07/18/2004: The GBA SP Classic, reviewed.
Remember that gigantic inflatable Spider-Man I picked up in the carnival article? I still haven’t found the correct spot for it. Amazing, I know, it being a 7′ bulky inflatable Spider-Man and all. Looks like it’d make a great pool raft. I don’t have a pool. The preceding was an obvious lead-in to this article on the Game Boy Advance SP Classic, the retro-themed portable system complete with a nice library of classic NES titles. I’m definitely down with this one, even after blowing so much cash on games I’ll play 1-3 times. Judging from the Amazon-100 poll in the last entry, I’m not the only one who likes licking this machine. More stuff coming to the blog tonight…
Discussion Thread: 211 comments
First comment woot!
btw the thing is nice and there are many more games on the way ^_-
oh and Matt, good luck with the job and keep the articles coming between your condiment fetish…err, I mean your desk job… ;>
Damn, makes me want to go out and buy one, I need a job!
Matt, you may not have noticed, but the GameBoy Advance screen is relativly wider than a TV screen (with the exception of widescreen TVs). The games have been altered to fit the screen. Yes, that’s right, I just wanted to have a very early post. Oh, and of course an obligatory congratulation on your totally tubular new job. Make us proud!
Posted by
Tougi @ 07/18/2004 1:22 PM EDT
I’ve had the NES hooked up to one of those off-centered old TVs where the screen doesn’t show the tail left or right. I would never have noticed that. 
Posted by
Matt @ 07/18/2004 1:27 PM EDT
I so need one of these machines. My current GBA is just a regular one, and the L and R buttons don’t work as well as they used to.
Posted by
Freezair @ 07/18/2004 1:41 PM EDT
Hmm…but it doesn’t seem to replace the old bulky NES. It’s cool, but not really old-school.
Posted by
Walks @ 07/18/2004 1:46 PM EDT
I bought one of those a while ago, and they’re definitely awesome! If you’re looking for Super Mario Bros. 2-3 and Super Mario World, they’re out there already somewhere, albeit in re-make form rather then retro form.
Posted by
Lone_Psycho @ 07/18/2004 1:53 PM EDT
Here is the commercial
Posted by
ME @ 07/18/2004 1:54 PM EDT
The second, I tell you, the damned second Mike Tyson’s Punchout is released for that little bastard, I’m on board.
Posted by
Teh Travo @ 07/18/2004 1:54 PM EDT
I can’t be the only one who thinks this whole thing is a massive ripoff, right? There are so many cheaper alternatives to play the games:
- Go on eBay or find a garage sale.
- Unlock them in Animal Crossing for the Gamecube.
- Buy them for about $5 for the e-Reader, also for the GBA.
- Suck it up and download some ROMs.
I will admit that the NES SP is damned cool, and there’s no reason not to buy one if you don’t already have an SP (Which is a lot better than the old GBA thanks to the light and compact size).
BTW: Best Easter egg ever, Matt.
There is an absolutely insipid ad running somewhere that keeps locking my browser while it downloads something.
That said, that stuff is way too expensive. I know tiny color LCD screens don’t grow on trees, but then $20.00 each for games? I figured they would come bundled at least.
My NAMCO 6 in one is on sale at Wall Mart for $13.00 and plays an absolute perfect arcade rendition of PAC-MAN (and some other crappy Gallaga knockoffs) all the way down to that glitch that occasionally lets you pass through the red ghost "Shadow/Blinky."
The Atari one is on sale too, but I have resisted it mostly because I didn’t much like the games when we had our 2600. I need one with Pitfall and Choplifter.
I got to thinking about your Spidey problem and realized that I don’t know what the hell I’d do with that either and I have a house. I suppose you could put it in your passenger seat, then you could drive in the carpool lane. If you have a car, that is. Or carpool lanes.
Posted by
klatubaradanikto @ 07/18/2004 2:15 PM EDT
The e-reader stuff looked fun, but I’d rather just pay and have it solid than deal with all those little breakable things. Plus, mega manuals. :) I tend to think the price of the games will go down, though…maybe by round 3 or so. There’s gotta be more money made in selling a shitload of ten buck games than selected twenty buck ones. I wouldn’t by, say, Ghosts N’ Goblins for 20, but I’d definitely buy it for 10. Not sure how much these things cost to produce, tho.
Posted by
Matt @ 07/18/2004 2:16 PM EDT
Klat: I’ve got the Atari 10-in-1. It’s cool, but seriously lost its appeal within half an hour. It’s the kind of thing that’s better to give as a gift than buy for yourself, if that makes sense.
Posted by
Matt @ 07/18/2004 2:18 PM EDT
Why pay for NES games portable when I can play them for free on a better quality handheld with a bigger screen, Better controls, better audio, and for free with savestates?
GP32 is a retro gamer’s wet dream.
http://www.gp32x.com for more info people.
Posted by
PsychoJ @ 07/18/2004 2:25 PM EDT
God, I love Excitebike. My original cartridge crapped out on me sometime in the early 90s, and everytime I’ve bought a repackaged cartridge, it’s been a dud. When I found it as a rom, I could have peed my pants with excitement. So even if it is a cynical cash-in on nostalgic old games, it’s kinda cool that the games have been reissued.
That said, I’m not sure I’d spend the cash to buy the retro GBA SP, with or without the rom. I like my classic NES, but I’m not one of the purists who turns their nose up at the new-fangled games like GTA, either. I’d probably spend the cash on GTA: San Andreas and live without portable Classic NES.
Posted by
Molten @ 07/18/2004 2:27 PM EDT
Oh Matt, the reason weird games like Xevious and junk are part of the series is because they were voted on by readers of the japanese version of Nintendo Power, and those games were much more timeless & popular over there. Trust me, the second & third batches of the "Famicom Mini Series" have even weirder titles than the first (which was turned into the Classic NES Series).
Just to help with the confusion.
Posted by
Evin @ 07/18/2004 2:34 PM EDT
It would be pretty cool, if it had Castlevania and Metroid, but it doesn’t. What classic NES series doesn’t have Castlevania and Metroid?
Posted by
Jason @ 07/18/2004 2:35 PM EDT
Thanks, Evin. I had Xevious for one of the Atari systems. I remember blowing up gray things in a desert zone, but that’s about it.
Posted by
Matt @ 07/18/2004 2:37 PM EDT
No problem.
In case anyone was interested, the other games that have been released in the series on their side of the pacific are:
Adventure Island
Balloon Fight
Bomberman
Castlevania
Clu Clu Land
Dig Dug
Dr. Mario
Famicom Mukashibanashi: Shin Onigashima
Famicom Tantei Club: Keita Koukeisha
Famicom Tantei Club Part II: Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo
Ganbare Goemon! Karakuri Douchuu
Ghosts ‘n Goblins
Kid Icarus
Mappy
Metroid
Mobile Suit Gundam: Z Gundam Hot Scramble
Nazo no Murasamejo
SD Gundam World: Gachapon Senshi Scramble Wars
Star Soldier
Super Mario Brothers 2
TwinBee
Wrecking Crew
Zelda II: Adventures of Link
There’s Metroid & Castlevania for you, Jason.
Posted by
Evin @ 07/18/2004 2:41 PM EDT
OH, and I forgot to mention: Remember that the Japanese Super Mario Brothers 2 is what we know as "The Lost Levels" that came with Super Mario All-Stars on the SNES. What we know as Super Mario 2, they know as "Super Mario USA."
See, when Nintendo made Super Mario 2, they realized that it was very, very different than the first. Instead of risk complete failure in North America, they first released it in Japan (with different sprites and less impressive graphics [as it obviously came out earlier]) as Doki Doki Panic!, just to see if a large gaming market would accept such a strange game. When it sold well in Japan, they retooled it, updated it a bit, and released it stateside as Super Mario 2, giving Japan a rehashed & more challenging Super Mario 1 style game instead (which explains why, despite it being packaged here as ‘lost’ levels from the original, it had fundemental differences, such as the ‘poison’ mushrooms.)
Most people think that Super Mario 2 as we know it was just Nintendo being lazy and ripping off someone else’s game that no one here would ever see, but that’s not the case. Neat, huh?
Posted by
Evin @ 07/18/2004 2:48 PM EDT
this just makes me wish i had a TV to plug my old skool NES into. fuck the new school.
Holy shit, Matt. I just bought an NES Edition GBA SP like 3 days ago, now I find you reviewing it??? GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!!!!!
BTW, sweet easter egg. I love 80s music. Incidently, Yaz is Yazoo in Europe, since Yazoo was the name of an American record label at the time.
