Game Boy Player (vs. SNES)

[Maben]

I have recently looked into the Game Boy Player (seems like a pretty awesome device!).  I've always been against handheld systems (they just aren't my thing), but when I found the GBP I was amazed that I could have access to all of these games on my TV.  I was considering getting a SNES but now I'm wondering if maybe getting a GameCube and Game Boy Player might be a better move.  Alternatively I could just buy most of the games on the Virtual Console but I'm really into owning physical copies of games.  Can you guys give me some advice based on experience?  Here's how I'm looking at it:

GBP Pros:
- Large game library spanning Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance.  Many of these aren't available on SNES.
- Allows me to play the Zelda games I have missed out on

GBP Cons:
- Can't play some SNES exclusive titles (Star Fox, Super Mario RPG, Turtles in Time)
- Doesn't allow me to use my extra UGCs

I don't own, nor have ever owned either system so I'm kind of on the fence and definitely a noob as it comes to these systems.  I know "just get both" is an easy answer but it's not the one I'm looking for.  I guess maybe I should do the math comparing the prices of the systems & games I want and see what it looks like.  How do the outputs of the SNES and GBP look (on an HDTV)?

[Arseen]

I'd go with the easy answer.

That way you can play all NGC, SNES, GBA, GBC and GB games. And you don't have to buy Super Game Boy.

If you buy NGC + GBP combo (which I have 8, will go to 16 later), you should also buy SNES controller + the adapter that lets you to connect it to NGC.

Also you can connect NGC to HDTV with Component cables which gives nice RGB picture. IN US you can connect SNES only with S-video cables at best.
Of course we the Europeans can connect both consoles with RGB-scarts which gives as good image on both consoles as.

[TyrannicalFascist]

Eventually get both, but I agree, get a Gamecube and Game Boy Player, and get an SNES controller and its adapter for Gamecube. Then down the road get an SNES, and you already have the controllers. I wouldn't skip the SNES completely, as there are some great exclusives that are a lot of fun.

[larryinc64]

Origonal Gameboy games play better on the SNES's Super Gameboy, You can change the palate more than just the holding down some bottoms on the Gameboy Start Up screen and some games have special feature for it such as borders and special color palates. But I suggest to go for the GameCube for now, Its also cheaper.

[scarmullet]

Origonal Gameboy games play better on the SNES's Super Gameboy, You can change the palate more than just the holding down some bottoms on the Gameboy Start Up screen and some games have special feature for it such as borders and special color palates. But I suggest to go for the GameCube for now, Its also cheaper.

I've seen Super Gameboys for less than $5, never that low for Game Boy players.

upon looking for a super gameboy, I came across something interesting

A device to play Gameboy and Gameboy Color games on the Playstation through that expansion slot on the fat models....I wana get one to see how well it works.

[Maben]

Origonal Gameboy games play better on the SNES's Super Gameboy, You can change the palate more than just the holding down some bottoms on the Gameboy Start Up screen and some games have special feature for it such as borders and special color palates. But I suggest to go for the GameCube for now, Its also cheaper.

I've seen Super Gameboys for less than $5, never that low for Game Boy players.

upon looking for a super gameboy, I came across something interesting

A device to play Gameboy and Gameboy Color games on the Playstation through that expansion slot on the fat models....I wana get one to see how well it works.

Are you talking about PS2s?  Link?

[scarmullet]

Origonal Gameboy games play better on the SNES's Super Gameboy, You can change the palate more than just the holding down some bottoms on the Gameboy Start Up screen and some games have special feature for it such as borders and special color palates. But I suggest to go for the GameCube for now, Its also cheaper.

I've seen Super Gameboys for less than $5, never that low for Game Boy players.

upon looking for a super gameboy, I came across something interesting

A device to play Gameboy and Gameboy Color games on the Playstation through that expansion slot on the fat models....I wana get one to see how well it works.

Are you talking about PS2s?  Link?

