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Review : Nintendo GameBoy Advance SP
Yesterday I fought a mean fever and cold to get to my local video game store to pick up my reserved and pre-paid GameBoy Advance SP. Technically I was not supposed to get it until Sunday but I have my connections in the industry because I am so God damn cool.
First of all let me go off about how kick ass the back lit screen is. The graphics are crisp and colorful regardless of the lighting and it looks just fine under normal lighting. In fact it actually looks better in less than stellar light. There is almost no glare and despite the fact that the screen is exactly the same size and the regular Gameboy Advance it seems bigger because it take up a larger percentage of the design.
I will probably never use this with back lighting turned off and luckily it does not drain the battery anywhere near the Sega GameGear or the Atari Lynx.
The flip case and the sliver design is just plain cool and it is so obvious that they were trying to target twenty somethings because it looks like a PDA or sci-fi cell phone. Inf act it damn near matches my Sony Clie PDA perfectly. Also the flip case design would just about end the scratches that the normal Gameboy Advance was known to get due the the fact that it is nice and protected in transport.
The built in lithium-ion battery is really slick and charges very fast. I am stoked about how it can get ten hours of game play out of a single charge and the battery can be fully charged in only three hours connected to the AC adapter. Nintendo was also very nice in charging the battery before packing it up so you can turn it on as soon as you rip it out of the box.
The AC adapter charger is really small and it is almost perfect. The prongs fold in so the charger can be fit in your pocket with your stabbing your leg. It would have been perfect if the plug was not actually on the box so it could be used on a power strip with out taking extra space but this works
The built in speaker is actually a bit louder than the normal one but that does not make up for the fact that there is no head phone jack on the unit. It is a damn pity because I was just enjoying the music to Castlevainia on the GBA when I traded in my old one for the new and hotness GBA SP.
Update:Uhh.. I was wrong it will fit I just wasn't pushing hard enought. You can use the E-Reader and the GBA SP together.
The GameCube connection cable will work just fine and the NES games that I have in Animal Crossing looks spiffy on the back-lit screen
The over all ergonomic feel is quite different than the super comfortable normal Gameboy Advance. In face the corners of the unit tend to dig into your palms if you are not used to it and I am sure that there will be people who prefer the original shape.
Mici noted how the new smaller size just does not deliver the same tactile stimulation that her feminine body is used to. In fact she complained at length at how the smaller size left her feeling unsatisfied and longing for more. I told her to calm down and it was just a video game.
If you have big hands I suggest that you actually try one before shelling out a hundred bucks for one of these bad boys. If you have a GameCube you might just want to hold on and get a Gameboy Player for the GameCube. Then you can play GBA games on a TV with the super ergonomic Gamecube Controller.
Old black and white Gameboy games and the Game boy Color games stick out a bit but they look absolutely wonderful on the new screen. I guess the coolest thing about the GBA SP is that it make my older Gameboy Advance game exciting and fun. In fact I can't wait to get done writing this review so I can get back to playing my Gameboy game collection.
The Gameboy Advance SP is really good just not without it's flaws but I think it's shortcomings do not out weigh the extra cool features. Nintendo is going to sell a bazillion of these things and a kajillion GBA games.
Jake at March 21, 2003 
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Comments
"Oh, it's too small...It only tickles. It won't satisfy me."
I heard there is an adaptor you can get for the headphones. It attaches to the AC adaptor slot and then you can plug headphones into it. You just can't use the headphones and the AC adaptor at the same time. Unless one of the third party developers releases a headphone adaptor with a pass-through port for the power cord. Which seems likely.
Dude, can you play HALO on it?? That would be dope. Word up G!
Posted by: BBQ at March 22, 2003 2:18 AM
It is never JUST a video game.
Posted by: Mici at March 22, 2003 9:27 AM
Lucky. I want one. I'm perfectly content with my regular GBA though so it's all good. I might get a GC/GBA player when it comes out.
By the way Jake did I tell you I'm building my own PSX joystick? I'm going to take the guts from third party controller and wire it to arcade buttons. I'll be sure to take pictures of it.
