HandyPak Color
System/accessory by:InterAct
Reviewed by: Robb
Rob__dale@hotmail.com (2 underscores)
Released: 1999
Height: 4 3/4 in.
Width: 3 3/4 in.
Depth: 2 1/8 in.
Weight: 7 1/2 ounces (215 grams)
Use with: Game Boy Color

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Opening Snide Remarks: I really don't like most gameboy accessories. Most of 
them obstruct vision, are big and heavy,or just plain ugly. Let's see if 
Interact's "HandyPak Color" is any better.

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Impressions: Unfortunately, HPC doesn't change the standard. It's a 
light/magnifier/control improver/amplifier. All those features might sound 
amazing, but they're really not that cool. The thing is 7 1/2 ounces, and 
the gameboy (with a game and batteries) is about the same. It doubles the 
weight(how dumb is that?). It makes the thing really top-heavy and
uncomfortable to hold. The magnifier comes out and creates a huge shadow on 
the screen (despite the built-in light), making it nearly impossible to see 
anything or play the game normally. However, the amplifier creates good
sound and amplifies the sound quite well. The control improvement is 
wonderful. The joystick that covers the D-pad feels like a real joystick and 
not hokey or unmovable. The A/B pad improvement is also quite good. It 
allows your fingers to shift smoothly from A to B or from B to A.
Unfortunately, there is no improvement for the start/select buttons, making 
the controls uneven and peculiar feeling. The exceptional control 
improvement and sound are more than cancelled out by the weight and horrible
shadow created.

Liked: sound amplification, control improvement
Hated: shadow, ridiculous weight, unevenness in control improvement

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Improve: The shadow could easily be fixed by changing the position of the 
lights(put the lights next to the screen, not on the magnifier). A 
start/select improvement could be added and the weight could be evened out.

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Final Words: I would not recommend this product to my worst enemy. The 
features it offers(with the exception of the light) are not necessary. 
Gameboy's sound usually isn't very good(no need for amplification).
Controls aren't bad enough to need improvement and the screen isn't that
small.

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Score: 45%

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Secrets: none