When Nintendo's Game Boy Advance first came out, the device's poor lighting overshadowed what a great machine it really was. With their new GBA SP and its integrated front light, that's no longer an issue. The foldable SP includes all the capabilities of the previous GBA and offers the lighting and a rechargeable battery besides.

The battery takes up to three hours to fully charge, but you can then play for 10 hours (up to 18 with the light turned off) before needing to recharge again. The clamshell design of the SP protects the screen when it's not in use, and the SP returns to the button layout of the old Game Boy Color. While some gamers prefer this layout, others feel that the buttons are too close together (the original GBA had the buttons on either side of the screen). Accessories such as Naki's Game Grip can alleviate this problem (it snaps onto the bottom of the SP itself).

Once you've got a comfortable grip and you can see what you're doing, the graphics of the GBA SP are quite impressive. You're essentially carrying a Super Nintendo around, and the games reflect that--classics like The Legend of Zelda, Mario Kart, Castlevania, and The Lost Vikings are brought to life on the Advance, and you can play them anywhere. The screen snaps open to the right viewing angle, and the front light works well to illuminate games (although direct light overhead can still produce glare).

The built-in sound of the SP isn't stereo, but it's easily adjustable with a slider on the left side of the device. And there's no built-in headphone jack--you'll need an adapter from Nintendo or a third party to listen privately. Like the GBA, the SP can play older Game Boy games (although they protrude from the cartridge slot). And it can jack into your GameCube, serving as an additional controller or expanding gameplay and unlocking previously inaccessible areas.

Current GBA owners might not find the light and rechargeable battery worth the $99 upgrade. But if you were holding out for the SP, wait no longer. It's well worth the additional cost over the traditional GBA.

Pro: Front light, rechargeable battery. Con: No headphone jack, close button placement.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Nintendo of America P.O. Box 957 Redmond, WA 98073 800-255-3700 http://www.gameboy.com

Warranty
1 years limited