InterAct Face Mask - Nice But Not A Necessity
Written: Nov 13 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Protects the screen and body, variety of colors, inexpensive.
Cons: Makes the controls hard to use, a little tough to apply and remove.
The Bottom Line: If you take your GameBoy Advance on the road with you, these masks are a great way to protect the screen and body of the unit.
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| Freak369's Full Review: InterAct FaceMasks |
With four boys in the house, the GameBoy Advance sees a lot of use. I’ve pretty much given up on getting a chance to play during the day it so I am stuck with the GameBoy Color or the old school, almost prehistoric GameBoy [black and white]. It seems like every week there is a new accessory on the market for the GameBoy family and as much as I hate to admit it, I rarely heed the warnings of others when shopping for these little gadgets. I came across the InterAct Face Mask a few months ago while trying to master Spyro: Season of Ice and through that with this mask and the ‘sensitive’ controllers I might stand a chance at beating some of the harder tasks in the game. Since I only get to use the GameBoy Advance when the boys are asleep my time is limited so I need all the advantages I can get.
InterAct Face Mask The Basics
The basic premise of the mask is to allow you to have a better control of the unit. The slide over mask attaches easily but is a little hard to remove [much like most of the covers] but not impossible. Sold in a variety of colors and designs, it allows those that purchased the basic white model [like me] the chance to add a little color to their deck. The mask covers the entire front portion of the unit with the exception of the screen, start and select buttons, power light and small slotted cut outs for the speaker. The directional controls [left hand side] are covered by a toggle button that is supposed to allow you greater control over the movement. This is a tough call since some games require very little precise movement and others a tremendous amount.
When the face mask is off of the unit you’ll notice that the directional controller wobbles around a lot – so much so that it almost appears to be broken. When in use it is loud and if you are like me – trying to play it on the sly – you’ll find yourself getting busted all the time. When you look at the underside of the face mask you’ll see the controlling elements of the D-pad. Four small screws secure the piece into place and four prongs serve as the guidance system that allows you to execute your moves. If one of these gets broken, bent or snaps off you can pretty much consider the mask useless and pitch it in the garbage. If you are going to pick up these masks and pay more than a few dollars for them I highly suggest purchasing some type of organizer to store the masks in so that the sensitive parts won’t get damaged.
The biggest detractor to using the mask is the harsh and mechanical feeling you get when you first start using the mask. It almost feels like you have to use more pressure to get the job done – but at the same time you feel like you might break the masks controller by doing so. The noise level is just a personal disliking – some people don’t even notice it. If you get the chance to try this mask out before you buy it – take advantage of it. You might like it, you might not. Most places that resell used items will allow you to give it a test drive to see if it’s something that you’ll find useful.
The A and B buttons [right side] are covered with two flat round buttons. These don’t wobble around like the directional controller and are a little quieter than the GameBoy Advance buttons. I didn’t really notice much of a difference with these button when playing my regular games but a few of the game geeks say that in a rapid fire situation the buttons don’t react quick enough and if you are low on energy or lives – you might just find yourself dead.
The satisfaction level of this product is determined by how much you use the GameBoy Advance, the types of games you are playing and how you play. Rough handlers that really need to feel the control pad might not like the way the InterAct Mask ‘gets in the way’. Action and fighting games [All Pro Wrestling, Super Mario] worked well with the mask but after about fifteen minutes your thumbs might start feeling numb. As I said, I only get a limited amount of time to use the GameBoy Advance so I needed to try a variety of games to see which one worked best with the mask. Basic games like Tetris, Dr. Mario and Yoshi’s Cookie were great to play with the mask on but when I reached the higher levels and speed and placement were essential – the mask was more of a hindrance than a help.
Getting the mask off an on the unit is a little tricky the first few times. My own personal suggestion is to ‘rock’ it into place – start with either the left or right side and get it into position then snap it into place on the opposite end. Once the mask is in place there’s really no chance of it coming loose or accidentally falling off unless it is dropped. The sides of the mask drape over the edges of the unit near the rubber grips on the ends. The headphone jack, on and off switch, volume control, left and right top control buttons and auxiliary jack are all completely accessible with the face mask in place so you won’t lose any control over these functions.
When I purchased my GameBoy Advance it came with a nice albeit useless storage pack. The blue clamshell type case attached to a waist pack via a large patch of Velcro that was just not my style. I opted to pick up a small inexpensive paperback book sack. I came across it on clearance at Target and while I wasn’t crazy about the cover [funky dark green] it allowed me to store the GameBoy Advance, game cases, instruction booklets and an external lighting rig. Storing the unit with the mask on is hard with most conventional cases since it usually allows only room for the unit and not much else. If you have accessories for your console and want to keep them all together you might want to check out some of the book sacks that are sold at most general merchandise stores. I try not to keep the mask on the unit when I am not using it since the D-pad controller is a little strange. I have this fear that it will end up putting too much pressure on the units pad and end up breaking it or stressing it out.
Designer Two Pack
Retailing for about $5.99 the two pack is your best bet if you have previously tried out and liked the InterAct Face Mask. You get one solid colored mask and one that is highly detailed. Some of the designs include red flames, checkerboard, clouds and the whole line of metallic colors [silver, gold, blue, red, yellow etc]. I was a little skeptical about how much abuse these would take but after talking to the game geeks they assured me that they are worth their weight in gold [in the aspect of handling use, not gaming performance] and will stand up to a ton of use. I’ve only purchased the plain colored masks and so far they are holding their own without any noticeable scratches or cracks.
There are also twin packs on the market that have two solid colored masks. These were from the first series and came in three twin pack assortments of purple and black, gold [metallic] and red, silver [metallic] and blue. My son purchased the purple and black pack with his allowance and really likes the ability to change the look of the unit. I’ve purchased the masks individually from the game geeks at their store and must admit that they really improve the bland and boring look of the GameBoy Advance. Since the quality of the plastic is above average the mask helps to protect the unit in case it is dropped.
The Bottom Line
I can’t say that this mask is perfect because it isn’t. The D-pad controller needs a lot of work before it is up to par with the A and B buttons. If you get the chance to try these out before you buy them then by all means do so. I suggest using a game that you are familiar with and have played for a while so you can determine if the InterAct Face Mask would be beneficial to your gaming needs. What it all boils down to is how often you use the unit, the games you play and how you go about playing them.
For me, I like the ability to be able to change the overall color of the unit and the protection it offers me. For some games like Tetris and Yoshi’s Cookie the mask works great but after extended periods of time you will start to feel a little bit of strain in your hand. Since the D-pad controller on the mask rests higher than the GameBoy Advance cross controller it may take a little bit of time to get used it the height and positioning. This is the sort of accessory that really needs to be given a “hands on” test drive to see if it will be to your liking. If you don’t have the chance to try it before you buy it – the suggested retail price of $2.99 - $3.99 per mask won’t break you if it turns out the mask isn’t for you.
As always, thanks for the visit!
^V^ Freak ^V^
© 2002 Freak369
Recommended:
Yes
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