Customer Reviews

Game Boy Advance Console in Glacier

5 star:		(188)
4 star:		(71)
3 star:		(29)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(27)

 

 

I'm primarily a PC gamer, so my foray into the vast unknown metaverse known as "console gaming" is not very deep. The only other "console" I've owned is a Gameboy color (which I still have). After trying out a few GBA games on my computer, I decided to take the plunge and buy a Gameboy Advance, and am I ever glad that I did! The screen is large and bright, the buttons are well-placed (even in my massive hands), and the games that are out for the GBA (and soon to be released) look very impressive.

No, the GBA isn't backlit, but I'd rather use two AA batteries for 12 hours than 6 AA's for 6 hours (like Sega's Game Gear did); if you think the screen's too dark, spend ($$$) on a desk lamp, sit on your couch, park the lamp behind your shoulder and voila! instant sun-light :)

The speaker on the GBA also isn't very impressive, but it is more than enough for the games that play on the system -- if you were expecting full speech, sorry, this isn't what you're looking for ;)

Games like Advance Wars and Tactics Ogre compete with PC games in their complexity and sheer addictiveness. Zoocube is an incredibly addictive puzzle game that rivals Tetris (mark my words, Zoocube *will* become the next Tetris!), and with companies like Square promising solid RPG's to come out for the GBA in the future (such as Final Fantasy Tactics and Fire Emblem by Nintendo), you really can't go wrong with the purchase.

One final tip: make sure you invest in a nice hard case for the unit, as the display is supposedly very fragile. I've owned a hard case from day one and covered it with a hankerchief, so I've had no problems, but I think it's worth the ($$$) investment to protect the unit for years to come.

Bottom line: if you're looking for a good, solid system with very playable titles and nice graphics, look no further than the GBA.

The GBA is the newest wave in handheld video games, and a sound investment for those who love the old SNES games and the ability to take them anywhere with you. It also comes in verious colors, but I prefer the Glacier.

As most others already mentioned, the display is not backlit. But either my eyes are exceptional, or other people's are really bad, but I can see the games crystal clear. It is a trade off, not having a backlit screen means that your batteries go further. Anyone who remembers the Game Gear from Sega surely can remember how it gobbled batteries up like mad. Given a choice, I would rather go with the non-backlit screen. The old Gameboy and Gameboy color did fine without backlit screens, so the GBA doesn't suffer by not having one.

The best thing about the GBA is the gameplay. Despite the small size, you get amazing depth to your games. With Super Mario World (a handheld version of the SNES classic), every apect of the original is preserved, and the controls are like second nature. The graphics are 32-bit, but on the small screen, they have the look and feel of 16-bit. This is not a bad thing, mind you, but you can't expect Playstation quality on a screen less than 5 inches tall and wide. The graphics are impressive enough, but the sound quality blew me away. The music is amazingly audible, and comes through with excellent clarity.

With an ever expanding library of games, the GBA is likely to live up to it's older brother, the Gameboy, and dominate the handheld video game market. Despite the other complaints about the non-backlit screen, I think you will be suprised at the quality of this little system. If you can afford it, buy the battery pak. You'll save money in the long run.

I'm way too old for video games and as a rule, I have never bought any. Until now. I remember playing Super Mario on and old Nintendo system when I was a kid about 10 years ago and deep down in my mind there was a longing for something better - then Gameboy Advance came along and I knew I just had to have it.

I am now a proud owner of a Glacier Gameboy Advance with a Super Mario Advance pack and it is quite enjoyable (if not time-consuming). I am considering purchasing Super Mario Deluxe for Gameboy Color, as GBA is completely and utterly backwards compatible, which is a great plus.

Overall, the playing experience is better than I expected for a tiny little game console. It doesn't hurt to hold it for long periods of time, the buttons are in perfect spots, and the extra buttons on top allow you to see more of the world you're in while playing SM2. The batteries are provided with the system, and I'm already halfway through the game and they are still functioning without a problem. The sounds is awesome and doesn't have that weird distorted sound like old beat up electronic equipment tends to have.

The only drawback is lack of a backlight screen. It is very difficult to play in areas without really good light. I heard it gets even worse for "darker" games. Apparently the worm light is a must.

I give GBA 5 stars for the ability to amuse me for long periods of time. It is a great distractions from the troubles of reality and if you're feeling escapist at all or are just after cheap entertainment, GBA is a solution for you.

The Game Boy Advance is the only viable handheld gaming platform on the market. The new design is much better than the old Gameboy, and new games offer the right amount of distraction without requiring the time commitment of more complex traditional console games. For that reason, I actually think GBA is perfect for adults, especially parents, who want a little gaming in their lives.

Only problem: the device desperately needs a backlight. It's essentially impossible to use without an accessory light in any conditions. In well-lit rooms, the glare off the screen requires the user to tip the unit at an angle, which disrupts gameplay. In darkness, games with low contrast colors are hard to play. Even more unfortunate, Nintendo doesn't sell an official light accessory, and the third-party lights are bulky, inconvenient, and just plain ugly. I have to wonder how Nintendo felt comfortable putting a product to market that so desperately needs an accessory they themselves don't provide.

