Big gaming in a small package

I don’t think of Nintendo’s Game Boy Micro as a new system, so much as I think of it as an extension of their already popular Game Boy Advance line. The system is essentially a Game Boy Advance in a smaller shell. I don’t think of it as a “novelty” item either, as I do see more and more people of different ages and backgrounds getting into gaming and desiring something that looks and feels more adult than the “kids-only” response that the name Game Boy generally receives. The Game Boy Micro fills this void in the gaming world nicely.

Please note: all references in this review pertain to the US models of the system unless otherwise noted. There are some notes at the end on import models.

What is it?
As I mentioned earlier, the Game Boy Micro is an extension of the Game Boy Advance series. It features all the power of the Advance system, just in a smaller body. It measures in at a super tiny 2"x4" and only .18 lbs., making it smaller than most cell phones. It is roughly half the size of the current model Game Boy Advance, the SP model. It also features interchangeable face plates, allowing you to customize it to your own personal style. Never again will you be stuck with that boring old red Game Boy!

Who is it for?
The Micro is geared at an older audience than the Advance models, which usually reaches an age 6-21 age group. The Micro’s smaller, sleeker frame was designed with teens and adults in mind, to give you all the fun and games of the Advance, but in a more mature style. This is more of a 16 and up age range - teens who don’t want to be seen playing with “their little brother’s Game Boy”, adult commuters who want to be able to sneak in some Tetris or Advance Wars on the train or lunch break, and gadget freaks who are into whatever is newer, smaller, and better. (A little more on this later as well!) I would have to say that I don’t recommend it for the younger set - it’s size and the hard-to-replace charger could be detrimental in the hands of a not too careful younger child. A responsible pre-teen though could handle it nicely though.

What’s in the box?
When you first open your new, shiny Micro, you’ll find a few things in the box (which, coincidentally, is designed like an oversized Micro) to get you started. First off, you have your system, which is available in two colors: silver or black. The color refers to the body of the system itself. Also included are three face plates. The silver system includes black, a blue/aqua swirl, and a pink daisy with a ladybug on it. The black system includes silver, orange/red lava, and a camoflage print. You’ll also find a small plastic tool used for changing the faceplates, a charger for the system, and a soft pouch that you can store it in.

System details
The body
The system itself, as I said earlier, is a tiny 2"x4". The screen is 2" across on the face of the system. On the right front side, you’ll find a directional pad. On the left front side, you’ll find the A and B buttons. There are two bright silver shoulder buttons on the top corners, and it is quite comfortable to hold for most people (provided you don’t have large hands) with your thumbs on the directional pad and A & B buttons, and your index fingers on the shoulder buttons. On the bottom edge, you will find the opening for the game cartridges, along with the Start and Select buttons. These buttons glow blue when the system is on and adequately charged, and turn red as the battery runs low. I found this quite a bit nicer than the bland indicator light normally found on the Advance systems. Here, you will also find a headphone jack that fits any standard 1/16" headphones, and the power switch. On the right side edge you can find a volume/screen brightness adjuster which is nicely positioned so that you can’t accidentally hit it when playing. The port for the charger is nicely situated on the top edge between the shoulder buttons, so if you wanted to play while charging the system, the cord would not interfere with play. There are no buttons on the left side edge of the system, as this is where you change the face plates from, which I will explain momentarily.

The screen
The system has a 2" bright, backlit LCD screen which is built into the body of the system. It is incredibly crisp and clear, even in it’s small size. Even while playing text-heavy or detailed games like Pokemon, Fire Emblem, and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories I had no problems seeing well on the screen. Puzzle games, like Tetris, were as clear as I could possibly hope for. The brightness, in comparison if you have ever owned or seen the Advance or SP models, is tremendous. The original Advance had no light at all, and the original Advance SP models had a much duller side-lighting system. The newer Advance Sps (those released in 2006) have taken on the Micro’s brilliant design. The only complaint would be the size - those with vision problems may experience eye strain or have difficulty seeing the details, even with the clarity of the LCD.

