07-21-2006, 10:10 AM
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Nintendo's handhelds are known for undergoing several makeovers. The original Gameboy was reduced to pocket size, the relatively clunky Gameboy Advance gave way to the sleeker Gameboy SP, and the DS was made into the smaller, cooler looking DS Lite. The reasons are obvious: Nintendo is taking advantage of an image conscious society, and knows that they'll buy products that, although basically the same as there originals, simply look better than what they used to have. But the Micro doesn't have as much going for it as the Gameboy Pocket did years ago, or even the DS Lite which, as we reported, has some problems of its own. So is it worth the price tag?
Let's start with the positives. The Gameboy Micro is just as powerful as the Gameboy Advance, but weighs a mere 2.8 ounces (less than a iPod Mini), has a screen that's 23 millimeters less than a Gameboy SP, and is the size of an average credit card. It supports the same games (and video cartridges), most accessories, and comes in a variety of different colors. The buttons, in addition to being bigger, are positioned in such a way that the small size of the handheld does not inhibit on gameplay. The screen is also reported as being "the best Gameboy screen yet" by Nintendo.
But in this writer's opinion the bad outweighs the good, and getting a Micro, in short, is just not sensible. For one, the Gameboy is no longer the best handheld out there- the DS and PSP are much better graphically and have more options, including global WiFi. Secondly, the DS plays Gameboy games, so in essence the DS is a better deal. The Micro also doesn't hook up to the Gamecube, and requires special cables just to play multiplayer. Worst of all, it costs $99, just $30 less than the DS Lite. Unless you lost your Gameboy Advance and have a long list of GBA games you must play, don't pick up a Gameboy Micro.
In the end, the Micro simply isn't worth it; the Gameboy Advance has been outdated since the DS came out in late 2004, and the Micro is just another attempt to keep the system alive. But this hasn't stopped people from buying it. Within the first days of sales in Japan (it was released on September 13th, 2005 in Japan), the system sold over 170,000 units, and over 1,900,000 units have been sold worldwide. However, I fully expect sales to slow to a halt come November, when the Wii steals the show.
Let's start with the positives. The Gameboy Micro is just as powerful as the Gameboy Advance, but weighs a mere 2.8 ounces (less than a iPod Mini), has a screen that's 23 millimeters less than a Gameboy SP, and is the size of an average credit card. It supports the same games (and video cartridges), most accessories, and comes in a variety of different colors. The buttons, in addition to being bigger, are positioned in such a way that the small size of the handheld does not inhibit on gameplay. The screen is also reported as being "the best Gameboy screen yet" by Nintendo.
But in this writer's opinion the bad outweighs the good, and getting a Micro, in short, is just not sensible. For one, the Gameboy is no longer the best handheld out there- the DS and PSP are much better graphically and have more options, including global WiFi. Secondly, the DS plays Gameboy games, so in essence the DS is a better deal. The Micro also doesn't hook up to the Gamecube, and requires special cables just to play multiplayer. Worst of all, it costs $99, just $30 less than the DS Lite. Unless you lost your Gameboy Advance and have a long list of GBA games you must play, don't pick up a Gameboy Micro.
In the end, the Micro simply isn't worth it; the Gameboy Advance has been outdated since the DS came out in late 2004, and the Micro is just another attempt to keep the system alive. But this hasn't stopped people from buying it. Within the first days of sales in Japan (it was released on September 13th, 2005 in Japan), the system sold over 170,000 units, and over 1,900,000 units have been sold worldwide. However, I fully expect sales to slow to a halt come November, when the Wii steals the show.
I'm also wondering who here did get a Micro?
