Nintendo Clear Blue Console (GBA)

You'll also notice the graphics. Essentially sporting redesigned SNES technology, you'll see things on the GBA that the big consoles do, such as scaling (making objects larger or smaller) and rotation effects--technological advances that will affect the look of everything from crossing a finish line to scoring a goal to crawling through a dungeon. The extra processing muscle also means you can network up to four Game Boy Advance units together, via the communication cable, for multiplayer fun from one shared cartridge. Because the Game Boy Advance system is backward-compatible, it will play not only its own line of colourful games--including such launch titles as Super Mario Advance, F-Zero: Maximum Velocity, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, and Kuru Kuru Kurin--but also almost all of the monochrome and colour games that have already been released for the previous Game Boy systems. It seems that Nintendo have wisely struck a balance between size, price, and power consumption. And considering how well the old 8-bit system weathered the decade's technological storms, the Game Boy Advance seems here to stay. --Porter B Hall

Bought this unit on Dec 2005. Nice shiny box looked impressive already. Plugged GBA cart (this is required) in tuner and away I went. Surprisingly and quickly found reception. Some of the channels look excellent, volume is also good. Manual colour, brightness and contrast control. I plugged in the mini cable adapter, great looking image. Ran my mini dvd, that too was exceptional. Not bad for 40 Canadian dollars.

After an hour, I noticed that changing the channels via d-pad realy sucks, need the use the select buttons and L/R to navigate quickly. Cable channels are not in the proper sequence I'd expect it to be. Can't be mobile (box indicates it's great on a bus, car, but manual says otherwise). Battery life is short to my standards. Used 2500mah rechargables (NiMh). It last only 2 hrs. With 800mah rating on the unit I should get 3 hours of air time. I'll double check my batteries and try again later. Power adapter is HUGE, needs to go on a diet. They should have added a stand for GBASP users, now I have to create one. No display to indicate what channel you are watching unless you change the channel. No power switch. Im not sure if power is being used when GBA shut off.

This is a great unit for the price, lots of minor problems but not a deal breaker, would recomend if you have an GBASP and cartridge already.


Glad I got it   November 3, 2004
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

This little machine is great, nice new style and nice to hold. I mainly use it for my old GBC games but it's much nicer using this. The stretched screen is nice and I like using it for my old games. Sure the cartridge sticks out when using an old game but who cares? I don't notice it. The new GBA SP has made me want to get one a bit but not as much that I want to get it, the only new thing would be the backlight and I got my GBA modified before the SP was released to have a backlight so I don't even need it for that now so I'm set because all the GBA SP games work on the normal GBA. I would recommend getting this over the GBA SP simply because it's cheaper and practically the same. Well done Nintendo :)


Reasons why old GBA is better at home.   July 17, 2004
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

I have own the old GBA for about 2-3 years now and I have been happy with it. Even with the SP coming out this didn't make me what to trade it in for just a backlight, rechargeable batteries and a new style because I only play the Game Boy at home using a adpator or rechargeable batteries and that's probably why I have never needed the SP.
If this is how you would use your GBA then the old style would suit you. It is also cheaper as well, has better sound (including a headphone jack and a better sound controls) and you can use the TV tuner for it as well.