GBA games on the DS

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For those of you who have a DS and can give it a try, how do GBA games look and play on the DS? How does it look compared to a GBA SP? Better? Worse? Same?

I'm asking because I currently have an original model GBA (no light) and considering buying either an SP or the DS. I'm not really interested in any DS games out right now or coming soon, so probably for the next year or so, I'd mostly be playing GBA games anyway (I have a backstack I have to catch up on :) ) I'm trying to decide if it would be better to just buy the DS now, or to buy an SP now and the DS next year (after a likely price-drop to compete with the PSP and after any bugs in the system are worked out.)

Opinions?
 
While I dont have the DS I'd say go for the SP if you use any of the link features since you wont be able to use it with the DS especially since you arnt interested in any of the new games.

There's no telling when the price on the system will actually drop, nintendo can be very hard headed and the DS isnt schedualed to arrive untill atleast march so even if they were to drop the price it probably wouldnt be until september or later.
 
I just got an SP, and I love it. Now that the DS is out, you shoudl be able to get a good deal for one on Ebay or Black Friday. I say its totally worth atleast $60.
 
[quote name='Alpha2']While I dont have the DS I'd say go for the SP if you use any of the link features since you wont be able to use it with the DS especially since you arnt interested in any of the new games.[/quote]
I never use the link cable, so that's a non-issue.

There's no telling when the price on the system will actually drop, nintendo can be very hard headed and the DS isnt schedualed to arrive untill atleast march so even if they were to drop the price it probably wouldnt be until september or later.
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If the price isn't going to drop, though, then that would make it more attractive to just buy the DS now. May as well pay the $150 now if I'm going to be paying $150 for it later anyway...
 
The GBA games look a lot better on the DS. I don't know why exactly, it may be that it is now backlit instead of sidelit but they just look more vibrant. I can post a pic of a game running on my GBA SP then a pic of the same game on my DS but I doubt you will notice much in just a photo versus seeing the difference in person.

Also, like someone else posted, the DS only can be networked with other DS systems when playing DS games not GBA games. It does not support the GBA link cable and only DS games are coded to take advantage of the built in wi-fi. If you have GBA games you want to link, this may be a deciding factor. As for me, I still have a GBA and GBA SP if I feel the need to play a linked game.
 
Just got my DS yesterday, and yes, GBA games do look better on DS. The backlight makes the colors brighter and the games look sharper over all. The DS is not meant to replace the GBA, it is an all new system that just happens to play GBA games.
 
[quote name='valor19']The GBA games look a lot better on the DS. I don't know why exactly, it may be that it is now backlit instead of sidelit but they just look more vibrant.[/quote]
That's what the rumor was from some of the early previews, which is why I've held off on buying an SP (been thinking about it for a couple of months now.) The DS definitely sounds tempting - better graphics now (or at least probably) and have the DS when a game comes out that I DO want, but at a higher price... Decisions, decisions... :)

I can post a pic of a game running on my GBA SP then a pic of the same game on my DS but I doubt you will notice much in just a photo versus seeing the difference in person.
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Yeah, probably wouldn't be able to tell. Thanks anyway, though.
 
If your going to get just one, I would get a DS. Better investment since you can play both systems games on the DS.
 
get the DS, even if it flops (I doubt it will) you can still use it with GBA games. Plus sooner or later there will be at least one DS game you want.
 
Not jumping on the band wagon but considering what you;ve said so far it seems like the only thing holding you back from buying the DS is if you didnt like the color.

I'll assume you dont have a problem with it and just tell you to buy it already.
 
[quote name='Alpha2']Not jumping on the band wagon but considering what you;ve said so far it seems like the only thing holding you back from buying the DS is if you didnt like the color.[/quote]

You know what, I really didn't think about it before, but I think that's actually it (or at least part of it.) I'm not terribly fond of silver...
 
I would say DS also. The games look noticably better (color/brightness) on the DS, probably because it is more of a white light rather then a blue tinted one with the SP.
 
I will wait on this. Probably won't be long until it is 99.99 or they come out with some special colors or limited edition models of the DS. I would be tempted then.
 
If you don't use the link cable or play GB/GBC games, can deal with the size of the DS, and can afford the extra $70, then definitely get the DS.
 
I've only played a bit of Circle of the Moon and RCR EX on the DS, but here are my impressions thus far:

1) the games look MUCH MUCH better than either the GBA, GBA SP, or the GBP. More colorful and sharp.

2) The DS buttons are considerably smaller than the GBA, and feel somewhat awkward at first.

3) The DS control pad is considerably larger and stiffer than the GBA one, which causes some initial awkwardness just like the tiny buttons.

4) The sound quality is much better due to the larger speakers, and the pseudo-stereo that you'd notice in some games if you used headphones on your GBA is now available without headphones on the DS! Put in Fire Emblem and be amazed.
 
