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[VALIS]

Yeah, I'm way late to the current handheld generation (still no DS or PSP), which you'd understand if you saw the massive backlog I have for current gen console games.

Anyway, I'm diggin' it so far. Astro Boy is the tits. Metroid Fusion is pretty neat as well. River City Ransom is... don't know what it is, it's just kind of off. Maybe it's the Gamecube controller. And that leads into my first question...

What's a good Gamecube controller for GB/GBA games? The miniscule D-pad on the stock GC controller is for shit. The analog stick works alright, but these games really need a D-pad.

The other question is, any good sites dedicated to the GBA with a lot of reviews? The big sites are kind of spotty in their GBA coverage. I basically want to know what games are more or less direct ports from their SNES version so I can avoid buying them, and without having to look all over the 'net for this info. Thx.

 

[AniHawk]

There's the Hori GC pad, there's a pad I noticed at gamecrazy the other day which has the GC button config, but like the SNES controller.

Don't want those, then hunt down a PlayCube. The PS2 d-pad/buttons was what I used for all the GB/GBC/GBA games.

 

[cvxfreak]

Eventually if you buy a GBA or an SP, you can use those as a controller too.

 

[Teddman]

You MUST get you a Hori pad. No GameBoy Player is complete without it.

Shameless plug for my Hori pad vs. SNES pad comparison feature at TNL

 

[AniHawk]

You MUST get you a Hori pad. No GameBoy Player is complete without it.

Shameless plug for my Hori pad vs. SNES pad comparison feature at TNL

Yeah, they have those for $15 at Gamecrazy.

 

[VALIS]

Don't want those, then hunt down a PlayCube. The PS2 d-pad/buttons was what I used for all the GB/GBC/GBA games.

After looking at Nyko's site it doesn't seem like they make those any more. Shit. The PS2's d-pad would be perfect. Time to go hunting through those unsorted jungles of used peripheral sections at my local EBs and Gamecrazys.

 

[Deleted member 284]

I would go with the Hori's myself. I purchased two from janadaman.com before they became available over here.

 

[VALIS]

You MUST get you a Hori pad. No GameBoy Player is complete without it.

Shameless plug for my Hori pad vs. SNES pad comparison feature at TNL

Thanks for the link, but one thing you didn't mention in your comparison was the weight. Hopefully the Hori is significantly heavier than the SNES controller? The SNES controller is way too light, it's distracting. I use the nicely large & heavy SN Pro Pad for my SNES.

 

[ocelittle]

I just got my Hori pad from Liksang (which took over a month to ship!!!!) and it's not as good as the original SNES pad.

Why didn't they keep the original D-Pad? WHY did they make those bumps at the back...it's not comfortable.

Meh...still kinda cool.

 

[Teddman]

I just got my Hori pad from Liksang (which took over a month to ship!!!!) and it's not as good as the original SNES pad.

Why didn't they keep the original D-Pad? WHY did they make those bumps at the back...it's not comfortable.

Meh...still kinda cool.

Well, they couldn't "keep" the original D-pad... This is Hori, not Nintendo. As it is, they got as close to the real thing as they could; I hardly noticed a difference.

I like the way the contours on the back make the controller sit in the hand, even better feel in that regard than the original IMO.

As for the weight, it's about the same as the original SNES pad.

 

[Baron]

I picked up a Game Boy Player myself a couple of months back, and found one of the previously mentioned Hori pads at Gamecrazy as well. It's a nice setup, being able to play GBA games on a display other than the GBA's.

It really, really sucks then to have to deal with the display timing glitch the thing outputs. It's not a big issue with slower paced or puzzle games, but playing faster, actiony games like the Mario platformers is distracting when the forward scroll hitches every so often and the screen hiccups. I wish there was a way Nintendo could have avoided this.

 

[jgkspsx]

IGN has a very good GB/A site. 1up and Gamespot are absolutely terrible for GB/A coverage. I don't know of any reliable GB/A review sites, unfortunately.

 

[Lindsay]

The best controller for the Gameboy Player is, believe it or not, the Gameboy Advance. Link that sucker up to your GC asap. Sure it requires batteries, but the GBA control setup is what most if not all GBA game controls are based on. That's why I never traded in my GBA for the SP or anything, it makes for a great controller. ^_^

 

[ThirstyFly]

I've got a question too, since I'm too lazy to find the instructions. Does it play Game Boy and Game Boy Color games too? I thought it didn't, but someone told me it does and I'd rather know for sure before I start shoving GB games into it.

 

[hooo]

That's why I never traded in my GBA for the SP or anything, it makes for a great controller. ^_^

Does the SP not work as a controller? or did it just destroy any and all temptation to upgrade?

