User Reviews (1 - 11 of 15)

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Game Boy Advance Console has Serious Visibility Problem

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: July 15, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Sure this is a whiz bang 32 bit wonder that runs fantastic games...but the Engineers at Nintendo chained this futuristic computing platform to a horrible display screen. The TFT reflective display is just fine if you hold it at just the right angle in full direct sunlight. But if you try to play it indoors, even with lots of sun light pouring through the windows, you will be really straining to make out anything on the display. The new improved resolution is great, but what good is it if you can't see it. I was able to view the old Color Game Boy much better than this one. So this is a case where the system has wonderful specifications but its usability is way below sub-par. I read some of the reviews on cnet and elsewhere that suggested an add on light. So I purchased the Nyko white LED light. This is cool technology. Bright white LED light that is consumes virtually no power and shrinks the lifetime of a pair of alkaline batteries to somewhere around 11 hours. However, even with this technological marvel, you still have to strain to see the display. The light doesn't disperse enough so you have a hot spot on the screen, if you try moving the light so it doesn't reflect, you will find it useless if positioned to either side or stretched up further above the display. The display needs LOTS of light. My personal advice is to wait until Nintendo gets enough complaints from consumers that they re-engineer the product to include a back light. With white LED's now on the scene, they have NO Excuse in providing a display that is viewable. So if you are in the market for a Game Boy, stick to the old Color one or the cheaper monochromatic version. The games are just as fun and it will be quite some time (read a few years) before all of your friends have a Game Boy Advance making it possible to chain them together for multiplayer fun like the Game Boy Advance marketing touts.

P.S. My daughter and wife both tried this product out after we bought it for my daughter's birthday and they both gave it the same thumbs down.

No Backlight, No Sale

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: July 06, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Back before GBA was available, I read every report eagerly... until the specs came out and I realized there was no backlight. I lost interest right then, but my husband recently bought one for himself. Having seen it in person, I can say that I am every bit as disappointed as I thought I would be. Even using an accessory light, the picture is so frustrating, compared to what is technologically possible, that I'm not interested in playing it. When/if Nintendo comes out with a backlit version, THEN I will buy it.

Can barely see the screen!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: July 24, 2001
Author: Amazon User

We bought the GBA for our son, and couldn't believe how awful the display screen was. When you can see the game, its beautiful, but you're straining your eyes most of the time. We thought it was our GBA that was defective, so we went to return it to the store where we purchased it, when we were told that almost everyone who has purchased it has complained about the screen/lighting on the GBA. We bought a light attachment, hoping to improve the view, but it just added a glare.

Save your money, buy a GBC

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: August 03, 2001
Author: Amazon User

The display on the GBA is extremely dark, much darker than on the GBC. Games are almost unplayable except in direct sunlight.

I bought a GBA for myself (I'm 43), and my 8 year old son has a GBC. Now we both fight over the GBC, because the GBA is so awful to look at. I tried to trade my son for his GBC, but he won't take it. That says everything you need to know about the Game Boy Advance. Skip it and get a Game Boy Color. You'll be much happier.

USELESS - CAN NOT SEE SCREEN

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: July 18, 2001
Author: Amazon User

TOO DARK!! CAN NOT PLAY! MY SON TOOK THE BATTERIES OUT TO USE IN ANOTHER GAME. SAVE YOUR MONEY, DONT BUY!

I have seen the Light....not

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: July 25, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Did they bother to test the system in this market at all? The graphics are luscious, the sound is killer, the controls are a vast improvement. Almost everything about this system is amazing. But the screen? ARGH! No Backlight equals eyestrain which equals headaches which equals bad system. I have to twist and turn the unit to try and catch the most light possible, but in most circumstances, it is still a miserable experience.

I seem to remember another of their can't miss systems (Virtual Boy) failing miserably because of one chief reason. The graphics, sound and concept were great, but they foolishly decided that monochrome was the way to go, even after us gamer's had been spoiled by full color displays for years.

I hope they receive an overwhelming amount of criticism for this and they feel pressured to add a backlight, but knowing Nintendo, they will be stubborn and ignore us. I would gladly pay $30 to $50 more for the backlight, even if it means shortening the battery life 50%. I hope this helps any would be buyers.

NOT BAD BUT TOO DARK!!!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: July 03, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This system would be much better if it is backlit..How could these guys not include a backlight for this thing..If you do get one, get a light accessory, but even this thing gets in the way of the screen...Loss of respect for Nintendo developers for leaving out such a crucial item...

For the Gameboy Advanced only!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: July 30, 2001
Author: Amazon User

The Gameboy Advanced is practicly a handheld Playstation and for Tony 2, it has incredible graphics. The Wrestling game is just horrible which is why I give it 3 stars instead of five. The 20 hour thing is useful when your mom/dad won't go buy you batteries or your on the road. The strap is a good protector for the GBA. The light is just a light. I recomend you go buy the F-Zero package or Mario/Tony package. I bought the Mario/Tony before and loved it ,but it got stolen and now I have this one and didn't like the retarted wrestling game. Buy this package for Tony and the GBA.

Awsome System mixed games

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 27, 2001
Author: Amazon User

The Gameboy Advanced is easily worth the 100 bucks I payed for it but are the games worth it? I own EWJ, F-Zero, THPS2, and Mario Adv. These games are good for a while but lose some of their zest. The system itself is cool with its speed and game technology. EWJ brings back our old Dirt Munching pal but not for long. This game can only be beaten all at once. It has no coninues. BURY IT! F-Zero is a great first game showing the action in the games. It combines a classic game with fast paced excitment to make a great futuristic racer. THPS2 is good for an experinced player. the controls are hard at first but become easy with time. the Levels get really hard near the end, BAD FOR PEOPLE WHO ANGER EASILY. Mario is a good game for allplayers. it combines challenges and fun. plus multiplayer and Yoshi's challenge will keep you buisy.

Great System

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 31, 2001
Author: Amazon User

GBA: This system is awesome. It has great graphics and its in color, with much more color then the GBC. Also, you can play your old games from the GB and GBC on it, and its puts them in color!

Wormlight: This is perfect for people who want to play at night. You can move it around and if you find a perfect spot you will be able to see the screen perfectly and not have the reflection of the light on the screen.

Battery Pack: This is perfect for people who dont feel like wasting money on batterys. Just charge it up and put it on. The only downside is that it adds a lot of weight to your GBA and can sometimes be awkward.

Pouch: This is the dumbest carying case I've ever seen. Youd be better off going into your kitchen and grabbing a brown bag. It only has room for your GBA and a few games.

THPS2: This is a great game. It has all the skaters from the THPS2 on all the consoles, and the graphics are great. The only downside is that it only has 6 levels, but it doesnt matter cause it is a fun game and you could be entertained for hours on one level.

Fire Pro Wrestling: This game is dumb. The moves are impossible to learn and when your fighting you cant even tell whos who.

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