Before we dive in, let's begin with a few words on the topic at hand when it was raised in the Nintendo Life office: "Such a neat little machine." "I've always wanted one." "Somehow I ended up with two." "The most enjoyable way to get carpal tunnel."
We were, of course, discussing the lovely Game Boy Micro. The diminutive console launched in Japan fifteen years ago this week (13th September 2005, and six days later in the US) and introduced arguably the most desirable form of the Game Boy Advance hardware at a time when the system was already well into its sunset phase.
Desirable, yes, but practical? Only in the sense that it's genuinely pocket-sized — the most portable console Nintendo ever made. The Game Boy Pocket may have easily slipped into the baggy skater jeans of the average '90s teen in the previous decade, but even that system was a porker compared to the magnificence of this minuscule miracle.
The Game Boy Micro, codenamed 'OXY', followed the now-familiar tradition of Nintendo releasing gorgeous hardware revisions late in a console cycle to tempt anybody who held off from purchasing initially, or people like us who can't resist a sexy piece of kit no matter how superfluous to our requirements or gaming collection. After all, the Nintendo DS — famously marketed as a 'third pillar' to support the existing GBA and GameCube consoles — launched in 2004 with the in-built ability to play GBA carts. We didn't need the Micro. Oh, but how we wanted it!
Although hard to contemplate in hindsight given the astonishing success of the DS line, Nintendo was understandably reluctant to put the ever-reliable (and profitable) Game Boy brand out to pasture and bet the farm on a new dual-screened experiment. With the GameCube struggling against PS2 and Xbox, this 'third pillar' strategy was marketing-speak in case the company had to fall back once again on its tried-and-true handheld business. Rejuvenated by the worldwide success of Pokémon, the Game Boy brand had kept the ship sailing full-steam ahead for almost a decade as Nintendo 64 and GameCube performed below expectations in the face of tough home console competition. In the portable space, though, Nintendo was still the king of the hill, and killing the Game Boy brand with an unproven alternative would have been foolhardy at that stage.
The launch of the Game Boy Micro in 2005 seemed to back up Nintendo's continued commitment to the GBA, although the DS was in ascendance and the release of Nintendo DS Lite the following year (coupled with the Touch Generations brand games spearheaded by the phenomenal Brain Age) in the West really scrawled the writing on the wall for Nintendo's venerable portable brand. The Micro hardware performed below the company's expectations and would be the final new hardware (to date) to carry the name 'Game Boy'.
The Game Boy Micro represents Nintendo pushing an idea to the absolute limits of sense and practicality, a truly stunning and unreasonably desirable piece of nonsense
Still, what a way to go! In many ways, the Game Boy Micro epitomises Nintendo's handheld ethos pushed to the absolute extreme; to the point of impracticality. For one thing — as we highlighted earlier — it truly is handheld. It sits in your palm like a snack-size chocolate bar. The reduced real estate of its tiny two-inch screen (which features a backlight with adjustable brightness) makes the GBA library look crisper than ever before. Throw in a range of switchable faceplates and it's got almost everything you want from a Nintendo console: beauty, novelty, and a software library to rival the very best of any console ever made.
However, its reduced proportions meant non-essential hardware had to be ejected from the design, so it can't play original Game Boy and Game Boy Color software. And anyone who complains about the small text in Switch games would need a jeweller's loupe to read the text of GBA's impressive RPG catalogue. Then again, we can't imagine many players have the stamina to play more than thirty minutes on a Micro anyway — anyone over the age of six (or with normal-to-large sized hands) will likely succumb to crippling hand and wrist pain within minutes.
Given all the Micro's caveats, then, the gorgeous GBA SP still has a legit claim to being the 'best' Game Boy ever. The AGS-101 (which launched at the same time as the Micro with the improved backlight over the original SP) is still the best, most practical way to play your Game Boy library on official hardware, and its clamshell design saves its screen from getting scratched by keys, coins and other pocket detritus. In spite of its faults, though, the Micro remains the most coveted Game Boy ever – if the opinion of the wider Nintendo Life team is any indication, anyway.
