Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP - Onyx

by Nintendo

Product Features

• This incredible redesign features a fantastic flip-screen; unopened, the unit fits easily in your pocket
• When it's opened, gamers are in for a treat -- the screen can display up to 32,000 colors, and has a backlit screen for comfortable game viewing
• Redesigned button and D-pad placement make for hours of more comfortable playing
• Powered by a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery that provides 18 hours of play with the light off(up to 10 hours with the light on)
• Games are backwards-compatible -- your Game Boy Advance games will play just fine on the GBA SP

Product Details

• ASIN: B000087PM3
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches ; 1.1 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,548 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Early Adopters Pick: March 2003. As the world's smallest video-game platform, the Game Boy Advance SP is also the first to use a built-in rechargeable battery.

Many decried the original Game Boy Advance's reflective LCD screen and its reliance on external light sources. The Game Boy Advance SP's main feature--optional backlighting--fixes this complaint nicely, but it's the wealth of other features that makes this system so surprisingly good.

At first look, you might think the SP is a sleek travel alarm clock. When closed, it's just as tall and deep as the original GBA, but only half as wide. Due to its clamshell design, the screen is always protected from everyday scratches. A small button in the center of the console turns on the backlighting element for use in low-light situations, like in a moving car.

The SP comes with a well-designed power adapter that recharges a built-in battery; its prongs fold in for easier storage. Our informal tests found that it takes about four hours to fully charge (you can even play it while it's plugged in and charging), and the battery lasts about 11 hours with the backlighting constantly on--your results may vary. Using the backlighting less often will conserve battery power.

With separately sold cables , you can connect the Game Boy Advance SP to other GBAs for multiplayer gaming (above) or to the Nintendo GameCube (below) to access secret levels, exchange data, or use other special features that vary from game to game.

The quality of the backlighting is very good. It's bright and clear when looking directly at it, but degraded from other angles. This is only a problem for friends who are watching the screen from over your shoulder.

But size, power, and affordability do not come without trade offs. There's no headphone jack here, though Nintendo promises an adapter. The system isn't very loud at its highest volume, and the sound can be turned down to socially acceptable levels. The L and R shoulder buttons are a fraction of the size they were on the GBA, and thus are harder to hit. Also, the reduced size of the SP is slightly less comfortable for adult hands than the GBA, but perhaps more comfortable for smaller hands. The cartridge port placement on the lower part of the console is fine for GBA games, since they are flush with the console body, but older Game Boy Color carts will stick out in a way that takes some getting used to.

Open it up and the hinge will seek out a preferred, pre-set angle (about 150 degrees), though you can open it a bit wider or narrower for your own comfort. The hinge stands up well to lateral pressure, and over all, the SP seems just as rugged as its predecessor--which has proven to be very rugged, indeed. --Porter B. Hall

Unit Specifications

• CPU: 32-Bit ARM with embedded memory
• Memory: 32 KB with 96 KB VRAM (in CPU), 256 KB WRAM (external of CPU)
• Screen: 2.9-inch reflective TFT color LCD
• Display Size: 1.6 by 2.4 inches (40.8 by 61.2 mm)
• Resolution: 240 x 160 pixels in a wide-screen aspect ratio
• Colors: 511 simultaneous colors from a palette of 32,768
• Software: Fully compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color game paks
• Light Source: Front light integrated with LCD
• Size (closed): 3.3 by 3.23 by .96 inch
• Weight: Approximately 5 ounces
• Power Supply: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• Battery Life: 10 hours continuous play with light on; 18 hours with light off; 3 hours recharging

Product Description

The GBA SP is as small as a celphone and more portable than the original GBA. Take your portable gaming to the next dimension with this futuristic new game system! Color - Onyx

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great things do come in small packages, February 2, 2005

By 

Gil (Md) - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP - Onyx (Video Game)

I just purchased the GBASP, and while I have not played at great length, I must say that initially, I am blown away! I was attracted to it not only by the compact size and small screen, but the exceptional low price as well. It will be great to take my gaming habit wherever I want to go. In addition, it is not loaded with bells and whistles like it's newer brother, the DS, and is simple to use. I know of a few people whose only system is the Gameboy, so if you want something simple and portable, this is for you!
the SP is very easy and fun to operate. In addition, the endless list of games will keep you busy for a long, long time.
While everyone seems to be raving over the DS, I'm having a great time with the SP.

Tip. Be sure to get a carrying case, as if you put it in your pockets, lint, dust, etc. will get into the system.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The 100% Better Version of GBA, February 7, 2005

By 

David Zampino Jr. (Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP - Onyx (Video Game)

The SP is a small step for gamers but a giant leap for Nintendo. The convience, fun, and portability of the GBA just got better. The SP is smaller, easier on the hands, and has an illuminator behind the screen so you can actually see the game you're playing. Also the SP doesn't switch games so you can still get the GBA Games for it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars NINTENDO COMES THROUGH ONCE AGAIN, October 31, 2003

By 

miles (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP - Onyx (Video Game)

I just bought an Onyx SP and a Mario Bros. 3 game yesterday at my local KBToys, and I must say I'm impressed. Many companies have tried to make handhelds before (I hear even Playstation is coming out with one -- jeez), but Nintendo is the only company that is preffered by ACTUAL GAMERS. I mean, sure I'm pretty upset about my old GBA gathering dust somewhere in my personal junkyard, but the GBA really was quite a problem. I mean, after only a week the screen was cracked and smuged, and once it was night out I couldn't see what I was doing. I tried to fix this by buying a Pelican Light/Shield, but the thing kept falling off and leaving a blue tint on my screen. But just when I thought I had lost, here it is -- the SP!!!!

PROS:

Sidelit screen that completly illuminates your gameplay

Clamshell design folds-down, making less annoying, horrible looking scratches on your screen

Rechargable battery saves money on buying batteries

Cool design and colors (Especially Onyx)

CONS:

Screen collects dust quickly for some reason

No headphone jack (which isn't really a problem since the stereo sound of the SP is phenominal)

Smaller L-R buttons

RECOMENDED GAMES:

Zelda: A Link to the Past, The Four Swords
Mario Advance
Mario Bros. 3
Metroid Fusion
Legacy of Goku II
all Tony Hawk games
Final Fantasy Tactics
Draognball Z Taiketsu
Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Sacred Cards
all Golden Sun games