The 3rd definite step in the Nintendo handheld systems was the Game Boy Advance. Not only was it the most sophisticated step in handheld systems yet, it remains the most comfortable to use, as well as being the only Game Boy system to be 100% backwards compatible; both original, Color and Advance games can be played on the Game Boy Advance.

Quite frankly, the graphics capability of the GBA was truly groundbreaking for a handheld system. It took the Super Nintendo approach to graphics and even improved it. A typical Game Boy Advance game is pure eye candy, clear and pleasing to watch, with few visible limitations. Animations are more alive than ever before, and as such each game is pleasing to take in. The sound system is the most sophisticated yet for a 32-bit machine - even old Game Boy games sound melodic on the GBA, and it's the first 32-bit console to deliver near-perfect voice tracks.

The design of the GBA is wonderful - and I don't just mean the beautiful semitransparent hard-plastic casing; with the D-pad and the action buttons on separate sides of the screen (like the Sega Game Gear, only much smoother), it has never been more comfortable to play a Game Boy console. What's more, batteries live a long life on this machine, and even when the battery light turns red, you're guaranteed a few more hours of uninterrupted play. To top it off, the GBA is light as a feather - you'll laugh once you think of the chunk of pounds that was the original Game Boy.

The only minus I can give the GBA is the absence of backlight. My Game Boy Color is better lit than the Game Boy Advance - even a separately purchased light is of little help - and this means that you're restricted to playing in clear light. But the GBA's pros - the aesthetic and comfortable design, great graphics and especially the ENORMOUS library of games open to play disposal - should more than make up for it.

It's just a shame that the Nintendo DS was released so shortly after Advance and left it without as many crowning achievement games as it should have had, though it's still not to say that the Game Boy Advance is without its host of good games, far from it - just the mass of Super Mario games open to the machine is reason alone to buy it, as well as a number of games whose calibre one expected in the past to wind up on the Sega Megadrive console.

In overview, the Game Boy Advance is a gemstone in Nintendo's already near-spotless repertoire of user-friendly video game systems with much to offer. If you're an old-skool gamer as well as a GBA enthusiast, by all means get it. If you're only interested in titles for GBA and up, get the Nintendo DS. Overall: 4.5/5

The game works well, however it is kind of hard to see the screen if you aren't in an extremely lit room. My 10 year old son loves it though and doesn't have any complaints.

Excellent game console system has much more accessories than the GBA SP you can accessorize so much more with this game system because they made more accessories for this one. Excellent system plays well exactly to a tee like the GBA SP only difference it doesn't fold and doesn't have a back light like the GBA SP but you can get the light for the original GBA on amazon for 2 or 3 bucks if that. Really cheap basically. Even this system because it's been out a while you can get it really cheap which is really good if you don't want to pay more to get a gba sp I mean this system is the same exact thing still plays any kind of game boy advance game, game boy color game, and let's not forget the original game boy games. I recommend this game system for and anyone who plays gb, gbc, and gba games. WHO EVER BUY'S THIS GAME SYSTEM YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED IT'S STILL GAME BOY ADVANCE JUST CHEAPER HELLO?!? DUH THIS IS A STEAL FOR ANYONE WHO LOVE GAME BOY GAMES GAME BOY COLOR GAMES AND GAME BOY ADVANCE GAMES. BESIDES YOU GET TO SEE INSIDE THE GAME SYSTEM THAT IS ONE THING THEY DID NOT DO WHEN THEY MADE THE GBA SP THEY DID NOT MAKE THE GBA SP SEE THROUGH THE ORIGINAL GBA THEY DID THAT WITH A COUPLE OF TIMES.

I bought this a few years ago because I sold my Game Boy Advance SP Classic NES Limited Edition since I bought a Nintendo DS Lite Onyx Black and later came across some of my old GB Color and Black and White games I thought I lost in a move. This is crap compared to a Game Boy Advance SP Classic NES Limited Edition system (or any GBA SP). The screen is so dark on this original GBA System, I have to shine several lights on it to see the screen and sometimes the glare of the lights makes it even more difficult to see the screen. Just stick with a DS or an GBASP system to play GBA Games.

This console was awesome. Surely 5 stars. It ranks equivalence to the SNES in graphics, so you can really get something nice out of it. It also plays Gameboy/Color games so it's kind of the "GameBoy Ultimate." It plays everything, it has SNES+ graphics, and it has several features. Along with the Gameboy Player, the E-reader, and several others, the GB link cable makes a comeback. You can be playing Mario Bros. with 4 of your friends, or hook up for more stuff. Excellent value, recommended.