GBA Specs CPU: 32-Bit ARM with embedded memory MEMORY: 32 Kbyte + 96 Kbyte VRAM (in CPU), 256 Kbyte WRAM (external of CPU) SCREEN: 2.9" TFT reflective screen 240x160 resolution 40.8mm x 61.2mm screen size 32,768 possible colors 511 simultaneous colors in character mode; 32,768 simultaneous colors in bitmap mode SIZE(mm): Width 144.5mm Depth 24.5mm Height 24.5mm) WEIGHT: 140g POWER: 2 AA batteries BATTERY LIFE: 15 hours SOFTWARE: Cartridge format Game Boy and Game Boy Color compatible (backwards compatible) MSRP: $69.99
The little console that could, Nintendo's Game Boy Advance has done pretty well since its launch, keeping up sales-wise with even the PlayStation 2 all over the world. Essentially a Super NES in your pocket, the system boasts 32 bits of power, representing an age when bits still meant something. Speaking of nostalgia, its release has brought about a deluge of ports from consoles such as the SNES and the Sega Genesis, like Super Mario World, Ghouls and Ghosts, and Sonic the Hedgehog.
There are still plenty of fresh games though, as new titles come out every week. Never before has so much power been harnessed into a portable gaming system; blasting away at aliens while taking the subway to work really brightens up one's day. It's also backwards compatible, meaning it supports any Game Boy and Game Boy Color game. Thus, taking into account both GB and GBA games available, that comes out to over 700 titles in the system's game library, which is more than any other console. Naturally, it's available in 4 booty-licious colors, plus the very slick platinum variety (to go along with the platinum GameCube, 'course). Throw in a Multiplayer Link Cable, a GameCube/GBA Link Cable, and the new e-Reader, and it's not hard to see why no handheld console can compete with the Nintendo's monster, the Game Boy Advance.
Metroid Fusion is one part of the pair of Metroid games hitting Nintendo platforms this holiday season. It's been eight years since the last Metroid game came out (Super Metroid on the SNES) and fans of the series will be glad to know that Fusion carries the Metroid name well.
Fusion takes place right after the events of Super Metroid and finds Samus fighting and exploring her way through a deserted space research lab. Like in the earlier games, Samus starts out with low health and only her standard blaster as a weapon. As the game progresses Samus finds more health, more weapons, and gains abilities that will prove critical in her quest to find out what happened in the space station.
The game breaks with Metroid tradition in some very important ways. It's more linear than Super Metroid so Metroid newbies will have an easier time getting into the groove of things. What remains intact however is the Metroid series' great level design and pacing. Progressing in the game is sometimes difficult as the areas are rife with secret passages that have to be uncovered and explored to move forward in the game.
Put simply, this game is a must have. Like the other Metroid games, it's a little on the short side, but you'll have such a great time exploring the nooks and crannies of the game world that it won't matter. A great gift for any GBA gamer.
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3
The third Super Mario Bros. remake for the Game Boy Advance, Yoshi's Island is no doubt the best game in the Advance series so far. The sequel to the SNES's hit launch title, Super Mario World (also available on the GBA as Super Mario Advance 2), Yoshi's Island is a far cry in most cases from past Mario platformers. The game's premise has Yoshi (well, a bunch of them) delivering Baby Mario to his parents, after he falls from a stork after a botched kidnapping. While players control Yoshi, the game centers on Baby Mario, who rides atop Yoshi throughout 6 worlds consisting of 8 levels each. Anyway, Yoshi cannot die when encountering enemies - the consequence is that Baby Mario will float away in a bubble, only to be kidnapped. A timer then goes off, and players must retrieve the floating Baby Mario before it's too late.
Unlike Mario, Yoshi plays much differently, other than the fact that he can bop enemies to their death. Yoshi can use his long tongue to stomach enemies into eggs, which can then be launched at different angles. Yoshi's jump is also very unique, where he seems to float in the air for a great distance, air walking the whole time. Yoshi can also perform a ground-pound, and morph into a variety of forms to tackle the many levels, from becoming a mole to a racecar (thankfully, this technique is far from overused). Also setting the game apart from a typical platformer are the "pastel" graphics, where everything looks as if it were colored with crayons.
Despite originally being released a near-decade ago, Yoshi's Island's gameplay still stands today - and that is perhaps the greatest comment any game can receive.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past/Four Swords
Nintendo, coming back with a classic re-release. Some would argue that they should make a new game, but this one is actually packed with a brand-new multiplayer adventure, “Four Swords”. Only if you have two or more GBA-toting friends and a link cable, though, so don’t go grab it for that expecting to be able to play by yourself. The dungeons of this new game change every time you play by creating a dungeon level randomly by selecting a dungeon setting, and dropping a randomly selected new dungeon part into it. This also utilizes the ability to play with only one Game Pak.
