Nuby Cobra Power Plus System/accessory by Nuby Reviewed by Philip Wesley (The Avardancer) Released: 2001 Battery Life: 22+ hours on a RAM battery. Use with: Game Boy Color ONLY +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Opening Snide Remarks: Ooo! I like battery packs; but I've had some problem with them before. The Nintendo Power Pack for the original Game Boy was a very bulky device that had to latch onto my belt and it kept a charge for about four hours tops. Thee next battery back I had was a Nyko Shock N Rock, and while it keeps a charge very well, it will only work on my clear purple Game Boy Color for some odd inexplicable reason. Then I got a Mad Catz Power Handle Battery Pack. The little tabs that keep it in the Game Boy Color decided to snap very quickly. I reviewed it and then snapped it in half with my bare hands. It was useless and I through it away. Shame really. This is the Nuby Cobra Power Plus. I really liked the Nuby Cobra Light and I'm hoping this device will not dissappoint me. Battery packs aren't something people generally feel avidity or affinity toward. In fact, most people could care less about what brand of battery pack or type of battery pack is on their Game Boy. Some people consider it like a computer OS, most battery packs have a lot of problems; but people generally accept it. I mean, there is not one person I know who doesn't hate glare or General Protection Fault errors; but people seem generally apathic to doing anything to buy something better. Well, I would like to say that I would buy a better OS if I could find it in the stores and run my software on it. I got tired of the glare, so I bought a Nuby Cobra Light. I demand something better when it comes to products for my Game Boy. I'm going into this review with the hope that this will be better than the battery packs I have used before. Although, let's hope this is a good product at least.. and not one of those not useable beyond a year types of battery packs. *grins* Okay, bring it on. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Impressions: The device is available in many different colors, and has some articulated cobras on each side of it. In order to put it on your Game Boy Color, you have to remove the battery cover from your Game Boy Color. I suggest you put it in a safe place. You do not have to remove the batteries from your Game Boy Color. That is a very good thing, I suppose. You then latche the device on to the back of your Game Boy Color like you would the battery pack cover. Then you hook the little cord on the bottom of the device into the Game Boy Color's AC Adaptor port. The device comes pre-charged and ready to go. The difference between this device and many others is that it uses a RAM (Rechargeable Alkaline Manganese) battery instead of a NiCad (Nickel Cadium) battery. What does that mean? Well, I'll explain it in the "liked" section. Liked: RAM is the wave of the future. NiCad has some problems. Unlike a NiCad battery, the RAM battery won't "learn" a charge limit or a particular device. In other words, it will work with more than just the first Game Boy it is latched onto -unlike the shock n rock- and won't be stuck with a low charge -unlike the Nintendo made Game Boy one I had- if it is "under charged". In fact, you can't charge this device too much. It will retain a high charge and it "does" peak. But leaving it plugged in will not hurt it. The device has a "Check-Charge" feature. You press the button on the bottom of the device and the eyes on it light up to show how much of a charge you have left. If the eyes are really dim or don't light up; then you need to charge it soon; because it only has a few more hours of charge left. A really handy little feature. And should the charge die out; you still can use the batteries inside your Game Boy Color Already The device adds to your grip when holding onto a Game Boy Color. It's good for those who hurt their hands from playing Game Boy Color too long. This helps keep your hands from cramping up. What is nice about this is that -unlike the Shock N' Rock- you can use a Game Shark with this attached. You can also have the Cobra Power Plus plugged in when you play it. A definate plus. The Cobra Power Plus is also available in multiple colors. So, it's stylish and has red glowing eyes. Hehehe. The eyes don't glow all the time; only when you hit the button and unleash their awesome evil powers. (Okay, not really evil; but you get the idea.) Hated: Well, what did I not like about this battery pack? Well, to be honest, the battery pack cover is easy to lose and you have to take it off of the device to put the Cobra Power Plus on. The eyes glow *really* bright and that can be kind of bad if you stare at them directly for a while. I am a little uncomfortable with having to put the Battery Cover somewhere else. And like any battery pack, this will eventually die down. I think. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Improve: Well, maybe if it had a little notch in the back so you could attach the previous battery cover on to it's back. The little tiny cord that connects into the Game Boy Color's battery +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Final Words: This is one of the best Battery Packs you can buy for your Game Boy Color and the little light up eyes are classy. It's classier than other battery packs. So, if you don't mind the evil power of it's red glowing eyes, definately put out the money to get one. Pretty slick looking, especially if you dig snakes. Looks great with the Cobra Light. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Score: 90% +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Secrets: The Lights are bright and colorful.. you can use them for Morse Code! Remember that SOS is three quick blinks, three long blinks, and three quick blinks, or maybe it's the reverse of that.. anyways, just keep blinking!