Cheap GBA games everywhere! Are you stocking up?

[DigitalSpace]

As we all know, the Game Boy Advance's best years are behind it, and the portable's status is pretty much like the PS1 was in its final years. The GBA is currently the most successful handheld of all time. Nintendo learned from their mistakes with the Game Boy Color, and while horrible kiddie and licensed titles are still a common sight, there were a lot of great games and ports released.

The GBA seems to be bucking a trend the GBC and original Game Boy had - cheap games are abundant, especially on the used market. At one EB, I spotted several titles as $5.99 or less, while most of their GB/GBC carts were over that price. For example, Marble Madness/Klax is going for $4.99 at GameStop/EB, while the GBC version of Marble Madness is going for $9.99 there. You can get both Golden Sun games there for $15 total used. GameCrazy lowered prices on several used GBA games and cleared out several of their new titles. I got new copies of Drill Dozer and F-Zero GP Legend at Best Buy for $10 each.

I've bought over 30 GBA games this year, with the majority of used games being under $5 and the majority of new ones under $10.

Sure, the new releases are few and far between, but if you've wanted to add more stuff to your GBA library, things are looking good (especially if loose carts aren't a concern to you).

On another note, I also think this is going to be the best time to get the RPG's - even Riviera only set me back $10 used.

So, have you been buying more GBA games lately?

[bangtango]

At the Movie Gallery/Hollywood Video chain, I've seen most of the GBA Zelda titles (new and old) and River City Ransom EX all for $7-8. This isn't cart only but games that are still sealed. That won't last.

At the very least, people should be picking up some of the remakes/ports while they can still get them. Most recently, I've grabbed the two NES Zelda remakes and Rayman. I may still grab Doom, Final Fight One, River City Ransom EX, Double Dragon Advance, Pitfall (Mayan) and a few others.

[maxlords]

Yep, but I only buy em new/sealed for the most part and a few mint/complete....probably snagged about 15 or so this year alone.

[Slate]

No, But I have been meaning to pick them up. I bought a new Game Boy Micro (The screen is not too small) And since then, I have played GBA Games more often. The images are sharper too.

[Poofta!]

Yep, but I only buy em new/sealed for the most part and a few mint/complete....probably snagged about 15 or so this year alone.

yep me too, i cant stand loose games. only new/mint complete stuff on my shelf.

so as far as im concerned, ive yet to see a big price drop in gba titles.

[Vectorman0]

The only good game I have seen for a price that I thought was good was Gunstar Heros Advanced for $10. Besides that, the only $10 or less games I have seen are the ones that only people going for a 100% complete collection would want.

If I could find metroids, castlevanias, zeldas and other good games for $5-$10 complete, than I would be all over them.

[PDorr3]

I have a hard time finding used and atleast boxed GBA games, I dont like buying handheld games that dont come with a box, however I dont even keep them in their boxes, so maybe I should just man up and start buying loose GBA games.

[bangtango]

I have a hard time finding used and atleast boxed GBA games, I dont like buying handheld games that dont come with a box, however I dont even keep them in their boxes, so maybe I should just man up and start buying loose GBA games.

I've long since done that. Since it is a portable system, I often take my entire game library with me in a small bag/carrying case. That is about 30 games. No room to carry boxes in a carrying case, so it is pointless for me to have them. I'm not the type to buy boxes and throw them away, so I guess what I am saying is that I purchase the majority of my portable games used.

[xfrumx]

Most of my GBA games are boxed

ALL of my ds games are


With my GBA player on my GCN now usually only bing used for that I like the GBA games to be displayed with all my other console games

[Kitsune Sniper]

At the Movie Gallery/Hollywood Video chain, I've seen most of the GBA Zelda titles (new and old) and River City Ransom EX all for $7-8. This isn't cart only but games that are still sealed. That won't last.

At the very least, people should be picking up some of the remakes/ports while they can still get them. Most recently, I've grabbed the two NES Zelda remakes and Rayman. I may still grab Doom, Final Fight One, River City Ransom EX, Double Dragon Advance, Pitfall (Mayan) and a few others.

GOOD GOD. Eight bucks for RCREX?!

...

