Am I the only one who loathes the GBA?

I have never understood why the GBA is so popular. Here's a system that has virtually nothing but hacked up ports of 10+ year old SNES games (gotta love that music in Contra!). With a blurry screen to boot. And people are buying this crap in droves.

The latest example: Darius R. It's 32-bit hardware and Taito can't make the ship sprite tilt when you move vertically?

And after so many years Nintendo cannot come up with a freakin' internal light!

Granted, original games like the two Castlevanias and Shining Soul get props from me but it's not enough.

If there was ever an argument that people buy what they already know, the GBA proves it.

Let the flames proclaiming my arrogance begin.:D

I hate it as well.

Though, Advance Wars is an exceptional game and well worth playing on Visual Boy Advance, If you've already bought the game, like me, that is.

Metroid Fusion
Mega Man Battle Network
Mega Man Battle Network 2
Golden Sun
Tactics Ogre
Mega Man Zero
Advance Wars
Fire Pro Wrestling
Castlevania Circle of the Moon
Castlevania Harmony of Dissonance

Those are all not ports, and I would've bought the system to play any one of them.

I keep falling into the hype and than end up returning every GBA I buy. It would be a great little system if it was back lit like the GameGear. Who cares about battery life? Battery packs are so cheap now (as little $9.99) so just get one or 2 of them and you are set.

If you don't like it, you don't.

As for why I like it - mainly the original stuff (Klonoa, Golden Sun, Castlevania, Megaman Zero), but some of the ports are nice as well. I mean, I no longer have a NES and tracking one down for SMB2 feels like more hassle than getting Mario Advance, even if the latter means paying full price. Same for Yoshi's Island, Pocky and Rocky, and anything that's nigh-impossible to find in my area.

I've begun to dislike the screen - never cared for it, but never complained. Yet with winter, rain, and cloudy skies, I finally see how dim this thing can get. Though I'll take it just the same, or at least until I get an Afterburner or some kind of GBA -> TV thing.

Advance wars is worth the price of a GBA IMO, Golden sun, the mario ports, some fantastic puzzle games, and metroid. I really enjoy my GBA, it's hardly my most played system, but I think it's a good little system.

Just get a flood light and the screen becomes something a bit more vibrant and clear. Blurry is something I would never use to describe it. Dark at times maybe, but not blurry.

I've had three GBA's - all in the hopes that the screen is better than the last one and nothing has worked. I've tried wormlights and such and I can't stand all that peripheral crap just to play a game in the car. That being said, I think there are A LOT of worthy titles out there - just not on a stock GBA. I might try that backlit hack thing... still, it seems like a lot of work to play a game. My vote is a "NAY" for the GBA.

It's a double-edged sword for me. I like the games I've been playing (SFA3, PotD, AW, HoD) but I always have to tilt the GBA just to get enough light to the entire screen. I'm also in pain after playing for an extended period of time thanks to the cramped design and shoddy d-pad. So, in order to enjoy the games, I have to risk carpal tunnel syndrome.

Seriously... if you've seen my posts, the portability factor is the thing I hate most about the GBA. I want nothing more than a SFC2/SNES2, and will do anything to make it one. I've gotten a GBATV Adapter and it's been working out fine for me. And I will check out the GC-GBA Player when it's available as well.

As for the ports, I know what you mean. I personally don't see why everyone is always drooling whenever a Yoshi's Island or Zelda Four Swords come out. But on the other hand, GBA is my most played system because it has a lot more to offer than just ports. The system's got everything from action games like Megaman Zero to puzzle games like Mr. Driller A to strat games like Advance Wars to RPGs like Tales of the World 2 and yes... to boxing games like Hajime no Ippo. Not to mention that the GBA is becoming the SRPG system to own - Tactics Ogre, Fire Emblem, Black Matrix Zero, FFTA, Onimusha Tactics, and now a tactical Tales of the World game.

It's all about the games, isn't it?

I'll certainly get that GC-GBA thing. For AW, if nothing else.

Regarding your complaints about Contra and Darius: blame the developer. The GBA is vastly more powerful than the SNES in the graphical department, and while the speakers don't do the unit justice, some games sound excelled with headphones.

