Almost perfect... almost.

Author's Rating:

Pros: Batteries? We don't need no stinkin' batteries! Or a light source for that matter.

Cons: Um, stereo sound is going to cost you extra.

The Bottom Line: 
Awesome and everything a portable should be. Now if only there was a headphone jack that you didn't have to pay for... maybe the Advance SP+ Alpha or something?

Author's Review
A short, short time ago in a country far, far away...

It doesn't seem that long ago that I was surrounded by a ton of freaks and geeks at my local Funcoland (Now, I suppose, a Gamestop and no longer local seeing as how I live in Korea instead of Virginia.) in awe of the fact that I had the new Gameboy Advance a month before it was released. It was made all the more sweet by the fact that Funcoland was selling the Gameboy Advance games, already, for those people who were more than confident they could get their hands on the system the day it came out.

Me? I didn't want to take my chances and posted an import order over at Upstate Games. I had read, already, about the limited amount of available hardware prior to the release. I knew that Nintendo botched this release almost as badly as Sony did the Playstation 2 or Nintendo did their own Nintendo 64.

So, I stood there, under the light with my newly purchased copy of Castlevania: Circle of the Moon and let the geeks see what mad action came from the game. The problem was, as I stood there idolized by the geeky group, I was the person who could actually see what was going on.

You see, the Gameboy Advance had just one problem that, sadly, Castlevania: Circle of the Moon made all too obvious. The ultra-reflective screen forced direct light to fully see what was going on. This was no problem for someone who never actually traveled with his/her respective portable gaming system, but it really took the word "portable" out of the picture.

And, Nintendo heard the masses who, thankfully, bought the system in droves regardless of the problems the system had. You see, as far as portable gaming systems go, it was still better than the alternatives (Um, Atari Lynx, anyone?) and the recent competition has been a little lacking. I mean, really, did any of you pay full price for a Tiger Game.com?

Still, not one to rest on its laurels anymore, Nintendo fired off another version of the Gameboy Advance for those people who didn't want one for fear of not seeing what was going on and for the marks who love Nintendo and would buy anything they made. Except, of course, the migraine-inducing Virtual Boy.

So, the good 'ol boys provided us with the Gameboy Advance SP. It's the same old system you love, now with a new design.

The Loot, The Warrant, da, da, da, da, Gameboy Advance SP!

What's new? Tons.

First and foremost, you'll realize from the start that there's been a cosmetic overhaul in the system. Gone is the system that looks like a Super Nintendo controller, replaced with a design more faithful to the original Gameboy. Actually, it looks, due to the small stature, to be an update to the Gameboy Pocket.

Also, now the system will fold in half to close with the top portion being the LCD screen. Game paks now fit in the bottom of the bottom portion of the system. Volume control is on the left while the power switch is on the right. The bottom portion holds the controls with a smaller pair of triggers located behind the screen portion. It's not quite as comfortable for older, larger gamers, but it's not going to induce hand cramps for your average gamer.

Also, really, if you've got such gargantuan hands that you can't play the Gameboy Advance SP, you should probably be playing the X-Box with original controllers, anyhow, you freak!

As I was saying before going off on a giant hating tangent, the system folding in one gigantic purpose. First, and foremost, this makes the system even smaller to fit more easily into most people's pockets. Furthermore, it protects the game screen from taking scratches such as those you'd get from an errantly placed pen or, if it's more your style, samurai katana. You know I'm talking to you, Leonardo, you samurai weapon wielding ninja turtle you.

The speaker system is, sadly, still mono, but it is placed in a much better location. No longer will sound be muffled by your thumb as you play your games, as the speaker is now located in the middle of the system. Also worth noting, the speakers can truly pack a punch, as this thing is LOUD! Of course, it's volume settings are just "Barely Audible," "Fairly Audible," "LOUD," and "TURN THAT THING DOWN, I'M TRYING TO WATCH JEOPARDY!"

Then, there's the next problem that Nintendo amends, finally. You see, the system is now frontlit. Most people clamored for a backlight source but you take what you can get. Also, it was inspired, apparently, by the folks who made a living off of Nintendo's mistake as the design is remarkably like that of a system with the Afterburner installed in it. All those who thought Castlevania: Circle of the Moon was weak because of the dark palatte can now rejoice and play the game as originally intended; It looks perfect on the Gameboy Advance SP's lit screen. You know, you can actually see the game.

The change most worth noting, however, isn't the screen. It's the fact that you no longer need to buy batteries for your portable.

The Gameboy Advance SP comes with an AC Adapter from the get go and runs on so little energy that you can play the system while charging the lithium battery at the same time. There's no need for down time and should you see the power light turn red, you don't need to quickly find a save spot (or rush through an agonizingly long battle in Tactics Ogre: The Knights of Lodis), you just need to find an outlet to plug in your system.

For many people, myself included, this is a God send. Others relied on the Mad Catz Docking Station (GBA) (Plug: highly recommended by Tanta07) with great results. But, still, it was a shame that, once more, gamers had to buy peripherals to do what the system should've done in the first place.

All in all, the system remains just what it was from the start. It's still basically, a portable update of the Super Nintendo hardware with more power, more speed, awesome games and no competition.

Is it flawed? Yes. Are there features still missing? Yes.

First and foremost, I'm still upset to see just four buttons to game with after becoming so accustomed the minimum of six buttons. How could I ever get an arcade perfect translation of a Capcom fighter? How can I strafe, change weapons and create all sorts of mayhem when I play a shooter? Why should I be stuck using the start button for features that should've been place on an "X button?"

Also, where's the headphone jack? It's ironic that Castlevania: Circle of the Moon once again shows the system's shortcomings. Before it was the dark palette that exploited the original Gameboy Advance. Now it's the excellent sound that mono just doesn't do justice to that provides the interesting problem the system has this time around. The Gameboy Advance has a pretty powerful little sound chip in it and, with only a mono output, it's a shame I have to once again rely on a peripheral when it should've been a feature already on the system from the release.

More evil yet is the included Nintendo Power offer that comes with the system. Buy a subscription to Nintendo Power, get the ability to hear all the nifty sounds pouring out of your awesome little handheld for free! It's like not getting screwed over for the price of one crummy propaganda magazine subscription.


Epilogue

So, here it is, two years later and Nintendo answers the masses who enjoyed the first iteration but still longed for more user-friendly features.

And, well, Nintendo heard you for once. Now they're even bringing Fire Emblem to the American shores for the first time ever.

Keep it up, Nintendo, and show the new generation of fanboys what they're missing over at Sony.