Is the DS the best way to play GBA games?

[overthehill99]

How does everyone feel about this? Is the DS Lite the best way out there to play GBA games? I'm not really a fan of the SP's design and buttons, and even though I love the original GBA's design, it's almost impossible to play due to the lack of a backlight.

I sure Micro people are going to have a fit of rage over this, but I'm talking about for normal people who don't want to play games on a microscopic screen.

 

[Atomski]

I still prefer to play my GBA games on a SP. Not sure why..

 

[sixteen-bit]

 

[ColtraineGF]

Make sure to get the later model, with better backlight.

Although, since you don't like it...

I would recommend the DS Lite, but the buttons are too squishy. DS Phat in that case. Although the light is a bit weak now.

 

[Aeana]

If you don't like the SP's buttons or the Micro, I guess the DS Lite would be the best solution for you. That or the GB Player, or maybe an original GBA with one of those backlighting kits? I've never tried one before.

 

[ElFly]

Gameboy Player.

 

[OnPoint]

This but it's better in black.

Ha. Ha.

 

[consoul]

Micro people are going to have a fit of rage over this.

Correct.
RRRRRAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGEEEEE.

Micro is factually the best way to experience GBA games.
Screen too small you say? Pfft. Learn to see, Mr. Magoo.

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

DS Lite's probably the best way to go if you don't like the SP's design.

GB Player on a Gamecube is good too, but you're tied to the TV for the duration of play.

I'd say the best way to play GBA games is to use the SP+, but they're really difficult to track down.

EDIT:

It took me the better part of a year to track down an AGS-101 GBA SP (SP+). Don't go down that path. That way, madness lies.

 

[Brazil]

The Game Boy Micro, the GBA SP and the GB Player are all better for GBA games than the DS.

 

[WillyFive]

Technically it's the SP (with the super bright screen), by virtue of being able to play EVERYTHING.

Game Boy Player is nice too, but it's not portable.

 

[ULTROS!]

GBA vs. DS - I'd pick the DS because the first gen GBAs don't have backlights.
GBA SP vs. DS - If my GBA SP is still kicking, I'd go for that. Playing it on the DS is fine though.

 

[mjc]

GBA Micro

 

[LegendOfGood]

While we're on the subject of GBA games and the SP, could someone enlighten me about the different types of SPs there are? I heard that some models have a brighter back light than others. Is this true?

 

[I NEED SCISSORS]

PSP Go. About the only good use for the system.

 

[SlaughterX]

Yup... with component cables I have to say GBA games (and even older GB games) look great on my CRT HDTV.

 

[ConradCervantes]

Micro.

 

[a posh hammer]

the A and B buttons aren't very conveniently placed on the DS, hard to play games where you have to hold B and press A for example. The micro also has the best screen.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Yup... with component cables I have to say GBA games (and even older GB games) look great on my CRT HDTV.

:thumbs up:

component cables were worth the investment

 

[Linkhero1]

I play on my ds lite but I think SP is great.

 

[pje122]

PSP Go. About the only good use for the system.

Which emulator/version do you recommend...?

 

[FrostuTheNinja]

SP+.

Better screen and more brightness options.

My chick has a Micro and it's pretty nice but all in all, I'd still say the SP is the way to go.

 

[Sixfortyfive]

You're probably already aware, and it's a minor or nonexistent issue for most people, but GBA multiplayer is impossible on the DS.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

Yup... with component cables I have to say GBA games (and even older GB games) look great on my CRT HDTV.

Better yet, playing something like Rhythm Tengoku with the home theater system turned up looking away from the TV and still nailing everything perfectly - so awesome.

 

[overthehill99]

Hmm, the GB Player sounds great, but I don't have a Gamecube anymore because I bought a Wii. Did the SP+ fix the shitty buttons?

 

[I NEED SCISSORS]

Which emulator/version do you recommend...?

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=401927

Everything you need to know can be found in here. Disable frameskipping.

 

[Tain]

Yeah. GC Player/VBA is the only way to go.

 

[FrostuTheNinja]

Hmm, the GB Player sounds great, but I don't have a Gamecube anymore because I bought a Wii. Did the SP+ fix the shitty buttons?

What do you mean by shitty buttons? I'm not sure if you mean their placement, the way they press, etc etc.

Edit:

Annnnd, the post below answers the question.

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

While we're on the subject of GBA games and the SP, could someone enlighten me about the different types of SPs there are? I heard that some models have a brighter back light than others. Is this true?

There are two models of GBA SP (this isn't taking into account different colours or shell designs like the NES-style GBA SP).

AGS-001 : Your bog-standard GBA SP. It has a front-light with two brightness settings: on and off.

AGS-101 : A late-model GBA SP. It has a backlight (basically the same type of screen that's on the DS Lite) with two brightness settings: bright and brighter.

Those are the only differences. AGS-101 is exceedingly rare, however, and fetch a hefty premium on eBay.