 

[Lindsay]

I've got a question too, since I'm too lazy to find the instructions. Does it play Game Boy and Game Boy Color games too? I thought it didn't, but someone told me it does and I'd rather know for sure before I start shoving GB games into it.

It plays 'em all so no worrying about non-compatability.

Does the SP not work as a controller? or did it just destroy any and all temptation to upgrade?

I've used my SP as a GBP controller during times I've lacked batteries but it's not very comfortable at all. The GBA is wide like normal controllers are which is a reason it works better as one. Also the SP's shoulder buttons get abit harder to use properly with the GC link cable sitting right next to them.

 

[CO_Andy]

The best controller for the Gameboy Player is, believe it or not, the Gameboy Advance.

What, the GBA?! Doesn't it hav the exact same dpad as the GCN? The SP on the other hand would be a solid choice.

I don't see why anyone would choose to use a GB as a controller. It's nice being able to map the L and R buttons onto the Y and X buttons.

Btw, if you're going to use a PS controller adapter, don't use this one -->

Haven't gotten any PS controller to work with my GBPlayer using this thing.

 

[SickBoy]

So how is the GB Player? I've thought about picking one up 'cause they're soon going to be 50% off at a local store that's closing out (unless someone snaps 'em up in a hurry).

I don't have a huge GBA library, but there are a few games I wouldn't mind playing on a big screen. Yet talk of timing hiccups is a little concerning....

 

[Ryck]

So how is the GB Player? I've thought about picking one up 'cause they're soon going to be 50% off at a local store that's closing out (unless someone snaps 'em up in a hurry).

I don't have a huge GBA library, but there are a few games I wouldn't mind playing on a big screen. Yet talk of timing hiccups is a little concerning....

Some games do "hiccup" and some don't , It would be nice if there was a website to reference...In my experience Nintendo made games seem to have the least glitches (especially Mario3 and the metroid games).

 

[GamerDad]

For any of you parents out there, the GBPlayer is an excellent addition to your library. Lots of great kids games for the GBA (or just kid friendly SNES titles like SuperMario and arcade compilations), plus you don't have to worry about the kid losing the GBA SP on you. I'm talking "younger than 5" btw. GameCube has plenty of games for older than 5, younger than 5 you run into control issues that aren't so bad with a GBA game.

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

You MUST get you a Hori pad. No GameBoy Player is complete without it.

Shameless plug for my Hori pad vs. SNES pad comparison feature at TNL

That is awesome! I had some doubts about the faithfulness of the controller, but wow! I think I'm going to order one of these if I can track one down.

 

[Joeholley]

Definately Hori pad. Also great for Zelda Collector's disk and other NES emu games available as easter eggs in some of the first-party games.

 

[Oracle Dragon]

Is there any way to get a USB controller to work on Gamecube? Then you could pick up one of THESE .

 

[ThirstyFly]

It plays 'em all so no worrying about non-compatability.

Great, thanks for the answer. Time to get break out Operation C for some lovin'

 

[Attack You]

Btw, if you're going to use a PS controller adapter, don't use this one -->

Haven't gotten any PS controller to work with my GBPlayer using this thing.

I have two different PS2 -> GC controller adapters, and neither of them work on the GB Player or the Zelda Compilation discs. It's like the GC queries controllers differently for games that aren't actually GC games.

 

[ThirstyFly]

I have two different PS2 -> GC controller adapters, and neither of them work on the GB Player or the Zelda Compilation discs. It's like the GC queries controllers differently for games that aren't actually GC games.

Same here. I have one like CO_Andy posted (only with a gray DualShock plug) and a similar one made by Nyko that I got at RadioShack. Neither work with the Game Boy Player, which is a pain. I have to use my original GBA and waste batteries.

I haven't tried them with the Zelda compilation discs, it's interesting that they don't work on those either...

 

[fallout]

That is awesome! I had some doubts about the faithfulness of the controller, but wow! I think I'm going to order one of these if I can track one down.

Seriously, don't. The Hori GC Pad is the first third party product that I've ever bought and it feels like it's something that came from Nintendo. It's really just a quality piece of work.

 

[Martini]

There's the Hori GC pad, there's a pad I noticed at gamecrazy the other day which has the GC button config, but like the SNES controller.

Don't want those, then hunt down a PlayCube. The PS2 d-pad/buttons was what I used for all the GB/GBC/GBA games.

does the playcube work with the original psx controller (non analog ones)? i have a smartjoy cube box thing or whatever that only works with psx/ps2 analog controllers. no biggie but just curious. i actually prefer the original psx pads if i dont need the analogs.