Is it worth buying a Game Boy Advance...

...just to use the Tingle Tuner for Wind Waker? The thing is, I have a Nintendo DS with which I can play Game Boy Advance games, so this would really be the sole reason that I would buy the GBA.

You don't have any GB or GBC games?! No LA?!

Unless your one of those people who likes to beat things 100%, no its not. Luckily I already had an SP and just needed a GBA-GC link cable and the one I got also hooks two GBA's together.

I have got a Game Boy (and a Game Boy Colour), but unfortunately not Link's Awakening, no. *hangs head in shame* The Game Boy Advance is pretty much the only portable Nintendo I haven't got. How much are they nowadays?
At first, I was content to just complete Wind Waker without doing the Tingle sidequests, but now, with no new Zelda on the horizon, I'm not so sure...

I haven't played my GBC since I got my GBA SP. It's a lot easier to plug it in then to go find new batteries and as long as it has backwards compatibility, why not? However, I play GBA games in my DS Lite due to me getting the SP a few days before the brighter back lit screen came out.

I dont think that buying a GBA is a good idea. Buy a new Zelda game instead (like LA), the tingle tuner just helps to make the game easier(thats what i know).

It's really not worth it just for a Tingle Tuner, no.

Originally Posted by dark-hero

I dont think that buying a GBA is a good idea. Buy a new Zelda game instead (like LA), the tingle tuner just helps to make the game easier(thats what i know).

The Tingle Tuner is also needed if you want to complete TWW 100%.

It might be worth it, GBA's are cheap now. The Tingle Tuner can actually be useful. you can pay rupees to have tingle drop a bomb, give you potions, float for a few seconds, and find treasure you cant normally see. You can also find some trophies that are useless, but are fun to try and find. To top it all off, if the cursor on the screen is off link and you push A, tingle says HAYYYYYY!!!!! (extremely annoying). So I would do it, you would only lose about $5.00 -$8.00 if you bought it at a used game store.

If you can find it decently cheap, then I say go for it.

I picked up my GBAsp for only £20 including delivery. I wouldnt buy it just for the Tingle tuner, but the advantage of the sp is quite simply no batteries. So you can play all those GB and GBC classics with a backlit screen and no worry of running out of batteries.

I'd definatley get an SP.
Speaking of which, I have to get mine fixed soon....

It's definitely worth getting a GameBoy Advance... but not for the Tingle Tuner. Seriously, worst feature in the whole game. It's cheaply implemented just to emphasize the whole GBA GameCube connection thing (again). Unless you want to find every sunken treasure chest on the sea and you desperately need those Tingle trophies (which are useless), you won't have any use for it.

Yes it is. You can get the GB Zelda games aswell.

But if you are not a dedicated Zeldagamer like me and most people here, save the money

I think you should get a GBA. First of all the Tingle Tuner is useful and plus there are a lot of Zelda games for Gameboy. But that is as Xade said, if you're a dedicated Zelda fan. I bought a Gameboy just for Minish Cap.

Originally Posted by Asta

The thing is, I have a Nintendo DS with which I can play Game Boy Advance games, so this would really be the sole reason that I would buy the GBA.

Originally Posted by Asta

The thing is, I have a Nintendo DS with which I can play Game Boy Advance games, so this would really be the sole reason that I would buy the GBA.

Originally Posted by Asta

The thing is, I have a Nintendo DS with which I can play Game Boy Advance games, so this would really be the sole reason that I would buy the GBA.

just for tingle tuner no but to have 100% you need it. Like others said no batteries and backlight helps alot too for other GB GBC games you have and want to play. If its not to pricey i say go for it

Originally Posted by Asta

...just to use the Tingle Tuner for Wind Waker? The thing is, I have a Nintendo DS with which I can play Game Boy Advance games, so this would really be the sole reason that I would buy the GBA.

I was in a similar situation that you're in right now, but instead of needing to buy a GBA (which I had at the time), all I needed to buy was the GBA/GC cord. And believe me, the price of purchasing the cord wasn't worth my time/trouble of what I got in the game. Whoopty-doo a second player can join you (at the cost of your actual money and your rupees!). I mean, the game doesn't even have the decency to even have a floating Tingle in the air...all you'll see is a shadow/target on the ground that represents Tingle. I'd say it would be worth it, if let's say, you could create a new file and play the game all over again (with new puzzles in dungeons) that would actually need a second player (and not just controlling a second body like in the case of Makar).

So in the end, purchasing a cord wasn't worth my time, and it really isn't worth your money to spend on a GBA. Don't you have a friend that owns a GBA that you could borrow for a weekend? Because seriously, it will only take you a few measly little hours to go through the dungeons again and search for the hidden treasure chests and whatnot.

The #1 fun thing you can do with Tingle is bomb pigs from far away

The only time that cord got usefull for me is when FSA came out and I could play with my friend. Now that's a game worth buying an old/used GBA for!

Originally Posted by Asta

I have got a Game Boy (and a Game Boy Colour), but unfortunately not Link's Awakening, no. *hangs head in shame* The Game Boy Advance is pretty much the only portable Nintendo I haven't got. How much are they nowadays?
At first, I was content to just complete Wind Waker without doing the Tingle sidequests, but now, with no new Zelda on the horizon, I'm not so sure...

It's not worth your trouble, believe me. And even if there isn't a Zelda game in the horizon, spend your time doing other things: Play games that are Zelda-like (if you want a short list of game recommendations, I'd be more than happy to share them with you, just PM me), spend more time on ZU, read a nice fantasy novel, watch paint dry...

And as for Link's Awakening, just wait until Nintendo releases it on the Virtual Console (or on the DSi's version of the VC). It's just a matter of time before Nintendo will offer that on their system considering the fact that the only games the Wii & DS can't play are the old GB & GBC games. But if you don't want to wait that long, purchase it online, or pray to the gaming gods you'll find one for $7 at your next visit at GameStop. Then again, you could always borrow it from a friend if they have it...

-BGS

Originally Posted by BigGoronSword

And as for Link's Awakening, just wait until Nintendo releases it on the Virtual Console (or on the DSi's version of the VC). It's just a matter of time before Nintendo will offer that on their system considering the fact that the only games the Wii & DS can't play are the old GB & GBC games.

I wonder, why they haven't until now? Well, I don't think the Wii's Virtual Console will ever provide handheld games. They just don't look very good on the big screen. However, the first thing, that popped into my mind, when I saw the Nintendo DSi was "VIRTUAL HANDHELD, BABY!!", but instead of that Nintendo only offers DSiWare games. But I hope, this will be changed in the future. The DSi should at least be able to emulate GB(C) games.

Thanks for the advice guys! After some thought, I reckon I won't bother after all. There are better things that I can spend the money on, after all. And if I do bother, it'll only be if I manage to find the GBA second-hand for less than $10.