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Game Boy & Virtual Boy

Game Boy/Game Boy Pocket [1988, 1996]

Specification:
-CPU:
Z80 8-Bit CMOS
-Clock Speed:
4.19 MHz
-Ram: 8 Kb
-Power source:
4 AA batteries
-Screen:
STN dot matrix LCD
-Resolution:
160 x 144 pixels

Top games:
Tetris (series), Pokemon, Metroid 2, Super Mario Bros (series), Madden 2001 Football, Pac-man Special Edition

Review:
The Game Boy is the world's best selling video games system and was the biggest breakthrough made by a hand-held console. It had surpassed efforts made by the Game Gear, NeoGeo Pocket, and Turbo Express and has been the standard ever since.

The Game Boy came with an LCD screen that could only produce four colours. Because of this problem Nintendo came out with the GameBoy Colour and the newer GameBoy Advance.

Additional accessories include: AC Adapter, Link cable, Game Boy Camera (external & inserted), and GameBoy printer.

Conclusion
The good thing about this console is that it has lasted for so long - since 1989. The old original games made by Nintendo have had a revamp or can still be played.

Rating

Virtual Boy [1995]

Specification:
-CPU:32-bit NEC V810 RISC
-Clock Speed:
20 MHz
-Audio: 16-bit
-Power source:
6 AA batteries
-Resolution:
384 x 224 pixels

Top games:
Galactic Pinball, Red Alarm, Virtual Boy Wario Land, V-Tetris, Jack Brothers

Review:
Virtual Boy is a stand-alone, table-top unit that doesn't connect to a television screen. The creator of the GameBoy had the brains of the idea, so the possibilities were there. But, it was poor. The technology on paper looked great, with a 32-bit processor (same as used in the PC-FX) and 16-bit stereo audio to bring you into a new age. But it just ended up with a red-screened version of the existing Game Boy.

Other problems included the possibility of altering the user's eyes (as mentioned as a warning on the box).

Conclusion
Simply the Virtual Boy was just a massive flop.

Rating

GameBoy Color [1998]

Specification:
-CPU:8-bit Z80
-Clock Speed:
4 MHz
-Ram/VRAM:
32 Kb/16 Kb
-Audio:4 channel
-Power source:
2 AA batteries
-Screen:2.6" colour reflective LCD
-Resolution:
160 x 144 pixels

Top games:
Donkey Kong Country, Wario Land 3, Madden 2001 Football, Dragon Warrior III, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Review:
The standard specification is similar to the original but with the difference of having a colour screen. Newer versions of the system have been produced powered by 2 AA batteries which last for approximately 10 hours. This GameBoy Colour has significant improvements to the original GameBoy. It is twice as fast, as well as 'increased realism', and of course a colour screen.

Conclusion
The GameBoy continues to dominate the hand-held console market, and this version consolidates their position.

Rating

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Sound

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GameBoy Advance/GameBoy Advance SP [2001, 2003]

Specification:
(*GBA Only, **GBA SP Only)
-CPU:32-bit RISC
-Clock Speed:16 MHz
-RAM/VRAM/WRAM: 32Kb/96Kb/256Kb
-Power source:
2 AA batteries* Lithium-ion battery**
-Screen:2.9" TFT colour reflective LCD
-Light source:
Front-lit to screen
-Resolution:
240 x 160 pixels

Top games:
Yoshi's Island : Super Mario Advance 3, Golden Sun, Spider-Man, Super Mario Advance, Metroid Fusion

Review:
The GameBoy Advance is fast and fun. The 2.9" TFT reflective colour screen is far better than the original GameBoy and there is also a great choice of games. They've mixed the old classic Nintendo games, such as Super Mario with the new, like Pokιmon and 'Advance' series of games including the excellent Advance Wars.

There is also the possibilities of connecting individual GBA systems to the GameCube.

One downside to the console is that the screen needs a lot of light to be clearly visible. Accessories have been created to counter this problem, but it comes at a cost. But without much competition from rival companies this console clinches the majority of hand-held console fans. In March 2003 this problem was solved when Nintendo released the GameBoy Advance SP (SP=Special), a foldable version, which features a front light integrated with the LCD screen that can be turned on and off during play. Its size is a mere 82mm wide, 84.6mm high and 24.3mm in depth, and is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery which gives at least 10 hours of life when using the light continuously. It was created to support the original GBA and NOT replace it.

The system is on par with the SNES in terms of processor speed which is impressive when considering the size of it. The GBA is powered by 2 AA batteries which lasts for roughly 6 hours playing time.

Another good advantage of the Game Boy Advance is that you can play your old Game Boy and GameBoy Colour games aswell.

Conclusion
The GameBoy Advance is the best hand-held system around currently and it will take some beating to be surpassed.

Rating

Graphics

Sound

Extras

Value for money

Overall