GBA has an awesome library and great shout outs to the games Others I love, you may enjoy if not tried are... Drill Dozer, Ninja Five-O, Sabre Wulf and Car Battler Joe, Boulderdash EX, Jazz Jack Rabbit, Lilo and Stitch 2, VIP and Van Helsing are also all fun... But you are right there are hundreds of awesome games to play on the system... hmm may need to charge up my Ambernic again 🙂
Lmao, times haven’t changed a bit. We have literally seen the same mind blowing feature with the portable PC’s like the Steam Deck. Still amazes me that we can play a game like Cyberpunk at 40fps whilst maintaining a good quality picture. Ghost of Tsushima on the Steam Deck at 60fps is simply just amazing.
I’m by no means a games collector, but I do have a weird obsession with the GBA. It formed some of my most powerful gaming memories as a teenager, helped me through some stressful hospital stays and introduced me to my all time favorite franchises (Zelda, Metroid). I took my original Cobalt Blue SP, and replaced the insides (motherboard, screen) with ones from the AGS-101, making my perfect GBA, in terms of shell color and screen clarity. Years later, I managed to get a hold of an Orange original Japanese GBA, with a new backlit screen mod and a Gameboy Micro that I still take with me when I travel around. An absolutely legendary system.
I absolutely love the game boy advance. It is my favorite system of all time. I recently started collecting for the GBA in 2023 (wanted to start in 2017-8 but was working overseas and it wasn't feasible there) and have almost finished my list of key games (3 more to go!l). In total I have about 250 games cib. It makes my day seeing a gba video from you and Reggie! I honestly thought there would be no more videos from you guys about the gba, that it was all tapped out, so seeing this and knowing you still care enough about this console to put out dedicated content is the most exciting thing to happen for me on youtube. Love your vids and thanks for continuing to put out great content on the gba (and everything else)!
@@MetalJesusRocks ahhh OK gotcha...👍was getting worried haha. Hope Norway was/is good btw! Bergen is beautiful and worth the visit. Cheers from Ireland🤘
I was surprised they didn't mention it! I happened upon one at auction, and it is one of my favorite items in my collection. Expensive, yes, but there are mods to make it work without the disk too.
It's absence surprised me too, the other thing they forgot is that with the gba-gamecube cable you can use the gba as a controller with the gameboy player which is very useful given the gamecube controllers useless d-pad.
I believe an important omission for newbies was that, when it comes to the SP, the market is flooded with clone systems that don't tell you they're clone systems. for a casual buyer it might not matter, but if it's important for you to get original Nintendo hardware, be aware that there are a bunch of clone SPs that are hard to tell apart.
Cannot reccomend Scorpion King enough. Its created by Wayforward , the creators of Shantae and the pirates curse. I played that game to death as a kid. Star Wars episode 3 was great to mention too.
The thing I love about the Gameboys is they are all backwards compatible. You can play Gameboy games on a Gameboy color. And you can play Gameboy and Gameboy color games on a Gameboy Advance and Gameboy Advance SP. Really added to their longevity. The Super Gameboy for the SNES and the Gamecube Gameboy player were the same way. To this day I still play my Gameboy Donkey Kong on my GBA SP.
What a blast of a video, guys! Loved it. I was just check-marking some GBA games to play (first time experiencing this platform). This video certainly dropped at the right moment for me!
If I may, for the emulation part, I want to recommend a console: the Anbernic RG35XXSP, it's a Chinese console based on Linux just for emulation and it has the clamshell form of the GBA SP, it can run old games up to PS1 and any gameboy (normal, color and advance) game and its screen is amazing, you can update its OS and get RetroAchievements as well.
i enjoy & look forward to your videos & i think i've seen them all (multiple times a lot of them!) certainly, though, my favorites are those with reggie (pickups for sure are the best of the best!) i'm very happy he's been in your last 3 of 4! you make fridays even better! thanks for reading & take care!