We saw the 'three pillar'-style spiel return years later with the launch of Switch; apparently, the new console would complement the 3DS rather than replace it. Obviously, Nintendo was going to say that — popular, proven hardware will continue to be sold indefinitely as a budget alternative all the time there's demand. Even with the stellar success of Switch, the 3DS has still clung on for dear life thanks to its competitive price and incredible software library. The arrival of Switch Lite, and the fact Nintendo has stopped forecasting hardware sales, signifies that Switch's handheld predecessor has now, finally, gone into retirement and the company now has but a single console 'pillar', now complemented by a mobile 'pillar of profit' (Nintendo loves pillars).
It's tempting to see the final iteration in the 3DS family of systems, the Nintendo 2DS XL, as a modern equivalent to the Micro. It's certainly a fine piece of hardware, but it's way too practical — way too sensible — to rightfully compare. The Game Boy Micro represents Nintendo pushing an idea to the absolute limits of sense and practicality, a truly stunning and unreasonably desirable piece of nonsense. It's Nintendo being more Nintendo than ever, and we adore it.
The fact that we can't play a Game Boy Micro without developing micro-fractures doesn't stop the members of Team NL speaking wistfully of their time with the console and cradling it occasionally in their palms (and those of us who never got around to picking up an increasingly pricey Micro from trawling eBay every so often).
Is it practical? Certainly not, but practicality be damned. You don't buy a Ducati or a Ferrari because they're practical. Is it a console we play often? Goodness, no — we can't survive more than a few minutes in its company. But it is still the sexiest bit of kit Nintendo has ever produced and we'll forever get a wistful, faraway look in our eye, and a little hot under the collar, at the mention of its name.
Comments 131
I never bought one, and I always regret it.
I still have mine, and it definitely aged much beter than my other GBAs. Such a nice little console.
I try to keep it in good shape though, so I rarely use it anymore.
I still have mine and it is quite lovely
I owned one back in the day, but it was too small for my oven mitts.
I was going to show off the mouse humping the Game Boy Micro, but you've done that for me.
I still have mine. Got it Christmas 2005 along with DK King of Swing. Got the black, flower, and blue/black faceplates.
I love my Game Boy micro.
Unfortunately, the battery is no longer the same.
Only 1 hour of gameplay for charge.
I have 2, I worked at Argos and they went on clearance to shift the remaining stock so I got them as they were going very cheap... I thought why not..
I used one briefly to to try it out before boxing it back up. They are sweet and well designed but the screen is obviously tiny... They never sold exactly well at the time when on sale, but that should help them become more collectable.....
(Also they don't take up much space 😀)
I love mine. A must for end of day at work.
This is still my only (gaming) device I use while traveling. It is the only console that actually fits in your pockets.
Awh, great article. Had almost forgotten about the Micro.
This is how I feel using the joy-cons. My hands cramp so badly. What a strange little console.
the advance sp wasn't that much better on hand cramps. I still loved mine and was glad they went clamshell from then on.
That's the exact model I still have, along a pink one. Combine it with the massive Wario Ware Twisted game cartridge, and you have the perfect game. The screen is so bright and the image so sharp... And with WWT, you can simply hold the cartridge and twist it. It's also perfect for other GBA games of course, much sharper image than any other model.
I took my favorite GBA games and "transferred" them over to my Game Boy Micro when I finally got it. I enjoyed playing games on it tremendously, despite owning the golden Zelda SP. It had that special feeling to it. The screen was incredible, despite its little size (or maybe because of it) the pixel graphics really stood out to their best ability on it.
Don't remember having that many hand cramps with it, but I do remember playing a ton of Final Fantasy Advance games on it. Always had a soft spot for this one, and still have.
Wanted one for a while but go for good money and I don’t need one. One in decent condition for £50 and I’d bite
In the realm of "Huh, that's weird..." What's the reason for having B/A above the buttons and b/a on the buttons? I'm wondering both for the capitalization difference and the fact that they're duplicated right next to each other in the first place.