 

[overthehill99]

What do you mean by shitty buttons? I'm not sure if you mean their placement, the way they press, etc etc.

Edit:

Annnnd, the post below answers the question.

I just found my old GBASP, and they weren't as bad as I remember. They are still way too flat, and very close together. Obviously not fixed on the SP+. Maybe I will look into a Micro.

 

[FrostuTheNinja]

I just found my old GBASP, and they weren't as bad as I remember. They are still way too flat, and very close together. Obviously not fixed on the SP+. Maybe I will look into a Micro.

I can totally understand that. It's almost like they aren't there and when you press them they go into the system.

 

[bon]

Any way to play GBA games is the best way.

 

[KevinCow]

If they let you use B and Y as A and B, then maybe. But they don't, so I always find it a bit awkward to play GBA games on the DS.

 

[ace harding: private eye]

I just found my old GBASP, and they weren't as bad as I remember. They are still way too flat, and very close together. Obviously not fixed on the SP+. Maybe I will look into a Micro.

The Micro has the buttons you crave, but the screen is pretty minuscule. The SP+ has clicky buttons, but the screen is bright, vibrant, and bigger than playing GBA games on the slightly scaled-down DS Lite screen.

 

[MisterHero]

GBsp+
GBmicro
Gamecube/GBplayer
DS

DS is decent because you can carry 2 games but there are alternatives that make make you feel that you are playing GBA and not GBA with extra bulk

 

[NewFresh]

My favorite way of playing GBA games

 

[DonMigs85]

The SP needs a dongle for headphones, so that's one strike against it.
And while the micro may be small, the graphics do look sharper thanks to the tigher dot pitch/smaller pixels. Plus you have a regular headphone jack, but you do lose GB/GBC compatibility.

 

[Ezalc]

My favorite way of playing GBA games

You picked the best looking version of the Micro. I must ask for a brofist.

 

[Roto13]

There are two models of GBA SP (this isn't taking into account different colours or shell designs like the NES-style GBA SP).

AGS-001 : Your bog-standard GBA SP. It has a front-light with two brightness settings: on and off.

AGS-101 : A late-model GBA SP. It has a backlight (basically the same type of screen that's on the DS Lite) with two brightness settings: bright and brighter.

Those are the only differences. AGS-101 is exceedingly rare, however, and fetch a hefty premium on eBay.

Is there a way to tell if an SP is a 001 or 101 without turning it on? (There are a couple of SPs at a local used game store, without boxes or anything, that I have my eye on. )

 

[Chris R]

GBA + Afterburner baby. Tried to use the SP but it was too damn small for my hands

 

[beelzebozo]

Is there a way to tell if an SP is a 001 or 101 without turning it on? (There are a couple of SPs at a local used game store, without boxes or anything, that I have my eye on. )

they'll let you turn them on, i imagine. when i hunted down my sp+ i went into gamestop, got a bunch of them out, and turned them on for comparison. they didn't give a shit, they charged me the same thing for the sp+ as they would an original sp. they didn't even know what i was talking about.

 

[Sixfortyfive]

Is there a way to tell if an SP is a 001 or 101 without turning it on? (There are a couple of SPs at a local used game store, without boxes or anything, that I have my eye on. )

I'm almost positive that those bolded model numbers are somewhere on the device itself.

 

[Chet Rippo]

Playing GBA games on a DS is by far the shittiest way to play them. Especially the DS Lite. Just play them on your GBA.

 

[Rayme]

What about GBC? I'm playing Link's Awakening DX on my GBASP... is there a better way?

 

[Drkirby]

Eh, DS is pretty low. In fact, they only things its one ups is the Original GBA, the first model GBA SP, and a PSP playing GBA games. A GB Micro, SP+, Gameboy Player, or a standard PC emulator are all one up the DS IMO.

 

[aeolist]

GB Player makes you miss out on the Drill Dozer rumble

CLEARLY INFERIOR

 

[Drkirby]

Is there a way to tell if an SP is a 001 or 101 without turning it on? (There are a couple of SPs at a local used game store, without boxes or anything, that I have my eye on. )

If you can look under the system, it says it on the bottom. AGS-101. If you can open it up, the GBA SP+ screen is Black, a normal GBA SP screen is white.

GB Player makes you miss out on the Drill Dozer rumble

CLEARLY INFERIOR

Funny thing you bring up that. Do you know why? Drill Dozer is one of the few GBA games with GB Player Enhancement. Do you know what the enhancement was? THE CONTROLLER RUMBLES D:

 

[Scuba Steve]

I'm playing Golden Sun on my Micro as I post this

Fuck this squid boss

 

[TheFLYINGManga_Ka]

I don't have it anymore but the the 2nd generation SP with the brighter light was the best.

But I remember the d-pad for the SP being a little stiff and sticky. It was hard to play Puzzle League or Pokemon Puzzle Challenge with it.

Other than that, everything else was great.

 

[Anth0ny]

My favorite way of playing GBA games

As an owner of a Famicom Micro, I couldn't agree more.