"GameBoy Micro: Smaller, But Not In Gameplay"

After reading about the GameBoy Micro on the Internet, I decided to give one a try. The idea of a GameBoy the size of a candy bar really sparked my interest. I got one and I really enjoy it. It has a variety of features that make it, in my opinion, the best redesign of the GameBoy Advance thus far. This probably means it will be the best overall, since Nintendo probably will focus more on the DS from here on out.

The GameBoy Micro is, as stated before, the size of a candy bar. This size makes the system perfect for fitting in your pocket. I can carry it around with me all day long and it doesn't feel much different from having a cell phone in your pocket. The size makes it hard to hold on to some times, but I haven't had too many problems with it.

The GameBoy Micro also includes swappable faceplates. Three of these come with the system. Most of the faceplates are good looking and are fun to switch around. The faceplates that you get with the system depend on it you get the black or silver model. The faceplates require a special tool for removal (included with the system) that may seem like a problem to work with, but in the long run it keeps your faceplate from falling off. This is definitely one of my favorite features that I've seen in any game system.

The GameBoy Micro comes with a rechargeable battery, so you don't have to waste your money buying "normal" batteries. The battery lasts a long time and is good for about 500 recharges, so you won't have to worry about buying a new one soon. It takes less time to charge than the battery of a GameBoy Advance SP, which means that you don't have to wait as long to get back on the go!

The GameBoy Micro has a brighter screen than the GameBoy Advance SP did. You can adjust the brightness to whatever you find comfortable. This comes in handy if you are playing it during the day or if you just want to save battery life. The battery lasts longer than that of a GameBoy Advance SP, so you can use the system at its full brightness for a long time.

Also included with the GameBoy Micro is a pouch for carrying it in. This really helps you keep things together when you're on the go. You can also buy a fancier pouch for the system, but the one that comes with it is fine. It's soft, so that you can protect your screen cover from scratches when your not using the system.

The GameBoy Micro produces the same graphics quality that the GameBoy Advance and GameBoy Advance SP did, but these graphics are displayed on a screen that is slightly smaller. If you have bad eyesight, you might not even want to consider getting a GameBoy Micro. I have good eyesight though, so it doesn't bother me much.

The GameBoy Micro's speakers are my main complaint. The speakers produce barely enough volume to hear the game that you're playing. I would recommend that people using the GameBoy Micro use headphones, since you can get better sound quality that way.

The GameBoy Micro has, instead of a volume slider, a volume button on the side. This button isn't nearly as convenient as a volume slider. It can also be used to adjust the screen brightness; however, you have to hold down the L button, which usually isn't the best thing to do during gameplay. This feature definitely gets annoying.

The thing about the GameBoy Micro that has probably gotten the most complaints is that it can only play GameBoy Advance games. It won't play any of the older GameBoy games or use any of the GameBoy/GameBoy Pocket/GameBoy Color/GameBoy Advance/GameBoy Advance SP accessories, but it has enough good points to make up for this downside.

To sum things up, the GameBoy Micro is a system that I would recommend to just about any gamer on the go. It's worth giving a try if you like small technology. The downsizing of technology knew what it was doing when it made the worlds best selling portable gaming system even more portable. The changeable faceplates let the gamer express his/her self how they want to. It offers enough new features to keep even veteran GameBoy gamers entertained for a long time to come.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/06/06