The lighting and comfort issues suck, but some of the games are well worth it.

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Originally posted by Millartime
...(gotta love that music in Contra)...

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There is nothing to love in that GBA hack job.
And yes, I know you were being sarcastic :)

I've been really into the GBA lately... maybe its just because I have no other systems with 2D games in my current house... need to go pick up my Genesis and play some Flashback!
- Kabuki

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Originally posted by Millartime


The latest example: Darius R. It's 32-bit hardware and Taito can't make the ship sprite tilt when you move vertically?

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I haven't played Super Darius CD in a while but I don't believe your ship tilted in the first game, and aside from music Darius R should be a port of the first title.

I've had fun with GBA even with the lack of backlight. And I can't believe people expected anything out of Contra. They hacked two games together that had different styles and were pinnacles on respective systems, recipe for disaster. *-neo

I like my GBA, but I would love it more if I had an Afterburner installed on it. I can barely play Metroid Fusion on the bus thanks to the worst screen ever (I still can't get over how the screen quality regressed from the GBC to the GBA), but at least Advance Wars is bright enough to play under modest conditions.

That GC-GBA Player couldn't come fast enough. I seriously hope that they're spending the extra time before its release date to incorporate connectivity with the GC Modem/Broadband adapter. The ability to play multiplayer GBA games online would cause simultaneous creaming of the pants around the world.

I can understand your complaints. I bought a GBA on its American launch day, and traded it in a month later. Neck cramps + eystrain = unhappy me.

But some of the software is pretty good.. I think you have to look through the rough to get to some very nice diamonds.

Anyway, I'm all about the GBA Player... Super Ghouls N Ghosts, Castlevania and Mario should make it all worthwhile in the end.

Find a good light, things'll be all right.

As I've posted many times, the light of choice for me is the 2nd model of Pelican's LightShield Advance. There's a wee bit of glare at the top of the screen while in use, but it easily renders the GBA playable in any lighting situation.

I can see where people wouldn't like the GBA if their main perogative is to only play it at home. But that's being contrary to it's purpose. The able to stow it in your pocket and play games at your beck and call is obviously the preferable use.

The games kick ass, and even if you take away the ports (and what's wrong with those, anyway? Nobody complains every time an old Rolling Stones album gets a new pressing) it still gets more good games than the Gamecube.

It's just the screen that's complete and total ass, but the new GC adaptor will fix that problem.

I think the bottom line is, that the GBA, is a dissapointment compared to the GB, at the same point in their respective lifetimes.

I don't know how long people can keep pointing to Golden Sun and Advance Wars to make their case that the GBA's lineup is impressive. The ratio of good, new games versus good, old games tells it all.

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and what's wrong with those, anyway? Nobody complains every time an old Rolling Stones album gets a new pressing

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Using the band analogy, imagine a band taking a few years off from studio recording and their big comeback is a live album full of classic songs you've heard before. They're the same songs, but now they sound a lot worse and the resources could've been spent on recording new songs.

Plus, re-releases of old albums don't cost five times more than what the game could be had for in a used shop.

I'm not sure, but I was under the impression that buying ports on the GBA was a strictly optional affair. Though I never understood quite why people take personal offense to ports on the GBA. I agree, I'm in it for the original software also, and I'd rather see alot of franchises revived on the GBA in the form of new games, but if a great game from a decade ago sees a release on a portable form, that's not a bad thing. People don't seem to complain when Sega, Namco, Nintendo, Squaresoft, Enix, Capcom, Sunsoft, and a slew of other longtime developers release ports of old games from previous consoles to newer consoles. I don't see why a port of a game from a previous console to today's handheld has to evoke levels of near outrage from people. If you don't want a portable Super Ghouls & Ghosts, fine.

But all of that is arbitrary. There's been more than enough original games on the GBA to make it worth the investment to me. And while the dimness of the screen is open to debate, I'm not sure what you mean about the blurriness.

