Gaming Gameboy Player

[Semjaza]

I don't even have one yet, but I'm surprised someone else didn't start a thread on this. It came out last Tuesday (even earlier since stores broke the street date).

So anyway, I'll stick some impressions up here tomorrow or something (assuming I get it tonight like I plan on).

Has anyone else gotten one or plan to?

[Shinmaru]

I hope to get one soon, but it looks like I'd probably have to save up for one myself to get it (I only have $30, so it'll take a while).

From the looks of it, it could end up being even better than the Super Game Boy (which, behind the Game Boy Camera, is my favorite peripheral of all time). This could defintely help with the games that are [i]way[/i] too dark to see on the GBA's screen (the Castlevania games come to mind), although the GBA SP also helps with that problem. Hopefully, it will end up being a high-quality peripheral.

[Semjaza]

When I got my SP, the first thing I played was Circle of the Moon. It was [i]finally[/i] playable. Before, I basically had to sit on the sun to see it. The GBP should help it out even more.

The only thing that annoys me is that, yet again, the Super Gameboy is ignored. I figured they could at least make the GBP recognize Super Gameboy color palettes, but nope. I still don't know why the GBA ignored them as well.

[Brasil]

The Player is quite good.

At first, I was a bit worried about the Cube controller's response, but the L and R buttons work surprisingly well with Metroid Fusion (a L and R intensive game). I didn't have enough time to play LttP, so I can't comment on the L and R there.

Generally, the Player is excellent. The graphic stretch looks great, although it looks a bit funky at first. Getting used to it takes a matter of seconds. Super Mario Bros. 2 looked absolutely spectacular on it, as did Pokemon Ruby.

Installation was a breeze. A total breeze. I just unhooked my Cube, flipped it over, took off the appropriate cover plate from the bottom, plugged in the Player and used a flathead screwdriver to tighten the two securing screws. It was unbelievably easy.

Though I haven't tried connecting my GBA to trade between Ruby/Sapphire, I suspect the connection port on the Player's front is used for linking. The plug seems very similar to the port on the GBA.

All in all, VERY worthwhile investment. If someone is thinking of getting a GBA, get the Player instead. It's just as good, if not better, and approximately 2/3 the price.

Excellent addition to the Cube.

10/10

EDIT: I did a Ruby/Sapphire trade today. Easy...totally easy. The connection port right on the front is for a GBA link cable.

[Desbreko]

[color=indigo]Well, I don't plan on getting one. I just got a GBA SP a couple months ago, so I figure I really don't need another thing that plays GB/GBA games. I'd rather get another GCN game (F-Zero GX in August) than a GBP. Also, my GCN wouldn't fit in my system house with a GBP attached. (The system house was designed for an N64, which isn't exactly a tall system).

So yeah, I'm perfectly happy with my GBA SP. I really don't even notice the small screen once I start playing, and with the SP there aren't any problems with lighting either. Also, the SP is portable, and I really like being able to stick it in a pocket to take with me. I'd only say to get the GBP over a GBA/SP if you're always going to be playing at home and would never use the GBA's portability.[/color]

[Brasil]

Heh. Note I said "thinking about getting a GBA." ;-)

[Semjaza]

The front port is for linking. The booklet says to not hook up multiple GBPs, but I don't know why. Basically, they tell you just to hook other GBAs to it.

Like PoisonTongue said... you just slap it in there, and it works. There's some screws in it that go right up into the the GCN and make it secure.

Construction seems solid. It's just as well built as the GCN. Games go in it no problem, and there's an eject button on the side that pushes them out easily. You might have a problem getting older games with bigger carts in it, simply because the cartridge slot is right at the bottom of the unit. I've not had a problem yet though.

The thing runs in progressive scan, which is awesome. Picture quality is fine. I've mostly played Wario Ware on it, which looks great. There are three different picture settings to choose from: Normal, Soft and Sharp... but the difference is barely noticable even on my TV. Maybe it just depends on the game. Full screen looks pretty decent. I see really no reason to use the normal screen mode.

There are like 20 borders... most of which are pretty bleh. I'm hoping future GBA games will have their own borders built in, but I doubt it. The only annoying thing is that the "Z: Options" text is ALWAYS on the border. You can't get rid of it. It doesn't cover any game graphics, so I'm just nitpicking.

Anyway, I'm happy with it so far.

