Paul Humbug

Excellent choice! My Micro is my second-favorite system of all time behind my Atari 7800 with Cuttle Cart 2. It's that good. You sound like someone who would really like the WarioWare series on the GB Micro (I safely say that because I have yet to find a classic gamer who doesn't like WarioWare on the Game Boy) - check out WarioWare Mini Microgames or WarioWare Twisted. Thanks for the hint. I will check them out.

Back then I went for the Atari due to my budget. In the store I always played the other systems and somehow I was attracted most to the Master system. So, with money not an issue I would have opted for the Sega. I never had the chance to play a 5200. I even cannot recall seeing one in store or maybe I ignored it completely. From what I know today, back then I rather would have spent my cash on the NES. The only time I really was up-to-date hardwarewise was with the Amiga 500, the Playstation and also for some time the classic GB.

If it helps pricing, both, the Saba Videoplay and the Nordmende Teleplay are official clones of the Fairchild Channel F system, the Nordmende to be said rare though. But probably you know all that and it doesnt help pricing not a bit

1. Ecks vs Sever 2 - Sequel to the game based on the worst movie ever reviewed in full by Rotten Tomatoes. ( 0% Fresh) Ironically, many consider it the best GBA 1st person shooter...depending on whether you prefer your combat slightly realistic, or prefer demons from Hell. 2. Doom 1&2 - How do you feel about censorship? 3. Duke Nukem - Now you can pretend to be a grown man pretending to be Bruce Campbell. Women talk to him!* 4. Dark Arena - Just look at that name. Ponder what it means. Did the game end before you got there? 5. Ice 9 - Linear, or the straight and narrow path? Lovely scenery though. *In other games. No, seriously. Money sometimes changes hands, but it counts. I never ever played Doom in its heydays, so all of this is a new gaming experience. Do you actually own and have played all the games you are mentioning in this thread? If yes, I call you the GBA God

I had an Atari 800XL. While I had access to tons of games, many I also really enjoyed, it was the time, when nothing new appeared anymore for the Atari and tons of good stuff for the other system was out of reach, which made me wish for the C64. But I skipped thr C64 and got the Amiga 500 instead. The Atari was given to a friend.

You maybe wanna check out a GB SP for backwards compatibility with original GB and Gameboy Color games. The screen is said to be as good now as in the Micro and I can tell u from the Micro it is wonderful. The controls I dont know but if the Micro is any reference, to me it looks and feels like the GB classic. D-Pad is big, response excellent.

Okay, I started my collection with Astroboy. Beautiful game. Feels a lot like Sega. I will be busy with this one for a while. But the discussion can go on FPS, what games do we have?

I know it's too late, as you've already made your purchase, but some great games don't even use the stylus (Mario Kart, Sonic Rush), some have the option between stylus or digital (Mario 64, Animal Crossing, Picross, Metroid Hunters), some use the stylus sparingly (New Super Mario Bros., Castlevania). The ones that I like that do force the stylus use it pretty well (Ouendan/Elite Beat Agents, Clubhouse Games, Mario vs. DK 2). There's also some good oldschool games like Mr. Driller, Dig Dug, Impossible Mission, Bubble Bobble (though it's also for GBA), Bust-a-Move, and Konami collection. Atari collection for DS isn't very good =/ You don't even zoom through the level in Tempest when you beat it. Hey, thanks for sharing ur view. Although I made my purchase I will follow the DS a little. Im sure, its a great little system, like almost everything from Nintendo. Going for the GBA Micro was in first instance because of its phenomenal size. I cannot stress how important that is to me. Now, that Im having it and digging into it, I find that it is a neat console with great games out in the wild.

It is a portable FB3.

Since you are posting in the classic games section, I guess you exclude anything like PS2 and Gamecube? Depending on age, but if I go to friends houses with kids under 14, the Gamecube and or PS2 rules. Concerning classic gaming: I would buy some usb retro conrollers and do some emulation to teach them about the classic home computers games, NES, Master System, etc. Giving them a GBA rather than a DS. I also could imagine getting a nice NES/SNES clone and looking for carts. I wouldnt let them touch my FB2 though

Nice idea, but exactly that isnt Jakks business model. They dont invest in infrastructure, after market and such. The game key console was a step into that direction. A pity they didnt develop it further. Good to know about the Pac-Man Gold edition. So, my Namco stick without game key plays differently from the other version? Came the game key stick after mine?

Very interesting. The pity is, the Micro came too late for 3rd party hardware developers to make a difference. Otherwise we would have seen a flashcart for the Micro enabling this feature as well. The same goes for the battery. Is it kind of standard? If yes, it shouldnt be a problem to replace it with a much better one to go far beyond 10 hours.