I'm looking foward to getting into Hajime no Ippo soon. :)

I have found that if you turn a light on in the room you are sitting in it really helps see the screen. I have NEVER had a problem seeing the screen when using a light room.

And I have played the GBA plenty and the screen is not blurry. The GB is blurry, not the GBA. Um and it has great games, wether are ports or not means nothing. If you have already played the game, then don't buy it. There are plenty of original games for it, like Kidnemo said. And there are lots more original games coming.

Oh, and I like video games.

It's been mentioned before, but the Afterburner is the only way to play the GBA. Complaining about the screen when there is a readily available lighting solution is a waste of time, because it's not very likely that Nintendo will do anything to improve this generation of Gameboy. It's true that the Afterburner adds cost to the system, but don't you think that if Nintendo had included a backlight we would be paying more for the GBA anyway?

2 extra buttons and a backlit screen is all that stands in it's way from being a great console.

Loathe it? I love it!

GBA is the best system out there and it's game library is better than PS2/GCN/XB combined. There are a tonne of new and original games on the system and some of them are already all-time classics that made it into my top 10 games of all time (Advance Wars, Golden Sun, etc).. Plus, there is so much "really good" software that I can barely keep track of it.. no less buy it all. I have 15 games already and unlike most of my other systems.. I have finished every one of those games except for the 4 newest ones. That's an amazing success ratio.. and there are still so many I need to buy. I find all of this old school 2D gaming to be blissful.

Oh yeh, and I don't own a single port. So that's not an issue for me.

As for the quality of the hardware. It's a mixed bag but overall I can't complain too much. I really dislike the D-pad because it's tiny and hurts and difficult to make diagonal movements. The system itself is not that ergonomic either.. but contrary to popular opinion the screen is fine for anyone who owns a simple lamp. At least for people with non-launch GBAs, if there is something to the rumours of screen improvements.

Anyway, right now I can't wait to pick up Sonic Advance 2, Golden Sun II, Lunar Legend, the Klonoa imports, Karnaaj Rally, Jet Set Radio... ahhh I can't keep up. :)

You guys are so freaking whiny about your "backlighting."

I wear glasses (or should, rather. I've taken to leaving them at home "on accedent.") and even with the glare I'm subject to while wearing them I don't have a problem seeing the screen in a dimly lit room, let alone a well lit one.

Wussies.

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Originally posted by sggg
Anyway, right now I can't wait to pick up Sonic Advance 2, Golden Sun II, Lunar Legend, the Klonoa imports, Karnaaj Rally, Jet Set Radio...

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Say "Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire" you bastard! Say it! How could you not be anticipating them?! Well...unless you've already purchased the imports. In which case, cary on. ;)

Jet Set Radio?! For my GBA?! DING, DING, DING! :D

"GBA is the best system out there and it's game library is better than PS2/GCN/XB combined."

Huh? I wouldnt take it that far. Sure, there are some great games, but as many as all 3 major systems together :lol:

As for my own GBA opion, its a nice little system, but it would have been better with bigger screen, back lighting, maybe a few more buttons.

As for games available on it, I pretty much want to buy GBA just to play 2 Castlevania games. Those 2 enough for me. No, if I could noly find a good deal :)

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Originally posted by Despair
"GBA is the best system out there and it's game library is better than PS2/GCN/XB combined."

Huh? I wouldnt take it that far. Sure, there are some great games, but as many as all 3 major systems together :lol:

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To each his own.. but for me there are literally more games I have/want to buy on GBA than the 3 big ones combined.

It's not even that close either. :o

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Originally posted by sggg
To each his own.. but for me there are literally more games I have/want to buy on GBA than the 3 big ones combined.

It's not even that close either. :o

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You and me both... As much as I do like the current XBox lineup (I'd rather have PGR than the entire GC/PS2 libraries), there's just not a whole lot of good XBox games. I own 15 GBA titles already that I enjoy... well... save Tactics Ogre and Harmony of Dissonance... and if I bought all those already out that I wanted to get, I'd have about 25. The amount of PS2/GC/XB titles combined are probably about 10-15.