Ah yes, the Game Boy Micro. Aka the reason why we got a commercial of a Mouse having intercourse with a console.
Mine was stolen
I came very close to buying a brand new one for £30 in a John Lewis bargain bin long ago. I always regret passing it up, but can't argue with my logic at the time that I didn't need it...
Game boy SP is the best
I loved that system to death as a kid; had a huge ziplock bag full of GBA, GBC and GB games to accompany it with. Then, one day, I lost said games and system all in one fell swoop; it was devastating to say the least. I still have no clue as to where they had gone and it still baffles me to this day.
I always loved the Micro and never had issues playing it as my hands are on the smaller side. I didn't buy one at first, but was able to get a unit that was almost never used for a great price. Perhaps the previous owner had larger hands or decided they wanted a DS instead. It worked out well for me. Great little machine, for me at least.
"The sexist gameboy ever" someone has a cruuuush
From the Gameboy Family NOTHING can beat the SP AGS-101.
Fantastic screen and comfortable shape + the backwards compatibility.
Also the clamshell design was better.
The Micro only played GBA games right?
I have 3, one of which is still sealed. Best GB ever, play it regularily and still buy GBA games because of this beauty. I wish it played older GB games, but keep in mind GBM is supposed to fit in the pocket of your tighest jeans, so a cart as big as the old GB cart would make it impractical. Videogames don't get more portable than this, if you carry one cart at a time. Always wished Nintendo rereleased the GBM with 4 face buttons to function as a Virtual Console machine: no cart slot, just the Virtual Console games from GB, GBC, GBA, NES and SNES.
I re-bought one about 4 months ago and have played it almost daily! I also rediscovered that the GBA library of games make it my favourite system ever.
I have big-ish hands but still find I play it loads and love curling up on a couch with my micro and a cup of tea. It makes me wish Nintendo had a current console about half that size of a Switch lite.
There is just something about 'true pocketable' systems like all the GBA models that I miss, and it's one of the reasons I buy Chinese retro handhelds like the new Retroid Pocket 2 (which is still a lot bigger than a Micro).
LOVE the Micro.
@Shambo this!. Great that the game actually took the wrong way account. I also had the golden zelda first. Sold that for my ds phat. Sold that for a lite. But couldn't resost a micro a few years later
I kind of want one now, looks like it would be fine for turn-based games.
I sold mine recently for £55. They cost £80 when they came out and shops couldn't give them away.
The only practical reason one would wish to own one is for a collection, as they were horrendous to play for any extended time - not the least to play 'seriously'.
My guess is that Nintendo designed it as more of an impulse product, something that you might want to take out of your pocket on the tube/bus for 20-minutes. For that it actually serves a purpose, but for putting in long sessions for your favourite games, the SP was. the way to go.
On a side note, If any companies are listening please make some good quality new faceplates for it. Not the scratched up foggy nonsense currently out there. And even an IPS screen replacement (yes the screen is good but not IPS good).
If only it wasn't so uncomfortable to hold. The screen was real nice.
@nessisonett,
Your sausage fingers have no chance with this tiny console fella.
I bought one on eBay a few years a go for a pretty decent price. I'm still glad I scooped it when I did. I am happy with it and it's a neat piece of gaming history that I keep in my bag with some games ready to go if I need them
TIL that Nintendo thought rat-humping was a good way to sell a family-oriented handheld console.
@Morgan19 the A B above are there to mimic the original Famicom controller because this was the special edition Famicom model but all of the Game Boy Micros had a large lower case a b on the buttons but not on the face of the console. So this was just keeping the aesthetic of those buttons consistent or maybe just to use the same exact parts across all models.
Have one. Love it, its great
Never owned one and never wanted one. Not a big fan of owning things that will remain unused, and the New 3DS XL already gives me hand cramps as is, so this would have stood absolutely no chance (in addition to the fact I already had a GBA at the time of the Micro's release and later, an SP).