I’ll certainly be buying Legend of Zelda, and possibly Excitebike (you can save your custom tracks now. YAY!), but I won’t be buying Pac-Man. Not when Pac-Man Collection is available on GBA for the same price as NES Series Pac-Man, and features four different Pac-Man games. Or Namco Museam, which has 5 games including the vastly supperior Ms. Pac-Man, and costs even less. Ya gotta be a smart shopper.
Matt, just so you know, Super Mario 2,3 and Super Mario World have all been released on GBA, as well as River City Ransom, Link to the Past,Super Ghost and Goblins, Earthworm Jim 1 & 2, and a ton of other classic NES and SNES titles, and actually some Sonic classics too, now that sega is a 3rd party developer for Nintendo. I bought one of those classic SPs as soon as we got them into work, and I love it. I take the thing everywhere with me, I feel like a secret agent.
Posted by
Chelsey @ 07/18/2004 3:24 PM EDT
Let me just say this: The best game out there for GBA is Wario Ware. That thing is an absolute blast, and there’s a level dedicated to playing snippets of several classic NES games.
Has anyone noticed how Nintendo has gone absolutely re-release crazy? I mean, there was the 4 Zelda games for the GC, then they put out 4 Swords for GC (a complete waste of $50) now they have the Megaman 1-8 out (which is actually a good deal for $30) I saw these games and I am planning on getting an SP but I just can’t justify spending money on low-quality games I have for another system already. Nintendo needs to start making NEW stuff, not just repackaging old stuff and re-selling it in a different system.
Posted by
ANdrew @ 07/18/2004 3:49 PM EDT
Hey Matt, check this out:
http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3388
Apparently they have a Famicom-colored one too!
Posted by
Stormy @ 07/18/2004 3:57 PM EDT
I just want to put this where everyone can see it, Ken Jennings(Jeopardy) is Nathan Bitner(Photog). KJ is a beast!
Posted by
whitemale_98/competent soldier @ 07/18/2004 4:00 PM EDT
I’m hoping to buy one of these as soon as I can justify spending another $99 on another GBA (I already have the original GBA and a GBA SP).
A little while back, Nintendo had a player’s poll up on nintendo.com asking American consumers which titles they’d like to see released as part of the NES Classic series. I think Contra, Castlevania, and Metroid were all part of the main choices they gave you (you could also select "other" and choose from what looked like the massive complete library of NES titles).
Posted by
duckyass @ 07/18/2004 4:11 PM EDT
Sweet deal. However, is there any other features with the games, Matt? Becuase even though having the original is great, having not but the raw game seems lacking.
I mean, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe for the GBC had the original Mario game with all the secrets not, but the cartridge also came with a 2nd set of harder, remixed levels, eight racing level, a treasure-hunting option of play where you have to find hidden coins, a calander and a collection of Mario graphics you could print off with that stupid Gameboy printer.
And that game didn’t cost anymore than what you paid.
The Mega Man collection for GBA is supposed to be the Game Boy Mega Man games, but in color, if I recall all the info correctly. I’d still like to get it, though. The console versions have the Mega Man 1-8, plus the other console and arcade games.
Posted by
ShadowWing the Technorganic Autobot @ 07/18/2004 4:19 PM EDT
Matt - you should have just bought an iPaq for the money and downloaded an NES emulator and ROMS for free
Posted by
Danny @ 07/18/2004 4:32 PM EDT
Eh, it’s a good little overpriced fad item. I’m happy with it. I’m sure there’s cheaper alternatives, but it’s partly for the spirit of it.
Posted by
Matt @ 07/18/2004 4:33 PM EDT
I must have one. I will be the first one in line at Toys R Us when they release Kid Icarus and Punch Out!!
Posted by
pulseczar @ 07/18/2004 4:36 PM EDT
I wouldn’t get your hopes up on "Mike Tyson’s Punch Out!" returning. After Tyson’s legal woes, Nintendo changed his graphic, and renamed him Mr. Dream. "Punch Out! Featuring Mr. Dream" was the new title, and will probably be what gets re-released. Sure the game is esentually the same, but not quite without Iron Mike. 
Actually, Birdo is a transsexual.
Posted by
Piscez @ 07/18/2004 4:59 PM EDT
Actually Matt, SMB2 has been released, as well as SMB3 under the ‘Super Mario Advance’ series (as well as ‘Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island’, which was renamed Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi’s Island),
Super Mario Advance: Super Mario Bros 2.
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros 3.
Quite loyal to the original games, if I remember right; also just as fun as ever on the Gameboy Advance.
Posted by
Jay @ 07/18/2004 5:56 PM EDT
What, Zelda doesn’t come with a gold cartrige? I’m dissapointed
Posted by
hamburger man @ 07/18/2004 5:57 PM EDT
I already have a SP (the black, or onyx, version), so I was more than a little annoyed when this sweet classic version was released. Why don’t us early adopters get the cool stuff???
Bah! It’s like that cellphone commercial: "She gets the art kit because she’s new. Which makes her special."
I also think Nintendo is being a little greedy by charging $20 for each retro title. At least 3 NES games could fit on one GBA cart, if I remember correctly. Nintendo just figured anyone old enough to remember these games would pay no matter what. And they were right.
*Patiently waits for Kid Icarus*
Posted by
4thDown @ 07/18/2004 5:58 PM EDT
I think I might have to go get one now….
Posted by
David @ 07/18/2004 6:44 PM EDT
Matt, are these people paying you? Cause they should. You just sold at least one. The retro look is really what got me. I look forward to reliving how sore my thumbs get after endless hours of pressing that damn rectangular direction pad.
Posted by
jhnnywalkr @ 07/18/2004 6:47 PM EDT
I use a Flash Advance Linker on my Gameboy.
http://www.goodylands.com/
I have a 128 meg cart that I can play an NES emulator on. Right now, my GBA has about 60 nes games on it. I can also save my game at any time, set turbo, game genie codes, game timing, and also play current GBA roms.
The thing really kicks. Here’s a couple screen shots.
The cart…
http://www.discreaderror.net/pics/HPIM0806.jpg
Pro Wrestling on the GBA
http://www.discreaderror.net/pics/HPIM0805.jpg
Zelda 2
http://www.discreaderror.net/pics/HPIM0803.jpg
Oh, and I installed my own backlight to the GBA about a year before the SP came out.
Posted by
Rayzak @ 07/18/2004 6:49 PM EDT
Here is a link to the emulator’s website.. http://www.pocketnes.org/
Posted by
Rayzak @ 07/18/2004 6:52 PM EDT
I bought the Zelda cart, and am getting ready to buy the NES SP. As for the rest of the games, I’ll just get the ones I don’t have on e-Reader cards. Well, maybe ExciteBike. But also, I’ll start getting the resources together for mutating my normal GBA. Add a GBA-to-TV setup, amped speaker/rumble set, and the portable TV adaptor. I also have the Atari Anniversary cart, the Midway one, and both Namco carts. the Konami arcade one looks promising, too. I second the vote on WarioWare. It’s been described as crack for the ADD crowd, and it is! The two-player games are nuts!
Posted by
kingklash @ 07/18/2004 7:01 PM EDT
um, do they sell these at Amazon? Because I think I would have to use my *card* on it!!
Matt, does the black stuff on the SP have the same texture as the old controllers?
I also like Wario Ware a lot. It seems to be very easy to learn, but after about 5 minutes I get so pissed off at it!!
I think that the folding aspect is the best advance over the first Advance. It seems like those screens got scratched way faster and a lot more than the first Game Boy.
Posted by
kidneyboy @ 07/18/2004 7:52 PM EDT
Ah, good timing, Matt. My grandma sent my little brother an original, working 80s Nintendo (no mean feat, given how delicate the darn things are), and he is now hooked on "Excitebike." He loves making his own tracks as much as his older sisters did almost 20 years ago. Heck, we used to rent "Excitebike" JUST to make the tracks.
Posted by
starwenn @ 07/18/2004 8:52 PM EDT
Kidney — yup, same texture. Maybe even morso on the grippy side. It’s not just a sheet of black plain plastic.
Posted by
Matt @ 07/18/2004 8:53 PM EDT
Moreso. OOPS.
Posted by
Matt @ 07/18/2004 8:54 PM EDT
Ok it’s an awesome system I’m gald to say that in three days I beat legend of zeldA! That beat my old record of 7 months when I was ten ) Anyways was the music for that commercial released anywhere?Because it’s damn catchy!
Posted by
Chris @ 07/18/2004 9:10 PM EDT
Matt, can you awnser my eMail about the Green Bamboo Peanuts?
PLEASE!