The face plates
The face plates were truly the second biggest selling point of this system, as they give you the ability to change the design as the mood strikes. However, I must mention first, that there is a greater advantage to the face plates. They completely cover the LCD screen. This may not seem like a big deal, but think about it: this is a portable system, the screen will likely get scratched (as was the case with the original Game Boy Advance and Sony’s PSP). With the Micro, if you get any scratches, simply discard the face plate, and Voila! Your LCD is still intact. The system is designed to make the face plates easily changeable. There are two small holes on the left side edge, in which you insert the included tool (or a pen, if you lose the thing), and the face plate pops out. All you do is click the new face plate in. Just be sure that the new plate is dirt and dust free on the inside, or it will show up on your screen. The plates are made of a durable but flexible plastic and the designs are painted on the underside to keep any scratches from damaging the patterns. My only issue with the face plates is that the black system should have included a black plate, and silver should have included the silver, not the other way around. Sometimes, you just want to be boring.

The games
The Micro plays all Advance game cartridges, giving it an automatic library of several hundred games. There are no games specially designed for the Micro. The system does not play the older, larger original Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges.

The battery
The Micro includes a built-in, rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. There is a proprietary charger that is included, and I should mention here that it is quite important that you not lose it. Right now, Nintendo does not sell replacements through regular retailers (although you can reorder it on their website for roughly $20) and third-party replacements are hard to come by. I have averaged about 15 hours of gameplay on a full charge on this system, which is equivalent to that of the Advance SP model.

The Speaker
Just a brief note on this, but it should be mentioned. The system’s sound quality is not that great, unless you are using it with headphones. In fact, that was the idea, so if you are accustomed to playing your games headset-free, don’t expect much in terms of sound. A halfway decent set of earbuds solves this problem.

Misc. design features
One other little thing I liked is a spot to attach a keychain/lanyard or wrist strap. I personally keep a lanyard on mine like I do with my keys. And yes, I am ridiculous and match my lanyard to my face plates. I also like that the paint finish on the body is a brushed finish, rather than glossy, so it is far more resistant to scratching.

Durability
I have to be honest, my Micro has already taken more than its fair share of spills onto concrete and hardwood floors when I was trying to wriggle other things out of my pockets at the same time. Surprisingly, there isn’t a scratch on it, and I have not had a single glitch. Of course, a far drop or submersion in water would likely destroy it. You just have to be cautious not to drop it while you are changing the face plates - when the face is off, the LCD is fully exposed.

Pricing and Availability
The Micro retails for $99, falling just between the Advance SP at $79 and the Nintendo DS (the next model upwards) at $129. I felt the portability was worth the extra $20 - after all, if size doesn’t matter to you, you’d likely want the SP anyway since it has the ability to play ALL the game cartridges, ever. Availability is another story, though. At the time I am writing this, the Micro is becoming harder to find. I was originally told that there would be only one million Micros made for the US. In my area, I rarely see them available in stores any more, although I’m sure in some places they are not in short supply, either. Your best bet would be to try a video game or toy store rather than a Target or Wal-Mart type. EB Games, GameStop, or Toys ‘R Us would be likely candidates to have them in stock.

So.... the Pros
It’s small, if small is important to you. For me it is, as I wanted something that I could sneak into my pocket for when I just needed a break for a few minutes. I have been known to sneak into the bathroom for a few minutes at work, lean against the wall, and play a quick round of Tetris. The Advance SP didn’t allow me to do that, as it made a rather large suspicious-looking bulge in my pants pocket, considering I’m a woman and all. Also, at the time I purchased this, the new brighter Advance SP’s were not in my local store, and I was unimpressed by the SP’s duller screen. I also absolutely love the ability to change face plates. I’m also very happy with the battery life, as I feel it has been more than adequate for how often and how long I play it for. Also, the library of over 700 game cartridges (and not having to buy all new games) makes it a logical choice.

And, the cons
Many people would be turned off by the smaller screen. Although, if you’re comfortable playing games on your cell phone, this isn’t a big difference. Also, price vs. game selection may be an issue. If you want to be able to play your older Game Boy game cartridge collection, the Micro can’t do this. Is it pricy for its size? A little bit, but it’s kind of like comparing an iPod Mini to an iPod Nano - you pay extra for size. As I mentioned, it is also becoming harder to find, so if you’re interested, try and grab one soon.

Import Info
Like I promised, a little info on imports and “non-US” systems. The Micro, like all of Nintendo’s handhelds (handhelds only, not home consoles) is region-free. This means it can play games from anywhere in the world with no problem, other than the potential language barrier if the game was written in a foreign language. Also, you should know that there is a much larger variety of colors and styles, such as pink, purple, light blue, dark blue, red and more, in Japan, although with the exchange rate the price jumps to about $129. If you are interested in something like this, you should check out Lik-Sang.com or Play-Asia.com - they have the biggest selections on these “special” editions.

I hope this has helped all of you, and happy gaming!