X-Entertainment | The GBA SP Classic, reviewed.

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...

Posted by Matt on 07/18/2004. E-mail me!

Discussion Thread: 211 comments

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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.

Chestnuts roasted by Chelsey @ 07/18/2004 3:24 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Behonkiss @ 07/18/2004 3:36 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by ANdrew @ 07/18/2004 3:49 PM

Hey Matt, check this out:
http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3388

Apparently they have a Famicom-colored one too!

Chestnuts roasted by Stormy @ 07/18/2004 3:57 PM

I just want to put this where everyone can see it, Ken Jennings(Jeopardy) is Nathan Bitner(Photog). KJ is a beast!

Chestnuts roasted by whitemale_98/competent soldier @ 07/18/2004 4:00 PM

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).

Chestnuts roasted by duckyass @ 07/18/2004 4:11 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Mr. Mr. Mr. @ 07/18/2004 4:15 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by ShadowWing the Technorganic Autobot @ 07/18/2004 4:19 PM

Matt – you should have just bought an iPaq for the money and downloaded an NES emulator and ROMS for free

Chestnuts roasted by Danny @ 07/18/2004 4:32 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 07/18/2004 4:33 PM

I must have one. I will be the first one in line at Toys R Us when they release Kid Icarus and Punch Out!!

Chestnuts roasted by pulseczar @ 07/18/2004 4:36 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by A-wel Cruiz @ 07/18/2004 4:51 PM

Actually, Birdo is a transsexual.

Chestnuts roasted by Piscez @ 07/18/2004 4:59 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Jay @ 07/18/2004 5:56 PM

What, Zelda doesn’t come with a gold cartrige? I’m dissapointed

Chestnuts roasted by hamburger man @ 07/18/2004 5:57 PM

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*

Chestnuts roasted by 4thDown @ 07/18/2004 5:58 PM

I think I might have to go get one now….

Chestnuts roasted by David @ 07/18/2004 6:44 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by jhnnywalkr @ 07/18/2004 6:47 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Rayzak @ 07/18/2004 6:49 PM

Here is a link to the emulator’s website.. http://www.pocketnes.org/

Chestnuts roasted by Rayzak @ 07/18/2004 6:52 PM

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!

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 07/18/2004 7:01 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 07/18/2004 7:52 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 07/18/2004 8:52 PM

Kidney — yup, same texture. Maybe even morso on the grippy side. It’s not just a sheet of black plain plastic.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 07/18/2004 8:53 PM

Moreso. OOPS.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 07/18/2004 8:54 PM

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