Posted by
Mat Olson @ 07/18/2004 9:21 PM EDT
Oh, I’ve got the retro NES GBASP, and its better, ohhhh so better than the old shitty GBASP, it makes playing the 80% crappy new gameboy titles worth while.
The only re-released title I’ve picked up so far is Zelda, I’m planning on Mario too, but…there’s just something about playing mario that throws me into fits of rage, I think its the whole "skids after you release the run button and you die and that little jingle plays that I swear if it had words would go "you suck and should die for being so sucky at playing this game suck ass"
That jingle to this day makes me want to cry.
Posted by
Former A1C Pete @ 07/18/2004 9:33 PM EDT
WHEEEEEEEEE!!!! NES crap !!!! WOOO HOOOOO!!!!
Posted by
Graves @ 07/18/2004 10:22 PM EDT
We now live in a world where kids can play Super Mario Bros. while in class when the teacher’s not looking. Too bad that most kids today think the NES sucks. Seriously, there was this one time where I was looking at the NES games in a local video game store, and all the kids were looking at them as if to say "What the fuck are these?" And then they all went on to give me a look as if to say "You’re weird."
Personally, I don’t think I’d be too interested in this particular system or the these re-releases for the very fact that I’m perfectly happy with my original NES and the original carts. It just wouldn’t be the same playing them on a GBA.
Posted by
Nate @ 07/18/2004 10:45 PM EDT
Too bad I bought my GBA last March…the Classic Edition looks very spiffy! I told my friend I’d sell him my silver GBA SP for $100 so I could buy the retro edition. He declined and bought a blue one. Can’t wait for SMB2 to come out..have Super Mario Advance…it just doesn’t FEEL like SMB2. Speaking of Metroid, you can unlock the original Metroid after you beat Metroid: Zero Mission(basically a remake of Metroid, with extra stuff).
Posted by
The Dragon @ 07/18/2004 11:06 PM EDT
That system looks cool, but I could save a lot of money by buying the old cartages and putting them in my GBC instead of buying a NES GBA.
There was a Game Genie code for Excitebike even better than "no over-heating": it made your regular speed go so fast, you’d go off screen and come up the other end when you went off a ramp…
Don’t get Bomberman unless you actually know what the original was like. The first Bomberman is leaps and bounds cruddier than its children.
For those of you who want Metroid, get Metroid: Zero Mission. It’s a remake of the first game with the original as an unlockable.
Posted by
Rewolf J @ 07/18/2004 11:16 PM EDT
I love it. next paycheck and shes all mine. GBA sells Mario 2 and 3 i think but they arent the retro style box and stuff. i dont know why.
Posted by
Cameron @ 07/18/2004 11:59 PM EDT
HEY GUESS WHAT MATT!
there IS a SUPER MARIO BROS 2!!!
(i own it in GBA form!) it rocks, but there’s twists that become confusing. Like, collecting these coins that do not have anything to do with the slot machine, but add some mystery and alternate gameplay..i have yet unlocked…and no, nothing mentioned in the booklet about the transvestite issue with our dear Birdo. I checked just because of XE. it comes with super mario clash or something, which I remember playing in SMB3 when you sneakily hit the A button whilst your sibling/friend crossed your path on the map, except it’s one-player. IT IS ALLL TRUE.
ps I’m in Canada..I’d bet it’s a test market thing if you don’t own it yet.
Posted by
Bitsy&Roary @ 07/19/2004 1:05 AM EDT
I think it’s awesome that Nintendo isn’t one to forget its roots. A lot of companies seem to care less about their older stuff, and I think its cool that Nintendo recognizes that they’ve got a good thing.
Posted by
Kate @ 07/19/2004 1:53 AM EDT
Maybe 20 bucks for a 20 year old game in NY seems fine (NY’s cost of living has to be one of the highest in the nation) but 20 so I can play Excite Bike in Utah seems WAY overpriced.
Why would anyone want Pac-Man when they can get the Pac-Man compilation for the same price. I say we should vote with our wallets and demand some actual quality out of Nintendo for our money.
That being said, I like the paint job on the retro SP, but I wouldn’t buy another one just for it.
Posted by
Rono @ 07/19/2004 2:18 AM EDT
The NES re-issues look pretty cool but I think they should put out some more super nintendo games on advance, Like earthbound that was a fun game.
Posted by
jimmy jackson @ 07/19/2004 2:43 AM EDT
I got a awsome red GBASP a few monthes ago and I am very happy with it. Kinda like you Matt the only other GB I ever owned was a GB Pocket, and not for very long. So I am very pleased with this, the Retro one is almost cool enough for me to trade mine in and hope the diffrence isnt too much. But like many im torn on the issue of "Is 20 bucks really worth playing the original Mario in the bathroom?" I mean I like the game, but 20 bucks worth when I can play it on my comp for free? Now if they release Battletoads or something i’d buy that in two shakes of a rats tail.
Posted by
Mr. S @ 07/19/2004 2:48 AM EDT
When I first heard about Nintendo releasing exact NES code onto GBA carts I was excited. Protable versions of classic games. I imported the Famicom Mini Classics of Super Mario Legend of Zelda and Excitebike. Not shure if the Famicom Mini Classic be release here in the states. I bought the Famicom theme GBA SP as well. Super Mario Brothers 2 is comming out in wave three. It is going to be The Super Mario 2(AKA Lost Levels) from the Famicom Disk system not that crappy Doki Doki Panic hack. Anyway series two will have Adventure Island and Ghost and Goblins.
Posted by
blueharvest @ 07/19/2004 2:51 AM EDT
Damn right. Earthbound is one of the greatest games ever. Nintendo needs to release it as well as the Japan only NES prequel, Mother 0.
Posted by
pulseczar @ 07/19/2004 2:51 AM EDT
Im buying a Gamecube and Smash Bros. Melee just so I can beat Pikachu senseless with Ness’ PK abilities.
Posted by
IncogNegro @ 07/19/2004 2:54 AM EDT
When I saw that gameboy in the paper I thought it was awesome!
Posted by
sdasfsdg @ 07/19/2004 2:55 AM EDT
I’ve SO been wanting this thing… I hear that it’s a really limited release, though; that they aren’t making any more, which totally sucks, because I can’t afford one right now.
Btw, slightly OT, does anyone know what song that is in the Mario Vs. Donkey Kong commercial that’s like the one for the NES GBA? I’m interested in that one, too… and it’s a neat game, if no one’s tried it.
LBD "Nytetrayn"
Evin -
A small correction on the Super Mario Bros. 2 info you gave: The lost levels version that we got here (Mario 2 Japan) was actually released in Japan first; however, it was deemed as too "difficult" for the American public, but rather than making an easy mode or a new game altogether, Nintendo took Doki Doki Panic and re-tooled it to become Super Mario Bros. 2 as we know it. Japan eventually got this latter version of Mario 2 as Super Mario USA.
Posted by
TranceFormer @ 07/19/2004 3:25 AM EDT
Nah, man. I swear the Doki Doki Panic!/Mario 2(/USA) deal was a test marketing thing. I’ve heard the information supporting each side, and the only semi-official artice I’ve found (was in some gaming magazine that did a big special on the history of the most famous Nintendo games. I think there was an anniversary or something) described the situation I mentioned. However, I could be wrong. I guess we’ll never really know until someone from Nintendo tells us, or they actually have, and someone finds it. If you’ve got a link to an interview or something that proves that it was just an afterthought retooling, by all means post it. I’d love to set this thing to rest. Been bugging me for a while which was definitely true.
Posted by
Evin @ 07/19/2004 3:40 AM EDT
I wish someone would release old Sega Master System games on the GBA… the only SMS port Master-ites got was Phantasy Star… I’d love to get the three (of those that have been released in North America) Wonderboy games, especially Wonderboy III: The Dragon’s Trap, the Master System answer to Super Mario 3 with much better graphics. And an Alex Kidd collection would also be sweet. And that really fucked up game, Spellcaster, which was really a game based on the anime Peacock King Kujaku-Oh.
We can rehash the old 8-bit wars, in port form.
I already have Super Mario Bros. Deluxe for the GBC, and that has extras like the Lost Worlds levels. I’m going to make it a point to pick up Legend of Zelda though. Here’s hoping we see Kung-Fu, Ice Hockey, and Punchout.