I have been dying for a Game Boy Advance since they came out this summer, and I finally got one for my birthday! Here is everything you need to know if you are thinking about buying one:

1.The screen is hard to see if you don't have good light. But its not a problem if you buy a light!!!!! Its soo simple. I've heard people complaining about how dark the screen is and they won't spend a few bucks on a light. The Light Shield by Pelican Accessories is awsome. There is no glare at all, and it protects the screen when your not using it.

2.Sooo light!!!! When mine came in the mail I thought it was something else. LOL, it is really light and small which makes it great for taking it along anywhere.

3.Plays old games: I've tried some of my Original Game Boy games and they look cool! They sorta come out with color.

All I have to say is get one now!!!!! You won't regret it!! :-)

Gameboy Advance is the best handheld gaming system out there. The screen does not need a back light at all, just get yourself the nyko wormlight advance or just sit in good light. It helps to have a case because the screen can easily be scratched. The games are also very good with many titles from snes. The system itself has a much better layout than gameboy color. The game cartrideges are now half the size they used to be. The batteries usually last about 18 hours and it only takes two! I bought my gameboy advance with super mario world (in my opinion this is the best game on this system.) So if you love nintendo and want a portable gaming system with excellent graphics and much much more buy it today from amazon! Once again I give this system two thumbs up.

Don't get me wrong, I love the GameBoy Advance, but seriously, WHAT WAS NINTENDO THINKING??? What was going through their minds when they decided not to have the GameBoy advance backlit. How would you feel if you bought a cell phone that wasn't backlit and the only way you could get a clear picture was in direct sunlight. I've tried EVERY aftermarket clip on light you can buy but they're not really practical. They are either not bright enough, have horrible glare, or don't light the screen evenly, and the ones that are bright enough are so heavy and bulky your GameBoy is hardly portable. It really annoys the heck out of me!

There is an aftermarket upgrade out there that fixes this problem. It's called the Afterburner and is made by Triton Labs. You must install it inside the GameBoy and it works beautifully. It completely lights up the entire screen with a brilliant, even light. But it's not perfect either. The installation takes about 4 hours and is an EXTREMELY stressful and difficult procedure. I ruined my GameBoy trying to install one.

I suggest buying a GameBoy with an Afterburner pre-installed from a PROFESSIONAL. I bought mine ...and it works beautifully. Now I can play my GameBoy in complete darkness and can see every detail. It's awesome. I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT!

This is an excellent system but the GBA SP is now on the market and it is much better. The original GBA needs large amounts of light to play while the SP of course is lit. I have tried to take good care not to scratch the screen on mine but one or two annoying scratches were inevitable. If you are considering buying a GBA system make it the SP since it is lit and has the protected screen.

I recently got the handheld from my brother in the US.The Gameboy Advance handheld system is cool and boasts a wide selection of games. Whatesle can i say but that with such selection you cannot go wron with this console. The built design is great and it's sturdy construction is a great boon. The controls are widely spaced for big hands and the wide screen is great for adventure games. The earphone socket is great too since i can plug in my discman headphones and listen to the game sound and music in stereo. The graphics are great...even better than the ones in SNES and since it is portable I can kill time while out on trips. Though some talk about the newer SP being better due to its backlight display and the clamshell design to protect the screen from scratches, I don't it's such a big deal. The rechargeable battery in the SP though may sound like a boon but what about mobile gaming. If the battery were to run out during car trips or plane rides ...then what? Don't even talk about car adapters....that's extra cash to be dished out...also when not in use the battery may leak and you cannot just remove them like in the advance. The battery pack also will cost a lot when it runs out and needs to be replaced.While in this model, you just carry some extra battery packs..Wollah... About the screen and the scratches on it, why don't the gals and guys just store the handheld in the plastic bag that came with it and pout it in the box. Why throw away the box when it can safely store your handheld. My cousin brother has a SP but he recently dropped it and the screen now just shows half of the screen and the other half of the screen is damaged. Talk about the clamshell design...huh? The backlighting is great in the SP but most of us will be playing the gamboy during the day and not in some dungeon or a cave for that matter....
OVERALL
CONSTRUCTION-4/5
DURABILITY-4/5
COST OF OPERATION-5/5
SELECTION OF GAMES-5/5

FINAL VERDICT-Buy it....

I have owned the GBA for several months and enjoy it so much. The graphics are very sharp for such a small screen and the sound is better than a Super Nintendo system.

Some pros: Use it right out of the box, lightweight, great sound w/ or w/out headphones, lots of non-violent games to play.
Cons: Might need too many accessories to fully enjoy, not for use in well-lighted placed, batteries run out too quick (*buy* a few sets of rechargeables), if you drop it say goodbye :(

There are over 40 really good games out for this system. My favs are --> Mario Kart (best non-violent racing game for kids), Golden Sun (rpg like Shining Force), Tony Hawk (skateboarding), Super Bust a Move (Bubble Bobble...think Tetris with bubbles), Castlevania Circle of the Move (great action game!), Donald Duck (best family game for any Nintendo system since SNES), Street Fighter II Revival (o.k. fighting game), Batman Vengeance (fast action like the GameCube verion), and WarioLand 4 (Wario is a dork btw ;)

If you want to keep your kids busy then this is a good starter system. This is more kid friendly then a Pl*ystation 2 or GameCube in my opinion. The GBA also will hook as a controller into the new GameCubes. Play Pokemon Crystal or Harry Potter on the GBA, two very family-friendly games that you can enjoy!