Nintendo Game Boy Micro Console

Nintendo has practically owned the handheld gaming market ever since the release of the original big grey brick of a Game Boy. Back then, nobody cared that they were playing games in only pea-soup green or that the thing drained batteries like nobody's business; they could take those games anywhere! That original model was updated with the smaller Game Boy Pocket and eventually the Game Boy Color until finally, in 2001, the Game Boy Advance hit the shelves and the wallets of every parent whose child was addicted to Pokemon.

The Gameboy Advance, too, has seen a little cosmetic surgery. The GBA SP, a clamshell design with a backlit screen, has been one of the most ubiquitous travel gaming platforms ever, though it now faces an even bigger (er, actually smaller) challenge: The Game Boy Micro. It's the smallest model yet, fitting right into a trend where iPods are the size of credit cards and MINIs are some of the most stylish cars on the road.

The first thing you'll notice about the Micro, and in fact its entire purpose, is its size. It's tiny. Really, really tiny. At four inches wide and two inches tall, and less than one inch deep, it looks like more of a keychain than a console. Try this: go to Staples and find the paperclips. Pick up one box of the bigger ones. That's about the size of GBM, and the paperclips are a little heavier. You can even fit it into that little secret pocket on a pair of jeans. Small is in, so if you want the gaming handheld with real style, ditch those bulky PSP's and DS's and grab a Micro.

One major change that accompanies this shrinking of the unit itself is a slight shrinking of the screen. It's just two inches diagonally now, but it's surprisingly just as easy, if not easier, to see as the previous GBA and SP. Much of this is due to the improved backlighting, so there's no straining to see in high light levels. At first it seems like text might be hard to read on the smaller screen, but a quick jaunt with text-heavy Final Fantasy Tactics Advance shows that this isn't the case. Not only is text easily readable, but visuals are sharper and seem even brighter and more vibrant than on the SP.

Is there a disadvantage to the small size? As long as you're not prone to losing things, not really. The Game Boy Micro does feel a bit more fragile than its bigger, bulkier SP predecessor, but in terms of feel and control it's every bit as worthy as the previous Advance models. The clamshell design of the DS, which helped keep the screen safe and made that system all but bulletproof, has been jettisoned so expect this to show some wear and tear in the hands of young children. It fits very well in the hand and uses a similar button layout to the previous versions, so established users won't take much time to acclimate. If you have extremely large hands, go meet some girls instead of playing video games -- unless you're a pro wrestler, you shouldn't have any problems handling the Micro.

The only real problem with the small size is removal of some of the extra features. Most notably, the Game Boy Micro will not play classic Game Boy or Game Boy Color cartridges, only Game Boy Advance titles. There's a large enough library to keep anyone happy, but this is a reduced functionality. The speaker is also of sub-par quality, though thankfully Nintendo has included a standard headphone jack instead of the proprietary jack on the DS. Do the removable faceplates make up for the deletions? Well, maybe for you; the customizable faceplates are interchangeable (with a little brute force) and allow owners to tailor the look of their DS. Nintendo even provides a couple of different ones in the box. Honestly, I don't see the point, but if individuality is your thing maybe you'll like it.

I know what you're thinking. How do you get batteries in something that small? And if it's got a brighter backlight, how long do they last? The GBM has a dedicated rechargeable battery, and while the battery life isn't exceptional, it's acceptable and certainly longer than the Sony PSP. I don't crank the brightness all the way but I get about eight hours out of a charge, which is plenty; if you play in bright lighting often, you might have to shave an hour or two off of that for more brightness. You could probably extend that for a couple of hours with less brightness, too. Overall, I'd like a slightly longer battery life -- the old Game Boy Color got 20+ hours out of two AA's -- but considering how bright and crisp the display is it's understandable.

A console is only as good as its games, right? While Game Boy and GBC games are off limits, there are hundreds -- over 500 -- Game Boy Advance titles to choose from. Since the original GBA was released in 2001, many great titles are even available at bargain bin prices. The selection runs the gamut, with lots of action games (including many, many terrible movie and TV show tie-ins), plenty of sports, strategy, and RPG, and many unique games as well. The GBA library is a panacea for RPG and strategy fans with Zelda, Final Fantasy, Golden Sun, and Advance Wars titles highlighting their own genres, and of course Pokemon, Pokemon, Pokemon. The Micro is aimed more at the trendy adult than the kid, but both will find dozens of games for them.

When it really comes down to it, this is essentially the same system that came out four years ago, but smaller and with a couple bells and whistles. The Game Boy Micro is $100, right between the still available GBA SP at $80 and Nintendo's dual-screen DS at $130. It's a bit bewildering to have three Nintendo handhelds priced so closely to each other, but they each have their market. For those who just want the basics, and especially those getting a system for a child, the SP with its protective clamshell design is probably the way to go. The DS is innovative and great for the gamer who wants to try every game out there. The Micro, like the PSP, is for the hip trendsetter, someone that wants the newest gadgets and wants to flaunt them. If that's you, or you want that to be you, it's worth every penny.

Perfect For: People With Small Hands, Techie Trendsetters
Not For: Napoleon Complex Sufferers