Game Boy Advance SP - Platinum

• Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros 3
• Super Mario Advance
• Cars
• Pokemon Fire Red Version
• Pokemon Emerald Version

Many decried the original Game Boy Advance's reflective LCD screen and its reliance on external light sources. The Game Boy Advance SP's main feature--optional backlighting--fixes this complaint nicely, but it's the wealth of other features that makes this system so surprisingly good.

At first look, you might think the SP is a sleek travel alarm clock. When closed, it's just as tall and deep as the original GBA, but only half as wide. Due to its clamshell design, the screen is always protected from everyday scratches. A small button in the center of the console turns on the backlighting element for use in low-light situations, like in a moving car.

The SP comes with a well-designed power adapter that recharges a built-in battery; its prongs fold in for easier storage. Our informal tests found that it takes about four hours to fully charge (you can even play it while it's plugged in and charging), and the battery lasts about 11 hours with the backlighting constantly on--your results may vary. Using the backlighting less often will conserve battery power.

With separately sold cables, you can connect the Game Boy Advance SP to other GBAs for multiplayer gaming (above) or to the Nintendo GameCube (below) to access secret levels, exchange data, or use other special features that vary from game to game.

But size, power, and affordability do not come without trade offs. There's no headphone jack here, though Nintendo promises an adapter. The system isn't very loud at its highest volume, and the sound can be turned down to socially acceptable levels. The L and R shoulder buttons are a fraction of the size they were on the GBA, and thus are harder to hit. Also, the reduced size of the SP is slightly less comfortable for adult hands than the GBA, but perhaps more comfortable for smaller hands. The cartridge port placement on the lower part of the console is fine for GBA games, since they are flush with the console body, but older Game Boy Color carts will stick out in a way that takes some getting used to.

Open it up and the hinge will seek out a preferred, pre-set angle (about 150 degrees), though you can open it a bit wider or narrower for your own comfort. The hinge stands up well to lateral pressure, and over all, the SP seems just as rugged as its predecessor--which has proven to be very rugged, indeed. --Porter B. Hall

Unit Specifications

• CPU: 32-Bit ARM with embedded memory
• Memory: 32 KB with 96 KB VRAM (in CPU), 256 KB WRAM (external of CPU)
• Screen: 2.9-inch reflective TFT color LCD
• Display Size: 1.6 by 2.4 inches (40.8 by 61.2 mm)
• Resolution: 240 x 160 pixels in a wide-screen aspect ratio
• Colors: 511 simultaneous colors from a palette of 32,768
• Software: Fully compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color game paks
• Light Source: Front light integrated with LCD
• Size (closed): 3.3 by 3.23 by .96 inch
• Weight: Approximately 5 ounces
• Power Supply: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• Battery Life: 10 hours continuous play with light on; 18 hours with light off; 3 hours recharging

no disappointments whatsoever on my end. ten years from now, i still wouldnt be surprised if people still play on this thing. it fits perfectly in my pocket, has a fantastic batter life, and an incredible gaming library. the gameboy advance is my favorite gaming device.

the original came out, i bought a glacier, and played the hell out of it for two years (even installed my own Afterburner backlight. it was worth every penny. it singlehandedly got me into handheld gaming (never owned a gameboy before), and to this day, 90% of my game time is handheld. it brought new life back to all my games, and even today, although i have a DS Lite as well as a gameboy player for my gamecube, i still break out my SP for short bouts of on the go gaming. pros:small inexpensivebacklitcute as all get outhuge library of gamesbackwards compatible with GB and GBC gamesattaches to the gamecubecons: hmmm.

when nintendo announced the SP at E3 several years ago.it was love at first sight. the games themselves.so many to choose from. now that was a chore). all the mario advance games, the castlevania series, tactics ogre, final fantasy titles, puzzle games, baseball advance, the tony hawk series (which was incredible), racing games, the list is almost endless. expensive for people with no jobs.so, if you want to get as much bang for your buck on a handheld gaming device.pick this puppy up.

I bought this for my husband a couple years ago and I ended up buying a different color for myself soon afterward. It holds a charge for a long time, it still in great shape and it's small, so it's easy to take with you on trips. Highly recommend.

Gameboy Micro is soo much better then this gameboy sp because. It's smaller, the screen brightness can be adjusted, faceplates can be changed in about 15 seconds, it fits normal headphones, and it looks cooler.

You can get this for your child so that they will have hours of fun and unlimited play. If you see a RED light on the Game boy turn it off and charge it up.So these are my last words.Go and get it.Goodbye. Charging time approximately takes up to 3 hours. Open the box and read the instructions.5. (If you don't have one of these).2. This is a great video game system because you can play it if your bored or you can play it ON THE GO.If you have planned a vacation and you don't have one Head straight for the video game store and get one.

Now let's get back to my review. Insert a game cartridge 6.

Although, I got mine 2 years ago but that doesn't matter. Jump in the car and head straight home.4.

Turn the game on and start playing.7. Buy a couple of games.3.

So why don't you BUY the fun at your local video game store and take your game boy on vacation or play it at home while your bored.Follow these basic steps.1. You don't need to worry about batteries because the Game boy has rechargeable batteries.

go to the video game store. Charge batteries after done playing for the day.Warning.

This is a great platform it is way better than a gb advabce and the gb color mine right diretional pad is spoiled when my sister dropped some water in it :( but it still work :)but you have to press it hard still this is a good platform it has some good games like pokemon red rescue team and the famous pokemon emerald i reccomend this game but if you have the money buy a Nintendo DS lite i said Nintendo DS LITE not regular 1 buy this platform if you want