patch3boys's Full Review: Nintendo Game Boy Advance Console
I decided to let my boys ADVANCE- The Nintendo Game Boy Advance
I first would like to add a thanks to Rick (32_Footsteps) for helping me rewrite my article. Hopefully I covered all the information needed in this article that will be considered helpful to people from ALL walks of life in making their Game Boy Advance buying decision. However, if I have left something out, please feel free to let me know. I promise I will take the help graciously. And on side note: The Olive branch...errrr Olive tree is still there.
After buying my two oldest son's The Nintendo Game Boy Color earlier this year, I decided at that point, THIS WAS IT! There is no possible way that we are going to be able to continue to keep up with all the new advanced systems that continue to flood the market. I put my foot down and said, "No more, this will be it!"
So what happened? Why am I here now, all these months later, writing about the Nintendo Game Boy Advance? Well, ever hear the phrase, curiosity got the cat?
It happened at our local Toy R Us. On a recent shopping trip, my husband showed up missing and was nowhere to be found. I ended up finding him at the stores main entrance playing a video game. He had around 9 or 10 anxious little boys standing behind him while he was hogging the New Game Boy Advance System. After reminding him that it was time to let some of the other kids play the game, my husband graciously handed the control to the next little boy in line. I swear, I can't take him anywhere! : )
So now, I was curious and wanted to see what all the hype was about. But, I was not about to go stand in a line of kids to play the game. So, I did the next best thing, I used that to justify buying my own.
My Choices when buying
When I went to purchase my Nintendo Game Boy Advance, they weren't selling the system by itself. They were being sold in bundles. (Kind of like when they first started selling the Playstation 2's) The bundles consisted of the game unit, a new advance game and an accessory.
My Nintendo Game Boy Advance Bundle came with the following:
• A Glacier colored Game Boy Advance
• Super Mario Advance Game
• The Game Boy Advance Worm Light (Which is pretty neat. This one has and LED and requires NO batteries. It plugs right into the unit)
The Unit Itself
You have a choice of three colors to choose from when purchasing your Game Boy Advance: Glacier (white), Arctic (see through purple) and Indigo (bluish;purple color).
The Unit itself is somewhat different from the Game Boy Color. Instead of it being longer vertically, the Advance is longer horizontally. The Screen is wider as well. This gives you more of visual of where you are coming from and where you are going. I like this about this screen. It gives your play a whole new feel to it.
The game cartridges still click in at the top of the unit. Not much difference there. Oh, and surprise, they actually sold the batteries with the game. WOW!!! I wonder who thought of doing that, what a concept LOL
(This has always bugged me. I feel if I am going to spend my hard earned money on an electronic or game, then it should be able to come straight out of the box and run.) So anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to find the batteries in there.
***Note: I replace batteries SO often on my son's Game Boy color that I find it kind of interesting that the batteries in our new Game Boy Advance haven't died yet. As a matter of fact, I just picked some new ones up the last time I went shopping thinking that these are due to go out, but they still haven't. So although I don't know by exactly how much time, I would have to say that this system definitely has a longer battery life. That is music to my ears AND to my pocketbook.
Colors and Graphics
The Nintendo Game Boy Advance is said to the very first 32- bit hand held video game. There is definitely a difference in the color and graphics on the new advanced as compared to the Game Boy Color. The games play in brighter and more vibrant colors. The colors are very clear and the picture looks more like Saturday morning cartoons than a video game. There is larger variety of colors in the Advance.
However, the one problem I have found is with the glare. Although the colors seem to be more vibrant, the screen itself is still somewhat dark. I found that I can see much better when I play under a lamp instead of in the "daylight" alone which causes that glare. But, I had this same problem with the Game Boy Color. (I am hoping that GB wormlight does something to help that. I didn't want to take it out of the package to try, so I will have to see later. But in reality all you need is a lamp.)
Sound
The sound on the Nintendo Game Boy Advance is also much clearer. With the updated technology and the digitized stereo sound, this system rocks! (Can a mom use that word?) Again, you never really realize just how much difference there is until to compare the it to the old digital sound.
My Own Test
Taking the advice of a Games Advisor, I performed my own little test. I snagged my son's Game Boy color along with the game "Super Mario Land" and headed off into my closet to perform my own comparison. Although I could already tell how advanced the GBA was, doing this test was a real eye opener. I first started by playing the Super Mario Land on Game Boy Color. The color was dull and gray looking, compared to what I have been use to playing on the Advance. I then took note of the music and sound. As I played the game, it played the single monotone note music that we have always known Mario games to play. Do do do do, do do do do....... It sounds computerized. Then, I immediately turned the Game Boy Advance back on and was pleasantly brought back to "actual" music. It is like night and day. Fully digitized sound. There is no comparison. The GBA is so advanced in this area that I can't even put it into words. Seeing and hearing it side by side, really shows this and how advanced it is.
