GBA, I am impressed

[DeV0]

Well i finally went and got a GBA Sp over the easter weekend, It is the ripcurl limited addition. Over all ive gotta say I am mighty impressed with this new GB venture. I had no idea it was backwards compat, Its a nice fit, the batteries are excellent but most of all the sound and graphics are excellent for a hand held. I got ssx'3 with it and personally think the graphics are maybe early? psx style.

 

Anyhoo, just my personal rant on the GBA SP

[Raijin Z]

GBA's 3D capabilities are more in the realm of early Saturn/3DO, I would think. Nice purchase. You won't be disappointed in any iteration of the Gameboy.

[Ze_ro]

Personally, I've always felt that the GBA has just the right amount of power for a handheld. The PSP and N-Gage can do some nice tricks and all, but 3D handhelds are a little over the top for my tastes.

 

The only problem I have with the GBA is the ridiculous amount of rehashed games... Not all of us threw out their NES's and SNES's...

 

--Zero

[Adrian M]

Personally, I've always felt that the GBA has just the right amount of power for a handheld. The PSP and N-Gage can do some nice tricks and all, but 3D handhelds are a little over the top for my tastes.

 

The only problem I have with the GBA is the ridiculous amount of rehashed games... Not all of us threw out their NES's and SNES's...

 

--Zero

 

So true!

[chrisbid]

Personally, I've always felt that the GBA has just the right amount of power for a handheld. The PSP and N-Gage can do some nice tricks and all, but 3D handhelds are a little over the top for my tastes.

 

The only problem I have with the GBA is the ridiculous amount of rehashed games... Not all of us threw out their NES's and SNES's...

 

 

perhaps, but very few of us that kept these systems can fold them up into 3" squares

 

GBA's 3D capabilities are more in the realm of early Saturn/3DO, I would think. Nice purchase. You won't be disappointed in any iteration of the Gameboy.

 

I wouldn't even rate it that high. I havent seen any games in the style, but im sure it could handle low polygon/zero texture type games like the original Star Fox, 32X, or Jaguar type games if given the chance.

[Raijin Z]

All those remakes are for people who never had the old systems. Like kids.

[joeybastard]

All those remakes are for people who never had the old systems. Like kids.

 

And besides I like to play them on the train to work. I can't carry my NES/SNES on the train so I'm happy with many of the rehashed games.

 

I would also second that the GBA is the amount of power I want in a handheld. I want the games simpler and shorter for on the go.

[Adrian M]

All those remakes are for people who never had the old systems. Like kids.

 

And besides I like to play them on the train to work. I can't carry my NES/SNES on the train so I'm happy with many of the rehashed games.

 

You can also play them on your laptop or PDA via emulation.

[joeybastard]

All those remakes are for people who never had the old systems. Like kids.

 

And besides I like to play them on the train to work. I can't carry my NES/SNES on the train so I'm happy with many of the rehashed games.

 

You can also play them on your laptop or PDA via emulation.

 

I don't have either a laptop or a PDA though so the GBA will have to do

[chrisbid]

somewhat off topic, but Wario Ware is an outstanding game

[Dones]

Personally, I've always felt that the GBA has just the right amount of power for a handheld. The PSP and N-Gage can do some nice tricks and all, but 3D handhelds are a little over the top for my tastes.

 

The only problem I have with the GBA is the ridiculous amount of rehashed games... Not all of us threw out their NES's and SNES's...

 

--Zero

 

I hear you, but this is (imo) the best way to introduce old games to newgen gamers.

[Vic George 2K3]

You won't be disappointed in any iteration of the Gameboy.

 

For playing purposes, I still wouldn't recommend the original model Gameboy.

[Raijin Z]

Well of course.

[thund3r]

All those remakes are for people who never had the old systems. Like kids.

 

And besides I like to play them on the train to work. I can't carry my NES/SNES on the train so I'm happy with many of the rehashed games.

 

I would also second that the GBA is the amount of power I want in a handheld. I want the games simpler and shorter for on the go.

 

funny that coz nintendo are brining the famicom mini range of games to america along with a special "nes colored" gba

 

http://pocketmedia.ign.com/pocket/image/ne..._032604_001.jpg

[ubersaurus]

Personally, I've always felt that the GBA has just the right amount of power for a handheld. The PSP and N-Gage can do some nice tricks and all, but 3D handhelds are a little over the top for my tastes.

 

The only problem I have with the GBA is the ridiculous amount of rehashed games... Not all of us threw out their NES's and SNES's...

 

 

perhaps, but very few of us that kept these systems can fold them up into 3" squares

 

GBA's 3D capabilities are more in the realm of early Saturn/3DO, I would think. Nice purchase. You won't be disappointed in any iteration of the Gameboy.

 

I wouldn't even rate it that high. I havent seen any games in the style, but im sure it could handle low polygon/zero texture type games like the original Star Fox, 32X, or Jaguar type games if given the chance.

 

Check out Sonic Battle. The battle stages are all runnin Polygons.

 

I've heard Nintendo was developing a Super FX chip for the gba games, don't know how that went or if they just decided to stick it in the DS.

[Ze_ro]

There's a GBA game called "Star X" which is a total ripoff of Starfox, so there you go. Super Monkey Ball Jr. also manages some pretty minimal 3D.