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Originally posted by Hybrid
It's been mentioned before, but the Afterburner is the only way to play the GBA. Complaining about the screen when there is a readily available lighting solution is a waste of time, because it's not very likely that Nintendo will do anything to improve this generation of Gameboy. It's true that the Afterburner adds cost to the system, but don't you think that if Nintendo had included a backlight we would be paying more for the GBA anyway?

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Amen to that.
For all of those who don't want to install an Afterburner but talk about your mad nimble fingered shooter skills I'm confused. If I can install one with my fingers (which have been described a sausage like) an Xacto Knife and a 10 dollar soldering iron, then you must all have cerebal pausy to not install an Afterburner.

If you get a Flash Linker, you will love your GBA. :)

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Originally posted by Nobita
If you get a Flash Linker, you will love your GBA. :)

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Hi!

I don't like to fucking steal, so no I dont think I would love my gba anymore!1111

I dont play hand helds...strains the eyes.

I just sold my NGPC on GayBay, probably to some bear on this message board, who here is Jessicasman????

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Originally posted by Nobita
If you get a Flash Linker, you will love your GBA. :)

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Hey Opa :)

I bought the GBA at launch for FPW, and I don't regret it one bit. I've gotten a few games for it since then, but until the GC thing comes back for it, I probably won't buy anymore.

Street Fighter Alpha 3 upper. nuff said. (this to me is GBA's true "Killer App")

-Better than the playstation 1 port of said arcade game.(all frames on the moves intact, including the "walking backwards" ones.)
-more characters than the dc version.
-no loading times.


See? Good games are possible when in the right hands.
A lot of the GBA potential is being wasted (ssf2tr? snes code?) mainly due to developer laziness (or incompetence, see KOF neoblood :D) and thier main focus on the home consoles. The machine itself isn't so bad, it's just the screen and the attitude of companies who want to make a quick buck off old classics. (which to me isn't a bad thing if you're A) a fan B)are too young to have played these when they first came out c) didn't own a snes because you were a megadrive fanboy.) But it still can get annoying for those of us who DO want something new along the lines of what metroid fusion was, as opposed to a remake of an old game. eg. just re-releasing super metroid)

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Originally posted by Tsubaki
You and me both... As much as I do like the current XBox lineup (I'd rather have PGR than the entire GC/PS2 libraries), there's just not a whole lot of good XBox games. I own 15 GBA titles already that I enjoy... well... save Tactics Ogre and Harmony of Dissonance... and if I bought all those already out that I wanted to get, I'd have about 25. The amount of PS2/GC/XB titles combined are probably about 10-15.

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Yeh I am probably around the same figures. I have 15 GBA games and I love them all. There are least 15-20 more I'd like to buy.. err.. like to have. I can't afford to *buy* that many... hehe. The funny thing is, I have/want that many and also consider that I have no intertest in many of the popular titles like the Mario games, Zelda, Metroid, Castlevania titles.... It jsut goes to show you. :)

If I had all the money in the world I'd want about 10-12 PS2 games (some are not out yet) but many of those are medium interest. PS2 seems filled with good games but not so many great ones - at least for me. I barely want 2-3 GCN games unfortunately (shame because I'd like to get a Cube)... and on Xbox I'd really love to have JSRF and Orta and maaaybe a few others... All told definitely less than 20 combined unless I took anything playable. If I rated just games I really want, the number would be under 10. :(

To be fair, the ship sprite doesn't tilt since it was probably ported straight from Darius 1. It'd have been nice if they used the ship from Darius II.

After the first of the year, I'll have a TV de Advance put in for making screenshots (in that case I'll just rig the GBA to my video capture card to do that). While not as portable as the Afterburner, it's still another good way to play the games.

I agree, Millartime...then again, the only portable game I played for more than an hour this year is Card Fighters Clash and the occasional genesis cart on Nomad. Maybe I'm just not the target audience for portables...I'm not often away from a console, arcade, or PC when I'm in a gaming mood.

I like the games, but I hate playing them on GBA.  It one of those cases where no matter how good the games are they are still on GBA and still are impossible to see.
 