Posted by: Gavin at March 22, 2003 9:54 AM
I keep hemming and hawing about buying a GBA just to further my animal crossing obsession. Although, I doubt I can go to the island if I wait for the Game Boy Player attachment.
the GBA SP is pretty...hmmm....
Posted by: Jason at March 22, 2003 2:55 PM
Technically I think you could but it would take two GameCubes and two TVs. The GBA cable use is very cool in Animal Crossing and raises the bar for interaction between the GBA and GC
Posted by: Jake at March 22, 2003 5:35 PM
...ahhh, I think I'll stick with my afterburner mod for a bit longer. But the SP just drips style... must purchase... damn you Nintendo!
Posted by: InsaneDavid at March 22, 2003 8:37 PM
People actually thought it was a PDA today when I was using it at a coffee shop.
It is slick but I suck at crafts and electronics so I could never install an Afterburner but it works like the same way and I bet Nintendo took inspiration from the Afterburner.
Posted by: Jake at March 22, 2003 10:29 PM
Foo on your "connections." The guy at EB told me everyone broke the street date early.
I are be keeping of eye on you, Mister.
Posted by: Evilninja at March 22, 2003 10:48 PM
I am siding with Jake on this one. Not everyone broke the street date early. My store 'technically' broke the street date. But only after we heard EB had, and even then only for a few of our customers. So, therefore, Jake has his connections. :)
Posted by: Mici at March 23, 2003 9:04 AM
it does look very cool...makes me wanna actually have a gameboy again...:)
Posted by: lilly at March 24, 2003 12:32 PM
Now, being of former employ to the Big N, and receipient of some first class brainwashing on their part (I own a VirtualBoy fer crissakes. I bought it the day it cam out and I didn't even work there anymore!), I feel now compulsion to purchase this newest GB. Actually that's not true. I do want to get one and remove all of its new screen with lighting nonsense and install it into my old school GBA. I haven't seen any reputable head to head comparisions of an Afterburner modded GBA vs the new GBA SP. Anyone? Bueller?
Posted by: timm at March 24, 2003 2:27 PM
Hey, don't diss the Virtual Boy.. best $20 I ever spent! Anyway, I've had an afterburner modded GBA for awhile and after playing the GBA SP it comes down to two things really: The form factor of the SP (which is just plain cool, as I think everyone has noted), and if you already have a GBA with an afterburner in it or not. If you have an afterburner mod, then aside from the style difference and the rechargable cell, you essentially have the same thing. ..it's all about personal preference, and how much faith you have in the quality of your mod.
Posted by: InsaneDavid at March 24, 2003 11:16 PM
This what I was afraid of when I first blogged about the SP. I knew it would rock, and I knew I would want one. Since I don't own any verison of the Gameboy, I've been wanting one for many years.
Only a few more days until that Birthday money rolls in, and then I have a tough decision to make... lotsa DVDs or a GBA SP and a game.
Grrr, I hate decisions! Why can't I have it all?
Posted by: Promo at March 25, 2003 10:50 AM
A GBA SP is a hundred bucks and games are about 30. Given an average DVD price of $20 to $30 you are only talking about 5 movies. You know you can rent DVDs a GBA SP on the other hand is just about perfection in a little square. If you have been wanting one for years get one and go rent some DVDs later.
Posted by: Jake at March 25, 2003 10:59 AM
whats better the, the gameboy sp or should i just buy a gameboy advanced with the afterburner installed. thanks
Posted by: israel davila at April 6, 2003 7:13 PM
I have read that an install of the afterburner hardware can go really wrong and I have really grown attached to the GBA SP form factor and I like it a lot more now then when I wrote the review. I say to hell with the afterburner and go buy a GBA SP
Posted by: Jake at April 7, 2003 12:21 AM
Is it possible to by an adaptor for the gameboy SP that would enable you to play it throught a tv via the scart or video input. This would be cool.
Posted by: topman at June 8, 2003 9:22 AM
Well it is not really possible with the current GBA hardware but later on this month on the 26th. The Gameboy Player for the Gamecube will be out. That will allow people to play gameboy advance games on a TV throught the gamecube.
