GameBoy Advance System by Nintendo Reviewed by Cochese cochese_04@yahoo.com Released: June 2001 Height: 82mm Width: 144.55mm Depth: 24.5mm Weight: 140g Battery Life: 20 Hours Colors on-screen: 512 (Moving) to 32,768 (Still) Total Palette: 5,000,000 CPU speed: 16.7 MHz Processor 32-bit Serial Communications Rate: Varies depending on software used. ROM Sizes: 4 megabits to 512 megabits Use with: All GameBoy software +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Opening Snide Remarks: When the GameBoy Advance was first announced, all I could think was, "It's about damn time!" Since its debut in 1989, Nintendo's GameBoy has been the number one video game system, ruling over giants (such as Nintendo's own Super NES, Sony's powerhouse PlayStation and Sega's short-lived but popular Dreamcast) in the market. What's more amazing is that it accomplished this while also being basically the same system it's always been. It's had its updates...a smaller version with a bigger and clearer screen in 1996 (GameBoy Pocket), a backlit screen (GameBoy Light, released in Japan only), and finally, Nintendo decided it was time to add what its competitors have had all along...color (GameBoy Color, 1998). But at its core, the GameBoy has had the same NES-like processing power. Now finally, twelve years after the debut of the original GameBoy, Nintendo has unleashed the first evolutionary step, the next generation of GameBoy...the GameBoy Advance. With power somewhere in between a Super Nintendo and a PlayStation, it certainly sounds promising. But does it stack up? Let's take a look see... +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Impressions: Needless to say, I've been anticipating this system for quite awhile. All the promises Nintendo made about it sounded mighty good...a system more powerful than a Super NES, a long battery life, a bigger screen, a horizontal design...it all sounded bittersweet. Fast forward to June of 2001, the release of the GameBoy Advance in the US. Armed with an arsenal of great launch games, the GBA disappeared off store shelves as quickly as it appeared. Let's delve into the details, shall we? Liked: Credit has got to be given to Nintendo for cramming everything that makes up the GameBoy Advance into this little shell...this thing is tiny! No longer or wider than a GameBoy Color and just a bit thinner, you'll drop your jaw when you put your hands on this system. The power of the GBA is on par with Nintendo's Super NES when it comes to 3D games (Doom and other first person shooters) and psuedo 3D games (Mario Kart, F-Zero, etc), and Sony's PlayStation in 2D sprite capabilities. As for the sound engine, it's great. The music and sound effects are easily as good as a Super Nintendo's. Speech in games such as Super Mario Advance is crystal clear. The design of the handheld is great...greater than great. The horizontal design seen with Sega's Game Gear and SNK's NeoGeo Pocket Color is used here, with great effect...the vertical design of the GameBoy was beginning to piss me off. The new screen is 40% larger and a whole lot sharper than a GameBoy Color screen. The new shoulder buttons are implemented well and feel comfortable. While the new placement of the Start and Select buttons has raised a few eyebrows, I love it. It just feels great having them both right below and to the right of the D-Pad. The power switch, headphone jack and volume control have all been relocated to the bottom of the unit, and everything works well down there. The battery life of the GBA is great...approx. 15 hours on two AA batteries is fine by me. The power indicator light is a little more convenient than past GameBoy lights...this one starts out green in color, then turns red when 75% of the battery power is depleted, and slowly fades out from there. Oh, and unless you're a collector, you can go ahead and chuck your old GameBoy systems out the window...the GBA plays all the old games...nice, huh? Overall, the Game Boy Advance just feels comfortable to hold, and that's all that matters. Hated: Due to the insanely small GameBoy Advance cartridges, old GameBoy games stick out about an inch when you play them. I like to pop in a classic like Tetris or FaceBall 2000 sometimes, and it's just awkward with them jutting out like that. As for audio, Nintendo once again gave us just one speaker. I'm not expecting THX surround sound here, but two speakers would have been nice. A user interface (like the ones featured on the Game.com or NeoGeo Pocket Color) would have been great. As for the screen...this thing can be too dark sometimes. You thought getting proper light for a GBC was bad? Try out a GBA. Oh, and about the buttons, something feels old and stale here. Nintendo used the exact same D-Pad and A and B buttons from the GameBoy Color on the GBA. All if fine here, as they worked perfectly to begin with, but slightly larger buttons would have felt better. While we're on the subject of buttons...why the hell are there only two face buttons? Come on, Nintendo...we've made it past the old A and B. The L and R shoulder buttons are a great addition, but adding an X and Y button on the face would have helped out a lot...especially in Super NES ports. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Improve: More buttons! Two face buttons and two shoulder buttons...it doesn't cut the mustard on a next-generation handheld. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Final Words: What can I say? Sure, the GameBoy Advance has its faults, but they're all very minor. Sticking around and playing the old GameBoy classics is all fine and dandy, but be sure to pick up one of these for all the new games. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Score: 98% +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Secrets: Hold down Start and Select as you turn on your GameBoy Advance. You'll hear a sound effect from a classic Super Nintendo game, and the system will be paused until you press a button.