Fuchsia Gameboy Advanced System (Gameboy Advance)

The Game Boy platform (which includes the original unit, the Game Boy Pocket, and the Game Boy Color) came to market when most video game consoles had a life expectancy of just a few years. More than a decade later, the system is still going strong. How did the Game Boy successfully compete--and in some cases bury--an onslaught of faster, more powerful handheld and home console systems? Let us count the ways: affordability, a huge library of games that consistently made the most of the hardware's limitations, smart power management that extended battery life, and uncluttered controls. But perhaps it was the system's ultraportable design that allowed devotees to play video games around their schedules, making it the must-have system for kids and adults alike.

Now the Game Boy Advance (or GBA as people are already calling it) comes to us with power that would have been unthinkable back in the day. The portable's 32-bit RISC CPU runs circles around the former's 8-bit workhorse, allowing it to process program instructions much faster. What that means to everyday gamers is more intricate visuals, more simultaneous movement on the screen, and better sound. In fact, the often-annoying beeps and boops of old-school Game Boy titles are being replaced with digitized stereo sound. The extra processing muscle also means you can even network up to four Game Boy Advance units together, via the communication cable, for multiplayer fun off of one shared cartridge. Only two Game Boy Color units could link together, and each unit had to have its own copy of the game.

What's not being replaced, however, is the wide selection of Game Boy games. Because the Game Boy Advance system is backward-compatible, it will play its own line of colorful games--including such launch titles as Super Mario Advance, F-Zero: Maximum Velocity, Army Men Advance, High Heat Major League Baseball 2002, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, and Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2--as well as all of the monochrome and color games that have already been released for the previous Game Boy systems (nearly 500 in total). Players can view the older games in their smaller, originally square dimensions, or, with the touch of the shoulder button, expand the game to fit the GBA's larger screen. We tried enlarging the screen on a Game Boy Color edition of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 and found that Mr. Hawk was much easier to see.

When you first pick up the system, you'll be amazed at how lightweight it is. At fewer than 5 ounces and a little larger than a deck of playing cards, the system easily fits into a shirt pocket without any sag. The GBA's wider shape fits better into a wider range of hands. The former design too often pushed the left and right thumb knuckles together during gameplay. The new layout should be comfortable for all ages, and the center screen orientation makes it easy to see.

Game Boy Color owners will find the GBA's larger screen somewhat darker than they're used to, but that's because the screen is outfitted with antiglare technology. Like the old Game Boy Color, the color LCD is not backlit, so you need pretty good light to play by. Unlike that system, though, you won't be craning your neck and tilting the unit to see around the hot-spot reflection of the light bulb in your screen.

But you'll also notice the graphics. Sporting what's basically a redesigned SNES technology, you'll see things on the GBA that the big consoles do, such as scaling (making objects larger or smaller) and rotation effects--technological advances that will affect the look of everything from crossing a finish line to throwing a touchdown pass to crawling through a dungeon.

A Note on Item Conditions when ordering from us!

When shopping any of our websites or in our stores, you will notice that we segment games, systems and accessories into condition categories.  We stock Brand New from Manufacturer, Brand New Sealed old stock, and Pre-Owned items:

• Brand New* - Brand New and/or Original Seal in original packaging and includes original components.  
• Complete - Very Good* - item is complete in box (CIB) with all original components and is Pre-Owned. It will include jewel case/box, artwork, instruction manuals and any included items where applicable. All items will show very little wear.
• Complete - Good* - item is complete and will include jewel case/box, artwork and manual and is Pre-Owned. Labels/Manuals/Boxes might show light to minor wear.
• Complete - Acceptable* - item is complete with original case/artwork, manual and game and is Pre-Owned. Item will show heavy wear from use.
• Game Only/Game System Only/Console Only/Accessory Only* - these items are Pre-Owned and not complete. These items will be game or system/accessory only and will not include original boxes, manuals or both. These items will show wear from use and might also have sticker or marker residue on them.  Unless listed otherwise, all consoles/systems include power cord, video cord, and controller.
• Ugly* - they might not be pretty but they work! We sometimes get items that show label damage, dents, deep scratches, cracks, etc. We're happy to offer these at a discount. If you just want to play a game, check the Ugly’s out and save a few bucks to boot! (items are Pre-Owned.)

*Downloadable content, if applicable, may have been previously redeemed or no longer available from the vendor. Some games are online only even if in physical form – please confirm before ordering.

**Please ask any clarifying questions BEFORE purchase!  We are happy to answer your questions via Chat, Phone or email!**

We offer a 30-day warranty on any item purchased from us. Contact us if there is an issue and we will work to troubleshoot, repair or replace the item. We can be reached via the Chat Bubble, via email: Sales@J2Games.com, or call us at the number listed at the top of the website.