Probably the sexiest handheld ever, if you ask me.
And I'm saying "probably" because the regular New 3DS exists, and is a thing of beauty.
I would love to buy one of these.
Still have mine and love it. Such a bright screen!
I played my GBA games on NDS lite.
Very economic choice as i can play both GBA and NDS games with NDS Lite.
i'm so stupid. i saw a lot of times and want it but never bought it. now i desire it
Think I still have one of these .. somewhere XD
I have one, and it still works great. The battery life on this system is amazing. I had the system turned off for well over a year and maybe two, and I turned it back on it, and it still worked. The screen is super sharp and clear.
A Game Boy for ants.
@RetroBox Mine isn't working great i think it's battery is dead
I've only seen one in person, and that was over 10 years ago! I wish I'd gotten one, but I was just a teenager, and already had an SP. I recently re-purchased an SP, and made sure to get the AGS-101. I'll keep my eyeballs peeled to hopefully get a micro one day - judging by all the comments, everyone loves it. It's too bad how expensive GBA games have gotten in the past bit.
@Anti-Matter I'd love to snag a GBA Lite again for that purpose. Love my New 3DSXL (Galaxy version) and GBA SP, but the DS Lite is really dasndy. It's also a great transfer machine for Pokemon.
sexiest? are we seriously using childish language to describe a piece of equipment like a chad? come on Gavin be better than IGN
A stroke of genius by Nintendo! I always return to it with Advance Wars, fits perfectly in the pocket too!
I had no idea how much a GB Micro went for these days. As a casual collector of Nintendo stuff, it feels like a smart move randomly picking a used one up a few years back for $77~
Still one of my favorite gaming systems I've ever owned. I never had any issues with the size at all, and I put hundreds of hours into playing it.
I love it. Games look really sharp on it.
I recently played though Metroid Zero Mission on mine. 99% of my playtime was on the toilet.
I really want one but quite expensive.
It does have nice colors!
@SPL64 now they sell 1000mah gba micro batteries on China. I got one and it is life changing.
There was a time when these GBA micro were very cheap. I think they were trying to get rid of stock. Was tempted to buy one because of the bright screen but never did. I had a GBA SP and was really happy with it. In fact I absolutely loved it. Clam shell design, ideal size, matte finish and backlit screen really made it perfect for me. Also ... sprite graphics heaven!
It was really that uncomfortable?
Couldn't be worse than trying to play something with a single joycon.
I really liked it back then. The screen was better than the GBA SP (criper colors), and the dpad is awesome. It's a shame that it lost the backward compatibility with the old GB games though. But now I love big pixels.
I remember seeing loads of them in a bargin bin for about £15 each and being absolutely gutted that I couldn't afford one of them (I was a jobless teenager at the time ), let alone one of each, knowing full well that given 10 years they'd be worth many multiples of that.
Also, wtf is with that advert?
Up until I modded the original model with the backlit display this was my go to. Good times
I got a boxed Famicom GBA , bought it for about £40 brand new.
Nobody wanted them as the ds had just been released.
Love it
@abdias
Glad to know! Thanks!
I’m looking for.
The original one, is impossible to find.
Love the gameboy micro, what an awesome console, though gaming on it too long became a bit uncomfortable...
@georgesdandre yeah the GBA SP was probably the perfect gameboy design imo...
Wow, a mouse f***ing video games. The last time I saw that was when Disney bought LucasArts!
Did not understand the appeal in 2005, and I don't understand it today.
I would love one of these. I didn't have the money back in the day, though one retailer was selling them with four of the NES classics games for AU$150 (or maybe even as low as $100!) which was a great deal, but I couldn't justify it considering that I already had a DS for playing GBA games, and I would have preferred spending my money on better games than a bunch of NES ports that each required their own cartridge.
I would just love one to play in those moments where hauling a Switch or 3DS on my person would be impractical. I have also looked for sealed copies of DOOM and DOOM II on GBA for years, but they're all used and/or cartridge-only.