Posted by
Dude McGuy @ 07/19/2004 4:09 AM EDT
the last gameboy i owned was the original, and i had kinda been wanting an SP anyway, but when i saw the nes version, that was it.
some of the places around here like ’software, etc.’ or ‘babbages’ or ‘gamestop’ or ‘EB Games’ is offering a deal for the new ones were you can trade in your old GBA or SP and pay only $70 or so for the NES SP. at ’software, etc.’ you could actually trade in your nintendo 64 for the same deal if you wanted to.
super mario world is damn addicting, and i love being able to whip it out anywhere, with the safety of being able to save it at halfway checkpoints and such.
anyway, maybe its just cuz i’m an old school nintendo fan that’s new to the gba, but i think the NES SP and all the new iterations of the classic games are totally worth whatever price, just for the portability and style.
-me
I blew $20 for Super Mario Bros. Deluxe when I first saw it (used) a few months ago, and the damn scaled screen was extremely annoying, though it was nice to have the Lost Levels… I found the "newer" SMB for $16 at W-M and bagged the last one… whew! Namco Museum is a pretty good deal, nowadays you can find it on the bargain bins for $10. To me, nothing beats playing Galaga on my NES with the NES Advantage joystick, but to carry around my favorite games is just heaven.
What Nate said reminds me of BTTF2…
"You mean you have to use your hands? That’s like a baby’s toy!"
Posted by
phillip @ 07/19/2004 5:32 AM EDT
if they really wanted to make it retro, theyd designed games so you have to blow on the cartridge before you insert it LOLZ
Posted by
sonmanic @ 07/19/2004 5:45 AM EDT
Oh God…you sound like me. The Gameboy Advance didn’t interest me in the slightest, not even when my nephew got one. And then…I looked into the holy Gamestop flyer and saw the goodness that was Classic NES.
I’m so weak. But isn’t it gorgeous?? I took it to work and showed it off like a proud gamer mama.
Posted by
Thistle @ 07/19/2004 7:17 AM EDT
I watched the advert and was a bit miffed when he said the N E S system, i’ve only ever heard it called a NES as all one word.
Posted by
Gorm @ 07/19/2004 8:31 AM EDT
I didnt even THINK of Ice Hockey! I would love to be riding the bus somewhere and scream in delight after taking the puck to the crease with the fat guy that sorta looks like Mario.
Posted by
pulseczar @ 07/19/2004 10:27 AM EDT
*re-reads the article, and listens to the song* Thanks, Matt! Now I"m going to have that song in my head all day! (not that that’s a bad thing, mind you. Cheezy 80’s songs rule!)
Posted by
The Dragon @ 07/19/2004 10:28 AM EDT
I think the skinny guy in "Ice Hockey" looks like the hot dog from "Burgertime" with pads and skates on.
Posted by
fraggot @ 07/19/2004 10:29 AM EDT
I’ve loved the site for a long time. Very happy you got the job of your dreams, but that last article, although I enjoyed it, seemed a bit too commercial-like for my taste. If you start giving rave reviews for Nickelodeon’s crappy Party Blast game, you will have lost some of us dedicated readers forever. Stay objective and never, please never, sell out.
P.S. Was it that Sponge Bob love-fest from February that got you the job? Nice work. (cough)
Posted by
Pedro @ 07/19/2004 10:33 AM EDT
I cant wait for these "Dead Like Me" ads to go away. that show is so stupid.
Posted by
Danny-o @ 07/19/2004 10:35 AM EDT
I already have a GBA, but I still want this SP thingy. It looks real cool!
I want a NES-style game based on X-E.
Posted by
kingklash @ 07/19/2004 11:42 AM EDT
Yeah, that ‘Dead Like Me’ ad keeps crashing my browser. And this isn’t the only site to use it either!!
I don’t get Showtime, so I’ve never seen the show. Still, the sooner the ad goes away the better.
Posted by
4thDown @ 07/19/2004 12:12 PM EDT
Alright! Now my battle’s with the blood boiling fighting tactics of Zelda II’s Iron Knuckles can fit in my pocket.
I want them to release River City Ransom…. and Dusty Diamonds All-Star Softball.
Matt. you should do a review on Dusty Diamonds… it’s full of tripped out characters and a leet team of Amazon Warrior Gals.
Posted by
JonnyRBee @ 07/19/2004 12:18 PM EDT
Hey there is a great Pac-Man cartridge out there for GBA titled "Pac-Man Collection". It has regular Pac-Man along with several others, it’s also about $20 although I got mine for $9.99 at Toys R Us.
Posted by
Mr King @ 07/19/2004 12:20 PM EDT
Hey, kingklash. How do you make a video game based on a website? An even better question would be, how do you make a game based on a site that reveiws out-of-production candy and cartoons about Snoopy making popcorn?
Posted by
fraggot @ 07/19/2004 12:21 PM EDT
Three things:
1) the price in canada is probably 29.99 at zellers and wal-mart, which could buy me three packs of cigarettes here. ($8.25!!) soo…
2) if you won/heard of/play "animalcrossing" (not if you are a macho man though), you can play excite bike, tennis, pinball, and wario’s woods & DK in one shot, but you have to luck out recieving these games in the game. and..
3) "Dead Like Me" is a great show, but you have to be able to appreciate rolling inner monologues from the main character. But, it’s a love or hate kinda show, which I am looking forwards to seeing again.
Posted by
Bitsy&Roary @ 07/19/2004 12:24 PM EDT
It might be fun if it was set up like an old Game & Watch game. Products roll down a conveyor belt and you have to reveiw them with as many synonyms for "crap" as possible before the product hits the ground.
Posted by
chocoholic @ 07/19/2004 12:26 PM EDT
Pedro — I have no stock in Nintendo, or vice versa. I gave a + review because I liked the product. If by your comment you mean the article wasn’t riddled with hilarity — I’ll take that one, but it really wasn’t meant to be. This was just a review of something I liked and believed many who read this site would as well.
Posted by
Matt @ 07/19/2004 12:40 PM EDT
They better make no mistake about Birdo being a transvestite again. It’s not that controversial.reakdown of the games I picked up.
Is there a chunk of text missing here? Or maybe it’s my browser …
Posted by
Al Boondy @ 07/19/2004 12:42 PM EDT
Heh, i’ve got that Zelda’s collector’s edition dealy. Which means i have the first two zeldas plus ocarina of time and majora’s mask all on my cube.
Posted by
Collectors @ 07/19/2004 12:42 PM EDT
Funky
Posted by
MNc @ 07/19/2004 12:50 PM EDT
I have the Classic SP….It’s awesome. The Classic series games themselves are overpriced, but the NESP is perfection.
Posted by
Cameron @ 07/19/2004 12:53 PM EDT
I swear Matt, I had a dream last night where you and I were fighting weird zombie things. You were saying that you had broken up with someone named alex or some other name like that and I told you not to dye your hair pink anymore. You rule.
Posted by
collectors @ 07/19/2004 12:57 PM EDT
I’ve been looking at these at work for ages (Wal-Mart electronics department) and we dont seem to be selling out of them, but I might have to pick one up now.. hopefully we hang on to them for a few more weeks. The Classic NES design is just enough to put me over the edge on buying an SP
Posted by
Toxicity- @ 07/19/2004 12:58 PM EDT
PS, please oh please, for us die-hard zelda fans, its ganon not gannon.
Posted by
collectors @ 07/19/2004 1:01 PM EDT
Oh yeah….
Am I the only one that starts singing "The Who’s" song "Who are You?" when those commmercials come up?
Posted by
Cameron @ 07/19/2004 1:06 PM EDT
lookie here:
http://www.nintendo.com/gamemini?gameid=m-Game-0000-704
Posted by
collectors @ 07/19/2004 1:07 PM EDT
I should be able to hold out on buying one of these…
Unless they release Tetris.
Then, I’m in huge trouble.
Posted by
Yzziefrog @ 07/19/2004 1:09 PM EDT
I have That Gameboy Advance SP Plus The Legend of Zelda and Mario Bros.
Posted by
MightyStalfos @ 07/19/2004 1:45 PM EDT
JonnyRBee, River City Ransom is already out for the GBA. From what I hear the conversion was really accurate, right down to the ‘BARF!’ quotes by the bad guys.
Posted by
4thDown @ 07/19/2004 1:47 PM EDT
oops — yeah, a paragraph got chopped off in the article. will fix when i get home.
Posted by
Matt @ 07/19/2004 1:47 PM EDT
For people looking for River City Ransom, just go pick up River City Ransom EX. It’s just like the old game with about 300% more stuff crammed into it, none of which you actually NEED to deal with or use. Plus, you can recruit other gang-members to have up to three other computer people fighting with you at the same time. The only downside to the game is there’s no way to link up for 2-player action.
