Just got a GBA SP!

Hey guys. Today our household picked up its first handheld, a red GBA SP. It's not the backlit model (it's the frontlit one), but I can see why people prefer it over the original GBA. I have no idea how I would be playing an original GBA right now because without the light of the SP it is wayyy too dark to see.

Anyway, it's pretty scratched up, but I'm happy with it. I've always wanted a Game Boy, but never got one. Most people would probably call me crazy for getting it, but I know the legacy boards can appreciate this. I can't wait to go out and buy some games! Although unfortunately, since this is a legacy handheld, games are a little more difficult to find than it is to walk down to the nearest game store.

Here's what came with the handheld:

Kirby's Pinball Land

Pokemon Red

Pokemon Gold (low internal battery)

Pokemon Silver (dead battery)

Star Wars: The New Droid Army (not a fan of this one)

I actually didn't know that GB, GBC, and many GBA games have internal batteries I did some googling. Hopefully I can repair Pokemon Silver soon. :P Anyway, I've heard that the batteries in GBA games tend to last much longer than the others, so I'll probably get more GBA games than GB/GBC games in the future.

Anyway, I'll definitely have to pick up some Metroid, Kirby platformers, and Pokemon FireRed or LeafGreen when I get the chance.

Weee... this thing is fun. :D

Good for you, there are some amazing games on the handheld. I'm playing Final fantasy VI and lovin' it. I would write a list, but I'm too lazy to right now.

The GBA/SP is arguably my favorite handheld, right behind the DSi XL (big screens ftw lol). Go nuts! :D I highly recommend The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap.CaptainAhab13

Thanks, I'll be on the lookout!

Good for you, there are some amazing games on the handheld. I'm playing Final fantasy VI and lovin' it. I would write a list, but I'm too lazy to right now.turtlethetaffer

Perhaps it's best you don't make a list. I expect to really only buy games I come across in flea markets as online shipping costs for these little cartridges aren't really worth it. I'll probably end up buying online anyway, though. :P

Awwww. I want one. I'm thinking about trying to get one for cheap with one of the Pokemon games or something that will last me awhile. Would be nice to take to the hospital when my girlfriend has our third baby in October lol. If I could afford a 3DS I'd snatch one of those up but got too many games to buy this next couple months as it is.FPSDad1161

Perhaps you should meet the price in the middle with a DS Lite. IMO, the 3DS library is too small atm and the DS Lite can play the huge library that is both DS + GBA.

[QUOTE="FPSDad1161"]Awwww. I want one. I'm thinking about trying to get one for cheap with one of the Pokemon games or something that will last me awhile. Would be nice to take to the hospital when my girlfriend has our third baby in October lol. If I could afford a 3DS I'd snatch one of those up but got too many games to buy this next couple months as it is.RACiEP

Perhaps you should meet the price in the middle with a DS Lite. IMO, the 3DS library is too small atm and the DS Lite can play the huge library that is both DS + GBA.

[QUOTE="RACiEP"]

[QUOTE="FPSDad1161"]Awwww. I want one. I'm thinking about trying to get one for cheap with one of the Pokemon games or something that will last me awhile. Would be nice to take to the hospital when my girlfriend has our third baby in October lol. If I could afford a 3DS I'd snatch one of those up but got too many games to buy this next couple months as it is.FPSDad1161

Perhaps you should meet the price in the middle with a DS Lite. IMO, the 3DS library is too small atm and the DS Lite can play the huge library that is both DS + GBA.

Good point. The only problem with the GB and GBC games is that you might end up finding ones with dead batteries. They are replaceable, but it takes a bit of work.

Well, either way you go, good luck with the baby!

Congratulations! GBA-SP is the greatest handheld of all time; true fact.

I have a GBA, GBAsp, Atari Lynx, and a PSP. The GBAsp is just barely my 2nd favorite. I like the GBA sp for its battery life, portability, and fast startup. but I like the psp for its bigger screen, better contols, and I like games on my psp better. i never play my standard gba though, the lack of light on the screen is just annoying. my atari lynx gets quite a bit of play, but it has a more limited library and requires 6 AA batteries.