What mode are the digisounds of the GBA are usually sampled in? They seem to be like 8 bit or something? Nothing to complain about, stresses the retro feeling, but I thought it had higher quality. It varies. The original gameboy 2 channel sound chip is inside the GBA, and can be called on when a game requires the full graphics capability of the system without the performance hit. The GBA can do digitized music, with lyrics, where needed...I'll find a few examples... OH, wow, I didnt know that. Is it also the case with the Micro since it has not the chips of the GB? But then there would be no sound, right?

What mode are the digisounds of the GBA are usually sampled in? They seem to be like 8 bit or something? Nothing to complain about, stresses the retro feeling, but I thought it had higher quality.

Looks promising! Sorry for my ignorance if I dont know some characters. Different country!

What is the Spyro thing about? Well, Nintendo might say, they dont develop anymore but they still produce and sell the hardware. Alone the Micro sold in total more than 13 millions devices. Okay, given, there might be a number of buyers for the Micro who just shifted from the SP, or for collection reasons. But out in the wild are still millions of GBAs users. I cannot imagine that there will not be the one or other gem anymore next year or so. If they let it die finally in 2008 or 2009 we have seen a life cycle of about 9 years. Not too bad. Plus homebrew will be active for some more years to come.

Thanx for participating Im going to work through the list you provided. Namco museum I got from day 1 just to have something to play with. I enjoy Dig Dug most on it, also Ms Pacman does fine if u know ur maze because it is only visible/playable in scrolling mode on the Micro. Pole Position: nothing beats my Jakks twisting joystick for that. Galaga: its playable although I dont like the screen cut off on the right with the scores. As if u could read my mind. Im researching flash carts for the Micro and my fav. right now is the M3 Adapter perfect. I also found some great homebrews already not to mention I will use the MP3 function to see if I like it. Movies? I dont know. Dont worry. I dont mind what others might think about the GBA. To me its he perfect gaming on the go and everywhere with the Micro. I wouldnt bother with the SP. The DS is already to big. Micro rules. I hardly cant wait to mod it with an even better battery for gaming beyond the 6-7 hours. Are there any woodgrain faceplates?

Well, history showed there were a bunch of latest technology consoles who in the end failed. Gamecube and N64 before never appealed to me for the mostly only-Nintendo content. So, back then, I bought a Playstation. Now, with the Wii and names like EA and others developing for it, Nintendo has the best chance to be on top for a very long time.

Sorry to hear that. If Paypal is any good, u should be covered by their buyers protection if u can prove it. A little of topic: the worst new games section, where all cartons look rubish, is the GBA section in any EBGames or Gamestop. I just cannot understand who is paying full price for boxes mistreated like there. Not me.

In my opinion completely 2 different kind of leagues. Arcade collections have always been around in one or the other form on consoles and PC, being downloadable just a different type of media distribution. What makes my Namco stick excellent is, besides the faithful ports, it is a joy to use the stick and buttons, high score saving, etc. Being very portable I lend it to friends to compete for high scores, waiting to get it back and see if there is a new challenger. Also, an easy setup for parties, etc.

Those 2 NHL games should do it. I just read a review on Hitz. Nothing terribly wrong with it. And the Genesis port they say is as good as it was back then. Maybe not innovative but fun enough. For basketball, Backyard series is promising. Reminds me on Streets Sport from Epyx and with that in mind I would love to give it a chance. Any Kick OFF or Sensible Soccer spin off avaiable? Steven Gerrard's Total Soccer 2002. If this brings a tear to your eye, it's as good as the graphics are retro. Good luck hunting it down. If you wouldnt had before already I could say by now you made my day This looks beautiful. I remember playing kick off thru the first nights despite going to school next day. I am seeing myself laying next to my wife playing it from sunset until sunrise.... if I can find a copy!!!! I am in love by now with that little Micro.

For someone who hasnt played any Driver yet in his life, is Driver2 pleasing after all?

Those 2 NHL games should do it. I just read a review on Hitz. Nothing terribly wrong with it. And the Genesis port they say is as good as it was back then. Maybe not innovative but fun enough. For basketball, Backyard series is promising. Reminds me on Streets Sport from Epyx and with that in mind I would love to give it a chance. Any Kick OFF or Sensible Soccer spin off avaiable?

[The Hockey and Basketball games - I'll get back to you. This thread has been the excuse I've needed to make time for my GBA. Im happy u take the time. BTW A sprite, because of ur excellent mini reviews my confidence grows to have opted for the right system. I always had a weakness for excellent 2D graphics and I guess the GBA might be one of the last consoles sadly. Is Soccer Kid as good as the Amiga version I have played?

Awesome work, A sprite, keep it going. Thanks to you and the other writers of this thread I was able to take a different look at another store. I saw Astro Boy, now knowing its great, I will head back nex week to secure the deal. I saw the Capcom Mini collection selling for 10 bucks. Are the ports any good? Grand Theft Auto is high on my list. What about Driver2? It got some decent reviews. Collin Mc Rae will also be one of my investments. I saw Madden 07. How does it compare? What about the NHL and NBA series?