Gameboy advice - need help please

[Boo Mc]

We're thinking about getting DS 7 and DD 5 gameboys for Christmas. Looking for recommendations on which games would be good for this age. He loves Harry Potter, Spongebob, sports, Disney and all of the typical boy stuff. DD hasn't actually asked for one yet but I know darn well once DS is playing in the car all the way to Florida she'll want one. I've heard there's a good Dora game - anything else? She loves the princesses, Disney and all the typical girl stuff. So which games are good and which are boring? Thanks!!!!

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Looking for the same kind of info here!! We are going to get DS one for his birthday this month, he will be 4 but I think he will be into it. We just wish there were more of the EC (Early Childhood) games available.

 

[FTWFAN]

I don't think you will regret getting your kids a gameboy! All 3 of ours have them and at times they have been life savers. I try to limit their playing time so when they really need something to entertain them(like in the car on trips, at the doctors office, or when one of the others have practice of some sort), they have their gameboys to keep them busy. Boo Mc, my kids love all the games you listed. Their all time favs are all the Mario Brother games and an ATV race type game. The only ones that they have found boring is Nemo and a Pooh game(I can't remember the exact name). If your kids love the gameboys as much as mine do, you will have well spent your money.

Oh, you may want to go ahead and get the SP model. It has a lighted background and rechargable batteries. We have saved enough on batteries to pay the difference in the price of the gameboy itself. Good luck!!!!!

 

[Mishetta]

My DS LOVES the Pokemon Ruby & Pokemon Sapphire games the best. He got the Ruby version when he was 7 because his (then) 6 y/o best friend had it & couldn't put it down! My DS is now 8 & those are still his fave Game Boy Advance games.

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

DS5 loves Super Mario Bros Deluxe and Donkey Kong.

As another poster said, you may want to invest in a Gameboy SP, the technology is much better than previous Gameboy editions.

Also, don't forget to buy a case they can carry games and accessories in - it keeps everything together!

 

[JESW]

DS got a gameboy advance for his 8th bd last year. Next week for his 9th bd he's getting an sp. He ONLY plays the Pokemon games and loves them!

You may want to check to see if there is a local store that sells used games. We have bought many of the color games there as they play on the advanced.

DD4 has tried the gameboy color but gets frustrated. I think she will do better with it when she is a little bit older.

We NEVER wanted to get the kids gameboys because it would turn them into zombies. Well, it can, but it sure is handy to have when we are flying or on long road trips - less fighting!

Jill

 

[JetMom]

My DS's 9 & 11 have gameboy advance and my DS 5 has his brother's old gameboy color. Like most people have said, they are mostly used in the car, waiting rooms, etc.

My 2 oldest love the Pokemon games, but you must be able to read to play them. They also really like the Legend of Zelda games.

My youngest likes Mario, Tarzan, and Tony Hawk Pro-Racer.

 

[SandraM]

My DS got his first gameboy for Christmas just after his 5th birthday and he got hooked on it very quickly.
I still remember him saying "I can't understand it, I want to throw my gameboy across the room sometimes, but I love it so why do I feel like that?" I told him "that's a sensation you will have from time to time all through your life, darling. It's called frustration!
He managed to finish Zelda: Links Awakening just a few months later even though he wasn't really able to read. I was quite impressed with him!

 

[always quiet]

Don't forget about the WDW Racing Game!! My girls really liked that one (and insist that Chip is a better racer than Dale! )

 

[FreshTressa]

My kids love Warioware inc. It is a totally original game. Pokemon sapphire and ruby (and the old gold and silver if you get them used) have also been hits.

Zelda is fun for even me!


DH works at Nintendo, so we have a huge collection. The spongebob game is fun for little kids, a little simple for older kids. DS, 6, also like the lost vikings, trax, and tetris.

And I HIGHLY recommend springing for the SP. You will save so much money in batteries and they can play it in low light. The old ones, you have to play in a really bright area, and that is not always possible.

