5.gif

Motoracer Advance (http://www.danielthomas.org/pop/videogames/motoracer.htm)
http://www.danielthomas.org/Assets/motoracer7.jpg

Virtual Kasparov (http://www.danielthomas.org/pop/videogames/kasparov.htm)
http://www.danielthomas.org/Assets/kasparov7.gif