Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP - Cobalt

Great for what it is

The GBA SP is all about playing old-school style games we used to see on consoles like the Genesis and SNES. When the graphics were simpler the gameplay had to make up for it. And GBA has dozens and dozens of games out there, for cheap prices, that are brilliant.

The SP is also much better than the standard GBA because the clamshell design prevents scratching if you're carrying it around in your pocket and the screen is backlit for increased viewing clarity.

With the Nintendo DS out there now the GBA SP is a bit redundant as you can play GBA games on the SP. But don't worry, there are still loads of games getting made for it and the GBA can play all the old Gameboy and Gameboy Color games, which the DS cannot.

The battery life is also quite long so you won't have to recharge it too often. It's also probably the handheld console with the most amount of games out there. Definitely the one to get if you cannot afford a DS.

More compact than the Gameboy Advance.....
I got one of these for my birthday a year ago. It's really cool! I always bring it along on car trips, and I rarely am bored! It's much more compact than my sister's Gameboy Advance, and the backlit screen is really handy if you're playing in the dark. The screen folds down so it doesn't get all scratched up, but the rest of the Gameboy is very easily scratched, so it would be a good idea to buy a carrying case to protect it. To me, the Nintendo DS is really clunky and confusing, with that plastic pen and the two screens taking up so much room that it makes it look pretty ridiculous. I like my Gameboy Advance SP better, but then that's just me, and you are probably reading this and thinking I am crazy. Oh, well.

Also I wanted to say something about the weird review that said something like, "I am 6 years old and I got one for christmas. My dog ate it. He said it was yummy!", but with much worse spelling. Actually, I thought it was kind of funny. But judging by the many...

A Kid's Review
I have had the Game Boy Advance SP for about a year now, we bought it for my 7 year old daughter. I was initially very concerned that this was going to be a waste of money having bought the previous Game Boy Advance and finding it very dissapointing.

BUT this one has worked out great. The screen is excellent and works in all lights and from all angles which was a major problem with the last one, the battery lasts a long time and charges very fast when needed. And if you can't wait for the battery to charge you can play while it is charging. There is also a car charger available though we haven't used it much because the battery really doesn't go dead that often.

I bought the SP instead of the Video Now because there were not only video titles available but also because you can play games. I have found that there are a lot of games that are very good and in a lot of ways better than the Game Cube because they still have that old Nintendo charm which is...

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Game Boy Advance Console in Glacier

Right amount of fun for parents; Why no backlight?

The Game Boy Advance is the only viable handheld gaming platform on the market. The new design is much better than the old Gameboy, and new games offer the right amount of distraction without requiring the time commitment of more complex traditional console games. For that reason, I actually think GBA is perfect for adults, especially parents, who want a little gaming in their lives.
Only problem: the device desperately needs a backlight. It's essentially impossible to use without an accessory light in any conditions. In well-lit rooms, the glare off the screen requires the user to tip the unit at an angle, which disrupts gameplay. In darkness, games with low contrast colors are hard to play. Even more unfortunate, Nintendo doesn't sell an official light accessory, and the third-party lights are bulky, inconvenient, and just plain ugly. I have to wonder how Nintendo felt comfortable putting a product to market that so desperately needs an accessory they themselves don't provide.

Good but don't be cheap

This is an excellent system but the GBA SP is now on the market and it is much better. The original GBA needs large amounts of light to play while the SP of course is lit. I have tried to take good care not to scratch the screen on mine but one or two annoying scratches were inevitable. If you are considering buying a GBA system make it the SP since it is lit and has the protected screen.

It exceeded all my expectations.
The GBA is the newest wave in handheld video games, and a sound investment for those who love the old SNES games and the ability to take them anywhere with you. It also comes in verious colors, but I prefer the Glacier.
As most others already mentioned, the display is not backlit. But either my eyes are exceptional, or other people's are really bad, but I can see the games crystal clear. It is a trade off, not having a backlit screen means that your batteries go further. Anyone who remembers the Game Gear from Sega surely can remember how it gobbled batteries up like mad. Given a choice, I would rather go with the non-backlit screen. The old Gameboy and Gameboy color did fine without backlit screens, so the GBA doesn't suffer by not having one.
The best thing about the GBA is the gameplay. Despite the small size, you get amazing depth to your games. With Super Mario World (a handheld version of the SNES classic), every apect of the original is preserved, and the controls are...

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