I guess the reason I was so surprised by this system was because I was actually just looking for the minor differences that we saw when we went from the Game Boy to the Game Boy Color. Which was really not much except a more compact version and the added color. But the Nintendo Game Boy Advance is actually a step up in the high tech world of hand held video games. I am definitely glad that we bought this.
Games
Along with the new Advance also comes all new Advanced Games. However, you are still able to play all other game boy game cartridges in this unit. Which is a major blessing to us since we own so many different games already. I am sure my son will want to get some of the new advance games that are out on the market with this system, but for now, he will have to stick with the one that came with his bundle back. He is only going to "advance" with Mario at this time! (However, I was told that there may be a few older games that will not work on this system. But all games made for The Game Boy in the last 5 years are guaranteed to work.)
****Note- The new advance game cartridges are slightly more compact. Like the unit which is now longer horizontally and shorter vertically, so are the games.
What your controllers do
The controllers do different things for the different games it plays.
• To the right of your screen you have a + shaped button. This button will direct your character forward, backward, crouch him down and move him upward.
• Underneath the + control pad you have two small buttons. One for start and one for select.
• To the left of your screen are two round buttons. A & B.
• Your power button is located on the bottom of the system on the far left hand side. All the way over on the far right hand side is the volume dial and an input for head phones.
• An input jack is located on top for a Multi Play adapter (If I understand correctly, through this you can connect up to 4 other Game Boy Advance units together for Multi Play.)
• I guess what I consider to be the most different about this systems controls is the L(left) and R(right) buttons that are located on top of the system. You play those buttons with your pointer fingers. As with all the controls, they have different functions, all depending on the game you are playing.
I am not sure if this button does this for all games but on the MariaAdvance game, the (L) button moves the entire screen up and down in one big swoosh. It is pretty neat. Instead of having to take the extra time to push up on the control to move your player up, just tap the (L) button and screen will automatically move as far upward as possible.
It takes a little bit of time to get use to the new buttons in the position they are placed, but it is actually very comfortable for your pointer fingers to just rest on these buttons. It feels natural. As a matter of fact, the whole system is a lot more comfortable to hold. I guess being that it is longer horizontally, you are able to get a better grip on the system. Your hands aren't all bunched up too close together like on the Game Boy Color. The system fits nicely and comfortably in your hands and is actually easier to control game play in this position.
How well the control's work- Back to my closet for Test number 2
It was suggested to me to be able to better compare the differences on how the controls work to again, do a side by side comparison.
I would first like to add that I found out something cool. When you put one of the older games into the Game Boy Advance you can control the size of the picture in the screen. Simply Press the (L) button and the game will fill up the entire screen, press the (R) button and it will shrink to the size of the Game Boy Color. Interesting.... just thought I would add that.
Back to my comparison. I noticed that the new GBA controls are more "tight" or "firm." This is great, let me explain why. When I played my game on the old game boy system, the loose controls caused my player to keep moving a bit even after I have let up on the button. On the Advance, I noticed an instantaneous stop as I let up on the button. Overall the controls responded quickly and precisely and were very easy to use.
Extra's
Later this fall, the Game Cube will be released. You will be able to directly connect this Game Cube to certain games as use it as an additional game screen and controller.
I also read where you can purchase a wrist strap that attaches to your wrist and the back of the game. This would be great if you are purchasing this system for a child and you worry about them dropping their system.
Sold separately is also the adapter for around $20. If you would rather spend the $20 instead of constantly replacing the batteries, this would be a smart buy.
Overall
That is about it. Super Mario Advance was the only advanced game that we have been able to test in this system because that is the game that came in my bundle. But I feel pretty confident that all the many other games will be just as vibrant and come to life just as much.
I was pleasantly surprised by this and consider it a great gift for my oldest son. To be honest, if I wasn't totally happy with this system, I would have sent it back. We already have TOO many game systems around my house to be adding anymore. But the Nintendo Game Boy Advance ended up cutting the mustard for me. I don't feel so bad about spending the money and definitely don't consider it money thrown away. I can't wait to see the look on my son's face come Christmas morning when he opens this. I know that he will have just as much fun as I have had.
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