Good buy. The GBA SP is the most used handheld I own. What I really like about it is you can play original game boy games on it. That greatly increases the value of those machines.

make sure to get pokemon emerald!

Damn was hopeing to see pics. Oh well good for you and congrats. NJNewJerseyNJ

*edit* Well Pokemon Gold just died on me too so it looks like I have to go out and get some more games. :P

Definitely my faveorite handheld.

Looking into picking up an SP myself. I actually have two (count 'em!) of the regular ones but the dark screen has started to get to me... I had a little light that I usd but it's broken. You can get a SP w/ a handful of games of cheap so I think it might be time to upgrade.

Here is my question for SP owners: can you play the thing on an airplane when the lights are turned out? That is the only time I ever used the light for my regular GBA.

Loved my SP, but my DS Lite makes the GBA games look soooo much better.

:)

I still play mine sometimes too. I had plenty of games for that system, but my mind's goingblank right now... So I say just go with Pokemon Sapphire or Ruby Version, one of the best Pokemon games ever (I thought).

Here is my question for SP owners: can you play the thing on an airplane when the lights are turned out? That is the only time I ever used the light for my regular GBA.

logicalfrank

[QUOTE="logicalfrank"]

Here is my question for SP owners: can you play the thing on an airplane when the lights are turned out? That is the only time I ever used the light for my regular GBA.

RACiEP

Oh, it's definitely allowed. The light is not enough to disturb anyone, I don't think. I guess I was basically just asking if you could play it in the dark and it sounds like you can. I have been looking for an AGS-101 but they seem to cost over twice as much. I wish a DS would play regular Game Boy games because I would just get one of those.

[QUOTE="RACiEP"][QUOTE="logicalfrank"]

Here is my question for SP owners: can you play the thing on an airplane when the lights are turned out? That is the only time I ever used the light for my regular GBA.

logicalfrank

Oh, it's definitely allowed. The light is not enough to disturb anyone, I don't think. I guess I was basically just asking if you could play it in the dark and it sounds like you can. I have been looking for an AGS-101 but they seem to cost over twice as much. I wish a DS would play regular Game Boy games because I would just get one of those.

[QUOTE="logicalfrank"]

Oh, it's definitely allowed. The light is not enough to disturb anyone, I don't think. I guess I was basically just asking if you could play it in the dark and it sounds like you can. I have been looking for an AGS-101 but they seem to cost over twice as much. I wish a DS would play regular Game Boy games because I would just get one of those.

RACiEP

I get most of this stuff off eBay these days. Any seller who knows what he's got, sells the AGS-101 for more. I am sure there's AGS-101s listed by folks who don't know the difference but I can't figure out any way to tell otherwise.

Honestly though, I have decided these things are cheap enough it's not a huge deal so I think I'll shell out the extra bucks for the AGS-101. After all, I love my GBA and Game Boy games so I deservethe best, right?

I get most of this stuff off eBay these days. Any seller who knows what he's got, sells the AGS-101 for more. I am sure there's AGS-101s listed by folks who don't know the difference but I can't figure out any way to tell otherwise.

Honestly though, I have decided these things are cheap enough it's not a huge deal so I think I'll shell out the extra bucks for the AGS-101. After all, I love my GBA and Game Boy games so I deservethe best, right?

logicalfrank

Yeah, go for it. I didn't bother to look for the AGS-101 because my brother had a friend who was selling his old SP... it was convenient (no shipping :P).

But perhaps you could identify the AGS-101 by its color instead of the model number. You know, to get it cheaper from the people who don't know that they have the backlit model. Wikipedia lists some of the colors...

The North American backlit version comes in three standard colors: "Pearl Blue", "Pearl Pink" and "Graphite" (a grayer version of Onyx Black).... TheEuropeanversion was released in "Surf Blue"as well as re-issued "Pink" and "Tribal" editions.

