NEO GEO X - New SNK Games Console

[Tatsujin]

Not quite true. The original brick Gameboy had a damn fine sound chip, and many of the best sounding games sound like shit on a GBC.

because it was in the wrong hands.

[soop]

Not quite true. The original brick Gameboy had a damn fine sound chip, and many of the best sounding games sound like shit on a GBC.

because it was in the wrong hands.

Actually, it's less to do with that than the actual hardware.  You ever see those "prosound" MGB-001 mods?  Well, I don't get the technical details, but it's widely regarded that the output of the very first (or play it loud) gameboys are superior to every following model:

http://www.herbertweixelbaum.com/comparison.htm

[SignOfZeta]

This is all true, but when we are talking about which sound chip is which versus other handhelds, we aren't talking about levels, op amps, etc. We're talking about the fundamentals of the system. The NGP is a slightly (very slightly) more refined sort of thing compared to the GB. The GB and GBC are fundamentally identical. Regardless, I'm pretty sure that most people play GB with the sound off. It just gets...so damned irritating after a while. Not in the context of some pathetic 21st century, drug-free, hipster chip tune wanker rave, but in the context of playing 35 hours through Final Fantasy Legend II. Thirty five hours of that squealing bullshit...no way.

A similar thing is the case with the early Genesis 1 compared to later models. The difference in sound quality is VERY significant, but you're still going to have basically the same thing.

[SNKNostalgia]

Was it FF Legend II that had the battle music that sound like the song "The Heat is On"?

Yeah, pretty much spot on with the GBC sound quality. It always had a bad hum and hiss when you turn the volume up. It was especially bad with the built in speaker. I got it with Metal Gear Ghost Babel and noticed it right away.

I have to say that I have enjoyed the Gameboy Advance the most. I played the hell out of Super Dodgeball, Final Fight One, Metroid Fusion, Metroid Zero Mission, Advance Wars, Double Dragon Advance and the first two GBA Castelvania games on it. I was really happy when I got my GBA player for my Gamecube that I still have.

Over the years, I just lost complete interest in handheld gaming. I just never can bring myself to pick one up and play it now. I still would like to get a PSP and DS for a few games, but still.

[storino03]

There are more, and I'm sure, careful though I am, I haven't picked out the only PSP games I like.  Plus with its video and Internet capabilities, the PSP is the greatest handheld console yet made.  I also like the DS, but for specific games like Layton and Ghost Trick.

I disagree, the PSP makes my hand go numb with extended use, both the 1000 and 3000 models I own are guilty of this. It's an ergonomic nightmare.

I agree with the numbing hands on the PSP. Happens with the DSi:XL. I thought it was just me getting older or something lol.

[soop]

Advance Wars is amazing.  I wish I could get someone to play with me.

[esteban]

The library of the GBA + GB easily crushes everything else.

It's really not fair to compare anything to mighty Nintendo.

A more interesting discussion would be: Of the runners-up, which one is best? (who earns 2nd. place?)

[ParanoiaDragon]

The library of the GBA + GB easily crushes everything else.

It's really not fair to compare anything to mighty Nintendo.

A more interesting discussion would be: Of the runners-up, which one is best? (who earns 2nd. place?)

Hmm, 2nd & 3rd place...that'd probably have to be the GBA & then DS, after the PSP

[SignOfZeta]

There is more to portable gaming than Falcom stuff and ports of PS1 games.

[ParanoiaDragon]

I agree, that's why I currently have 103 PSP games, & counting.  I've just never been this much into portable gaming since the PSP.  I think one thing that helps(in regards to functionality), is that you can turn it off, without even saving, & turn it back on again, & you're right where you started.  That's such a blessing for me(even though it eats up more juice), especially as I get older & have less & less time.  You can kinda do that with the DS as well, it goes into sleep mode, though I don't know if it's recommended to do that for days on end.

With Game Boy, Lynx, Game Gear, etc., you're lucky to have a save file, if maybe a password system.  But GBC, WS, & NGP upped the ante a lil bit on the saving features, & moreso on GBA.  And I'm very grateful for that.  But all that aside, the PSP has surprised me.  That doesn't mean it's for everyone.  It's got it's share of old school'ish games, but, there's plenty of 3D to go around as well, which puts some people off.  I used to hate the advancement into 3D, as well as FPS's, but I've come to accept both, though not as much as some have.  I think early 3D stuff is where there was more problems with blocky gfx & camera angles that held me back.  Doesn't seem as much as a problem as it used to be.  Heh, but I still get excited when some new high def 2D game comes out, rather then the usual 3D stuff.

[TheClash603]

The hand numbing thing is definitely a problem with the Playstation Portables (and the GB Micro).

When I am not traveling, I always use this plastic add-on with my Vita that slides over the system and gives it handle grips like a PS3 controller.  Best $8 I ever spent.

[SignOfZeta]

I agree, that's why I currently have 103 PSP games, & counting. 

I love my PSP, but in all seriousness, I can't even think of half that many good PSP titles. You must have a great number of shitty racing, sports, arab killer, and lame-ass western developed Sony brand games in there.

I've just never been this much into portable gaming since the PSP.  I think one thing that helps(in regards to functionality), is that you can turn it off, without even saving, & turn it back on again, & you're right where you started.  That's such a blessing for me(even though it eats up more juice), especially as I get older & have less & less time.  You can kinda do that with the DS as well, it goes into sleep mode, though I don't know if it's recommended to do that for days on end.

Um...its exactly the same thing. You close the lid instead of pushing the power switch. Other than that, its the same friggn thing. From my experience the DS lasts longer in sleep too, but that's probably just because I play the PSP so much less often and it goes dead. The same reason why it seems like the PS3 needs a system update every time I turn it on (it does, but I sometimes go two months without using it at all).

With Game Boy, Lynx, Game Gear, etc., you're lucky to have a save file, if maybe a password system.

There were quite a few b/w GB games with battery save. None of the original ones did, but many games after it did. Zelda, all four Final Fantasy games, Donkey Kong 94, Mario Land 2...Kirby's Block Ball...tons of them.

[ParanoiaDragon]

Nah, I hate sports, racing, & Call of Duty type stuff.  70% of those games are JRPG's. A few of them are poor, but still enjoyable.  I might have some western Sony stuff, though I can't think of any.  I'm still hunting down games that I've found about, mostly more action RPG's.  I have a few puzzle's, but, they're more action puzzle, then just straight up Tetris/Gunpey type stuff.

Awesome, so there's no harm in leaving the DS for days on end like that.  I actually forgot about a game once for a few days, & opened it up, to find my game still running!  That's deffinitly a feature I love about newer portables, no doubt!  And yeah, the PSP's battery stinks IMO.  Though it's been a few years since I've let it go dead.

Most of my GB games are older one's I guess.  Maybe I'm just remembering wrong about alot of the GB games.  I do know the save feature deffinitly increased over the year to much a rejoicing!  Never got into the Final Fantasy Legend games, I had all 3, but, IIRC, they were part of the SaGa series, which I had mixed emotions about, mainly with the leveling up.  I think Final Fanatsy 2 is similar, though, I haven't played thru that one yet.

[Tatsujin]

Psp is great. Used it for uncoutable sessions of ridge racers and minna no golf. Absolut fantastic games

[Ji-L87]

Psp is great. Used it for uncoutable sessions of ridge racers and minna no golf. Absolut fantastic games

The PSP Ridge Racer(s) has some staggering amount of content compared to some of the console versions. And the Vita version, as far as I've heard.