Great handheld!! THPS 2 back in the day was impressive, and really brought the right feeling from the console versions!! Still fun and challenging today.
The energy of metal Jesus and radical Reggie is a special and beautiful thing!!!! I swear it is! Every time you guys put out a video, I'm watching it the whole time with a big smile on my face😊❤🎉 Awesome work guys !!!!
Game Boy Advance was probably my favorite cartridge based system to collect for. You buy a GBA SP and you're set for games from 89 to about 2005 or 6. Many were extremely affordable.
I like your chemistry together, It's very just 2 friends hanging out talking about video games and memories, not trying to be overly funny or add in dumb skits, easy watching, only trouble is once youve talked about the list they're not making new gba games (there probably are a few good fan made mods (lot easier to record this format and less edits, as well)
So many amazing games on the GBA. I love that you mentioned THPS 2; it's such an amazing adaptation for the handheld and leaps and bounds over what was done on the Game Boy Color. Also wanted to shout out the games that allowed for up to 4 player multiplayer with a single cart! Bomberman Tournament is an especially awesome example.
I remember seeing a commercial for the SP on the TV in my classroom while in junior high at the end of class. I was blown awaaaaay! Even the GBA was revolutionary. I actually bought the OG GBA with my own money as a kid. First GBA game was Pokemon Ruby. Brings tears to my eyes, man! The good ild days, man! 😢😭😭
Wow, it has already been 8 years? I still remember seeing your first GBA Buying guide around the time I really got into game collecting. Back then I only had the original Game Boy, now I basically have every system you have shown in my collection, even the Micro... While I really love the design of the original GBA, today I mostly use the Analogue Pocket to play my games! Thanks to both of you for all the great content over the years, you've been a real inspiration to me ever since I started collecting!
Great video. I recommend these games: • Namco Museum • Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance • Candy Land/ Chutes and Ladders/ Original Memory Game • Classic NES Series: Donkey Kong • Mario Kart Super Circuit • Super Mario Advance IV: Super Mario Bros III • Ghost Rider • Classic NES Series: Metroid • Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits • Ultimate Spider-Man • Pac-Man Collection • TMNT • Mortal Kombat V: Tournament Edition • 007 Nightfire • WWF Road To WrestleMania • Fire Pro Wrestling • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003) • Need For Speed Underground II • Paperboy / Rampage
At 4:04 I caught an error. The GBA is backwards compatible, it plays GB and GBC games in color. It even adds a 4 color scheme to the old 4 shade GB games. Awesome content as always guys! Thanks again 👍🏼🔥
The best portable console from Nintendo is the GBA 2001 mod with an IPS screen, over the NDS, 3DS, etc. I recently had a modded GBA, but I switched to an Anbernic RG353PS, and it astounded me with its functions, comfort, and ability to play games from GB to PSP. Lastly, I have to say this is one of the few consoles that the developers go to the limit with 3D games.
Love the video! FYI, for those interested in the Analogue Pocket, the aluminum ones that were recently released are still available (as of 7/27/24). They're expensive, no doubt, but very premium for sure.
I got the GBA Micro, I still remember at the time technology was getting smaller, so I figured it was the one to buy, I still like it, but I usually play my GBA games on my DS. Right after getting it technology started getting bigger again, even cell phones started growing bigger and bigger, interesting how technology goes through changes and goes through phases.
My Analogue Pocket has never left my living room, let alone the house. I passed on the GBA in period so looking back on it makes me a tad jealous of people that got to experience it when it was new and fresh.
Nintendo has done backward compatibility before. The Game Boy Color could play Game Boy games, and the Game Boy Advance could play all Game Boy and Game Boy Color games.
I love my GBA. I bought an original atomic purple one with my literal first job that I had, then traded it off as soon as I saw the GBA SP with the NES console skin on it. Had that thing for years. Still have it. Then I found out about console modding and the differences in the model numbers. I bought an AGS-101 model to swap into my AGS-001 NES edition clamshell.
