Nokia N-Gage - Unboxing and Review

The Nokia N-Gage launched in 2003 as half phone, half portable video game console. Being thrown into direct competition against the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and PSP, the N-Gage was met with lackluster reviews and has become known as one of the big gaming blunders of the early 2000s.
In this video we unbox the console and look at what you would have gotten had you bought one new for $299 US Dollars back in the day. We then proceed to try out some games, which range from 2D adventures such as those of Sonic the Hedgehog, and even includes games that play in full 3D such as Tony Hawk's pro Skater. I hope you enjoy learning about this interesting piece of gaming history!
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[@stevecollins6858]

I had this phone. I brought it with my wages when I was about 16 living at home. Loved it!

[@caseykim1293]

From when I first seen the NGage on display @ Gamestop's, NEVER in my personal life have I EVER seen anyone own this device. You definitely brought back a deeply buried memory with this vid. 🕳

[@TheGameDisplay]

Thank you so much for watching! My first experience with the N-Gage was also at a Gamestop display. I'm glad I could bring back some of those old memories. :)

[@GDoggProductions]

Seriously! i use to have this phone and I tell you know, I would put hours into that sonic game 😂 but when this came out back in the day, it was the best thing ever! like , a full working phone that you can play games on what a time it was to be alive !

[@knowone4080]

Garbage.

[@supremedealer6697]

To be honest, no. I got this phone back in the day and spent most of my time envying my friend because their phones got cameras and such thing, while this phone doesn't have a camera, can't even listen to stereo audio as n-gage's speaker is mono, etc.

[@gd0ggy]

@@supremedealer6697 I don't have much memory on the stereo vs mono on that phone But as a gaming device, It was brilliant

[@mr.minecraftxd8852]

We will get CD's with it or not??

[@daveliongson27]

​​@@supremedealer6697you got this gaming phone for listening to stereo and taking photos than play games?

[@vipzip8863]

Had this phone when I was a kid. My parents bought it for me because a couple friends had the same phone and it was one sale. Spent countless hours on the snowboarding game together with friends over bluetooth. That was my first experience playing games together with friends in a lobby.

[@TheGameDisplay]

Very cool! That's awesome you were able to enjoy the N-Gage growing up! Thank you for watching and commenting. :)

[@HouseOfFunQM]

PRESS ZERO KEY TO MAKE SONIC FULLSCREEN! Aaaahhhhh I was SCREAMING at my laptop.

[@mohlomphehi]

This phone was such a headache to own. it spent more time at Nokia with software issues than it did in my hand.

[@TheGreatestPlayerInTheWorld]

Just discovered your channel just now typed in Nokia ngage 😂 subbed!

[@TheGameDisplay]

Thank you so much! I'm very happy you enjoyed the video! :)

[@christianvincentdugayo5594]

After 20 long years, I want this phone. :(

[@johnvelerefontis84a4]

Nice work!.In 2003 i had it...

[@yakcoffee]

i like this dudes beatles haircut

[@MidniteMeatBus]

Keep it up buddy I love your videos! Been watching your channel for years now you deserve more subs!

[@TheGameDisplay]

Thank you so much for those kind words! I'm really happy you've been enjoying my content. I'm considering toning things down a bit once 2021 gets here, but I have plans for lots of videos before then. I hope you like them! Thanks again, and take care. :)

[@jakobrahn8555]

Good job on the videos as always my friend keep up the awesome work the Ngage was actually my first phone back in the day i remember playing Sonic it was fun this really brings back memories Im looking forward to new and exciting content from you well take care my friend i got Chinese cooking on my stove

[@TheGameDisplay]

Thanks Jake! That's really cool that you owned an N-Gage back in the day! I bet you had some jealous friends, as while not the most amazing gaming machine ever made, I still think it's pretty cool. Take care! :)

[@danwhelan]

Definitely in the minority, but I have a fondness for this device and played it a LOT back in the day. It had wireless online multiplayer so I could play when I was working night shifts.

[@mind-of-neo]

I love this little thing too. I'm obsessed with all the unique tech devices that were created through the 90s and 00s

[@TheMGMfan]

Actually, the DS got quite a few Tony Hawk games, including an exclusive one called Tony Hawk's Motion, which came with a "Motion Pack" that you plugged into the GBA slot so you could use motion controls, which I don't think worked very well, though I haven't played it myself.

