DSi and GBA separately, or DS?

[xmenfan2001]

i'm trying to decide what i want to do to play my DS games and GBA games, and i'm wondering if it's better to go for a single system, or get them separately. the fact that the DS doesn't have an SD card slot is a big downer for me, but the GBA slot means I could save money... but then only the DSi can use DSiWare, obviously, so I'd have to get them on my Old 3DS anyways.. I'm just wondering what would be better in the long run, from people who own the consoles.

 

[Anis360]

If the borders that surround GBA games on the DS screen doesn't bother you, then get a DS Lite, that way you can enjoy them on a bright backlit display.

 

[CoolMe]

From my understanding you want to play GBA, DS and DSiWare games? Here are your options:
- DS/DS Lite: you can use a flashcart for DS games, and another like an Everdrive or an EZ Flash cart for GBA games to get perfect compatibility. No DSiWare though.
- DSi/XL: flashcart or TWilightmenu for DS games, DSiWare games. No GBA games.

Now a third option i'd add since you mentioned that you have an old 3ds is to use either a flashcart or TWilightmenu for DS games, DSiWare (cfw), and Open_AGB_firm (also requires cfw) to play GBA games with perfect compatibility..
It's your choice, you can one, two or all of them.

 

[Pk11]

There's also GBARunner2 which lets you play GBA games on a DSi, it's not perfect but from CFW it's pretty good, quite a bit better than it is on a DS/DSi from a flashcard.

Also note that link cable doesn't work on anything except a real GBA, not even a DS/DS Lite. So if that matters to you at all you'll definitely want a real GBA. Technically GBARunner2 has link cable emulation, but it's extremely iffy, not really usable.

 

[RocketRobz]

From my understanding you want to play GBA, DS and DSiWare games? Here are your options:
- DS/DS Lite: you can use a flashcart for DS games, and another like an Everdrive or an EZ Flash cart for GBA games to get perfect compatibility. No DSiWare though.
- DSi/XL: flashcart or TWilightmenu for DS games, DSiWare games. No GBA games.

Now a third option i'd add since you mentioned that you have an old 3ds is to use either a flashcart or TWilightmenu for DS games, DSiWare (cfw), and Open_AGB_firm (also requires cfw) to play GBA games with perfect compatibility..
It's your choice, you can one, two or all of them.

For DS/DS Lite, DSiWare can actually be run there. As of nds-bootstrap v0.64.0, up to 100 DSiWare titles can be played, and save support has also been added.

 

[DanTheManMS]

For the purely GBA side of things, the popular opinion appears to be that a backlit GBA SP (model AGS-101, not the frontlit AGS-001) is the best way to play such games. It has a rechargeable battery and a backlit screen brighter than the original DS Phat, is compatible with almost all GBA addons including the linker cable, and has minimal screen ghosting.

The only "better" screen is the tiny one on the GB Micro, but getting accessories for that in 2022 is going to be a huge challenge since they changed the linker port for that model.

 

[Alexander1970]

Good Morning.

I'm just wondering what would be better in the long run, from people who own the consoles.

Looking actual on my GameBoy Advance and the DSi XL...
I have not used them for over 1 Year....
Every owned DS / DSi Game is played natively and the GameBoy Advanced Games (of course) as Emulation (mGBA) on my New3DS XL.
I remember an O3DS works not so well with them...

Also TWiLight Menu works like a Charm for both Systems on the New3DS XL.

Thank you.

 

[elCerebrain]

I'm no expert but considering that you have to heavily mod a GBA to have proper brightness and that I don't reeeaaaally enjoy how they feel on hand, I went for a DS Lite. The screens look gorgeous (perhaps I got lucky), you can play GBA cartridges... and I don't think that you will be using much features like the Link Cable.

If you intend to use original hardware/games and are budget restrained: I'd say the DS Lite is the way to go.
If you intend to use original hardware/games and budget is not a problem: GBA 101 modded with IPS screen + DSi/New 3DS
If you intend to mod it and are not budget restrained: I'd say the New 3DS (any model, normal, XL) is the way to go.
If you intend to mod it and are budget restrained: DSi with GBARunner2.

I'm currently using a DS Lite for all my DS games since I was never big on DSiWare titles, I'm finishing to play the DS Library and they look amazing.

 

[CoolMe]

you can play GBA/GBC cartridges.

No, you can't play GBC carts on any DS..

 

[elCerebrain]

No, you can't play GBC carts on any DS..

Really? I thought for a second that there was an adapter usable

 

[CoolMe]

Really? I thought for a second that there was an adapter usable

Nope, the DS doesn't have the GBC hardware inside to do that..

 

[mrparrot2]

Nope, the DS doesn't have the GBC hardware inside to do that..

Just a note that GBC emulation on the DS is very good IMHO.

 

[Tarmfot]

i'm trying to decide what i want to do to play my DS games and GBA games, and i'm wondering if it's better to go for a single system, or get them separately. the fact that the DS doesn't have an SD card slot is a big downer for me, but the GBA slot means I could save money... but then only the DSi can use DSiWare, obviously, so I'd have to get them on my Old 3DS anyways.. I'm just wondering what would be better in the long run, from people who own the consoles.

If you have an old 3ds, you can play ds, dsi and gba games using native hardware.
You dont really need a gba or a ds.
I know 3ds screen are not perfect because of resolution for ds and gba games but they are good enough.

 

[The Catboy]

For DS/DS Lite, DSiWare can actually be run there. As of nds-bootstrap v0.64.0, up to 100 DSiWare titles can be played, and save support has also been added.

Now if only GBA could be improved. I understand there are hardware limitations, but it would be nice to see more progress being made on GBARunner2

 

[Flame]

why not them all?

you dont have to get them all at once. but later rather then never.

 

[The Catboy]

why not them all?

you dont have to get them all at once. but later rather then never.

This^
There are pros and cons to all of them but that's the best part of having them all.

 

[bukowski_mich]

I totally agree that you have 2 variants:
- DS/DS Lite: you can use a flashcart for DS games, and another like an Everdrive or an EZ Flash cart for GBA games to get perfect compatibility. No DSiWare though.
- DSi/XL: flashcart or TWilightmenu for DS games, DSiWare games. No GBA games.

 

[N7Kopper]

If you have an old 3ds, you can play ds, dsi and gba games using native hardware.
You dont really need a gba or a ds.
I know 3ds screen are not perfect because of resolution for ds and gba games but they are good enough.

You can't play GBA cartridges, mind. Only installed GBA games.

 

[Tarmfot]

You can't play GBA cartridges, mind. Only installed GBA games.

Using native hardware console. Not cartridges. Yep.

 

[BETA215]

3DS is the best choice if you want an all-in-one solution! Any model.
There'll always be downsides when you don't use the console each game was made for. You can get a middle-ground solution, or every single console.