The cartridge comes with that, and a nearly untouched port of the 1993 released “The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past”, with a revised control system to accommodate the lack of buttons on the GBA. It plays the same as the old Super Nintendo version, like many other of the ports that Nintendo has re-released. A gem excuse packed with a new game, for an unlimited amount of replay, making this game have it all.
Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland
Kirby has been around for about ten years, and now Nintendo has developed an absolutely beautiful new GBA game. Its about time Nintendo gave Game Boy Advance owners something unique to cheer about.
Once again, King Dedede is back as the protagonist, and Kirby must again save Dream Land. The game comes with the ability to have four people playing through the adventure at the same time, if everyone has a Game Pak, or mini-games are available to play with only one Game Pak.
For those new to Kirby, he is a marshmallow-looking thing that inherits their powers by sucking them into himself. Overall, first impressions of this game show it to be a dazzling game with superb gameplay, like most the other Kirby games. With easy-to-pick-up-and-go gameplay, you can’t go wrong with this one. We can’t really be too proud of the new cartoon, but this game sure is something special.
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance is the second installment of the venerable Castlevania series on the Game Boy Advance and it's also the second GBA Castlevania game on our recommended list for this Christmas season. These are some great games folks.
C:HoD follows the exploits of Juste Belmont as he traverses a mysterious castle that is infested with evil. Much like Castlevania: Circle of the Moon and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, the fun in C:HoD comes from exploring the castle and finding all of its secrets. Finding items gives Juste moves like double jumps and slides that allow him to explore the castle further.
The gameplay here is fun and intuitive. The castle is extremely well designed and you'll want to explore every last bit of it to find some of the hidden items.
The graphics in C:HoD are outright spectacular. C:HoD uses all of the GBA's tricks to produce a game with tons of enemies and some absolutely huge boss sprites that animate beautifully. Konami also made sure that the dim GBA lighting wouldn't be a problem as Juste is surrounded by a blue glow at all times that makes him stand out on the screen.
The sound suffers though and the music in this game just isn't up to the high standards set by the earlier Castlevania games. The game is also a tad on the easy side. You'll go through large sections of the game without ever having to worry about your health.
Despite these minor faults, the game earns our highest recommendations.
How fun is the Mario Kart series? We're talking classic Nintendo brilliance at its finest here. You know it, we know it. The company that pioneered the "Kart Racer" sub genre is still unmatched in execution as well. Play as some of Nintendo's biggest stars like Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Bowser, and DK race on over 20 tracks, slinging koopa shells and banana peels at the competition while fighting for the win. Link up with a few buddies for some four-player action to find out who the fastest (and most clever) driver really is, and practice up with weapons in the addictive Battle Mode. For multiple championship cups for yourself, there are plenty to choose, and a more-than-fair challenge factor keeps frustration in check. The graphics are beautiful, the sound effects and music will have old-schoolers nostalgic, and well, it's just plain fun. Sure, it resembles a cross between Mario Kart and Mario Kart 64, and some of Nintendo's big celebs like Link, Samus, and Pikachu are mysteriously missing (they would make great additions, huh?), but this is true Mario Kart, plain and simple. Kart Racing at it's best. Don't overlook this priceless portable gem.
Golden Sun
Aside from probably having the coolest commercial EVER, Golden Sun was one of those titles that came out from left field and slapped RPG fans and GBA owners upside the head. Golden Sun, while not bearing a particularly original story, showed the graphical prowess and overall potential of the Game Boy Advance, while ensnaring gamers with some incredible old-school RPG gameplay. Gamers quested all across the world, using magical powers called Psynergy and harnessing the powers of mystical beings called Djinn, which could be summoned or used to strengthen your character’s stats - sort of like Pokemon from hell. As you traveled along, you fought some well-drawn enemies and solved some engaging puzzles, with a system that allowed the use of your spells on dungeon maps, an idea that worked out to maximum efficiency. The graphics were absolutely stunning as well, utilizing some pseudo-3D graphics and a number of nostalgic 2D enemies that harkened back to the glory days of the RPG.
Perhaps the main appeal of the game is that it is the antithesis of what Squaresoft and other major companies are doing right now, and while it could be argued that it would be just as fun looking through a used game store for some SNES and PSone classics, it’s nice to know that there are at least a few developers that are straying away from the pack in the current gaming world. You can check out our review here, or you can just march your behind to your local gaming store and spend this holiday season parked under a lamp. Either one works for us.
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2
Bring back the memories of this SNES pack-in game, but this time, have it on the go. Super Mario World for GBA gives you all the platforming action as the SNES hit on the small screen along with the multiplayer Mario Bros., for those with the GBA Link Cable.