 

--Zero

[vb_master]

You should check out this 'Yeti 3D' demo, it manages some good speed and PS1 quality both in 415KB ! I think I got it at GBADev. You will be suprised. James Bond: Nightfire is really nice on the GBA, also.

[Dragonforce-Europe]

GBA's 3D capabilities are more in the realm of early Saturn/3DO, I would think. Nice purchase. You won't be disappointed in any iteration of the Gameboy.

 

 

for crying out loud. you cannot compare a saturn to a gba sp. not even a early game. i mean. geez. lok at the screenshot below of a early sega saturn game. can THAT be achied on a gba sp? hell no!

 

greetz from a sega fan boy

[compacho]

I would like to make a comment against people complaining about Nintendo rereleasing their games. Think before you complain. People in gaming forums, especially in emulation scene, always ask "Why is nintendo releasing their old games once again?" Hmmmm, what on earth gave Nintendo the idea that people still enjoy playing old games on newer systems? Hmmm, what could it be?

 

And Chrisbid, Yes WarioWare is a great game. Just like how Tetris was the perfect game for the original gameboy, Wario Ware is the perfect game for the GBA. And man oh man, do I want that NES version of the GBA.

[Raijin Z]

GBA's 3D capabilities are more in the realm of early Saturn/3DO, I would think. Nice purchase. You won't be disappointed in any iteration of the Gameboy.

 

 

for crying out loud. you cannot compare a saturn to a gba sp. not even a early game. i mean. geez. lok at the screenshot below of a early sega saturn game. can THAT be achied on a gba sp? hell no!

 

greetz from a sega fan boy

 

Thank you for defeating your argument on your own.

 

If you've paid any sort of attention to the GBA over the past two years, you'd know that it's possible to recreate Resident Evil (detailed polygonal characters and enemies, prerendered backgrounds) on the system no problem. VRally 3 proved you can do polygonal roms/tracks with prerendered cars and the like. A couple other demos like Blue-what's-it's WipEout clone proved you can do decent fully 3D work on the GBA, textured polygons and all. In fact, I dare say the GBA can outdo the Jaguar in terms of the subject, so where does that put it? Above 32X and below PSX.

[shep]

I'd also like to point out that not everyone wants to take their laptop with them on a train or whatever. Perfect way to get it stolen. Also, most of the rehashed titles are SNES titles which are not emulated...well pretty much at all...on the PDA platform

[JB]

Check out Sonic Battle. The battle stages are all runnin Polygons.

All rendered in software.

 

The GBA's 3D capabilities are limited to a mode7-ish background layer scaling/rotation. Only it can scale TWO background layers.

 

I've heard Nintendo was developing a Super FX chip for the gba games, don't know how that went or if they just decided to stick it in the DS.

Well, the SuperFX was just a math coprocessor anyways.

But coprocessors of any sort are generally unwanted. They raise the price fo the cart, and you can't really charge more for it and remain competitive(ask Sega how well the Genesis Virtua Racer sold at 100$...).

[Jasoco]

I love my GBA SP.

 

And I for one have been impressed with some of the "3D" I've seen on it. Even if it's minimal, it's still good 3D. Look at Top Gear Rally. It looks pretty good and almost as good as the N64 version IMHO. Something I'd be proud to play. (Anyone know if it's ported from the N64 or if it's completely different? I loved the original Rally.)

 

Wolfenstein 3D may also be simplistic, but it looks and feels just like the original PC version. Right down to the "PC-13" warning. And I can't wait to try DOOM.

 

Super Monkey Ball Jr. looks so cool. I never played the games, but have wanted to get into them. GS has the GBA one for $20.

 

I'm sure the GBA can do so much more. Let them push it to the limits. They have yet to create a GBA version of the Super FX chip. I can see a totally perfect port of Star Fox being completely doable. As for price, the original Starfox wasn't more expensive when it came out, was it? (I don't know because I got mine for $15 as a Players Choice a couple years later.) The whole Virtua Racing Coprocessor thing is not comparable to the Super FX chip as the SFX chip doesn't really add to the price mostly. At least not in the amount the VR processor made that game. Don't worry, a GBA SFX chip would be a great idea to boost the capabilities of the game. (And look, the original Yoshi's Island REQUIORED a SFX 2 chip to work. The GBA posr was perfectly ported but didn't even require a chip. Believe me, the GBA can do a lot. We have yet to see the limits.

[liveinabin]

If you've paid any sort of attention to the GBA over the past two years, you'd know that it's possible to recreate Resident Evil (detailed polygonal characters and enemies, prerendered backgrounds) on the system no problem. VRally 3 proved you can do polygonal roms/tracks with prerendered cars and the like. A couple other demos like Blue-what's-it's WipEout clone proved you can do decent fully 3D work on the GBA, textured polygons and all. In fact, I dare say the GBA can outdo the Jaguar in terms of the subject, so where does that put it? Above 32X and below PSX.

 

To be fair, although (as you rightly say) the GBA is above the 32X and below PSX, it still falls some way short of the Saturn, even early Saturn releases. I'd say the N-Gage is pretty close to what the Saturn was putting out then.

[DeV0]

Drooool, I now have Doom on a hand held. I never thought the day would come!

 

I am going to take more holidays now just as an excuse to play the GBA sp

 

Interesting comments from all, I think the future is gonna be good for the GBA.