Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The only true pocket console, 2 Jun 2006
Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
A colour 32-bit gaming console in a casing smaller than many mobile phones, the Gameboy Micro is an impressive feat of engineering.
Since the original green-and-black screened 'brick', Gameboys have been getter smaller, sexier and more powerful. The last major revamp was the cool flip-top Gameboy Advance SP, which looked more like an executive's toy than a kid's. The SP was a wonderful thing, but it wasn't perfect: using headphones required an adaptor, and the backlit screen, while a big improvement on the original Advance, still lacked that last ounce of brightness and punch.
The Micro addresses both those problems. The tiny screen is still perfectly legible, even when playing text- and stat-heavy RPGs, and is outstandingly sharp and bright. Brightness is adjustable to five settings, the lower ones tweaking a bit more life out of the battery. There's also a proper headphone socket.
Stylewise, this Gameboy wipes the floor even with the SP. It doesn't have a lid, but ships with a black felt bag that looks designed to carry diamonds. The unbelievably small casing is sleek and minimal, with just the D-pad and a and b buttons on the faceplate -- Start and Select are mounted on the lower edge. Shiny silver shoulder buttons add to the eye-candy. There's also a loop to attach a wrist or neck strap, but rather stingily neither is included.
It's not all good news, though. While the screen looks so good that you soon forget its dimensions, the horizontal shape of the console (all previous Gameboys were vertical or square) means the shoulder buttons are harder to hit (especially for the adults at whom it's surely aimed), which could become a strain after a while. Stereo sound with headphones is good, but there is clearly no room for even a half-decent speaker system, so you're left with very puny mono if you don't use headphones. Be warned also that the Micro won't play Gameboy Colour cartridges or special cartridges (rumble, motion sensor or light sensor games are out, for instance), and won't take any accessories, even link cables.
Chances are that people who buy a Micro either won't care about those limitations or already a have an Advance or SP anyway. And chances also are that you'll fall in love with this little beauty the minute you open the box. Given that you can walk around with the Micro in your jeans pocket and literally not know it's there, it's tempting to call it the only truly portable console.
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26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A review for people who already have an SP...., 16 Jul 2006
Before I bought a Micro I wondered for a long time whether it would be worth it, since I already had an SP. Now I have both, so I can answer that question for others.
It was worth it.
For me, the size and weight have made a massive difference to the way I use it. Unlike the SP, the Micro fits in my pocket with my mobile phone comfortably. I only ever took my SP out with me if I was sure I'd play it. But now, at the start of every day I pick up my mobile and my Micro together when I leave the house. 90% of days I won't play it at all, but whenever I want it it's there. On the days I don't play it I don't actually think about it or notice it's presence.
Secondly, the Micro has reinvigorated my interest in GBA games. Every game looks better on the Micro's screen. Old GBA games now look like new technology, and I think I'm going to be buying new cartridges for a lot longer than if I just stuck with my SP.
A lot of talk praise has been made of the PSP's screen. Obviously the Micro's is much smaller, but in my opinion it's also sharper and definitely brighter. The Micro's screen doesn't get greasy and show up finger prints in the way the PSP's does.
It's because it's so much sharper that you don't need to hold your face as close to the screen as you might initially expect. Slightly closer is more comfortable though.
The Micro has a headphone socket. Enough said there I think! ;o)
The battery seems to last as long as the SP's and the buttons no better or worse or less comfortable, just different. I got used to them very quickly.
If you consider yourself a GBA fan, and if there are still GBA games that you never got round to playing but would be interested in, I would suggest you get a Micro. One random day when you're bored you may find one of those games in your pocket, and it will look and feel the best that it can.
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41 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Micro travels easily and fits into any pocket., 19 Nov 2005
By A Customer
First, Let me clear up a few things: 1) People complaining that the GBM doesn't play Original GB or GB colour (or color) games.....Buy an SP or a GB colour. It's been very clear from the off that the GBM only plays GBA games. 2) People saying that the GBM is just a smaller SP. If you do not need a super small handheld, then you obviously will not see the appeal. It is the same reason people like cell phone games. They travel easily. The Micro travels easily. It fits into any pocket. If you think your SP travels just fine, then you don't need a Micro. But some of us, like me, would like something smaller and the Micro fits that bill. The GBM screen is 10 times better than any other version of the GBA. You get a crisp, clear display with no motion blur and excellent contrast controls. You also get the interchangeable faceplates, Which is a great idea as the GBM screen is well protected and If you do get a scratch over the screen you can just replace it with a new faceplate. All in all I'd say that the GBM is worth every penny for the market it's aimed at. Remember you do have a choice. If you want to be able to play your old GB and GBC games Then go for an SP. If you want something super small which has the best screen of any handheld Then get a GBM.
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