Doesnt get muxh better then Reggie and MJ. Y'all really help me with buying retro stuff. I dont have the money to buy everything i want so having videos like this is really helpful for me.
Getting a of Gameboy advance is great but you'd need to get it modded to have some modern comforts like a bright screen. Or you could get the plethora of emulation handhelds out there that do it well too.
@@Fast_Travel_Gamer you can also look into whether a DS Lite would be acceptable to you. The screen on that thing is light years ahead of any SP screen. I have an everdrive GBA in there and it's fantastic
@@krisc1684 I appreciate the suggestion. The only issue I have with that is it wouldn't be able to play Gameboy and GBC titles. The GBA appeals to me because it can play Gameboy games from any of the systems. Then all I'd need is my 3DS and GBA for all handheld Nintendo games up to 3DS.
I love me some GBA! The library for that little handheld is unmatched! Strongly considering the Analogue Pocket Dock now. Looks like it is way more manageable, and convenient, than pulling out my Retron 5.
Love the GBA. It's a magnificent system and one of the greatest portable machines ever. Love playing on my DS Lite or my Retron 5. Thank you guys for this amazing buying guide!! Edit: The Micro, man. That dropped when I was at EA, and Nintendo sent us a bunch of the Famicom styled ones to our QA department when we weren't doing any GBA development at Tiburon anymore. I wish I'd grabbed one when we were getting rid of them.
I thought you had something hidden under the red cloth in front of you, and was disappointed when you didn’t yank it off to reveal something super rare.
For me the gba was all about RPGs, Mario, Metroid and the only shooters I had were Metal Slug Adv, Wolfenstein 3D, and Robotech. Probably my most favorite handheld of all time.
As a kid I was always wondered about what GBA was whenever I saw its games considering how many games it had. Almost every console games had a counterpart for GBA
The GBA SP was Nintendo's response to the Afterburner front light kit for the original GBA. These mods were pretty popular, so Nintendo figured they'd make some money from a refreshed model.
I just found a ton of my GBA games but couldn't find my GBA! Great timing for this video! I'm gonna be hunting down a reasonable priced Analog Pocket if there is such a thing
oh my goodness. This is exactly the episode I needed! I keep trying to find more GBA games to get beyond Metroid and Castlevania and haven't found much and bam! Run and Gun and Beat em ups and all kind of things right up my alley. I will be looking into most of what you mentioned. Thanks MJR and Reggie! (also loved the quick Zero Mission vs Fusion discussion at the very end. It had to be mentioned 🙂)
I loved the GBA at launch, but struggled to get a good angle for the Worm Light. A few months after the launch there was a front light LED add on, called the AfterBurner mod. This wasn't too hard to install, and allowed me to really enjoy the GBA SO MUCH more than before. It looked a bit washed out compared to a true backlit screen, but still very nice. My original launch system still has this mod installed and works, though I have a few AGS-101 GBAs, so I have no need to use the AfterBurner modded system, other than a nostalgia blast.
Hell yeah! Loved the gba growing up, was such a big step up from the Gameboy color at the time. Keep these updated buying guides coming! While the sp is great it is not friendly to small hands so I ended up modding an original system with the backlit screen. GBA player for GameCube is also a great way to play.
Hello Mr Jesus, wicked hype you posted this when you did I coincidentally bought a gba a couple days ago from a local shop and have been loving the search for games on this system
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles on the Gamecube with 4 GBAs and 4 of those connectors was certainly an expensive multiplayer setup. I had one of them myself and the extra minigames it added was cool, but none of my friends had a lead so only ever played the game single player. GBA is still my favourite handheld, was how I got to experience so many SNES classics and that was just the tip of the iceberg of games. So many new IPs and great entries into series that were on consoles.
The Gameboy Advance, especially the SP is my all time favorite portable system. For me it was the RPGs that really made the system. The GBA version of shining force, the two fire emblem games, the golden sun games, advance wars, etc. It is also bittersweet because I threw out most of the boxes. I don't know what I was thinking.
