Question on the Mario Advance games

[soprano1]

Is there any reason, besides portability, to play these GBA ports? I suppose they all have crap music quality and washed colours.

[apatheticTurd]

SMB 2 has a new boss and new giant enemies. Super Mario Bros. 3 has the e-reader levels (though only a small set was released outside Japan). Yoshi's Island has a new world, and Super Mario World doesn't really add anything of note.

More problematic is the really grating and repetitive voice clips they added.

[BrianC]

Super Mario World doesn't really add anything of note.

I disagree. The additions are more subtle, but the different playing Luigi and keeping track of the Yoshi coins are nice additions. I didn't mind the voices too much. They didn't add anything, but I didn't find them to detract either. Then again, I like the so bad it's good quality of the voices.

While not an addition to the main game, the Mario Bros remake is also worth mentioning. It's a nice remake with all of the elements from the original and multiplayer. I think Nintendo weren't a bit overboard in putting it in every SMA game, as well as Mario and Luigi, though the good thing is having more than one SMA game (as well as Mario and Luigi) gives you multiple carts with Mario Bros for multiplayer.

[o.pwuaioc]

More problematic is the really grating and repetitive voice clips they added.

IMO, this is the #1 reason not to own them. I was so excited when I first got SMB3 on the GBA, and the only reluctance I had in selling it was that it was a nice CIB copy of one of my favorite NES games, but let me tell you what, this is no NES game.

It's childish shlock with which I could not put up.

[soprano1]

Oh, so they are more than simple ports, that's cool. Also, they used the SNES All-Stars remakes to port these, correct?

[BrianC]

More problematic is the really grating and repetitive voice clips they added.

IMO, this is the #1 reason not to own them. I was so excited when I first got SMB3 on the GBA, and the only reluctance I had in selling it was that it was a nice CIB copy of one of my favorite NES games, but let me tell you what, this is no NES game.

It's childish shlock with which I could not put up.

I didn't think the voices were that big of a deal. What makes it inferior to other versions is less screen space and inferior music. I feel it was still worth it for the new levels (some of which are awesome, even if there are only a few of them) and some of the ereader stuff like SMB2 vegetables in levels. I like how 3DS has VC, making a more faithful version portable.

I heard somewhere that, unlike the first three SMB games (including SMB2J), SMB3's physics were not messed with in SMAS. Is this true?

[Obiwanshinobi]

The voice clips are one of my problems with about every voiced Mario game out there.
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe for GBC is the way to go if you wanna revisit SMB and "Lost Levels"*) on GBA. Cropped, but it's not a big deal (the frame can be moved around a bit using select, up and down).

*) There's more to it, particulary the red coins challenges add to the experience greatly.

[BrianC]

I don't agree here, especially since more faithful direct ports are available on GBA cart. SMB2J/Lost Levels is especially cut down in the GBC port. Some areas were toned down to make up for the lack of screen space and it's missing worlds 9, A, B, C, and D. Some of the extras like challenge mode are fun, but the screen space is worse than the GBA Super Mario Advance ports.

[Obiwanshinobi]

The screen space isn't really a problem 99% of time. If (I say "if") the GBA versions are ports of the SNES remakes, that's hardly "more faithful". (Aren't the physics supposed to be different in remakes?)

[CStarFlare]

SMBDX was the first time I'd actually loved the game, and remains the version I'm most fond of. I say this as someone who had the original and SMAS as pack ins with their respective consoles. It was a really solid release. Being on one GBC cart brought some limitations, but if I had to choose between it and perfect portable versions of SMB 1 and 2 I'd probably go with DX.

Ironically, I never bothered with the GBA ports because at that time I was a bit of an original version purist.

Obi: he's probably talking about the NES classics series releases, which should have been based on the Famicom releases.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Forgot about NES Classics series for a while, my mistake. Are The Legend of Zelda 1&2 GBA versions faithful/good enough? I've been eyeing up those, just couldn't justify buying any more Zelda games before I finish at least one of those I already have (Wind Waker's endgame had overstayed its welcome for sure).

[BryanM]

Not a fan of the Mario GBA games. You don't get the 3 or 4 in one deal All Stars gave you, basically zero new levels in most of them, and the art isn't what was used in the original games.