Posted by: Jake at June 8, 2003 1:25 PM
Alright, I have been studying this gameboy advance sp for only two days, and I say, what the hell am I waiting for? This thing is awesome. Since I don't have it yet, i've been sitting around digging out my original gameboy and getting back my playing skills, haha. I don't have the pocket, colour, or advance, so I have to get with the times and get the SP! I'm buying one tomorrow, and i'll come back and rant and rave about how much i love it. BUY IT! I AM! Peace out.
Posted by: Delement at July 3, 2003 4:50 PM
I've owned many variations of the gameboy in my younger days (original, pocket, color) and to be quite honest I hadn't looked twice at the advanced... until the creation of the SP. The SP was too brilliant to pass up. I mean come on.. it's like for the first time Nintendo actually looked at the problems that plagued the predecessors and worked on it. No doubt they prolonged the creation of the sp to drag out the sales of the other gameboys but anywho, Kudos Nintendo you've managed to bring me back into the mix. This is deffinetely a gameboy worth having.
Posted by: Marc Holme at August 3, 2003 7:19 PM
i SOOOOO want one of these now... Your review has convinced me that i need one! The only thing that stopped me from getting the original GBA was the fact that the screen wasnt backlit and i had lots of questions about the new one, youve answered them all! I work late afternoons in a callcentre and sometimes for up to 5 mins i dont get calls coming in, and i get SO bored... i think a GBASP will cure my boredom :-)
Posted by: William at August 5, 2003 5:56 AM
I did not leave a real email address. My IP is 66.185.84.72
Posted by: Metal Drago at August 16, 2003 5:30 PM
I am a tard who did not put a real email.
My IP is 165.21.154.15
Posted by: Wakdol at August 29, 2003 7:43 AM
Hey, I own the GBA and I know how annoying the dark screen can be. I am getting the SP soon along with SMA4 so it should be great. I just wish nintendo would have held out for longer and just released SP in place of the GBA....
Posted by: avatar_58 at October 19, 2003 7:49 PM
Well I think they made the GBA as best as they could at the time and they saw their places that they needed to improve and so they made the GBA SP. I am currently writing a review of Mario Advance 4. It is good.
Posted by: Jake at October 19, 2003 7:51 PM
So is the GC/GBA cable compatible with GBA SP? Does that mean that if I buy GBA SP (and the GC/GBA cable), I can FINALLY visit that elusive island on Animal Crossing??!
Posted by: Christina Gnome at November 8, 2003 2:15 PM
Yes it is. It works fine. Say hi to the singing turtle for me.
Posted by: Jake at November 8, 2003 7:40 PM
i have spent 1 1/2 hours on the nintendo game boy web site all i want is a battery charging wire for my game boy advance sp mine is broken and i've searched everywere and all the stores say direct from nintendo only please help me
Posted by: ed reeves at December 30, 2003 12:39 PM
Try looking for a third party option or calling Nintendo technical support
Posted by: Jake at December 30, 2003 2:55 PM
I cant decide if i want an sp or just the advanced cuz sp is pretty expensive but a GBA is like half the price and i wanna make my decision by march which should i get????
Posted by: wats up???? at January 8, 2004 6:56 PM
Well I would save your money and get a GBA SP. It is a much better device and it is totally worth your money. Besides it is cheaper than the original Gameboy when it came out in the 80s.
Posted by: Jake at January 8, 2004 9:57 PM
Well as we are all quite aware of now this version of the SP infac was not backlit but rather front lit and now Nintendo finally released a backlit version the same week as the GBA Micro.. The difference between backlit and frontlit are comparable to "nolit" (my word.. feel free to use) and frontlit.. What I am really considering at this point is to buy one fo the new backlit SPs (only available in graphite and pear blue.. grrr..) and install the screen in my old style GBA because I really do think it's a lot more comfortable.. My hands are huge and I get cramps in that fleshy part below my thumb when I play on the SP.. the R/L buttons are also badly placed.. and no headphone jack too.. If I could actually pull this off, I'd have the greatest incarnation of GBA ever. Let the games begin.
Posted by: Rob at November 20, 2005 8:08 PM
Hey Rob !!!
I was just woundering the same thing and ran across this post two months later.......
Did you do it????
Did you take a backlit screen and put it in a GBA?
I think i am gonna try it and see
Rick
Posted by: Rick at January 5, 2006 8:38 PM
