The GBA is a sleek little machine. It is about the size of a Game Boy Color, although it lacks the bulbous battery case. It features four buttons, A and B on the face, and L and R shoulder buttons, allowing for much more complex control schemes. The system runs on a 32-bit RISC processor and sports a 2.9" screen, which is bigger than the GBC screen. The LCD display on the GBA is also incredibly crisp, although light may still be a problem, making the proliferation of GBA light accessories a good thing for the gamer. The screen displays at a resolution of 240X160 pixels, and can show over 32 thousand colors at a time. The two AA batteries it runs on should give about 15 hours of gameplay time, although, again, the proliferation of third-party power accessories should accommodate the most prolific gamer.

The system runs several dozen times faster than the GBC, and the display is more crisp than many home consoles today, adding to the impressive quality of the graphics. In addition, the headphones jack supports both stereo and Dolby Surround sound, enhancing the audio quality of the system. The new "multi-player single boot" function allows select games to support up to four player linked gaming with only one cartridge. Apparently, the major drawback to the multi-player single boot system is that the GBA can process much more information than it can send across the link network to other GBA units. That means that some games, especially the more complex titles, will still require an individual cartridge for each player.

The system is backwards compatible with all previous Game Boy software, so you’ll still be able to enjoy your classic GB games. In addition to functioning as a stand-alone handheld system, the GBA is also a discreet controller for the GameCube. Nintendo has been quiet about exactly what the GBA might be used for, but speculation abounds. Needless to say, it should be very interesting.

The real buzz about the GBA is the fact that handheld gaming is finally coming into its own. While there has been no shortage of handheld game alternatives, Game Boy has maintained a strangle hold on the industry. Even so, Game Boy games are generally thought of as kid stuff. Sure, kids of all ages have become addicted to games like Pokemon, but for the most part the titles are just to simple and short to entertain most adults. Even Game Boy role-playing games have been hindered in their audience because of the simplicity involved. Now, the GBA, which is somewhere on the technology spectrum between the Super Nintendo and the PlayStation, can bring satisfyingly complex titles to gamers, and the system will definitely expand the audience for handheld gaming.