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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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!

Chestnuts roasted by Chris @ 07/18/2004 9:10 PM

Matt, can you awnser my eMail about the Green Bamboo Peanuts?

PLEASE!

Chestnuts roasted by Mat Olson @ 07/18/2004 9:21 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Former A1C Pete @ 07/18/2004 9:33 PM

WHEEEEEEEEE!!!! NES crap !!!! WOOO HOOOOO!!!!

Chestnuts roasted by Graves @ 07/18/2004 10:22 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Nate @ 07/18/2004 10:45 PM

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).

Chestnuts roasted by The Dragon @ 07/18/2004 11:06 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by pikachulover @ 07/18/2004 11:08 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Rewolf J @ 07/18/2004 11:16 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Cameron @ 07/18/2004 11:59 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Mr King @ 07/19/2004 12:20 PM

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

Chestnuts roasted by Toxicity- @ 07/19/2004 12:58 PM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Bitsy&Roary @ 07/19/2004 1:05 AM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Kate @ 07/19/2004 1:53 AM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Rono @ 07/19/2004 2:18 AM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by jimmy jackson @ 07/19/2004 2:43 AM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Mr. S @ 07/19/2004 2:48 AM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by blueharvest @ 07/19/2004 2:51 AM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by pulseczar @ 07/19/2004 2:51 AM

Im buying a Gamecube and Smash Bros. Melee just so I can beat Pikachu senseless with Ness’ PK abilities.

Chestnuts roasted by IncogNegro @ 07/19/2004 2:54 AM

When I saw that gameboy in the paper I thought it was awesome!

Chestnuts roasted by sdasfsdg @ 07/19/2004 2:55 AM

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"

Chestnuts roasted by LBD "Nytetrayn" @ 07/19/2004 3:07 AM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by TranceFormer @ 07/19/2004 3:25 AM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Evin @ 07/19/2004 3:40 AM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Steve Brandon @ 07/19/2004 3:49 AM

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.

Chestnuts roasted by Dude McGuy @ 07/19/2004 4:09 AM

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