Personally it's the exact opposite of what I want in a remake: the original game, but MOAR of it. Instead it's hey, throw some new paint on an old dress. Nothing for or against paint, but maybe add some frills to it or new cosplay outfits, eh?

[BrianC]

The NES Classics/Famicom Mini series are pretty much emulated games on a cart, so they are faithful. From what I have seen, the US NES classics are based off the US versions of the game. So, pols voice weak to arrows in Zelda, yeti in Ice Climber, etc. I read the Famicom mini Zelda has a shortcut (select button, if I remember correctly) for the microphone. SMB FC is pretty much the same (if not exactly the same) as the US version. Also, if you have played the original Metroid in Zero Mission, or have an eReader, you would have an idea what they are like since the NES emulations for those are similar. Display is full screen, but with a slightly squished display since the GBA resolution is different.

Obi: he's probably talking about the NES classics series releases, which should have been based on the Famicom releases.

It's the US version of the Famicom Mini line, but the Classic NES Series games are based off the US NES versions.

[the_last_shmupper]

They're superior in terms of frills, but they're inferior in terms of screen size and scrolling. I sank a lot of months into the new frills of the Advance Games, collecting coins and so on.

[Koa Zo]

Whichever Mario Advance games I played, I quickly put them down and forgot about them. I just could not stand those voice additions.

[soprano1]

This has been a nice discussion. Would it be worth making a new topic to discuss the GBA library? There is one for DS, the SNES/SFC and the awesome Mega Drive thread, but not for GBA.

[the_last_shmupper]

Whichever Mario Advance games I played, I quickly put them down and forgot about them. I just could not stand those voice additions.

Lessa Go! Okey Dokey!

[BrianC]

I definitely feel the Mario Bros. remake is worth checking out, especially since it's one of the few ports to keep all the arcade elements intact (Atari XE and EU Mario Bros Classic for NES/Return of Mario Bros. FC and the only other ones) and supports up to 4 players. Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga has it too, which is also worth checking out.

I'm a bit surprised by the reaction to the voice. I mean, I understand why it's hated and it's an unecessary addition, but I didn't find it to be game breaking.

One odd thing about the GBA SMB3 is that the ending is translated from the JP version rather than using the "another castle" text of the US NES and SNES version.

[BulletMagnet]

I'm a bit surprised by the reaction to the voice. I mean, I understand why it's hated and it's an unecessary addition, but I didn't find it to be game breaking.

I don't think it's so much a "game-breaking" thing as a "why would I play this instead of another version" thing.

[Obiwanshinobi]

This has been a nice discussion. Would it be worth making a new topic to discuss the GBA library? There is one for DS, the SNES/SFC and the awesome Mega Drive thread, but not for GBA.

There is one. Ninja Five-O and Panel de Pon on the first page, that happened to be some of my most played GBA games when I was starting.

[BIL]

Whenever I fire up my Mario Advance carts, it's like I'm enjoying a credit of ZING ZING ZIP at the same time!

OH YEAH
JERREHBEAN
YAHOOOOOOOO

[soprano1]

This has been a nice discussion. Would it be worth making a new topic to discuss the GBA library? There is one for DS, the SNES/SFC and the awesome Mega Drive thread, but not for GBA.

There is one. Ninja Five-O and Panel de Pon on the first page, that happened to be some of my most played GBA games when I was starting.

Thanks for the heads up.

[ZellSF]

The GBA versions are easier. So if you ever thought the Mario games were too hard for you...

[soprano1]

http://www.retrocollect.com/News/brand- ... unced.html

Oh lord, the issues this things will have...

[soprano1]

How's the Zelda LttP version? I know that changing the brightness to dark makes it have a closer colour palette to the SNES version, and it has that Four Swords game, but any more changes?

[Obiwanshinobi]

Some people found voice samples in LttP GBA annoying.

[ZellSF]

Also the other obvious downsides of all SNES to GBA ports is lower resolution (less vertical resolution, so usually cuts of top and bottom) and less buttons (so worse controls).

There's actually rom hacks for the palette issues some GBA games have, if you have a flash cartridge. It's only a few, but Super Mario World and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past are amongst them.

[BrianC]

The only GBA game I can think of that is improved over the SNES version is Final Fight, but that's not a direct port, though it takes some things from the SNES version (including the censorship for western versions).