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It still annoys me to this day there's no "perfect" GBA. The original was difficult to see, the SP had bad L & R buttons and no headphone jack, and the Micro is real neat but a bit too tiny.
Wish they just released a version of the original with a backlight and a rechargeable battery
(also there's no perfect DS, either. The DS Lite came close but I can't be dealin with those mushy buttons)
Wish they just released a version of the original with a backlight and a rechargeable battery
(also there's no perfect DS, either. The DS Lite came close but I can't be dealin with those mushy buttons)
Here a picture of my handheld drawer (GBA is clearly my favorite).
When I was younger I sold pretty much every game I had to pay for new games, so I basically had to rebuild my whole GBA library from scratch.
Only Golden Sun: The Lost Age is the original cart I bought back in Middle School (I'm 31 now... š§)
None are the original systems I had, other than the Famicom Micro which a friend sold me in High School. SP is the newer model with the backlight.
When I was younger I sold pretty much every game I had to pay for new games, so I basically had to rebuild my whole GBA library from scratch.
Only Golden Sun: The Lost Age is the original cart I bought back in Middle School (I'm 31 now... š§)
I had both the OG and the SP, the SP was easily my favorite version. Backlight, compact design, it was amazing.
As someone that just recently bought a modded GBA with an AGS-101 backlit screen...I still prefer the AGS-101 SP. It comes down to the buttons on the SP; i just love the satisfying click, and how easy they are to press. The D-pad on the original GBA just feels mushy and unsatisying by comparison. I ogled the modded GBAs or so long from afar, but it's finally nice to know that I still prefer the SP so I can stop wondering. I just ordered a shell replacement and can't wait to have a pristine, all black, AGS-101 SP.
Owned the original and that's my favourite design, by far. If it had a backlight and two more face buttons, it'd be the greatest portable of all time.
The SP. It had rechargeable battery and a backlight for the screen. I was mindblown when I first saw it.
I really need to look into modding an OG Advance now.The original is the best form factor, but really needed a lit screen. SP had that, but lacked the form factor. Micro is sexy but can't play older games and is too small (and expensive).
So I obviously think my original with a modded backlit screen is the best GBA.
Modded original GBA's with a backlit screen are a strong contender against the SP. but at the end of the day I can fold an SP into my pocket and take it with me way easier then the og GBA. So SP take it for me. Micro comes in dead last though. I own the fan icon version and I gotta say after the novelty wears off it kinda sucks lol. It's just too small
I love my mother 3 micro, but it's a bit too small to be comfortable playing on. I wish I still had an SP.
Probably played GBA games the most on either the original or on the original DS. Got quite a bit of use out of the gameboy player for gamecube as well.
Probably played GBA games the most on either the original or on the original DS. Got quite a bit of use out of the gameboy player for gamecube as well.
In terms of looks, the original with the Micro a close second. The original doesn't have back light so that unfortunately invalidates it immediately whereas the Micro is just too teeny and you can't play Game Boy/ Color games on it.
I don't really care for the design of the SP and the back light isn't great (unless you had a specific model that I don't have, I don't even think it was released in Europe), but in terms of convenience it's the best: even with mediocre back light, you could at least see what you were playing, the screen is protected after use by simply closing the lid and being able to play GB and GBC games is great.
I don't really care for the design of the SP and the back light isn't great (unless you had a specific model that I don't have, I don't even think it was released in Europe), but in terms of convenience it's the best: even with mediocre back light, you could at least see what you were playing, the screen is protected after use by simply closing the lid and being able to play GB and GBC games is great.
I have! It's in there sandwiched between Golden Sun and Metroid Fusion.
I never played it back in the day, I hadn't yet found out I liked Castlevania games at that point and back then I think I avoided it due to it being nearly impossible to see on an OG GBA.
I first played within the last 5 years ago I think. Got really far (pretty sure I was right at the end, I just wanted to grind before the boss) but never actually beat it. I really should get back to it, it's the only GBA/DS Era Castlevania I haven't beaten.
This. I had the frontlit version of the SP and it was leaps and bounds better than the original because of the illuminated screen.
A original GBA with the backlit screen modded in is the best combination of course, but that's beyond the point of this thread.
I prefer the original's design. When I finally got an SP, I got the version with an even brighter backlight, but I didn't find it all that comfortable, and I missed out on the headphone accessory.
One day, just for the hell of it, I'm gonna order a modded OG GBA with custom colors and a better backlight. Maybe even get a rechargeable battery built in too.
