Topic: GBA vs. DS

Which was better? We're not comparing graphics or any specifications... we're comparing the systems for their games. Don't let nostalgia determine your opinion!

GBA, since I prefer high quality 2D graphics to low quality 3D.

The backlit SP remains my favorite handheld to date.

Good point. There were a lot of "ugly" DS games, particularly the 3D ones.

DS no question. The library was so diverse and had some of the best games of the past 10 years. It also was so popular it allowed games like Phoenix wright and rhythm heaven to get localized (I know they where originally GbA games). It also was able to be the go to system for dragon quest games, which is unheard of for a handheld.

GBA, it was home to many of my favorite games along with the Gamcube. The DS was great, but it was full of shovelware.

I like a lot the GBA SP with double back lit light (ags 101) and the DS Lite both have lots of quality and fun games.
2D games on DS looks better (Castlevanias, Trauma Center and Phoenix Wright) but the GBA has lots of them.

The problem I found on these systems is the sound is way too low on certain units and in anothers is not ... weird

Why is this in the Wii U Virtual Console section?

Because GBA and DS games are on the Virtual Console?

The DS has the professor layton, phoenix wright and pokemon ranger series. Does the GBA have something that can compete with that?

The discussion itself is not on the VC and has thus been moved. Carry on

I like both (DS less so after the release of the Wii at least for 1st party). Far more than the 3DS anyway.

In saying that for that reason not having them on the 3DS VC makes sense for Nintendo because I wouldn't be buying any new full price games.

True that the DS have a low quality 3D, but if 2D is a strong point then the DS still win. Some of the best 2D games with very high quality were made for it, plus many of the best GBA games were ported on DS with improved graphics and gameplay features like Ace Attorney (I know the GBA version was japan only, but I'm terrible at finding examples when needed XD).

That's actually a pretty tough choice but I know exactly one thing that immediately makes me side with DS. GBA's soundchip was not a favorite of mine. Compared to other Nintendo systems, a good chunk of GBA games just were not delivering the same quality of video game music, and it's clearly because of the GBA itself. GBA midi is just not the most appealing unless you really know what you're doing. And some did, but a lot didn't, and even then, the amount of great soundtracks in a GBA game, I can count on both hands. I mean, Golden Sun, Advance Wars, the Metroid games (though tbh more Zero Mission), Mother 3, Mario and Luigi, Pokemon R/S/E and Minish Cap did. But even with games I loved, it didn't always work out. And most of the other ones are not video game soundtracks I care that much about, so it doesn't even matter. I mean, maybe it's just because so much talent was in gaming by the DS era (not to mention DS was so massively successful) since I wouldn't bother listening to much gameboy music either (but to be fair, I didn't own a ton of Gameboy games).

But that's the only deciding factor...or at least it would be. But I just remembered something that makes me pick DS regardless. I've played less of DS' top quality games compared to GBA. So that means there's probably more good games and thus more reason to pick DS.

I think the 3DS is better. This system will stay with me for life.

The GBA really got me playing games again after a college-related hiatus. The DS, however, was the device I carried with me all the time. The Advance is still great and I still play it, with about 50 or so games. But I have 120 or so DS games.

Now I want to go home and play Trackmania for a bit.

DS Lite. The best of both worlds - I still play DS and GBA games on mine, and I think the screen looks better than any of the GBA models I've seen. It won't play original GB games like a GBA but the few of those I still play are on the 3DS virtual console.
But if I had to pick one or the other I'd go with the DS, as there are more games I love for the DS than for the GBA. The Zelda games, several arcade compilations, Intellivision Lives, and many more. I'm still working through my DS collection!

For me, it's the DS hands down. I seriously love Mario and Luigi Bowser's Inside Story, NSMB, Animal Crossing Wild World, the Professor Layton games (BTW you should totally vote Professor Layton for Smash DLC.), and the DS versions of the Phoenix Wright games. What more could you want?

Stole the thought right from me. That's why I liked the GBA better. I honestly found that there were so many ugly and hard to look at DS games and a lot of stupid not well thought out touch controls that were unnecessary, both from first and third parties.
The 3DS is much better than the other two though so we're back on the right path imo haha

While there's no shortage of great 2D games, there's not near as many as there was on the Game Boy Advance.

Classic compilations, a favorite of mine, did benefit at least thanks to the increased power of the DS. The GBA's screen wasn't very well suited to 3:4 or 4:3 classic games, and the horsepower wasn't really there for most emulation needs. That's about the only area where 2D DS software has the GBA's library beat where my tastes are concerned. And for some genres like racers, the DS doesn't even have anything to offer that I'm aware of to compete against the likes of something like Racing Gears Advance.

Even 3D, the GBA put in respectable performances here and there. For perhaps the best example, I'd much rather play V-Rally 3 for a polygonal racing game than the vast majority of DS racers in that genre like Firebrand's work. Such an amazing little game when you're playing it on the small screen of an handheld, especially when it's set to cockpit mode.

YouTube videos don't do it justice...

If we're talking GBA vs. the Original DS, then yes I prefer GBA.

But if we're including 3ds, then 3ds wins hands down.