Also, whoever mentioned http://www.pocketnes.org deserves a medal. While the blank GBA cartridge you need to put the stuff on can cost upwards of $100, considering how many NES games you can fit on one cart, it’s a steal compared to the official releases. You know, literally, since the money doesn’t actually go to Nintendo. But if you can’t justify paying $20 for a game that’s $0.99 in the used bin of the same game store, it’s a good alternative.
Posted by
Marc @ 07/19/2004 1:49 PM EDT
I already had one(silver) and I traded it in with my two worst games.
Posted by
MightyStalfos @ 07/19/2004 1:50 PM EDT
JonnyRBee - A River City Ransom remake is out on GBA right now. For the most part, it looks pretty faithful to the original. Click on my name to see a review of it.
If Nintendo wanted to make some REAL money, they’d reissue the NES itself. This is as close as we’re really going to get to that…
Posted by
Mars @ 07/19/2004 2:23 PM EDT
OH THANK GOD, someone finally told me the name of that song. I sure as shit didn’t expect to find it here, though.
As far as I know, there are three "Who Are You?" ads, and one of them has Goldfrapp’s "Strict Machine" but does anyone know what the third one is? Never heard it, sounded pretty cool.
Posted by
Niq @ 07/19/2004 2:32 PM EDT
HOLY SHIT!!!
I Wish I Hadn’t Read This Article Because Now I Have To Go Out And Buy Every Single One Of These Games Along With The System Tomorrow Morning!!!
I Just Hope The Rest Of The Classics Eventually Come Out. I Won’t Be Able To Justify This Spending If I Can’t Own Ltd. Anniversary Editions Of: Super Mario Bros. 2 & 3, Adventure Island, Metroid, Mega Man 1-3, Bases Loaded, Contra, Paper Boy, Techmo Bowl, Duck Tales 1 & 2, Double Dragon, T & C Surf, Ghostbusters 1 & 2, Blades Of Steel, Mike Tyson’s Punchout, Kid Icarus, Castle Vania 1-3, Dungeons & Dragons, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1 & 2…
Please, Please, Please, Nintendo, Release Every One Of These Titles!!!
I Really Hope This Isn’t Just Going To Be These 8 Or So Games…
Posted by
Oliver @ 07/19/2004 2:41 PM EDT
hey …. where can i find old nes games in flash or java …. any suggestions?
Posted by
Graves @ 07/19/2004 3:48 PM EDT
Meh, I also think that for the most part these are wastes of money.
Especially when there are already 1000 versions of most of the games, or they have only so much depth to begin with. Really, the only one I see as any sort of value is Zelda, but then again even that just got 2 rereleases!
I already have Animal Crossing, with all the NES games unlocked (including Zelda and SMB!). I already have Super Mario Bros. Deluxe.
Plus, I think the Japanese Famicom versions are a little snazzier: the main box contains a smaller mock-up of the classic box which then houses the cartridge.
Perhaps when series 2 comes out, I’ll give some of them a try.
Posted by
Ian, Just Ian @ 07/19/2004 3:56 PM EDT
Actually, it’s modeled to look like an Orginal NES closed up. notice the bottom half is dark grey while the top is light and has the stripe on the side. Look at your nes. exactally the same almost.
An snes…was grey and purple.
They better release Jaws for this beeyatch!….and Tecmo Bowl…
Stop looking at me swan!
Posted by
Goody @ 07/19/2004 4:18 PM EDT
Oh, and for Graves…I dont know of any flash games, but there are some pretty good emulators out there, like JNES and Nesticle….those work pretty good and there is a rather large library of ROMs out there as well…not that I condone any of this, just some interesting info…
and they have Jaws for that beeyatch too!
Posted by
Goody @ 07/19/2004 4:21 PM EDT
I was thinking more of a X-E RPG, maybe like the 9-Volt portion of WarioWare. I can see it now….
MATT is attacked by NOUGAT MONSTER.
KILLER DUCK uses CHIA BOMB.
blap!
NOUGAT MONSTER is damaged.
GABBYLICIOUS casts HULK HANDS.
kachoink!
NOUGAT MONSTER is reeling.
KINGKLASH throws MARE WINNINGHAM!
blorgh!
NOUGAT MONSTER is defeated.
But TEAM X-E also suffers 10% damage!
Posted by
kingklash @ 07/19/2004 4:33 PM EDT
I have a dreamcast disc that holds 760 original nintendo games on it. I’m willing to give some away. Its amazing, works just like they would if it was on a regular nintendo, but with perks. Like programs on your computer, you can save and load whereever you want, also you can use the memory card to save spots as well.
If anyone is interested, just leave a post. I will be returning to look
Posted by
Benji @ 07/19/2004 4:46 PM EDT
*broken link*
the link for the Skeletor @ Pee-Wee’s Playhouse appears to be just reloading the main page. I wasn’t sure if you knew, but now you do.
Oh, would Spiderman look good on the roof of your building being held aloft by two giant Shrek hands? I think it would, hehe.
Posted by
kidneyboy @ 07/19/2004 5:01 PM EDT
There should be a SEGA Genesis 10-in-1 coming soon. Looking like a Genesis gamepad, of course
I’ll just wait for someone to send off their used NES to EB Games so I can get it for cheap. I’m still waiting for a used Dreamcast to turn up. I want one baaaaaadly.
Posted by
AngeFaitore @ 07/19/2004 5:15 PM EDT
I did the emulation thing for a while, even got them on my PDA for portability, but I missed the stupid little controller.
The one thing I really see missing (well not really "missing" since it wasn’t an original feature, but now I’ve gotten used to it) is the ability to save states.
Posted by
Shelby @ 07/19/2004 5:19 PM EDT
Evin -
I think this link clarifies the whole Super Mario Bros. 2 mess…
Posted by
TranceFormer @ 07/19/2004 6:48 PM EDT
oh i just noticed that the link didn’t come up http://www.classicgaming.com/TMK/smb2_madness.shtml
Posted by
TranceFormer @ 07/19/2004 6:49 PM EDT
Just wanted to let everyone know that right now on the Discovery Channel show "BIG," they are building a GIANT amusement park crane/claw game.
Posted by
Cameron @ 07/19/2004 7:04 PM EDT
Matt, I appreciate you taking to the time to respond to my comment, sincerely. This site is one of the few out there worth reading, so I’d really hate to lose it. Keep up the superb work and good luck.
Posted by
Pedro @ 07/19/2004 7:07 PM EDT
Aw, no comments on my GP32 link? =(
Posted by
PsychoJ @ 07/19/2004 7:10 PM EDT
Matt, don’t knock the Atari 7800. It may not have been as famous as the NES but it was a neat system. Hell, I still own one.
As for those games, most of them I already own. The only one I would buy is Zelda. The other games I feel aren’t worth paying $20 for. It would have been better to put some of those on one cartridge.
Posted by
Bert Raccoon @ 07/19/2004 7:39 PM EDT
Somehow I think nostalgia will always be in.
Posted by
Crimson @ 07/19/2004 7:42 PM EDT
Has anyone seen those TV/Games things that have old atari games on them. You just plug it into your tv and play the games. I seen
Pac Man
and for some reason Spongebob Squarepants.
Posted by
JLAJRC @ 07/19/2004 7:48 PM EDT
yeah i’ve seen those things, forgot what they are called though; at some malls, ive also seen controllers in the shape of an N64 controller that plug into a tv and have 60 some NES games on em
Posted by
TranceFormer @ 07/19/2004 9:40 PM EDT
I can’t get the Game Boy Advance until my original conks out. 15 years and going strong….
P.S. (just an observation) judging by all the comments already posted, I think we the people were anxious for a little X-E.
Posted by
manimal789 @ 07/19/2004 10:20 PM EDT
The NES-style GBA is nice, but the games are mostly rip-offs. There’s SMB Deluxe for the GBC, which is Super Mario Brothers plus the lost levels and a bunch of extra stuff, and the Pac-Man Collection for GBA, with the original Pac-Man plus 3 other pac-man games. Not to mention the E-reader versions of some of the other games.
I suppose releasing those that are on the E-cards is excusable, since some may not have or want an e-reader, But releasing a bare-bones Super Mario Brothers when they released a much better version 5 years ago on an inferior system? And releasing Pac-Man alone when there is still a cart for the same system which has it packed with more games? That’s disgustingly blatant greed if you ask me.
Posted by
Adrian @ 07/19/2004 10:33 PM EDT
SuperMarioBros. DX for the gameboy color was lame because the screen was cropped. When the cheepcheeps were after you on the bridge you couldnt even see what direction they were coming from unless you held the up button for a few seconds.