 

[tiggerlover]

Another vote for the Game Boy Advance SP, it is so much better than the Game Boy Advance. My DS (7) love all things Pokemon, he has Sapphire and has played the Ruby version and likes it as well. For Christmas I bought him the Pokemon Pinball game. He also likes Super Mario and Frogger. He has played the SpongeBob game and likes that as well.

 

[my3kids]

My DS at 7 was inseperable from his Pokemon game...he had the gold one I think. The Sapphire hold interest as well now. He still plays both of them after years.

My DD doesn't really play hers much. One of the games he did receive as a gift was a Power Puff Girls game. She has never watched the show, but even her brothers said it was a pretty good game.

They all like Harry Potter. There are good racing games. We've got Sponge Bob also. With the exception of Pokemon though, both boys quickly "beat" any game they get. I wish those little sqares could hold more information so they games would last longer!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Okay, DS Grandma&Grandpa just got him a gameboy for Christmas... They did NOT get the SP, since the person at the store recommended the other model for a 5 year old boy. Said that the flip top may break off more easily than the more durable one-piece model.

So, HELP!!! All of you who have seen both models.... Is there such a big difference in the technology??? Should we switch to the SP flip-top for our 5 year old??? I was actually thinking that the other model would be better for him to handle! I liked one accesory that I saw where you slip the gameboy into this caddy that looks more like a real video-game controller, with like handle shapes on both sides.

Any advice?

 

[browneyes]

My 7 yo ds loves his Pokemon games for his gameboy. I bought an arcade-style game for him too (well, for me). Someone on the CB told me about it. It's got Ms. Pacman, Digdug, Galaga, Galaxian, DigDug, Pole Racing. My son loves those games too (especially Ms. Pacman).

I got my ds a gameboy advance, but I wished I'd gotten the other gameboy. The light on the GBA isn't very bright and he won't keep the light I bought for it on it for long. The other is supposed to have a built in light.

 

[Beanie]

Both of my kids have a Gameboy Advance and they love it! My son (6) loves to play Spongebob, Crash Bandicoot and any Mario Game. He also likes the Finding Nemo game.

My dd (4) has one as well, but she isn't "into it" like my son...She does play the Alice in Wonderland game though and likes it because it is easy for her! She also has the Disney princess game and that is easy as well!

 

[Boo Mc]

Thanks for the great advice everyone. Here's what I ended up with: Donkey Kong Country (came with the gameboy), Harry Potter Quidditch, snowboarding (because it was $10 in the clearance bin and DS likes to snowboard), a combo game of Ms. Pac Man, Galaga and some other 80's games that DH and I will probably like to play and Super Mario 4. Not sure if the last one is a keeper. I'd like to get a baseball one instead but haven't read any good reviews for the baseball games. Anyway, we may keep Mario as both grandmas want to get him a game so two of the above will be from them (lest you think I'm a completely indulgent parent). I know I should get a Pokemon game after all the great reviews but to tell you the truth, I am sooo tired of hearing about Pokemon and Yugioh-that's all DS talks about! I'm probably being a bad mom for not getting him that.

We ended up getting DD (almost 5) the new leapster instead of a gameboy. DH and I played with it last night after kiddies went to bed and it is sooo cool! I'd highly recommend it. I think DS (7) will think it's cool, too. I've only seen it at Toys R Us so far but I think it should be at other places soon. Thanks again for your help!!

 

[Tinks]

Do yourself a big favor and get the Gameboy SP (or whatever the flip-top model is called). It has a self lighted screen and rechargeable batteries which work well and last a long time. We had a gamesboy advance and spent more money on AA batteries than I care to think about! It truly is worth it. I have 2 boys who are 7 and 5 (they've had the new model for a year--no breaks!) Good luck..your son will love it!

 

[Boo Mc]

Thanks tinks - I did get that flip top model. I also got a starter set at Costco for $25. It has a desk charger, headphones, extended life battery, lens cleaner, link to hook up to other GBA, car charger and a couple other things I can't remember. Not sure if we need al that stuff but I thought for $25 it seemed like a good deal.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

how much does SP go for?? I have one on my list and need some game ideas to add(I love Spongebob and anything action or CSI type)

 

[Lorix2]

The GameBoy SP sells for $99.