StarSoldier1's Full Review: Nintendo Game Boy Advance Console
I'm back! The Starsoldier is here again doing what I do best....... games!
"Well, well, well it's another Gameboy!" Every few years, it seems, Nintendo will release another Gameboy to the market to keep the name 'GameBoy' alive. So is this new system worth that higher price? Here's my opinion.
The newest Gameboy here features a strong new 32-bit processor oppose to the older 8-bit model, two extra top buttons (you can even change the screen size of the screen of your older GB games to make them easier to see) for more complex games that need more buttons, and a wider screen when compared to the older Gameboy Color. It will still play all the older black and white gameboy titles and the gameboy color ones too plus it will also now play newer games specially made for the Game Boy Advance like CastleVania: Aria of Sorrow, Tony Hawk 3 and Super Mario Advance 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Although the new gameboy here can not produce 3D polygons like other 32-bit systems like the Playstation and Sega Saturn (remember the Saturn?), but it does have the 'Mode 7' effects of the Super Nintendo for some scaling and rotation graphics on the system and that's still better than nothing. Some companies are also trying to make polygons on the GBA like in the game StarX.
Despite all the good news about this brand new system the GBA's screen is still not backlit much like the old Gameboys, making it hard to see at times in certain places like almost anywhere outside and certain indoor with weak lighting too which is very annoying especially with very dark games like CastleVania. The screen can get so bad it almost acts like a mirror. I also wish there was an option to adjust the brightest too like on the older Gameboy's but again we get screwed on that deal.
Another problem is that some of newer games don't look too 32-bit like Nintendo's Super Mario Advance (it looks just like that old Super Mario All Stars game on SNES) and Army Men Advance just looks like crap (and plays like crap too) period. I also found the sound quality was not up to par with other systems like the old Super Nintendo from 10 years ago and many games sound no different than GameBoy Color games. On the subject of the new GBA games, most of them are now 10 bucks more expensive than the Gameboy Color games out there so be prepared to shell out some more money, although some of the games are worth it like these:
my current Top three GBA's:
1. CASTLEVANIA: Circle of the Moon
A great game for fans of the series because its not only a challenging, non linear game that will take weeks to finish but it also includes a little of everything from all of the past games.
2. MARIO KART: Super Curcuit
What can I say, it's Mario Kart! Even though the series is nearly ten years now the Mario Kart series is still the best there is in its category. Mario Kart SC is the almost the perfect GBA game even if you don't like racing games. The controls are right on, the graphics look amazing, the sound is there, and the multi player rules! You won't regret picking this kart racer up unlike all the other copy cat wanna be's out there. I should have a full review of this game soon.
3. GRADIUS GALAXIES
Gradius Galaxies almost got a average rating if it wasn't for the build in save feature. The save feature added additional replay value to a game that can be finished in a hour or two. Learning how to master the game is key to getting the best records and beating your friends in the top score board. Gradius Galaxies is a smart purchase for any shooter fan! You can also see the full review here on epinions if you like.
Bottomline: "Come on! What else is there?"
Despite some problems the GBA already has some great games like CastleVania: Circle Of The Moon (almost as cool has the amazing Playstation title), the Tony Hawk games which play great even in 2D, and the Super Mario titles are really addictive too. Plus the GBA's future looks great with tons of support from big companies. Don't forget the GBA is fully compatible with older GameBoy and Gameboy Color titles and that's over 800 games to pick from! The system is a fairly smart buy with you like the original Gameboy and you want something more.
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