PTE61: Advance Handheld Wars

[Neon Ignition]

The poll that ran notlong ago about the best Gameboy model on its anniversary accidentally touched on this so I figured we'll flesh this out properly. The Gameboy Advance is still viewed by some as handhelds greatest hour, it fought off several competitors and was 2D's last stand for a while. It is also the last Nintendo platform to bear the still famous Gameboy branding.

Nintendo though wasn't shy, as ever, on knocking out revisions and colour alternatives to the system. What games do you remember most fondly, which models did you own?

Was the Advance Nintendo's best handheld hour?

And for the polls sake, what was/is the best way to play Gameboy Advance games?

[Dogg Thang]

For me the Micro isn't just the best GBA, it's the best handheld. I love its tiny form, love how it feels and the games look great on its postage stamp screen. I imagine I would curse its size as I got older and my eyesight worsened but, until then, I love it.

[charlesr]

I like the backlit SP. The micro is too uncomfortable for more than 10 mins with my large hands.

Highlights are bomberman with the link up cable and playing pacman Vs on the gamecube with it

[dataDave]

I like them all.

The GBA was most comfortable, and came in purple.
The SP had the right mix of form and feel.
The Micro is the dinkiest with the highest quality screen.

It's worth keeping one of each.

[briareos_kerensky]

Another vote for the Micro here. I skipped the original GBA and got a first model SP; loved it, even with the dongle thingie for the headphones. I got the Micro just for collecting purposes, and found myself using it much more than the SP: small, very comfortable, incredible screen.

[Darwock]

original GBA for me. In the right lighting the screen was spectacular... unfortunately in the wrong lighting you could barely see it. The GBA SP was more consistently visible but never looked as good as the GBA did at its best.

[importaku]

The micro screen while small has the most amazing super sharp clarity & because it's so sharp it actually improves the graphics on gba games. Never struggled using it, the gba library has a wonderful selection of games but nintendo's finest handheld hour still goes to the DS for games.

Saying that im starting to look out for more gba games i missed out on so maybe as i find more games i like my love will change. Have to admit Japanese GBA game boxes are wonderful in size & design.

[nakamura]

I have the AGS 101 and overall it's a great unit because of the screen and compatibility with the GB. However the rise of backlit original GBA units is very appealing.
I love the Micro but it's too small to use comfortably for me.

[CatCopter]

Ive never really got on with handheld systems, not sure why but they always end up in a draw gathering dust. But the Gamecube player was a perfect fit for me i wish i still had one. Cant beat a bit of advanced ward on the big telly, well you probably can.

[Asura]

I went with the Micro, as I really liked that for everything but Final Fantasy Tactics (it was a bit fiddly for SRPGs).

I've never actually seen an AGS-101 in the flesh, though, and I suspect those are very good as I assume they're like the DS Lite.

[importaku]

Pretty much, or same brightness as a micro.

[teddymeow]

Micro for sure. Though my first was a launch JPN model with F-Zero and Castlevania CotM which cost me a quarter of a months pay!

I love the SP: remember going to a midnight launch for it and getting it with Sonic Advance 2 because that looked incredible on the screen.

The Mario, Advance Wars, Metroid and Castlevania games were all incredible on the GBA.

An utterly incredible machine and I'm trying to convince my Dad to give me his blue GBA SP which he never uses.

[Golgo]

GBA but's that's because it was the only one I had. I lusted after a Micro but the hulking DS Phat came out with it's big shiny screen and I was on that bandwagon then. After the PS2 I think the GBA has my favourite ever selection of games. Still got some beauties unplayed: Wario Land 4, Super Robot Taisen 2nd Gen, Hajime No Ippo, maybe some more...which I'm 'saving' for some reason!

[Asura]

It's a real shame, in honesty, that the Micro got no time to shine. Everything about it was practically perfect; the metal construction, the long battery life, the pin-sharp screen, the tiny size... Just by the time it came out in the UK, it was already difficult to get GBA games in the shops that weren't either Mario or THQ's Spongebob games.

[Neon Ignition]

I owned two machines, first the purpley blue launch day GBA. The original machine was almost spot on for me, I really liked the design and it was comfortable to use but the screen held it back too much, those modded backlit versions look great but its still bulky next to the alternatives. The second was the tattoo design SP, it did a decent job with its frontlight, though the back light is much better. Being truthful I was never enamoured with the SPs design, practical but dull and too boxey.

The Micro was a complete miss for me, didn't get the point but as I've gotten older my respect for it has increased a lot. Just caved and ordered one, just seems perfect for pocket quick goes.

My big shame with GBA is that whilst there's loads of alternatives to play Nintendo always copped out of making a true Mario title for it, could have been really special.