I didn't say PlayStation 2, I said PlayStation.

and upon reseraching, the device isn't worth it...the sound was purposefully not enabled, but you do have the option of using the Playstation's CD drive and play music while you play.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MV3S3I/ref=s9_simh_gw_p63_d0_g63_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1Z8205H7NSKR7JCKF671&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

[wiggy]

I've seen Super Gameboys for less than $5, never that low for Game Boy players.

upon looking for a super gameboy, I came across something interesting

A device to play Gameboy and Gameboy Color games on the Playstation through that expansion slot on the fat models....I wana get one to see how well it works.

Buuut, SNES systems tend to go for about 40+ and NGC units can pretty easily be had for 15+. 

In the end, either will likely cost about the same.  Also, it's really, REALLY common to see NGCs being sold WITH the GBP in the same sale/auction.  Kill 2 birds with one stone.

OP, I think you should eventually pick up both.  Both are great systems, and both can be had for a really reasonable price at this point

[TyrannicalFascist]

I would like to add that last night I played a little Super Mario World on the GB Player, then on SNES, and I felt that the SNES version had much better/clearer sound and better colors. Not sure if that applies to other SNES>GBA ports, but take that as you will.

[wiggy]

They're all that way. I think the combination of the GBA's resolution (Pauling with the fact that many games were designed to display the correct colors with an unlit screen), plus the limitations of the speaker on the system meant that the audio was likely highly compressed since the quality was going to be piss-poor almost no matter what, unless you were wearing headphones.

The non-ports have a sort of "tiny" sound as well. The Metroid games come to mind since I've played them almost as often on the player as the GBA itself.

[Maben]

They're all that way. I think the combination of the GBA's resolution (Pauling with the fact that many games were designed to display the correct colors with an unlit screen), plus the limitations of the speaker on the system meant that the audio was likely highly compressed since the quality was going to be piss-poor almost no matter what, unless you were wearing headphones.

The non-ports have a sort of "tiny" sound as well. The Metroid games come to mind since I've played them almost as often on the player as the GBA itself.

My feeling was that the games might have lesser video/audio quality through the GBP compared to the original SNES cartridge due to the GB and GBA games being designed for small unlit screens.  Thanks for the advice guys

[zakurowrath]

There are a few advantages to the Super Game Boy, and one is that games designed with it in mind have a few extra features. Like Pokemon Red, Blue, Green & Yellow all have their own custom borders and just like in Yellow each city has a different colour sceme (Pewter is Grey, Cerulean is Blue. Vermillion is Orange, etc) it adds abit to a game originally played in black and white. Games like Donkey Kong have enhanced music colour and other features not available by just playing it on a regular Gameboy. Here's a list of games that the Super Game Boy benefits from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Super_Game_Boy_games

Now there are some drawbacks to the Super Game Boy. Since the hardware inside the cart is in fact an original Gameboy with a few modifications, it can't play Gameboy Colour exclusive games like Pokemon Crystal or Donkey Kong Country pretty much any clear Game Boy Colour cart. It can play the black Gameboy Colour combo carts thou with enhancements. Second, it doesn't have an EXT port which isn't too much of a gripe but some people wanted one. The Super Game Boy 2 in Japan had one but they are abit rare.

Even with it's few drawbacks it's actually something really fun to use, playing Gameboy games on the big screen with a SNES controller is much better and the enhancements give it just alittle bit of a new way to play your favorite Gameboy games.

Now I do have a GameBoy Player as well and it's really fun to use for all my GameBoy Advance games and any game in my Gameboy Library, I just wish they could have built in those enhancements with it as well.

[larryinc64]

Donkey Kong Country is not a GBC exclusive, its a port of a game on the SNES, and its on the GB as Donkey Kong Land.

[UncleBob]

The neat thing about the Super Game Boy is the ability to play select games with 2-4 players on the SNES with one cartridge.

Donkey Kong Country is not a GBC exclusive, its a port of a game on the SNES, and its on the GB as Donkey Kong Land.

Errr...

Donkey Kong Land isn't Donkey Kong Country at all.

Pretty sure zakurowrath is talking about the version of DKC that's exclusive to the Game Boy Color (doesn't work on the original Game Boy at all).

Also, of note, DKC had a GBA release as well.