Developer: Nintendo Release: 2001 Notable Games: Super Mario Advance, Advance Wars, Golden Sun Developed as the successor to the Game Boy Color, the Game Boy Advance was the biggest leap forwards in handheld gaming since the original Game Boy was released over 12 years earlier. Featuring a 32-bit processor (up from the 8-bit of the Game Boy Color) and a greatly improved screen, the Game Boy Advance allowed the portable playing of far more complex titles than ever before. The Game Boy Advance was also blessed with a wildly varied library, from classic platformers to semi-3D racing games. Best of all, the hardware was comparable to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, making the Game Boy Advance an RPG fan's dream with titles like Golden Sun and ports from the Final Fantasy series. The Game Boy Advance was a great device that ultimately signalled the end of handheld gaming as we knew it, with later consoles adopting 3D graphics, dual screens and proper online support.
