Nintendo GBA Micro: Party in your pocket

By Guy Cocker on 09 December 2005, 11:33am

It's going to have a tough time against the other gaming handhelds this Christmas, but we've been trying out the new Game Boy Micro. It's so small and light that its arrival was impressively discrete, landing stealthily on our doormat without the ugly thud that usually greets us when new gear arrives. It's so small that extended play may result in mild arthritis, rendering you useless to your employer and driving you to a Special Brew-fuelled life on the streets. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

Fact is though, the GBA has a catalogue of games that the PSP may ever reach. There are some 500 games including Mario Kart, Advance Wars and Metroid Fusion, all available for a machine that's smaller than an iPod Mini. Playing Mario Kart on the system will melt the coldest of hearts and, while the screen is small, it's by far the best of any Game Boy yet.

Despite is obvious svelte charms, the GB Micro has been a source of discord at Crave. One member of the Crave team says he'd rather have Nintendo's console than a PlayStation Portable, while another is simply bored of Nintendo constantly re-releasing the same technology and games. It's a strong-feelings kidney whichever way you slice it -- Nintendo is responsible for the best games ever made, but the company also relies on proven titles as much as Electronic Arts does on sports licences.

Read our full review of the GB Micro here, and remember: a new games console is for life, not just for Christmas. -GC