Posted by
Frizzurd @ 07/20/2004 3:38 AM EDT
Benji, I emulate on DC too, and definately see its advantages
However, I really. really. really. REALLY. want that GBA SP (can’t justify it at all, as I recieved a blue GBA SP for Christmas from my mum and dad). I’d also love to own those games because though I loved them when I was young, I didn’t own them then. I want to own physical copies of Mario 1, Excite bike, and Zelda. There’s something about having the games in legit physical form that I just adore.
As for somebody saying they wanted Mario 2 and 3 to be released as well, I believe they’ve already been re-released with zany, confusing names.
Posted by
jjgoreha @ 07/20/2004 8:44 AM EDT
What, no love for Xevious?
Posted by
Abob Lyndsae @ 07/20/2004 9:34 AM EDT
"It’s weird seeing Mario fawn over Pauline instead of Princess Toadstool…"
Well, the sick thing is, if I remember correctly, Pauline is Mario’s niece. Now I don’t feel so bad when he gets hit by those barrels. Kong is just trying to protect decency. Good for you, Kong!
Posted by
Lackadaisical @ 07/20/2004 10:17 AM EDT
Move out!
Posted by
kingklash @ 07/20/2004 11:31 AM EDT
Maaaaaatt, we need more articles. Quit your job and write more….
Posted by
need more @ 07/20/2004 11:43 AM EDT
Aren’t the seals changed to Yeti things in Ice Climber. Oh, and I think Nintendo wants to erase all things about Yoshi’s Island being Super Mario World 2 with the Super Mario Advance conversion. Proof:
Original Title Screen:
http://www.classicgaming.com/tmk/images/ss/ss_smw2_t.gif
Super Mario Advance 3 Recreation:
http://www.classicgaming.com/tmk/images/ss/ss_sma3_t-yi.gif
I smell conspiracy…
Posted by
NES Boy @ 07/20/2004 12:03 PM EDT
Pikachulover, what do you mean by "Just play the old cartrages on the GBC? Can you actually play old NES cartridges on the GBC. If so, I’ll be heading to bookmans an get all they have in stock. Also Nate, I’m twelve, and I think that the old games are cool. Even though i’m surely the suckiest gamer on the planet.
Posted by
TOM @ 07/20/2004 12:15 PM EDT
Matt, why didn’t you include a link to your old Quickie article on Ice Climber?
Here’s the link in case anyone is interested:
http://www.x-entertainment.com...rchive/quickies/23/index.shtml
Posted by
mutton72 @ 07/20/2004 1:41 PM EDT
In case nobody knows about this….In Metroid Zero Mission (an AWESOME remake of the NES original) you get the original NES version once you beat the game. It’s so good, words can’t describe.
Posted by
Harris @ 07/20/2004 2:13 PM EDT
I hope they bring original arcade Punch-Out!! to the DS. M. Tyson wasn’t ever in the original.
Posted by
kingklash @ 07/20/2004 2:23 PM EDT
TranceFormer-
I don’t buy it. Nowhere does whoever wrote that declare his sources, and it hardly looks like an official Nintendo website.
Like I said earlier, I’ve read a bunch, and the only thing that came close to an official explaination was the magazne article I read. I think I’ll trust a large gaming magazine with access to the developers over some random person’s fan website.
Posted by
Evin @ 07/20/2004 2:40 PM EDT
Oh right. ClassicGaming is GameSpy.
Still, they don’t quote any sources, and seem to have the same information as all the fan-sites that say the same thing. Maybe I’m fickle, but I’m still sticking with my story.
Posted by
Evin @ 07/20/2004 2:43 PM EDT
I wish they would just come out with collection discs for the gamecube that have all the original nintendo games on them.
Make like 5 discs with 200 games on each and sell them for $50-$100. I would definitely buy some if not all of them.
Posted by
Beerstalker @ 07/20/2004 3:27 PM EDT
TO THOSE OF YOU WHINING ABOUT THERE BEING ONLY ONE GAME PER CARTRIDGE:
Those games cost as much to make back then as a modern games costs to make now. What makes you think it’s a good business move for Nintendo to release ALL their games at once for the price of a single game?
I know you *want* a disk or cartridge with hundreds of games on it, but it’s more profitable to put them on individual cartridges, each for 20 bucks.
The very fact that you’re whining about it means you’re already interested in them, and will probably get them anyways, so Nintendo has done its job.
Posted by
Rambozo @ 07/20/2004 3:58 PM EDT
Now Behonkiss, you really expected anyone outside our insane little world would agree with you?
Rambozo, technically, it’s more profitable to put each of the 8 world of Super Mario Bros. on a 20$ cart. No one will argue it’s not. But there’s a point where it becomes pure rip-offism.
The games cost as much to make as modern games. While I don’t believe that, I’ll give it to you. These games were sold for the NES for 50$ (I think…). So any production cost has been paid off, and on top of that, profit was made on pretty much all the games offered for the GBA. Anything reaped from subsequent release is pure profit.
And it’s obvious why it’s a good buisness move to sell 200 NES games on a single disc. It costs next to nothing to port the games over, while it costs a whole hell of a lot more to make a whole new game. The only reason they don’t is that they’re willing to screw the consumer with a cheap product. And it is cheap. As mentioned, probably, before, I could get a NES and two games for the price of two of these GBA ports, and that’s stupid. Pure stupid.
Posted by
Saf @ 07/20/2004 5:42 PM EDT
TELL EM STEVE-DAVE!
Posted by
Graves @ 07/20/2004 5:44 PM EDT
People, nintendo is a company. They need to turn a damn profit, don’t like it? Don’t buy it, shut your traps.
Posted by
I rule @ 07/20/2004 7:14 PM EDT
Oh wow… thanks for the links guys! River City Ransom was a great game.. the new one looks cool too!
Posted by
JonnyRBee @ 07/20/2004 10:35 PM EDT
And nobody argues they shouldn’t turn a profit. But really… these games, their development costs were paid for 15-20 years ago. Everything, minus nominal porting a cartridge costs, is profit. If these were entirely new games, I wouldn’t bitch. But there’s little need to recover a whole lot of money, so why are they charging so much?
Because people will buy it no matter what. Remember what Matt was saying about people getting pissed when their private hobbies become widly popular? It’s true. If gaming were a more secluded thing, if Nintendo tried to pull this, the lack of sales would convince them never to again. But their are less informed people who will buy this, and perpetuate a cycle of Nintendo making low-quality, high-priced games marketed towards people who barely care what they’re getting. It’s a cycle that utterly screws informed consumers, and I hate it. That’s why I won’t shut up, as boycotting doesn’t have any effect. I’ve mailed Nintendo, and have got several friends to, as well. It won’t work, but I have to try to affect change.
Posted by
Saf @ 07/20/2004 10:35 PM EDT
All those hardcore retro gamers out there will probably rip off my ‘nads and deep fry them for this, but rehasing old games and porting them to new platforms and marketing them as "retro" is a little uncreative and pretty silly. Porting old games for a handheld that is way more powerful than their original consoles doesn’t make much sense to me, mainly because Iv’e seen most of these games (the original ones) for, like, 50 cents at used game stores. But then I ran out and bought Max Payne 2 and Rainbow Six 3 the second I got my shiny new gaming computer, so I might just be a godless, unwashed gaming heathen with no respect for old games come and gone.
Posted by
EhhEff @ 07/20/2004 11:11 PM EDT
It just boggles the mind. Why would anyone buy this? NES roms are the most easiest roms to find, the more popular of these games have already been released and a few ingenious nerds have already programmed most of the NES games into one cartridge and are selling it.
Posted by
Eric @ 07/20/2004 11:38 PM EDT
Every time I open it up, it’s like opening up a box of smiles. I got Zelda and DK, and that’s all I need. I have the Mario Bros. DX and SMB3 re-make. SMB2…meh. I’ve defeated Wart so many times it’s not funny anymore watching him puff-puff to his death. Still, NES SP(I like that) is a definite for anyone from the Golden Age of Nintendo. Let’s hope the DS will be just as nice to us…
So I was part of the Atari 7800 bandwagon too. I even lost many arguments defending the fact that Atari was better the Nintendo and that Atari would always rule the universe.
Posted by
tonybluehose @ 07/21/2004 2:48 AM EDT
I loved nintendo in the SNES era, but they turned into "just another company" after the N64 era…
Hence why I don’t buy anything they make now, None of it feels genuine.
Posted by
J @ 07/21/2004 8:15 AM EDT
I’m gettin’ the Genesis, Space Invaders, and Tetris TV games from Radica when they come out, as well as the Jakks Ms. Pac-Man and Atari Paddle games. I also want to find the Dr. Boy and Game Gun Famiclone/Pirate NES/RipOff TV games I saw some time ago at a flea market.