ºTracer

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Originally posted by Nobita
If you get a Flash Linker, you will love your GBA. :)

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ahhh how true :)

The gba is right up my alley because of my love for 2/d games however I will not buy one untill Nintendo gets off its arse and makes a back lit unit.

I refuse to do a 3rd party hack job to make a system playable...

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And after so many years Nintendo cannot come up with a freakin' internal light!

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They can, they just don't like the battery life with one.

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Plus, re-releases of old albums don't cost five times more than what the game could be had for in a used shop.

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Not five times, but close. I can find used CDs (especially ones a few years old) for $5 or less, and new CDs cost $18.

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Originally posted by JMET
I refuse to do a 3rd party hack job to make a system playable...

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Why? Is it just out of principal? The Afterburner is as good as you could ever possibly need. Quality doohicky.

Why do some people think the GBA screen is somehow inferior to the one of the GBC? It isn't the case at all.

Games tend to be harder to see on the GBA because the GBC had a color pallete of about 3.5 different colors. Darker colors are available on the GBA, and when they are used, it causes the problems you folk bitch about. Of course it was easier to see when every GB game had a black character and white background.

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Originally posted by Kinopio
Why do some people think the GBA screen is somehow inferior to the one of the GBC? It isn't the case at all.

Games tend to be harder to see on the GBA because the GBC had a color pallete of about 3.5 different colors. Darker colors are available on the GBA, and when they are used, it causes the problems you folk bitch about. Of course it was easier to see when every GB game had a black character and white background.

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:sneak:
my reaction exactly. It's not a freakin' TV, it's a portable system. and hell, I know *plenty* of people who had a GB,GBC,GBCP,and even the short lived gamegirl which i would give my right arm for-- and *gasp* OH MY GOD, needed an external light source to play!!!!!!!
Gameboys always needed an extra light in most places. It doesnt bother me to play with a Floodlight, and hell most of the time i just find a well lit room, and play away.

as far as the games go, I have one thing to say:
Take away alllllll the ports, and it still has better games than an Xbox.

Metroid Fusion owns your mom's ass.

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Originally posted by Chibi Nappa
Why? Is it just out of principal? The Afterburner is as good as you could ever possibly need. Quality doohicky.

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yes principal

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Originally posted by Millartime
I have never understood why the GBA is so popular. Here's a system that has virtually nothing but hacked up ports of 10+ year old SNES games (gotta love that music in Contra!). With a blurry screen to boot. And people are buying this crap in droves.

The latest example: Darius R. It's 32-bit hardware and Taito can't make the ship sprite tilt when you move vertically?

And after so many years Nintendo cannot come up with a freakin' internal light!

Granted, original games like the two Castlevanias and Shining Soul get props from me but it's not enough.

If there was ever an argument that people buy what they already know, the GBA proves it.

Let the flames proclaiming my arrogance begin.:D

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A-mutha-fucking-men to that! I hate this thing sooo much! I hate portables in general; the idea of playing crappy games squished onto a small screen makes me cringe.

The Afterburner addresses the lighting issue remarkably well. I was very pleased. But that's only one problem with the GBA.

My real complaint is ergonomics. It's an incredibly uncomfortable thing to hold for any length of time, my thumb joints end up hurting after just playing for a little while. Games that use the shoulder buttons a lot? Forget it.

Add on very few games that interest me (especially at the prices they fetch) and the end result is one bad portable IMO.

I don't know what you guys have against GBA. I like to play Super Mario Kart while pinching a loaf.

The only thing I "loathe" about the GBA is the stupid UN-backlit screen. As for all the snes ports and such, I say bring on the classics.

It used to be my favourite system a while back , but many of the heavy hitters have dissapointments. Especially the Sega games. It has some great games(golden sun,advance wars,fusion)but I dont think it's library is as good as the cubes.

Doesn't change the fact that it's hard as hell to see and is less enjoyable because of it.  More for some than others.
 
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Originally posted by Millartime
I have never understood why the GBA is so popular. Here's a system that has virtually nothing but hacked up ports of 10+ year old SNES games (gotta love that music in Contra!). With a blurry screen to boot. And people are buying this crap in droves.

