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[Dion Blaster]

Got an itch recently to play some old gameboy games, and hunted for a GBA SP on craiglist. Lucky for me, the one I bought (bundled with SMB3 Advance for $25) has the backlit screen rather than front lit - the "AGS-101" model, which I'd never used before. And honestly I'm not sure why they didn't make them all like this. The backlight really makes a world of difference. Mario 3 looks unbelievable (is this basically the All-Stars version?). I tried taking a picture but my phone camera isn't really capturing the crispness.

Anyways I was wondering how much of a difference the backlight made to other people and if you can recommend me some gameboy games? They can be OG, Color, or Advance. I already have Mario Kart, Link's Awakening, Pokemon Puzzle Challenge, and of course SMB3. I've already played all the main Pokemon games you can play on the GB-GBA.

 

[baphomet]

I'm actually in the process of putting one of those screens in the original gba model. They really are nice screens.

 

[Awful Falafel]

I'm actually in the process of putting one of those screens in the original gba model. They really are nice screens.

Is there any downside to that solution? Best screen, headphone jack, comfy form factor. Does it last long on a pair of Eneloops?

 

[GamerJM]

Never owned this, but GBA games did look amazing on my Gameboy Micro.

Is there any downside to that solution? Best screen, headphone jack, comfy form factor. Does it last long on a pair of Eneloops?

I really didn't like the D-Pad on the original GBA very much. Same with the buttons. For some strange reason they always made my thumbs itch.

 

[BobbyRobby]

The AGS-101 is awesome. I have two now. I would like to replace all of my GBAs with them for Four Swords.

Its the best console to play GBC games on too. The Dragon Quest Remakes look great on it.

 

[Dion Blaster]

I'm actually in the process of putting one of those screens in the original gba model. They really are nice screens.

Huh I didn't know that was a thing. I do love the shape of the original GBA, sometimes my hands get a little cramped on the SP. although I love the SP dpad.

The AGS-101 is awesome. I have two now. I would like to replace all of my GBAs with them for Four Swords.

Its the best console to play GBC games on too. The Dragon Quest Remakes look great on it.

Yes! GBC had my favorite games for the most part. The screen really makes the color in Link's Awakening pop. It really makes the system feel more modern.

 

[Bjoern the Smexy]

I really didn't like the D-Pad on the original GBA very much. Same with the buttons. For some strange reason they always made my thumbs itch.

Clicky buttons and d-pad are superior and more precise anyway.
It's why I like GBA SP so much more than the original GBA.
The only pro of the original GBA is it's awesome design. I really, really love it. Also it's got better L- and R-Buttons.

Give me an original GBA with the backlit screen of the GBA SP 101 and its clicky buttons/d-pad and we would have the perfect GBA.

 

[NMFried]

I picked up a 101 in box a few months ago for $25. It was such a deal.
The screen really helps some of the older GBA games hold up, especially Golden Sun and Advance Wars.

Welp, now I'm going to start another playthrough of FireRed on it.

 

[miserable]

I'm actually in the process of putting one of those screens in the original gba model. They really are nice screens.

I recently did this and i love it.The OG GBA design is awesome.

Clicky buttons and d-pad are superior and more precise anyway.
It's why I like GBA SP so much more than the original GBA.
The only pro of the original GBA is it's awesome design. I really, really love it. Also it's got better L- and R-Buttons.

Give me an original GBA with the backlit screen of the GBA SP 101 and its clicky buttons/d-pad and we would have the perfect GBA.

I actually prefer the d-pad on the original GBA.I agree with you on the buttons though.

 

[tiggerkiddo]

Hard to imagine how I dealt with the original GBA...I really don't know how I dealt with it but the backlit screen is sooooo useful, can't imagine how I gamed without it. And it's also the best to play GB/GBC games on it too...even if the games do stick out a bit haha

 

[NekoFever]

It's the best complement to a 3DS, since with those two systems you can play every Nintendo handheld game, from 1989 to 2013.

 

[GamerJM]

It's the best complement to a 3DS, since with those two systems you can play every Nintendo handheld game, from 1989 to 2013.

Biggest issue is that without a DS Lite or Phat you can't transfer third gen Pokemon over.

You also can't play those DS Guitar Hero games .