I still want a GBA SP as it's the only system in the Game Boy family with a backlit screen and rechargeable battery that can also play original GB/GBC games. I'm not sure I want to go down that rabbit hole though considering how expensive it will be. I can currently play GB/GBC games on my DS and that's good enough for me.
I always thought it was the first true portable Nintendo machine. I could carry it everywhere without large pockets or needing extra space in a bag.
Haha that video at the end is hilarious 🤣
@khululy Oh, sorry to hear that. I guess you tried charging it for a good while? I hope it will work again for you.
You’ll pry my Famicom edition game boy micro out of my cold dead hands. If circumstance force me to sell my collection, that’s the very last thing I’ll sell.
@georgesdandre yeah, but the micro had a headphone jack
I'm still jealous Europe got the blue and green micros, but I did get the ones released stateside. It remains one of my favorite iterations of Nintendo's handhelds because of the portability and the fact I can easily replace the faceplate. Oh and the headphone jack. I take for granted the SP doesn't have one and the micro does.
@khululy @SPL64 Replacing the rechargeable battery with a more powerful one was very easy to do on a Micro. Made a big difference for me.
Always wanted one, didn't care about not having GB(C) bc, but it was really crazy to get another GBA back then, when the DS doubled as a GBA too.
I have the famicom version micro sitting in my collection. It's a neat piece of Nintendo's history and a nice collector's item, but I don't use mine anymore. I have a backlit modded original model GBA for playing. The shell and buttons are brand new and it has a gorilla glass screen. It's a thing of beauty and plays my entire Gameboy collection.
I remember seeing one at a market for €5 many years ago. I wanted to pick it up on the way back. Sadly someone else had already bought it ☹️
When I saw that thing for the first time, that was when Nintendo started to lose me. I loved the GBA, the SP even more so. Then I saw the Micro and I was like, "Who is this for?"
In retrospect, it would have been a neat little collector's item and I wish I had one now, even though my big hands cramp up sometimes when playing with normal sized controllers...
I always wanted one. But as my eyes get worse and my hands tend to ache when playing small controllers, I think I’ll get over it.
@sketchturner I will look into it idk where to find a good battery also Comix zone rocks!
@abdias Oh I never considered searching for a new battery, I think that's the main issue with my Micro.
I found one on ebay that says it's 1100mah. Here's hoping it's good!
They should re-release them. People would buy it, even if there are no games sold in stores.
@Eel mine When I beated emerald on my og japanese cart I charged just once with one of those batteries. So I guess it lasts for about 10 to 12 hours
Bought one secondhand last year and love it. It's just nice to have a discrete looking GBA that is truly pocketable in a sense that it doesn't bother my shorts. Really awesome device and I wish Nintendo would make another micro system.
I never had one, first time I heard about it was in the cursed mouse commercial.
Yeah it is! I’ve got 3:
Original US black (with a black front cover) (and the addition covers)
US Mario 20th anniversary (not the Happy Mario ver)
And the very sexy EU Hot Pink (very sexy)
My eyes aren’t as up to the task for long play sessions on those screens as they used to be, but I love those little guys.
I saw a silver one at a garage sale for $30 years ago. Still kicking myself for not picking it up...
I've been in a Game Boy Advance mood lately. I've been playing a lot of Mario Pinball Land. I wish they would make a sequel to it, as I love this game. I decided to dig out my Micro and play it. I figured I better charge it, since it has been forever since I did that. I cannot find the charger. Fortunately, I can get a generic one on eBay for not too much.
@chiefeagle02 Oh, man, don't you hate when that happens? That's how I feel about retro computers. I had chances to buy them, and I passed them up, and now they are too expensive.
@Itsacardgame Wow, 3, that's fantastic! You sure knew a good collectible when you saw one!
@RetroBox well, the pink one I got years after release and cost me a pretty penny, but boy does it look good. I really wanted the Happy Mario version of the red/gold, but wasn’t will to pay the extra for it. But I was able to get the Player 2 face plate which came packaged on a GBM shell with a motherboard in it with buttons, but no screen. I found that super odd. And I totaly missed my chance on getting the Mother 3 gbm, which is wildly over priced now. I think I faired well.