Wikipedia

You wont regret the purchase, the GBA has one of the best game librarys ever.

[QUOTE="logicalfrank"]

I get most of this stuff off eBay these days. Any seller who knows what he's got, sells the AGS-101 for more. I am sure there's AGS-101s listed by folks who don't know the difference but I can't figure out any way to tell otherwise.

Honestly though, I have decided these things are cheap enough it's not a huge deal so I think I'll shell out the extra bucks for the AGS-101. After all, I love my GBA and Game Boy games so I deservethe best, right?

RACiEP

Yeah, go for it. I didn't bother to look for the AGS-101 because my brother had a friend who was selling his old SP... it was convenient (no shipping :P).

But perhaps you could identify the AGS-101 by its color instead of the model number. You know, to get it cheaper from the people who don't know that they have the backlit model. Wikipedia lists some of the colors...

The North American backlit version comes in three standard colors: "Pearl Blue", "Pearl Pink" and "Graphite" (a grayer version of Onyx Black).... TheEuropeanversion was released in "Surf Blue"as well as re-issued "Pink" and "Tribal" editions.

Wikipedia

This is good info. Thanks. I ended up just finding one in an auction for about $40 with four games. I was thinking they were more like $80 to begin w/. Forty bucks isn't bad for the best platform for my old Game Boy and GBA games, I don't think. Probably gonna break out Golden Sun for its maiden voyage. I bought it over a year ago and haven't gotten the time to play it yet. This gives me a good excuse.

I'll just give my personal preference on games to get for the GBA.

In no particular order

Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap

Pokemon Leafgreen or Firered, whichever you prefer (I know they're remakes but they might as well be new games with all the extra content added on)

Pokemon Emerald

Golden Sun 1 and 2: Lost Age

Fire Emblem and Fire Emblem The Sacred Stones

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

Mario and Luigi SuperStar Saga

Advance Wars

Advance Wars 2 (forgot title)

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

Metroid Zero Mission

Metroid Fusion

Castlevania Aria of Sorrow, Harmony of Dissonance and Circle of the Moon

Mario Tennis: Power Tour

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

Rayman

Kirby and the Amazing Mirror

Kirby Nightmare in DreamLand

There are plenty of other titles to get as well, remakes of past games, like Final Fantasy IV, V, VI, Tales of Phantasia, Super Mario World Advance, etc.

@ commonfate - Thanks for the list. Unfortunately, off of your awesome list I've only got Pokemon Emerald andMario Kart: Super Circuit. Although,Mario and Luigi SuperStar Saga should be coming in the mail soon. Man, I really need to get to a flea market asap!

This is good info. Thanks. I ended up just finding one in an auction for about $40 with four games. I was thinking they were more like $80 to begin w/. Forty bucks isn't bad for the best platform for my old Game Boy and GBA games, I don't think. Probably gonna break out Golden Sun for its maiden voyage. I bought it over a year ago and haven't gotten the time to play it yet. This gives me a good excuse.

logicalfrank

Oh sweet! Have fun with it. :D

Lol I dropped mine so much a blue line appeared in the middle of the screen.

Can'tfind my charger dang.

Congratulations! GBA-SP is the greatest handheld of all time; true fact.

Emerald_Warrior

^ Truth!

Now, be careful when you buy buy GBA games online. There are alot of fakes floating around out there. For some reason the GBA games have been overrun with bootlegs. Read up on how to spot a fake. Fake ones usually have battery saves in them that always go bad. Anything after 2002 or so should be flash safe rather than battery save.

But, you bought a great handheld system. I find the GBA library to be tops, even if it is filled with alot of ports. They just happen to be AMAZING ports of games from the NES and SNES era. I love the fact that I can play those great RPG's anywhere!

Get Golden Sun games; Metroid games; Final Fantasy I and II, IV, V, VI, and Tactics; Castlevania games; Zelda games, Advanced War game

That will give you a really good start.