[quote name='WildWop']4) The sound quality is much better due to the larger speakers, and the pseudo-stereo that you'd notice in some games if you used headphones on your GBA is now available without headphones on the DS! Put in Fire Emblem and be amazed.[/quote]
Pseudo stereo? Its real stereo...
 
[quote name='dserafin1986']Is it stereo??? I think it might just be mono L and mono R[/quote]
Nope, most GBA games are designed with stereo because people use headphones and the GBP. Usually you'll see a choice between mono and stereo in the options menu.
 
If you use headphones you'll disccover that some GBA games have amazingly good sound. Wario Land 4 is a real showpiece for GBA audio.

That said, the DS sound is quite impressive. The stereo separation and panning in Mario DS amazed me since it was coming from a pair of tiny speakers with so little actual separation.
 
[quote name='epobirs']If you use headphones you'll disccover that some GBA games have amazingly good sound. Wario Land 4 is a real showpiece for GBA audio.

That said, the DS sound is quite impressive. The stereo separation and panning in Mario DS amazed me since it was coming from a pair of tiny speakers with so little actual separation.[/quote]

The best sound that I've experienced thus far is with Fire Emblem (haven't played Wario Land 4).

On another note, has anyone else run across games that appear washed out or the whites bloom out a bit? When I'm playing Fire Emblem, the contrast is all off for the text in the menus, with a diffuse glow around the letters.
 
I bought MegaMan Zero 2 for $10 at Target (greta game, great price) and i've been playing it on both systems. The DS does look a bit better, and has a bit higher resulution, and the blacks and colors look incredible in comparison. with that said, something doesnt feel quite right with the buttons...its just not as comfortable. On the SP it looks a bit more washed out and less detailed, but the buttons feel MUCH better, and controls a bit better.

If i didnt have the SP option, i would still enjoy the game though (and the sound is amazing in stereo...makes some older gba games seem fresh
)
 
I would get the DS if I were you. You say you'll eventually be buying it, so if you buy an SP now, you'll end up spending more money in the long run.
 
DS = BACKLIT (not frontlit like the SP....and yes it does look THAT much better) & STEREO SOUND

End of story.

(but I still love my good ol' SP! )
 
[quote name='Gameboy415']DS = BACKLIT (not frontlit like the SP....and yes it does look THAT much better) & STEREO SOUND

End of story.

(but I still love my good ol' SP! )[/quote]

considering you dont have an option for a different controller, its not end of story.
 
I would have preferred that the B and A buttons from the GBA be mapped to the Y and B buttons (respectively) on the DS. The angle of the tiny B and A buttons just isn't very comfy, but the Y and B buttons would bring back that SNES control feel.
 
[quote name='WildWop'][quote name='epobirs']If you use headphones you'll disccover that some GBA games have amazingly good sound. Wario Land 4 is a real showpiece for GBA audio.

That said, the DS sound is quite impressive. The stereo separation and panning in Mario DS amazed me since it was coming from a pair of tiny speakers with so little actual separation.[/quote]

The best sound that I've experienced thus far is with Fire Emblem (haven't played Wario Land 4).

On another note, has anyone else run across games that appear washed out or the whites bloom out a bit? When I'm playing Fire Emblem, the contrast is all off for the text in the menus, with a diffuse glow around the letters.[/quote]

I have noticed that slightly on the menu screen for Yoshi's Island (the first one where you choose between Mario Bros. and Yoshi's Island). Other than that, the game looks twice as good on the DS. Probably every game i've played so far looks almost twice as good on the DS.
 
[quote name='WildWop']I would have preferred that the B and A buttons from the GBA be mapped to the Y and B buttons (respectively) on the DS. The angle of the tiny B and A buttons just isn't very comfy, but the Y and B buttons would bring back that SNES control feel.[/quote]

Yea I was worried about this too. How hard would it have been to put a GBA control config in the startup options? Hopefully they make gba games DS aware so that you can remap controls to your liking.
 
[quote name='WildWop']I would have preferred that the B and A buttons from the GBA be mapped to the Y and B buttons (respectively) on the DS. The angle of the tiny B and A buttons just isn't very comfy, but the Y and B buttons would bring back that SNES control feel.[/quote]

Actually I second that notion. It would've been great if you could map all 4 buttons to the face for some of the GBA fighters (KOF EX2). Oh well....
 
Alright---I'd say get the DS, and EB has a deal until the end of the month (which is pretty damn soon) that if you trade in a GBA and 3 games, you get 50 bucks off the DS. If you have a stack of GBA games, and a few you're willing to give away, this is a great deal since there's no exclusions.
However, if you like playing linked GBA games or use the GBA-to-GameCube link, then maybe a DS isn't for you yet.
 
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