Posted by
kingklash @ 07/21/2004 3:37 PM EDT
I can’t see paying $20 for games that FunCo charges 50 cents for. Portability is overrated with this first set of games… well, except for Zelda. The games that would make me take the plunge will most likely NEVER be released for the GBA. I want Crystalis, and yes, I know all about the GBC release, but it’s crap. I want Tecmo Bowl. I want Rekka! I demand Final Fantasy Remix!
Posted by
Raijin Z @ 07/21/2004 4:09 PM EDT
Goddamn pseudo-fans, quit your bitching.
Posted by
i rule @ 07/21/2004 10:22 PM EDT
I dunno, I guess I can understand the icky reaction if you’re a hardcore gamer and you know all the other avenues to do this yadda yadda. For me, it’s just a cool thing to see and a neat thing to have. As I said in the article in different words, I’ve spent 100 on worse.
Posted by
Matt @ 07/21/2004 10:30 PM EDT
Every word, pure gold. Like you, I hadn’t had a Game Boy since the original huge green-screed sucker (and I went through a few of them). When the original GBA came out, I wanted one, but waited just long enough for the SP to come out. Then I still put it off. When I heard they were making this retro version, I said to myself that if I were to get an SP, it would be that one. I bought the first one I saw. Now I couldn’t be happier. I’ve got a GBA, several great old school games, the ability to play Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles and Zelda Four Swords, AND it looks like an original NES to boot. Best $100 I’ve ever spent.
Posted by
005 @ 07/21/2004 11:13 PM EDT
Matt, while I AM glad you are enjoying your SP, you kinda took it up the wallet so to speak.
1: The Nintendo DS is gonna be GBA compatible (unsure about original GB and GB Color titles tho), be around as powerful as an N64, have built in wireless and 2 screens 1 of which is touchscreen for around 150 and its due relatively soon. Possibly this winter.
2: You could have gotten the old GBA used for around 40-50 bucks. Depending on what kind of light you have, its either worth it or a complete pain. Its worth it to me. Had mine for years now. Its less cramped handswise than the SP, but it doesnt have the rechargability, or backlight. Or the retro NES bit. (Considering I pretty much used the NES Advantage joystick over those hideous gamepads the NES print doesn’t do much for me. YMMV!)
3: Most of these games are available already in cheaper collections. (But you say you really don’t do videogames anymore, so I am unsure what if any systems you have!) The best would be the PS2/GC/XBox Namco collection with like 10 games for 30 bucks, including 2 seperate Pac Mans, 3 if you count Pac Mania, 4 if you count Ms Pac Man. The Gamecube had a promotion where you got every console Zelda game except for the SNES one (already available in a 30 dollar GBA cart) for a 20 dollar subscription to Nintendo Power, or in specially marked Gamecubes. (Might have come with the Gamecube game too now that I think about it.) May I add that the Gamecube is only 100 bucks now? Plus for another 50 you can play all the Gameboy Advance (GBA, GB, and GB Color) games through it. Its pretty sweet IMHO.
Castlevania 1-3, and Contra & Super Contra NES are available on a 10 dollar PC release called Konami Collector’s Series: Contra & Castlevania. Works great. (Capcom has a slightly more expensive set that is kind of haphazard with their arcade titles over multiple 10-20 dollar CD sets. Under Win 98 it was odd and didnt work too well.. havent installed under Xp yet.)
If you look closely you would be amazed how many old games are available in low priced collections, or as bonuses in other games. (Im buying Tron 2.0 for the GBA this Winter not for the game, but because the Arcade Tron and Discs of Tron are on it!)
Oh.. and Nintendo is bad because a single GBA cart could fit all 20 or so releases they have done (20 or so in Japan anyhow) on 1 cart, since the NES games were roughly 32-128 kilobytes a pop, while the average GBA cart is 32 megabytes.
1 megabyte=1024 kilobytes. These games would come close to filling a GBA cart and IIRC, the GBA carts can go higher than 32 megs.
Plus there is an SNES cart with the graphics upgraded versions of SMB, SMB2, SMB2 Japan, SMB3, and SMWorld all in one. Nintendo is charging 20-30 bucks for each seperate game on the GBA!
That’s dirty pool IMHO.
Don’t get me wrong, if you are having fun don’t worry about it. I am just letting you know some of the options out there.
Posted by
Bloodcat @ 07/22/2004 1:16 AM EDT
the 30 lives code from contra is the konami code and is in tons of old konami games.
Posted by
hektik @ 07/22/2004 1:19 AM EDT
I hate to come across as a shill for Nintendo, especially considering that I fought on the side of the Sega Masters in the 8-bit wars, but about the screen on the regular GBA: I don’t know if it’s something unique to my own GBA that I got for my birthday in October 2002, but pretty much anywhere where there’s enough light to read a newspaper, I haven’t had a problem seeing the GBA screen without a "snake-light". I’ve played my GBA without a light in a wide variety of medium-light situations, like in the basement of the animation college I used to go to before we ran out of money and on a bus at twilight. I think the problems seeing the screen were overstated.
Aww I want the retro GBA SP…
But I already have the black one. There’s no reason to buy a second. I could trade but I never trust how someone else might have been taking care of their system.
I too think they should have put several games on one cart and released them in volumes. $20 for games I already own or can download for free is a little much.
As for Crystalis, I have the NES version. I avoided the GBC version like the plague after I heard it sucked.
Posted by
Adrastia @ 07/22/2004 4:10 AM EDT
Well, It looks like some people just dont get it. It’s a NES, BUT IN YOUR POCKET. iT LOOKS LIKE A NES CONTROLLER!!! CLOSE IT, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE CONSOLE!!! If that isnt the coolest thing ever, then god knows what is. You guys can play it on your PC, or on your old nes on in a rewritable flash on your old gameboy, but me, I’ll be playing NES games, on my NESP [I like that abbrev.]. And yes, I’ll also get a DS come Launch date, and I know its not far off BUT ITS A GAMEBOY THAT LOOKS LIKE A NES PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and when the whateverith anniversary of the SNES comes out, I’ll bet my bottom dollar theyll come out with a DS that looks like one, and I’ll get that too. Oh, yeah, And i’ll be importing the Japanese Famicom game releases. Cheaper, more games available, and an exact replica of the old box in a release box, and the cartridge colours are way cooler, as they were in Japan.
End rant.
Posted by
-->Oscam<-- @ 07/22/2004 10:22 AM EDT
Question for Nintendo: Why aren’t you guys as nostalgic for the Virtual Boy?
Oh yeah, because it was one of the worst inventions this side of the gas chamber.
Posted by
Jeff Mack @ 07/22/2004 1:08 PM EDT
They have super mario 1-3 and super mario world and yoshi’s island for GBA now.
If you don’t want to spend all that money look into buying a flash card for your GBA.
I think they should’ve just re-released super mario all stars like they did for the SNES
I would like to see the final fantasy games and chrono trigger on the GBA also.
Posted by
Luke @ 07/22/2004 2:30 PM EDT
id like to see some non-nintendo games from that some era re-released. maby even some SNES games… but then again the majority of GBA games ARE re done SNES games. id really like them to do Contra II, III.
Posted by
tsukasa @ 07/22/2004 4:44 PM EDT
quick question ….. u guys keep talking of e-readers and flash cards …. sorry to be an idiot about technology but WTF? u can download ROMS’s onto the cards and plug em into a GBA …. where can i get one of these fablesd inventions?!?!?!?!!!!????
Posted by
Graves @ 07/22/2004 7:40 PM EDT
They made a COOL classic Mario reissue for the Gameboy Color…has the perfect original and some other cool side-games.
Posted by
another Matt @ 07/22/2004 8:36 PM EDT
Nintendo > Microsoft > dog shit > sony
Give us another article Matt…. we’re dieing here.
Posted by
ME @ 07/22/2004 11:17 PM EDT
Hi Matt-
I wrote this article for my site about a month or two ago, it’s a review of the Famicom Mini–that being the Japanese equivalent to the NES Game Boy.
http://www.slackersden.com/reviews/games/famicom.htm
Give it a browse if you have the time.
Posted by
Conor @ 07/22/2004 11:27 PM EDT
I want one!!!
Posted by
Rachel Cakes @ 07/23/2004 4:22 AM EDT
I so want that thing, wonder when it will come to Australia?! Retro all the way!
Posted by
Rebekah @ 07/23/2004 5:37 AM EDT
Okay, this is off topic, but have any of you tried the Orville Redenbacher’s Kettle Korn?