The headphone jack on the GBA SP is not the standard one, you have to get a cable-adapter. Pelican sells all sort of accessories, but amongst most of that (useless) stuff, the headphone adapter is the only thing worth getting. At this point, I am not certain if there is a bt option, which of course would be a nice touch as well. Hidden gem: Action Man.
He's not Radical Reggie anymore but The King of Video Games!! I keep watching Reggie's videos and I don't think any other RU-vidr has his knowledge of games. 🙏
Technically the Game Boy Color was Nintendo's first system with native backwards compatibility, playing both OG Game Boy and GBC games. The GBA inherited that backwards compatibility, giving it three full libraries of games. The fact that the entire Game Boy line was region free was an even bigger bonus. The DS Lite was fantastic for GBA, but I always thought it was unfortunate that it did not support GB and GBC carts. The Analogue Pocket is of divine origin, as far as I'm concerned. Absolutely love the machine, possibly the greatest handheld gaming device ever created, period. Have like 3,000 games installed on mine, but also constantly play real carts (I actively collect OG Game Boy and GBA). For GBA titles, I always recommend Metroid Zero Mission and Fusion, both of the Fire Emblems, and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (couldn't even begin to tell you how many hours I put into that one back in the day).
Fun fact about Medal of Honor: Infiltrator is that if you connect it to Rising Sun on the GameCube the Gameboy turns into a map of the level your playing.
As a huge fan of Diablo and Diablo II at the time I bought my NES Classic GBA SP, I cant recommend "Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers" and "Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King" enough. They're both a ton of fun in the style of Diablo and have all the things that make that game great: fighting and magic spells, good combat system, rare and unique items dropped by enemies, expansive dungeons. Thevlast I checked, each game can be found for around $10.
Thank you guys! When I think I known all good games on GBA You came and show couple more. :) I have an original GBA in indigo color. I really like it, I use it in outdoor, where the backlit machines stugle.
I have many old GBAs, GBA SPs, GBA Micros, DS's, DS Lites, and a few classic GBAs modded with AGS-101 LCDs, but my preferred way to enjoy GBA games currently is via the Analogue Pocket. The display is so amazingly sharp and vivid! 1600x1440, 615PPI sounds like overkill for GBA resolution, but it's this high so that it can accurately replicate the pixel matrix display grid. This also goes for other displays too. It's quite amazing how well it replicates the original Game Boy DMG-01. Albeit with backlight. I love playing GB and GBC on it as well. The Dock is also hands down, the best looking GB/GBC/GBA video output I've ever seen. I thought the GB Player + GC + Component cable looked pretty good, but not anymore. :P Analogue just needs to get their poop together and get the Dock + Pocket working through their DAC. I want to using my Pocket on my Wega CRT via an official Analogue DAC. I've been thinking about getting the Analogizer, but I heard it only works with a few openFPGA cores.
GBA is an amazing system. I love it so much. The golden sun and advance wars games alone made it worth owning. I too have an analogue pocket. I actually got a black set and a white set when they came out. I only opened and use the black set. I dont take my pocket outside the house either. Its my preferred way to play gameboy / gameboy color screens. Load up super mario land 2 on the dock, using the pinball neon matrix filter.... go to halloween land and tell me that isnt straight fire. My on the go GBA is an original GBA style with a modded ITA screen.
If you mentioned it I missed it, but there was also away to play GBA games on TV via this brick thingy that attached to bottom of your Gamecube. I definitely remember playing Apprentice of the Force with a Gamecube controller
Great review as always... though you didn't mention the "Retro Freak" as a way to play GBA cartridges. It's a bit like the Retron 5, but better... I used to have a Retron 5, but reluctantly sold it for a Retro Freak. Best decision I made.
Absolutely. The fighting is shockingly deep for a beat 'em up. It's like what Technos tried to do with Super Double Dragon, except this time, they stuck the landing.
