20 Years Of The Greatest Sport Boy Ever – How Did You Get Your GBA SP?

Ollie Reynolds

Like Kate, I’ve additionally owned two GBA SPs, although not essentially by way of selection.

My first SP was the beautiful NES version that launched alongside the ‘Basic NES Sequence’ sport titles. I did not choose up any of those as a result of I might already owned an ordinary GBA console, so I used to be fairly content material to easily improve my console and depart it at that. Sadly, my time with it was short-lived, as I moderately foolishly constructed up a ridiculous cellphone invoice on account of the truth that cellular contracts in these days solely afforded you about 50 textual content messages. So I offered my SP for funds and that was that.

Round ten years in the past, nevertheless, I used to be working in my native GAME retailer and constructed good relations with the proprietor of an impartial sport retailer close by. He is an extremely pleasant chap and we at all times labored to assist out each other with trade-ins, pre-orders, all that jazz… Anyway, I should have talked about the story about my authentic GBA SP in some unspecified time in the future, as a result of within the run-up to Christmas one yr, he got here into the shop and informed me that he’d “purchased me a gift”.

It seems {that a} buyer had offered him one of many ‘Tribal’ GBA SP consoles, however moderately than add it to the shop’s inventory, he gave it to me as a Christmas current. It was in outstanding situation (and nonetheless is) and I merely could not consider he could be so beneficiant. I am going to by no means eliminate it!

Alana Hagues

Rising up I used to get the entire consoles after my brother stopped taking part in them — the Mega Drive grew to become mine when the PlayStation got here out, and the N64 when he bought a Saturn (surprising, I do know).

However the GBA was completely different as a result of, when the SP got here out, my trusty purple crystal handheld went straight to my brother, and I bought the attractive GameCube purple GBA SP. Shh, I do know it is ‘Cobalt Blue’.

The SP’s not-actually-a-backlight was a revelation to me. I may play this exterior and never socialise with anybody! I may truly bury myself below the duvets and keep up till the early hours and not using a silly clip-on lamp getting in the best way. This little SP carried me by way of my pre-teen years with Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire, Mario vs. Donkey Kong, and Klonoa: Empire of Goals. However this was the period of notably wonderful restricted version consoles, and the minute I laid my eyes on an commercial in ONM for the Triforce SP, I knew I needed to have it.

And I nonetheless have it! I bear in mind the package deal being delivered the day The Minish Cap launched, and the joy I felt unboxing this attractive golden SP with the Triforce emblazoned on the again — it is easy but lovely. Bundled with The Minish Cap, I performed by way of the entire teeny, tiny journey on my teeny, tiny display screen. I nonetheless have the field it got here in, though it is somewhat bit tattered from me taking the system out and in of it. Do not ask why I saved it within the field…

I get the gold handheld out each on occasion simply to examine it nonetheless works. I’ve gone by way of a number of chargers, hyperlink cables for Pokémon trades, and performed 4 Swords Adventures with my brother utilizing the outdated SP. However this trusty little golden pal has lasted the entire time with only one or two tiny scratches. And I plan for it to stick with me for a lot of, many extra years.

Jim Norman

Like most, it appears, I’ve had two SPs in my lifetime. I bought the primary for what should have been my sixth or seventh birthday. I distinctly bear in mind going to Argos with my mum to choose one out and spurning the uncommon NES Version as a result of I did not just like the sample on the within. I haven’t got many regrets in life, however that is positively one in every of them.

I ended up with the Cobalt Blue mannequin (not fairly as attractive because the NES one, however we transfer on) and I performed it continuous for years. I nonetheless personal a lot of my authentic video games as we speak from the nice (The Minish Cap) to the dangerous (Charlie and the Chocolate Manufacturing unit); however, like all good issues, my time with the console got here to finish once I needed to improve to a DS Lite and subsequently traded in my authentic.

However this is not a tragic story! I handled myself to a silver mannequin once I went by way of a heavy Pokémon section again in 2012 and needed to play my favourites once more (shout out to Gen III) and I have never appeared again since. I nonetheless have this silver version and proceed to play it frequently — critically, that is the finest console for public transport. It is likely to be somewhat extra battered and bruised now than it was once I first bought it (see the above image), however I see it as a contact of character.

Till this little fella packs it in, I will carry on taking part in.