If I asked you to buy it for me, would you do so? ^^;

[Xizer]

Wait, are we talking about complete games here or carts only?

Otherwise, this isn't the same situation. At all. At least when GCN/PS2/Xbox games reached the areas of cheapness they are at now, they were usually complete with case and manual.

I refuse to buy a GBA game without the box and manual. I might as well just pirate it and emulate it, or download it and put it on my flashcart - the packaging is the whole point of paying for games anyway.

[Iron Draggon]

I love my GBA... I hope they keep supporting it for a few more years... I've only had mine for a year now, and I've already got over 30 games for it... I hope I can manage to collect that many games for it this year too... I have a wishlist of at least that many games for it... would be nice to own them all

[bangtango]

GOOD GOD. Eight bucks for RCREX?!

...

If I asked you to buy it for me, would you do so? ^^;

Sure, the only trouble is that I only had enough money (cash) for one copy when I first saw it. I gave it to my younger sister as a birthday present, she was a rabid RCR fan, too. By the time I had money to get back there for a couple more copies (one of which I was going to sell), the game was gone. Too bad, since there were 5-6 copies of the game when I first went in.

[WanganRunner]

I'm buying the GBA Final Fantasy games.

Otherwise, I usually only buy demo/"Not For Resale" carts for GBA.

[cyberfluxor]

I've been thinking about picking up a Micro for awhile to play Advanced games on since they do appear to be getting cheaper. However, I feel that when I buy an advanced game that I must go brand new with box because I see how horrible it looks to have a bunch of Game Gear and Gameboy cartridges (some without cases) stacked on a shelf and no place to stash it or make them look neat. That's the main reason I bought carrying cases for those systems, to stash some of the games out of sight and save space!

I saw some Sega made Tower game @ TRU for $5 that looked like SimTower, is that right? I liked SimTower and if it is similar I'll need to go back and pick'er up sometime!

[Poofta!]

I've been thinking about picking up a Micro for awhile to play Advanced games on since they do appear to be getting cheaper. However, I feel that when I buy an advanced game that I must go brand new with box because I see how horrible it looks to have a bunch of Game Gear and Gameboy cartridges (some without cases) stacked on a shelf and no place to stash it or make them look neat. That's the main reason I bought carrying cases for those systems, to stash some of the games out of sight and save space!

I saw some Sega made Tower game @ TRU for $5 that looked like SimTower, is that right? I liked SimTower and if it is similar I'll need to go back and pick'er up sometime!

this intrigues me, tell me what it is when/if you find out please. i love simtower and sim games in general.

[cyberfluxor]

Sorry for any thread jacking...


this intrigues me, tell me what it is when/if you find out please. i love simtower and sim games in general.

It is like SimTower:



Based on a hit PC game, players manage a tower and all tenants who reside within. Your goal is to make your tenants happy, collect greater investment funds and expand your tower upwards. This isn't as easy as it seems, as you have to keep your tenants' stress level down or they'll take flight and leave you with vacancies and unpaid dept. As the building manager, you have lots of responsibilities. You have to make sure elevator access is smooth, perhaps making use of more funds to install new elevators. You even have to clean the toilets by pressing the A button real fast. Listening to your tenant's opinions is also important, and the game offers a quick way of viewing complaints and comments from your tenants in real time.
Linky: http://gameboy.ign.com/objects/712/712239.html#Scene_2

IGN: 6.5/10
GameSpy: 2/5
Gaming Target: 6/10
Yahoo! Games: 3.5/5
GameZone: 6.4/10
Worth Playing: 8.9/10
Ace Gamez: 7/10
GotNext: 3/5
Game Chronicles: 7/10


You know, that makes me think that it'd be nice if Maxis put SimCity on the DS because the pointing ability is a big +++ and could work really nice!

[SegaAges]

This is reminding me of why I started collecting for the Saturn. At one point, best buy was selling every single saturn game for $5 when they still had over 100 different titles to choose from. Oh yeah, time to get some gba games!

[Poofta!]

Sorry for any thread jacking...