That stuff is way too sugary. I thought that Kettle Corn was supposed to be both sweet and sour, 1/2 Sugar 1/2 Salt, not 3/4 Sugar 1/4 Salt.
Posted by
AngeFaitore @ 07/23/2004 7:23 AM EDT
Yikes Matt i can’t stop playing that song i’ve been listening to it since 4:00pm yesterday AHHHHHHHH
Posted by
KingClawGrip @ 07/23/2004 1:34 PM EDT
Its like hitting the demo button on God’s synth board.
Posted by
KingClawgrip @ 07/23/2004 1:36 PM EDT
Ange — we bought that popcorn by mistake once. It’ll never happen again.
Posted by
Matt @ 07/23/2004 2:16 PM EDT
MAAAAAAAATT, WRITE DAMN YOU.
Posted by
ME @ 07/23/2004 4:56 PM EDT
"Why would I pay 20 bucks for it when I can get the rom for free?" someone said.
Sure, why pay 50 bucks for a PC game when you can download it from emule for free?
Why go to movies or buy DVDs when you can download it from newsgroups for free?
Why buy anything?
Because downloading roms, games or movies is illegal, you retards. Saying "Why would I pay when I can steal?" is not a valid argument. The reason you’d pay 20 bucks is because you want to own the game and play it on your GBA, as well as support Nintendo. Saying "I think I should get 50 games per cartridge for the same price" is like saying "I want to pay for a Honda civic, but I think for that price, I deserve a Porsche. Why should I pay all that money they’re asking for when I could just hotwire someone elses Porsche?"
Posted by
Rambozo @ 07/23/2004 5:31 PM EDT
Amen Rambozo.
got a guy i work with who hacks sattelites, his arguments for stealing are almost as funny
Posted by
Original Undeard @ 07/23/2004 6:44 PM EDT
Well said Rambozo. I want to have the games portable, I want to get the easily. The best and quickest way is to buy them. PLUS AN ADDED BONUS! This way you support the great Nintendo and you DON’T BREAK THE LAW.
Posted by
ME @ 07/23/2004 7:31 PM EDT
Matt, I’m sorry you had to scroll through these comments from people who know less about games than you do. rock mario’s ass.
Posted by
moog @ 07/23/2004 10:15 PM EDT
Matt do you ever go on AIM? At xecharchar?
Posted by
ME @ 07/23/2004 11:00 PM EDT
Damn, Matt, you just sold another one. I bought Bomberman, Mario Bros. and the SP itself, since I didn’t have one yet.
Posted by
Samila @ 07/24/2004 11:41 AM EDT
ME: very rarely. :/
Moog: Most of the comments are from people who surely know more about games than I do, I can guarantee you that. The difference in opinion stems from me being so casual about that industry, and not really much caring if there’s a better alternative to seek out. I still think it’s worth buying.
Posted by
Matt @ 07/24/2004 11:42 AM EDT
Uh, those recent posts are not from ME. My only post in this thread was the commercial link.
Posted by
ME @ 07/24/2004 2:35 PM EDT
Supporting nintendo?
I stopped supporting them after the N64 fiascos… They Canned starfox 2 for SNES, ditched earthbound 64, And the rumored mario 64 2 was scrapped… The triforce was removed from OOT… everything was just shot all to hell….
So I have a GP32 instead of a GBA. And i’m happier too.
Posted by
J @ 07/25/2004 12:38 PM EDT
I AM ME!!! BOW DOWN …. or something…..
Posted by
ME (Graves in clever disguise) @ 07/25/2004 4:01 PM EDT
I love NES, so when I seen this in EB, I knew I had to have it. Glad to know I’m not the only one drooling over this great toy.
Posted by
Sarah @ 07/25/2004 9:58 PM EDT
The only bad thing about SPs in general is the god-awful wussy paint they coat them with! At least with the NES SP it’s less noticeable, but the out shell never fails to pick up every single micron of dust which peels off the fake-shiny coating.
Why not just make the things metal? Gwaah… but at least all the really nice details are inside. It has a real controller feel!
I still think $20 for each title is a great deal of a ripoff… why not at least do them in twos? Multicarts usually look odd, but they’ve been doing it with the Mario re-releases…
As for Castlevania in the future… love. If CV3 comes out for it, must own. MUST. Did anyone figure out if Sypha was a man or a woman? I think Sypha was a man.
-crazy lady out
Posted by
Bluetail @ 07/26/2004 8:38 AM EDT
so, there’s a nes emulator that works on the GBA hardware…
http://www.pocketnes.org/
and GBA flash cartridges are cheap, compared to 20 bucks per game. Why pay -again- for games that you purchased long ago, at full price? This is like buying the White album off of iTunes after buying it on CD after buying it on tape after buying it on vinyl…..
Posted by
pong @ 07/26/2004 12:42 PM EDT
That last picture reminds me of Christmas morning, 1990.
Posted by
Bobby Budnick @ 07/26/2004 3:08 PM EDT
It is so incredibly sad that I know this, but Sypha was a woman. If you beat the game using her, at the end she takes her hood off and she has long blond hair and it says that she and Trevor live happily ever after.
Posted by
Jason @ 07/27/2004 5:47 PM EDT
"The reason you’d pay 20 bucks is because you want to own the game and play it on your GBA, as well as support Nintendo."
Your anti-ROMming arguments are valid, but that still doesn’t explain why you wouldn’t use an older method. I mean, you’re paying 15 bucks for portability. A huge god-damn ripoff. And support Nintendo? What does that mean? It’s not your responsibility to "support" a company. There’s no responsibility to you. If they’re making bad games (As these are), you shouldn’t buy them. I’m pissed because these are stopping a useful port from being made.
Posted by
Saf @ 07/27/2004 10:17 PM EDT
Alright someone really needs to figure out how to make duckhunt compatible with the GBA. It wont’ be the same without the gun, but you can probably stil use the control pad to aim the crosshairs. I would pay a LOT of money for duck hunt, even though I got it for nes at gamestop for like 10 cents when my first one broke :p
Posted by
Thebestpersonever @ 07/28/2004 6:29 PM EDT
Matt,since you’ve gone all retro with this article, how about an article on the old Game Boy games you used to play(assuming you can still find those cartridges in your room)? You’re obviously king of ‘back in the day’ articles, I think we’d all like yo know what you though about those tiny screen wonders.
Also, you may not know about his, but pretty much 220% of the games released for the GBA are retro. Not just the Nintendo franchises, Earthworm Jim, Phantasy Star, Sega Smash Pack and even obscure stuff like SabreWulf got rereleased for the system. Even new games are made to look like old ones. (Ex. Shrek 2 rips off its ideas from Lost Vikings.) It actually annoys me, because not only does this shows how lazy as heck developers are to come up with new ideas, but also because in many cases they don’t even do it right. Some of these ‘classics’ have sloppy controls (sloppier than the original), don’t have autosave, etc. etc. Hate to rage like this, but there’s a bad side to all this retrogaming as well. Still, I gotta give props to the new Sonic, Metroid, Megaman and Final Fantasy games, as these have new games with new gameplay elements, but made to look and feel like dolled-up versions of old games. (Ultimately, It all depends on the company who owns the games).
Lastly, if you want to buy a new game, get WarioWare first. The whole GAME (not just one level) is an homage to old games, and esp. developer Gunpei Yokoi, who created the Gameboy hardware, Wario, R.O.B., and so many other brilliant NES creations.
It has a Punch Out style minigame, but more importantly, you get to pick noses and all that. Isn’t that cool?
Posted by
Plsbury Doughboy @ 07/28/2004 7:57 PM EDT
"I wish someone would release old Sega Master System games on the GBA"
It’s already done… sort of. Go to gameboy-advance.net and look for the SMS emulator. if you have one of those flash cards like i do (yay!!!) you can download the roms on there are play them on your NES SP!
I’m sorry to say this but I just could not wait for Nintendo to release the games, since I knew it would take a while and not all the games would be released. I expected packs of 10 or whatever since you can fit like 50 NES games (or more depending on the cart) on the GBA carts. Instead they play on the ‘retro’ trend and sell them for $20 a pop. it’s a rip-off. They had the right idea with the e-reader, but for that price only people who grew up with the games (like me) are going to buy them (and keep them). I would expect that the kids of today would return them or use them for a while and resell ‘em when they got bored. What a shame.
I bought a Flash Advance card (256 megabit) in january of ‘02… best $150 I’ve ever spent. i’ve been playing ALL of the NES games thanks to the pocketNES emulator for about 2 years now. Do yourself a favor and get one now!
I knew they would eventually r
Posted by Matt. 