 

[Giygas AF]

Advance Wars is a must have.

 

[Dion Blaster]

Advance Wars is a must have.

My taste in games tells me I probably won't enjoy as much as most do, but everything I read about it screams amazing.

 

[joffocakes]

My must have games for the GBA are definitely Wario Ware, Kuru Kuru Kururin, Advance Wars, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and Mario Golf. The version of Street Fighter Alpha 3 on there was very impressive for the time (and limited buttons) too.

I generally use a GBA Micro nowadays because it's so much smaller but I do love the backlit SP. I might get a another one.

 

[Giygas AF]

Also not sure how they hold up today, but I remember the Megaman Battle Network games being pretty good.

 

[Mendoza]

Back when I worked at GameStop, one of my shifts was dedicated to taking a trade-in pearl blue 101 and swapping the screen with my NES Classic edition. If I remember correctly, the pearl blue color was exclusively backlit so anyone who went to buy it was confused when they turned it on. The colors blurred and over saturated a bit on the backlit SP, but goddamn was that thing vibrant. I remember it putting the DS to shame.

The Backlit model was a strange thing because when they released those, it was not advertised at all other than the packaging. If I recall correctly, they soft launched around when the Micro was released in 2005, and were $80 MSRP; $20 less than the Micro. Working in retail, that was the last year that the GBA was relevant for holidays. After that, it was all DS.

I still love that front lit screen though. It's very nostalgic to me when I play a game on it. I remember importing a Japanese Black model shortly after American launch because we only got Blue and Silver.

Edit: Oh, and game recommendations would be Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, and WarioWare Twisted. Those are by far my two favorite GBA games. Aria of Sorrow is my favorite Castlevania, and Twisted is the most innovative game I've ever played on a handheld. Holy shit. I'm gonna play Twisted now.

 

[Grief.exe]

GBA seriously has one of the best libraries.

Advance Wars I & II
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (Circle of the Moon is pretty good, Harmony of Dissonance isn't worth it)
Metroid Fusion & Zero Mission
Zelda Link to the Past
Final Fantasy VI
Link's Awakening
Minish Cap
Oracle of Ages/Seasons
Fire Emblem I & II
Golden Sun I & II
Harvest Moon Friends of Mineral Town
Mario & Luigi: Super Star Saga
Pokemon series
Super Mario Land & Wario Land Series

 

[adamsappel]

Anyone remember the Afterburner, the front light package you had to install yourself in the original GBA? That was a nerve-wracking procedure. But, I think it influenced Nintendo to make the SP.

 

[Deleted member 126221]

I have a DS Lite to play GBA games right now, are there advantages to the SP101? Is the screen better? I saw a (pretty scratched up...) SP101 for $40, and I'm wondering if I should get it...

 

[hardcastlemccormick]

I have a DS Lite to play GBA games right now, are there advantages to the SP101? Is the screen better? I saw a (pretty scratched up...) SP101 for $40, and I'm wondering if I should get it...

The screen is back-lit (like a TV) as opposed to front-lit (shining lights across a surface). This improves visibility. It won't be any better than a DS Lite though.

OP, you should play the Game Boy Color Dragon Warrior games, especially III.

 

[NekoFever]

Anyone remember the Afterburner, the front light package you had to install yourself in the original GBA? That was a nerve-wracking procedure. But, I think it influenced Nintendo to make the SP.

No doubt. It was a huge deal. I remember following it from the day it was announced, and I've got a friend who made a small fortune installing them for people.

This thread convinced me to look up one of these on eBay, and it seems transplanting the backlit screens into an original model GBA is a common thing. Makes sense. I'm seriously tempted.

 

[ZeroCDR]

It was so strange when it came out to see random people reporting the SP got a backlit screen, and Nintendo didn't announce anything. Once it was confirmed I bought one immediately, I love it!

 

[MYE]

I'd love to have an original GBA with a backlit mod

But I cant do it myself. Dont even know where to find the best mod parts and modded systems are expensive as hell on Ebay

 

[sixteen-bit]

I'm actually in the process of putting one of those screens in the original gba model. They really are nice screens.

Best GBA.

 

[Giygas AF]

Anybody else kind of hope that the next handheld will be a Game Boy? DS series is great but I kind of miss the old school style.