The latest example: Darius R. It's 32-bit hardware and Taito can't make the ship sprite tilt when you move vertically?

And after so many years Nintendo cannot come up with a freakin' internal light!

Granted, original games like the two Castlevanias and Shining Soul get props from me but it's not enough.

If there was ever an argument that people buy what they already know, the GBA proves it.

Let the flames proclaiming my arrogance begin.:D

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sorry to the rest, but I'm in absolute complete agreement...not to mention only TWO god damn face buttons.

ahhh..i LOVE my GBA

i got the ULTRA RARE "backlit" GBA ;)

http://y2bandit.netfirms.com/pics/metroidab.jpg

and for those looking for a site to install the afterburner, here is the link..

http://www.tritonlabs.com/cgi-bin/ik...=ST;f=4;t=2654

for reviews on installers here is the link..

http://www.tritonlabs.com/cgi-bin/ik...=ST;f=4;t=2653

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Originally posted by DHG Otaku
sorry to the rest, but I'm in absolute complete agreement..

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You should not be sorry to the rest, we should be sorry to you.. we're enjoying the hell out of GBA. ;)

I wish you and the others could as well. :(

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Originally posted by remotec
My real complaint is ergonomics. It's an incredibly uncomfortable thing to hold for any length of time, my thumb joints end up hurting after just playing for a little while. Games that use the shoulder buttons a lot? Forget it.

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Get a Mad Catz Battery Grip. You will not belive the wonders it does for the ergonomics. I can't play without it. I also recomend stealing a C button from an N64 pad, drilling a hole above the A and B buttons on your GBA, and running a wire to the L button. L button on the face = less hand mangling. :)

The ergonomics are bad, the screen is bad as well in both brightness and size. The shoulder buttons should be triggers instead.

Otherwise it is a great system for geezers like me(23) who want people to remember where games come from and not to forget it when they're out there pushing 3D games with bad camera angles and 7 button control.:) I also like the newly sparked interest to have mobile gaming in general, like Nokia's proposed handheld. The good thing is that you can't put an nVidia chip in those systems.:p

I think that in order to propell the genre Nintendo needs to release a dev kit to the public, like a flash cart but one which would only respond to their signature or whatever so that the commercial games couldn't be pirated. Not that the demo/amateur games scene for the GBA is not fantastic enough. I'm serious, release it for kids with several templates for building games like shooters, puzzle, platformer, RPG, isometric. God knows it would only help the industry.

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Originally posted by Chibi Nappa
I also recomend stealing a C button from an N64 pad, drilling a hole above the A and B buttons on your GBA, and running a wire to the L button. L button on the face = less hand mangling. :)

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Have you actually done that? That's an interesting idea. And yeah, I should get a hand grip thing for it.

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Originally posted by remotec
Have you actually done that?

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Yup. :D Wouldn't dream of playing Street Fighter without it.

This is just stupid. I don't know how anyone could argue the GBA has a blurry screen. And Shining Soul? WTF?! I don't think this guy has even played these games. Whatever. I love my GBA, and I love my GBA library.

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Originally posted by Frogacuda
This is just stupid. I don't know how anyone could argue the GBA has a blurry screen.

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Not blurry, dark. And it's ^&$*#'n impossible to see. :p

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Originally posted by sggg
You should not be sorry to the rest, we should be sorry to you.. we're enjoying the hell out of GBA. ;)

I wish you and the others could as well. :(

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I enjoy the GBA , its just that I think that the consoles have better lineups.
Sure the GBA has 2D games coming from classic franchises .......but they are only a shadow of their console counterparts.
Certain games like Zelda:oracle of seasons and Advance wars are fun as they are designed to be played in your pocket , but there are only a select few games like that.
One could argue that its better than the consoles becuase its lineup is mostly 2D , but the 2d games that are being released for the consoles are a hundred times better than their handheld counterparts.
Hell, Im thinking of purchasing a Strikers 1945 III board which costs over 3-4 times the cost of the GBA and im pretty sure it'll give me more entertainement than the whole the GBA(and NGPC) combined.