It is like SimTower:

http://gameboy.ign.com/objects/712/712239.html#Scene_2

IGN: 6.5/10
GameSpy: 2/5
Gaming Target: 6/10
Yahoo! Games: 3.5/5
GameZone: 6.4/10
Worth Playing: 8.9/10
Ace Gamez: 7/10
GotNext: 3/5
Game Chronicles: 7/10


You know, that makes me think that it'd be nice if Maxis put SimCity on the DS because the pointing ability is a big +++ and could work really nice!

yeah i have simcity2000 for my pocket pc and it was awesome game. i played it for dozens of dozens of hours.

[Ed Oscuro]

Not really, but I'm trying. Hard to make purchasing decisions for all the games on all the systems I want at once.

[coreycorey2000]

I wish I lived in the US. Up here in Canada I'm lucky to get new GBA games for $18. Used games run $10+ loose. The only good thing is Gameboy/GBC games are $3-7. So I've been buying a few of them every week or so.

If anyone can get me a bunch of GBA games for $5-10 I could reward them. I had Jollerrancher buy me a few games when they were on sale for $8 new. But I could use some more.

[Jorpho]

I too would like to know where to find these cheap GBA games in Canada.

I fared reasonably well at the Staples 2-for-1 Boxing Day sale (Sonic Combo Pack + Tetris Worlds for $10 each), but I've never seen prices that low anywhere else.

[Flack]

I might as well just pirate it and emulate it, or download it and put it on my flashcart - the packaging is the whole point of paying for games anyway.

Well, there is that whole "breaking the law" and "supporting the industry" angle too ...

[maxlords]

I've found a lot of $10 GBA games in Canada....you just have to look. Recently they had FFV for GBA for $16 at Wal-mart for example, and some of the clearance places have FF Tactics and a few others for $10. Takes a lot of hunting though.

[Lothars]

I plan to start stocking up soon on gba soon but there's really only specific gba games I want

Especially FFVI advanced, Super Mario World

[boatofcar]

You know, that makes me think that it'd be nice if Maxis put SimCity on the DS because the pointing ability is a big +++ and could work really nice!

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.dsfanboy.com/media/2006/12/sc_fire_1222.jpg (http://www.dsfanboy.com/2006/12/22/sim-city-ds-screens-and-info/)

[Jorpho]

I've found a lot of $10 GBA games in Canada....you just have to look. Recently they had FFV for GBA for $16 at Wal-mart for example, and some of the clearance places have FF Tactics and a few others for $10. Takes a lot of hunting though.

Wal-Mart, you say? I shall have to head down there. Have you had any luck at Zellers?

I remember when the B&W Game Boy was on its way out. I managed to pick up Final Fantasy Legend II for $20, and I thought I was lucky.

[maxlords]

I know some others have had some recent clearance finds at Zellers as well. I haven't lately, but I have heard a of a few people finding things there. MOST of the titles I see cheap for GBA here are $18.88 or so, but you'll find the occasional $10 ones that are decent

[Jorpho]

Naah, nothing at the local Zellers right now. Player's Choice titles (namely the Pokemon and SMBA games) are down to $25, but that's probably not remarkable.

I heard Compusmart has stuff sometimes.

[sirhansirhan]

I was just thinking about this thread the other day; I had no idea it was so old.

Anyway, in the past week I've picked up Gunstar Super Heroes, Advance Guardian Heroes, and Astro Boy on the GBA cart only for $3.99 a piece, which I'm really happy about. Now if I can only find TMNT (the movie one) cheap, I'll be all set for a while...

[Jorpho]

Cart only? I assume they're from a used game store?

The recent The Source CC liquidation in Canada was pretty darn good, but it's still quite rare for me to see a GBA game much below $20. Well, actually, there is one indie place I know that's selling brand-new Guardian Heroes for $10, but that's pretty much it. (The same place is selling Gunstar Super Heroes for $40 and the Castlevania Double Pack for $60. Sigh.)

Still, if anyone's interested in Guardian Heroes, maybe we could work out a trade? :D (Actually, I've heard it's a pretty sloppy game.)

[Wolfrider31]

I've been checking out GBA games too, and I can't believe how cheap some of these are. I've been seeing boxed carts at the sub-ten dollar mark. Which is good, because I don't generally buy games loose.

It's funny... I've only purchased three GBA games and those were all when I bought the system. I'm looking forward to going back to it and picking up the many, many, many gems I missed.