Often considered to be the best in the series, Super Mario World allowed gamers to fly, grab, ride, swallow, punch, pounce, and climb their way to once again saving the princess. And ten years later, this title still packs the same punch that it did on the SNES. How can that be possible? Click here for the full review.
Advance Wars
Advance Wars was one of the early Game Boy Advance games, and it was one of the best initial games for the system. Not surprisingly, it's still one of the top games to pick up if you've got a GBA. Advance Wars is a turn-based strategy game, and you take on other armies with a wide variety of tanks, planes, and even submarines at your disposal. It's simply a blast to play, and while you can pick it up and jump right in, there are plenty of nuances to entertain the most seasoned veteran. The balance of game play is one of the game's strong points, as well as its bright, crisp graphics. The learning curve is gradual, but some of the later stages can be very tough, which will provide a nice gaming experience for all ages.
Hook your GBA up to a friend's via Game Link for one of the best multiplayer games on the console.
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
Circle of the Moon was a Game Boy Advance launch title and really set the standard for what can be done with the handheld wonder. Konami brought Castlevania back to its 2D roots (where it belongs) and wowed the world with an adventure the likes of which had not been seen since Symphony of the Night for the PSone.
As Nathan Graves, you must explore Count Dracula’s castle in search of your teacher, Morris Baldwin. Of course, bats, demons, and ghouls abound, making your quest an amazing challenge.
The only downfall of Circle of the Moon is the fault of the GBA itself, rather than the game. That dreaded dark screen incessantly plagues the enjoyment of the title unless you are planted firmly under a direct lighting source. However, get your hands on a good lighting peripheral and you’ll be set for one of the greatest Castlevania quests of all time.
Nintendo makes mistakes. They don’t make many, but they aren’t perfect. This main mistake, as considered by most Game Boy Advance owners, is the system’s bad lighting. Thankfully, RADICA made the Flood Light, which is probably too powerful, but it gets the job done and that’s all that matters.
Maybe too much power for those three AAA batteries, it has enough power to back as a great miniature flashlight, and you can find your way in the dark with this as well as have your Game Boy’s lighting problems solved. Its five or six bucks up from the rest of the Game Boy lights, but if you want it, its available and well worth it. You can even play with perfect visibility in the dark, something previously impossible without a true backlight. A must-have for all hard-core GBA fans needing a Game Boy light or reading light.
GBA/GCN Link Cable
If you’re an owner of both a GameCube and a Game Boy Advance, consider yourself a lucky person. Why, you ask? Because this Christmas, you have the opportunity to prepare yourself for the next level of console/handheld interaction. For the price tag of $9.95, The GCN/GBA link cable will allow you to fully interact with Animal Crossing, Phantasy Star Episode I and II, Metroid Prime, and Sonic Adventure 2, Battle. The GCN/GBA link cable will allow you to download content from PSO Episode I and II, such as the NIGHTs minigame you can earn by completing one of the many quests available throughout the game. With Animal Crossing, the link cable will grant you e-Reader connectivity, mini games and data trading. Metroid Prime is another great title that allows interaction between itself and its handheld counterpart, Metroid Fusion. Unlock a new suit in Metroid Prime as well as the classic Metroid game right off the connectivity and interaction both titles posses with each other. If you own Sonic Adventure 2 Battle and Sonic Advance, and enjoy raising your Chao, this peripheral is a must own. With all of your equipment, you will be able to transfer you Chao data and raise it on your GBA, on the go. For all you Dreamcast owners who did Chao raising on the visual memory unit, describing the same task on the GBA is something close to having a VMU on steroids.
For those of you worried about purchasing this product with the fear that you won't put any use into it, think again. Already there are obviously titles making use of the technology with more to come. Nintendo seems to be stressing the idea heavily, even going as far as supplying developers financial help to any design studio willing to tap into the GCN/GBA connection. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles and Zelda GCN will be the first two blockbuster titles to use the GCN/GBA with a high level of purpose.
At $9.95, the investment is one you can't pass up, especially if you own both a GameCube and a Game Boy Advance. Stop reading, go buy, and have fun.
GB Advance Game Link Cable
If you own a GBA and Super Mario Advances 1, 2, or 3, your little pocket powerhouse is begging for the Game Link Cable. This cable allows you to battle head-to-head with 1-3 friends on any of the Game Boy multiplayer games, including the obligatory Mario Bros. Game included in all Super Mario Advance games. With the Legend of Zelda: Four Swords now released in stores, multiplayer madness on the GBA has finally come of age. At an MSRP of $9.95, grab a couple friends and have fun!