The GBA Micro sucks! Who want to deal with hand cramps and a tiny screen while dumping some important features just for a little extra portability?! It's not like the other models had much trouble with portability in the first place. Even the non-backlit original model is a significantly superior way to play.
I loved the idea of a true "fits in your pocket" fully featured portable.
@Itsacardgame I just searched what the pink one looked like. Wow, that sure is super pink! I'm amazed at how many colors and face plates there were for this system. I did not not know there was a Mother 3 GBM. I have the GBM 20th Anniversary Edition. I like how the gold and red looks.
I never understood the appeal of the GBA Micro until I spent time in DS, 3DS, and Switch forums, where many people proclaim "smaller the better" and "nothing is truly handheld unless it fits in my tight skinny jean pockets." Maybe the GBA Micro spoiled too many people.
@Chandlero If that's true, then you wear pants that are too tight. The GameBoy Color, GBA SP, DS Lite, and original model 3DS can all easily fit in most pants pockets when people wear their correct size.
For those of you saying the system is bad, here's a few reasons I love it. I don't know if they are all like this, but my GBM is all metal, even the shoulder buttons are metal. It looks really cool, and the Start and Select buttons are backlit with red lights. The speaker and screen are fantastic for such a little device. It holds a charge longer than any device (gaming or otherwise) I've ever owned. I've had it off for over a year, and I turned it on, and it still played for hours.
Try to use Switch Lite for a while and come back to N3DS (the regular new one, not XL) and you will LOVE the pocketability of the older system. Toilet, taxi ride, train, all those 15 mins waiting for your unpunctual friends etc. the device follows you everywhere. If Nintendo could ever make a Switch Micro (with folding screen and 3DS flat stick?) the size of, say GBA SP, that would be the greatest piece of hardare ever.
I love mine! I ended getting a second one a year or so ago. Great for camping/hiking trips . I never really got hand cramps from it...and I used mine mostly with the final fantasy releases and link to the past.
I own a lot of consoles but this is my absolute favourite based on design. It's the most beautiful system anyone has ever made. The packaging on my Famicom version is especially incredible.
I still carry mines with me to work and even the barbershop. I have. Flash cart with the entire gba, gb, Gbc, and game gear library on it
I've got one, but sadly I sold most of my GBA games
One thing that is a shame about the GBA Micro not selling so well is it probably discouraged Nintendo from making devices with premium materials.
I'd love a Switch made from all metal like the Micro. Nintendo should still make more affordable devices from plastic but it would be nice to have the choice of something a bit more special as well.
I played Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones on my Micro not too long ago. What I particularly loved was the way I got several hours of play without having to charge it even though I'd ignored it for maybe 10 years.
It is the best, even if mine is just plain blue.
Still got a boxed Famicom micro , it really is a lovely console.
Don't use it now as it's just too expensive to risk damaging or losing , use the GBA sp though.
I for one have always wanted one.
Absolutely love this system. It was worth every penny when I picked one up last year. The Japanese 20th Anniversary edition is a beautiful system. Have the box and everything. I distinctly remember seeing these for $80 at a game store when they first came out and passed them up as lame. Totally regretted that as they easily go for over $200 these days in bad condition.
@pkee me want micro now. Please nice small and fit pocket
@Screen; Fire Emblem and F.E. Sacred Stones, Advance Wars and A.W. Black Hole, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, and last but not least (not turn-based tho) Golden Sun & G.S. The Lost Age. I have had one since release, although I do not agree with hand cramps and there are actually some Switch games which have text smaller than that found on the GB Micro... (go figure)
These 7 alone are worth owning this system for if nothing else, and high replayability.