I think the coolest thing is the case the disc comes in. It's just like the GCN cases in Japan. A small plastic box (with enough room for a disc, booklet and memory card) with a paper slip cover. I kind of wish the US had those instead.

[hiachi]

The only thing i got excited for it is
1) no more low batteries while im at home
2)play ports of games that were originally played on tv consoles, like SMW2 and Phantasy Star Series, its almost like havin a SNES and Genesis in one!

[Desbreko]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by PoisonTongue [/i]
[B]Heh. Note I said "thinking about getting a GBA." ;-) [/B][/QUOTE]
[color=indigo]Um, yeah, I know. And I said I'd only reccomend getting a GBP instead of a GBA/SP if you would never take a GBA anywhere. Meaning if someone [i]is[/i] thinking about getting a GBA, think whether or not you would take a GBA with you at all. If you would take it with you a lot, I wouldn't reccomend getting a GBP instead because you'd only be able to play at home.[/color]

[Shinmaru]

Here's something I'm curious about: If you have the portable screen for the GameCube (sorry, but I can't remember its official name at the moment), would you then be able to use the Game Boy Player as a portable system?

[Semjaza]

I don't see why not. There shouldn't be any reason it wouldn't work... assuming the screen or the battery pack don't attach to the bottom of the GC in some way.

[Shinmaru]

Well, I finally got myself a Game Boy Player and I'm very impressed with it.

The picture quality is fantastic. The games look perfect on the TV screen and show no signs of stretching or bluriness whatsoever (from what I can see).

It's very well built and it goes onto the GameCube very easily. Just screw it on and you're all set to go. The games go in quite easily and the eject button works very well. I've yet to have any problems at all with it.

As Semjaza said, the borders are...not very good. I liked the old Super Game Boy borders much better than these ones, but it's not much of a problem with me.

The only thing that disappoints me is that you still have to link up to play multiplayer. I was hoping that you'd be able to use the controller ports to play multiplayer but no such luck. I was really looking forward to playing Four Swords finally.

Overall, I think that the GBP is a very worthy addition to the GameCube and a solid buy. It's very well made and it works perfectly. I say go for it if you really want to play GBA and/or GB games on your TV.

[Semjaza]

Apparently there are plans to take advantage of the GBP's multiplayer possibilities in the future... I've heard that Sword of Mana allows for two player on the same screen on the GBP, but I don't know how true that is as of yet.

[Brasil]

I've heard of a VERY expensive way to play multiplayer GBP without connecting GBAs, but unless one has about $1,000 to spend, it's not worth it.

Something involving 4 TVs, 4 Cubes (with 4 sets of linking equipment), 4 GBPs, copies of the games, etc.

But who in their right mind would want to do that? lol.

The only game that I'd get another TV, Cube and such for is Mario Kart: Double Dash, and even then I'd be apprehensive about it.

If enhanced multiplayer capabilities (split screen with 1 GBP) would've required longer development time, I gladly would've waited.

Here's a question:

I haven't played my Super Mario Advance games in a while. Is there still a 2 player mode for the single player campaign? I suppose I'm mainly talking about SMB 3. I'd much enjoy seeing Player 1 and 2 on the big screen, rather than 1 on the big screen and 2 on the tiny GBA/SP screen.

[Shinmaru]

I would've been willing to wait a long time to get multiplayer on the same screen for the Game Boy Player. Screen size wouldn't even matter; it's not like we're not used looking at small screens with the GBA, anyway. Even a four-way screen on a TV is an improvement.

To be honest, I don't know if there's still a two player mode in Super Mario Advance 4, but I wouldn't count on it. The type of two player mode that SMB 3 had wouldn't translate well to the GBA (you'd have to keep switching back and forth) and if it was linked, well it'd be easier to just play it one player because you could get the levels done faster. But I would count on seeing the Mario Bros. game added, though.

[Lord Prozen]

[color=royalblue]the gameboy player is pretty good but its only good with some games. like metroid fusion. thats really cool on it. or kirby thats cool on it to. but games like mario cart arnt that good on a gameboy player. thats just me though.[/color]

[Shinmaru]

Well, I don't think that Mario Kart is very good on the Game Boy Player, because the game's controls are bad. They're way too sensitive and they make it very hard to powerslide. However, I can't see any reason why most GBA games wouldn't work well with the Game Boy Player; every game I've played on it thus far has worked perfectly.