 

[plc268]

I'd love to have an original GBA with a backlit mod

But I cant do it myself. Dont even know where to find the best mod parts and modded systems are expensive as hell on Ebay

Hey, that's my gba. Haha. I knew that picture looked familiar

I've got a purple backlit fat gba that I'm trying to get rid of for an even $100.

 

[serplux]

Anybody else kind of hope that the next handheld will be a Game Boy? DS series is great but I kind of miss the old school style.

They're kinda locked into the two screen thing from now on due to backwards compatibility. But sure, they could call their next handheld a Game Boy.

 

[Giygas AF]

They're kinda locked into the two screen thing from now on due to backwards compatibility. But sure, they could call their next handheld a Game Boy.

Do you think people will go insane if they did a single screen system with no bwc? Then again I would laugh if they just slapped a Game Boy sticker on the Wii U gamepad.

 

[serplux]

Do you think people will go insane if they did a single screen system with no bwc? Then again I would laugh if they just slapped a Game Boy sticker on the Wii U gamepad.

They wouldn't be able to put up DS or 3DS games up on a future Virtual Console if they went back to one screen. And they'd get a lot of flak for it, considering that it would be the first Nintendo handheld to not have BC.

 

[CambriaRising]

There was a front lit gbasp? I had no idea.

 

[Anth0ny]

I'd love to have an original GBA with a backlit mod

But I cant do it myself. Dont even know where to find the best mod parts and modded systems are expensive as hell on Ebay

god I want this so bad

I love my Micro and all but sometimes it's just too small. OG GBA is perfection.

 

[sixteen-bit]

There was a front lit gbasp? I had no idea.

Yes. Front-lit is the more common model, as a matter of fact.

 

[Dion Blaster]

I think I'm gonna check out WarioWare Twisted. Looks really unique. Thanks for all the recommendations, I'll definitely look over everything that you all listed.

I have a DS Lite to play GBA games right now, are there advantages to the SP101? Is the screen better? I saw a (pretty scratched up...) SP101 for $40, and I'm wondering if I should get it...

I prefer the buttons and dpad of the SP, but the DS is already backlit so there's not much of a difference. Being able to play GB and Color games on the SP is great though.

 

[entremet]

god I want this so bad

I love my Micro and all but sometimes it's just too small. OG GBA is perfection.

Superior ergonomics.

 

[RM8]

I was looking for one of those in good conditions, but I came across a really great looking Micro and I bought that instead. Don't regret it one bit.

 

[malfcn]

Anyone remember the Afterburner, the front light package you had to install yourself in the original GBA? That was a nerve-wracking procedure. But, I think it influenced Nintendo to make the SP.

Ya the Afterburner was really popular online when it hit the scene. I am sure it had a little influence. Doesn't look like much is going on their website anymore: http://www.tritonlabs.com/

 

[abrack08]

Mega Man Battle Network games (especially 1-3) were my favorite GBA games. Mario and Luigi RPGs are great too. I'm not a big strategy game guy so I never liked Advance Wars.

 

[Dolphin_Butter]

I wish I never sold my backlit GBA SP, but I'm content with a Game Boy Micro and Game Boy Player.

 

[FunkyPajamas]

maaaan, I still need to get that one back from my ex-gf.

):

 

[Ephemeris]

I'd love to have an original GBA with a backlit mod

But I cant do it myself. Dont even know where to find the best mod parts and modded systems are expensive as hell on Ebay

I have the black one. Shit was soooo pimp.

 

[thoseAREmySHOES]

All I ever owned was my front-cobalt SP from the day it originally launched, but I have had the chance to use the backlit ones a few times. Just a fantastic screen, especially considering when it launched! I gotta look into these backlit modded original GBAs.

 

[Pezking]

I'd love to have an original GBA with a backlit mod

But I cant do it myself. Dont even know where to find the best mod parts and modded systems are expensive as hell on Ebay

Ha, I just ordered one on eBay on saturday!
A pearl white one for about 82 Euros.

Should arrive here soon (shipped from England, I live in Germany). I'll probably sell my mint silver GBA Micro soon. Hopefully I get about the same for it - that would be a perfect exchange. Keeping both would be way too luxurious! ;-)