Though it is now locked up for safe keeping in my fire safe, my Famicon GB Micro got a lot of play during that particular phase of life. I used to play the Metroid GBA games on lunch breaks at a previous job. Yes, those map screens were REALLY tough to read on such a small screen, but I rather enjoyed the more compact form factor that I could keep in my pocket (and ALWAYS within the soft black satchel it came with). It is still in great condition and I still have the retail box it came in. About a year later, I did purchase a second-hand GBA SP AGS-101 which I would agree is the very best, most comfortable to play GB iteration of all. However, when it comes to sheer beauty, the metallic Famicon micro is king! I'm looking forward to the similarly styled Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch.
You mean most practical
That photo just reminded me how much it looks like the new game & watch. I had this exact Famicom edition myself but sold regrettably as they're worth a few now.
A real thing of beauty, I never really played any long sessions so I didn't get any discomfort. But if something this small can cause hand cramps how will they be able to play those tiny Game Gears? Sega will never learn
There are about 2.5 million of them in the world, oddly enough a very similar number to the small New 3DS (has the faceplates). Look up the numbers for yourselves, both sold about the same, so both are failures in terms of lifetime sales.
I love mine and have played it a lot! The tiny screen isn't so easy on the eyes these days however.
I bought my boxed famicom micro for around 40 quid brand new.
Shops just couldn't get rid of them as the ds had just come out.
Wish I'd bought a few of them now.
I think the best system released in 2020 is the Evercade, I play that as much as I do my Switch
I'm sure there are many out there who enjoyed using it. I just remember thinking how pointless, silly, and impractical it looked. I remember eventually holding one in my hands and it confirming my thoughts.
In fact, it's probably why I'm triggered by using the Joy-Cons in the landscape configuration, lol
a great handheld but i challenge how reggie player it i struggled my big shovel hands and they aint anything compared to reggies monsters.
I wish I had gotten one. It fits my teeny hands perfectly, and the novelty of it is great.
I get worse hand cramp from my xbox controller, but each too their own i guess.
List of Nintendo consoles/ Variations i never owned
Virtual Boy
Game Boy Mico
DSi XL
N3DS XL
Smaller NES
Smaller GCube less Wii
Switch lite
Owned everything else
I've had two of these over the years, currently I just have one. Both I bought for $20 each and strangely both had residue of Coca-Cola poured on them that made it's way to the backlight. With a bit of cleaning both look and work like new.
While the cramped size makes it difficult to play for very long, it's still a very cool console and looks great even with it's postage stamp sized screen.
I still have mine and a copy of Doom, still amazes me to see Doom running on such a tiny screen.
I had it and I loved it.
Still love my Mint Japanese Mother 3 version. Got that way back in the days for like 90 Euro's. That's never leaving my collection!
Love the GBM, have 3 and play to this day. By comparison, I have 1 regular GBA and 1 GBA SP 101. The SP is really something, but the Micro is my favorite. Play it regularly to this day and never had hand cramps doing so, despite playing for well over half an hour. Also, never played RPG, only Link to the Past and Classic NES Zelda 1, which are not text heavy games. Prefer playing action games on this beauty, due to its right jeans portable nature.
Also, I noticed GBA games have gone up in price recently, don't know if it's due to covid or the recent pirate carts that are flooding the market.
Makes one chuckle at the thought of a Switch Micro.
Enjoyable piece up until the lying snark about needing a jewelers loop and not playable more than 30min. Perhaps someone needs to get glasses, wear their carpal tunnel braces, and not forget to take their arthritis meds. The system works just fine for extended periods and the pixel quality/density of that screen is so good even the very smallest of stylized print like in the Final Fantasy games is crystal clear.
Also it's kind of a myth about hardware exclusion, GBA's coprocessor was the z80 that GB used and it couldn't be cut as many games used it partially for audio primarily. I think due to the tiny size they only cut out GB play as it would both look utterly ridiculous hanging out of the small nokia sized handheld, but also to stave off morons who could crack a cart or damage the handheld if they bent on it too hard.
i remember seeing a classmate play one in elementary. i didnt know it existed and it looked to surreal and cool
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