The mini classic console trend has been slowing down after the explosion that started back in 2016. The NES and SNES classics both launched with a frenzy, leaving many disappointed that there were limited quantities. In 2018 Neo Geo, Sega, and Sony would follow Nintendo’s success by trying to cash in on their own historic retro games. Since then, rumors and wishes have circled the internet guessing if Nintendo will announce an N64 mini. There is a large catalog that would grab customers attention, but I feel the multi-player appeal would be a difficult sell. Four controllers packed in would drive a high price tag, and buying additional controllers would have the same sticker shock. Instead of reliving another console, I would like to see handheld gaming get a shot with the Gameboy Advance.
The Gameboy Advance is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, so what better way to honor the 32-bit device than with a re-release? There were three iterations (four if you include the Gameboy Player) of the handheld system during its original run, so I would like to see the original model with some modern tweaks. Taking some notes from the recent release of the Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. it will include a backlit screen and rechargeable battery. There won’t be a need to angle the screen just right or rummage old remote controls for AA batteries.
The most important inclusion for this handheld is the terrific library of games. Puzzle, Action/Adventure, RPGs, and Platformer genres were all well represented in the nearly 1,500 released games. Titles like Metroid Fusion, Mario Kart Super Circuit, and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap could lead Nintendo’s first party titles, while Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow and Mega Man Zero would be representing some 3rd party titles. I feel that twenty-five games would be a sweet spot of titles to be included on the device.
What memories do you have of the Game boy Advance? What favorite titles would you wish to be included if this classic handheld is re-released? What price point would you be willing to pay? Let us know in the comments or on our Discord!