One day, just for the hell of it, I'm gonna order a modded OG GBA with custom colors and a better backlight. Maybe even get a rechargeable battery built in too.
Honest question: Did anyone ever remove the Game Boy Player from their GameCube? I certainly never did.Best: The thing you could attach to the gamecube to play gba on tv, even had save states
The SP was the one I had (and still have!) as a kid, so I voted for that one. I actually never knew any other version existed until I was older and had the internet at my disposal. I thought mine was just the original standard model lol
Now? The original model with a backlit screen modded in. Back when I got them? The SP was such a much better system since you could actually see the screen.
I have the famicom Micro and I think it's just too small. I actually hate using it, so it just sits on a shelf by my (very few) GBA games.
I have the famicom Micro and I think it's just too small. I actually hate using it, so it just sits on a shelf by my (very few) GBA games.
I think the kit I bought cost me less than $50, and included the trimmed shell (screen is a little bigger than original, so some trimming needed for original shells), buttons, pads, lens, stickers and of course the IPS screen. The kit is super easy to install. If you want to have adjustable brightness, some soldering skill and equipment is required, otherwise the screen will default to 70% brightness (which is a little brighter than the brightest SP screen).
I really like all of the GBA designs, and I've always wanted a Micro because I do legitimately think it looks great and I loved all the different styles you could get for it.
I'm going to go with the original simply because that's the one I have, and all of the modded ones I've seen look gorgeous and I have been tempted to mod one myself.
I'm also super looking forward to the Analogue Pocket because that looks hot too; just need to dig out my box of GB/GBA games.
EDIT: Oh and shout out to the GB Player for the GC. I used mine so much, maybe even more than the actual GBA in the end. Golden Sun on my TV was fire.
I'm going to go with the original simply because that's the one I have, and all of the modded ones I've seen look gorgeous and I have been tempted to mod one myself.
I'm also super looking forward to the Analogue Pocket because that looks hot too; just need to dig out my box of GB/GBA games.
EDIT: Oh and shout out to the GB Player for the GC. I used mine so much, maybe even more than the actual GBA in the end. Golden Sun on my TV was fire.
The fact that the SP is generally seen as so superior despite the worse ergonomics and bizarre lack of a headphone jack says a lot about just how awful the lack of a backlight was on the original. As a kid you tend to not notice flaws in things so much but the GBA screen just made me not want to play it at all.
That said despite the worse ergonomics of the SP it's still not uncomfortable to hold for me, the rechargeable battery was a plus and I like the clamshell. I'd probably still lean towards it even if they both had the same screen.
That said despite the worse ergonomics of the SP it's still not uncomfortable to hold for me, the rechargeable battery was a plus and I like the clamshell. I'd probably still lean towards it even if they both had the same screen.
The SP is pretty much perfect except for the silly headphone jack and the tendency of its L and R to break over time (but that's an issue with pretty much all Nintendo handhelds since, so...).
Original, simply because of the way the buttons are laid out and it's more comfortable in my hands, but I do prefer that the SP models have either a back or front light. It's really my only gripe with the original, though I do know there's mods out there to replace the screen of the original. I just don't trust myself to do so, though maybe someone I know does these sort of mods... Might need to ask around.
I liked the SP b/c I could play pokemon with one hand and the backlight is a necessity. The lack of a headphone jack did not bother me b/c I play handheld games on mute anyway. It also seems more durable or at least less prone to screen damage due to the folding design. I never tried the micro but it looks too small and it did not play original GB or GBC games.
Damn all these GBA threads, stayed up til 2AM last night looking into modding my old glacier GBA... definitely a spring project, think I will do an IPS screen and try slotting in a xbox one controller battery pack to make it rechargable.
Loved my front lit SP back in the day but rough on the hands and not being the 101 screen makes me love it less now.
Loved my front lit SP back in the day but rough on the hands and not being the 101 screen makes me love it less now.
I think this is overall the best answer, but of the OEM systems I would actually go with Micro. It couldn't play the older games but my goodness is that bad boy portable.The original is the best form factor, but really needed a lit screen. SP had that, but lacked the form factor. Micro is sexy but can't play older games and is too small (and expensive).
So I obviously think my original with a modded backlit screen is the best GBA.
I owned the original and SP - would pick the SP hands down due to the rechargable battery and backlight. The Micro came out too little too late for me; was already looking forward to the DS/PSP by that point.
OG for me, I could play it for longer due to comfort in holding the system, even though the display sucked balls. =(