[@kevinstrade2752]

I had and still have my original N-gage. It was impressive in 04' but its kinda silly today. Still an interesting idea that just wasnt executed in the best way. Lol

[@TheGameDisplay]

Thank you for watching! I thought it was an interesting idea at the time as well. They even had a number of notable franchises on it like Sonic and Rayman. I wouldn't have complained if I had one back in the day!

[@sharonbraselton4302]

wrong chef say beats midern ciñsoles

[@pulkitjain7645]

I had the Ngage qd and idk why you using game cards, i had all these games installed in a memory card/phone itself and it was amazing! I remember going to the mobile shop, and paying for the games to be installed in the mobile. This was one of the best phone i ever had.

[@TheGameDisplay]

That's really awesome to hear! I think the N-Gage is really cool for its time, but it's easy to see why it never really took off. It must have been fun using it back in the day though! Thank you for watching. :)

[@pulkitjain7645]

@@TheGameDisplay totally agreed! Thanks for making this video

[@159tony]

I used to own this thing, it was a blast back in the day. I had shadowkey on this. I miss it dearly.

[@requiemforameme1]

The big full-page ads in Electronic Gaming Monthly always made it look huge. For the last few decades, I thought it was the size of a Game Gear/Nomad, and not a NGPC.

[@robertlouw4520]

I have so much great memories of the Nokia Ngage

[@F4rva]

Dang I remember when this came out and wanted one. The PS2 was really picking up around that time though and the small allowances I ever got went into those games haha

[@sharonbraselton4302]

chef bbiúyibg you one soo up tpo 9 units

[@donaldpump3072]

Still have the receipt from gamestop when I bought my ps2 lol it was a Christmas present to myself good times.

[@darilensaharithariffin]

Great memories

[@NekoAmy-on-rr]

It’s not a console it’s a phone, it’s a Nokia phone, hopefully I’ll get a n-gage soon for my Nokia collection

[@sharonbraselton4302]

iys mobile çonsole phine hybdr like switçh

[@frenzyf0k148]

Incredible console

[@digitalxtremehg]

With the N-Gage QD they fix the game swap problem I still own my original one from 2004 , just in case no one said so in here yet, but nice video.

[@nebrska]

This is super interesting! Strange how it runs a 2d sonic game worse than it runs a 3d game! That home screen also kinda reminds me of old windows for some reason

[@TheGameDisplay]

Haha, that really is weird. It's like Sonic N was just a shoddy port, while THPS was actually somewhat adapted to run well on the N-Gage. Thanks for watching! :)

[@SgtPot]

There was also a option to install different games on a SD card so you dont have to change the SD all the time

[@jared433]

DS had Tony hawks American Sk8land. Legendary in terms of online play back on the day.

[@randomriddle539]

i had this phone back in the days, bought it used

[@thomasmoran1211]

There was a version with a more sensible door-access slot for swapping games

[@kobra6660]

I was suprised this was able to run an elder scrolls game good enough

[@josephtoledo4053]

Good old days

[@mind-of-neo]

This was one of the coolest devices ever to me. Anyway this man took wayy too long to say you gotta take the battery out to change games lmao

[@constantinosfudas3785]

i love the tape on the phone

[@papermariottydfan1]

I remember back in 2005 when I first got my GBA I was on holiday and desperate to get sonic Advance and didn't get that N gage and GBA were different and was about to buy the cheaper Nokia N gage before being told to look at the box and cartridge to get the right game. I still have that sonic advance cartridge but as mentioned before in a livestream my original GBA died recently

[@TheGameDisplay]

I remember seeing N-Gage games on the shelf at game stores and thinking they looked kind of neat. Like I mentioned, as a fan of the Tony Hawk Pro Skater games, the idea that I could play the game on the go was actually kind of neat. I'm glad that in the end you got the right version of the game, though. Thank you for watching! :)

[@moisesjesus4000]

I know Im randomly asking but does anyone know of a way to log back into an Instagram account?? I was stupid forgot the login password. I appreciate any assistance you can give me!

[@raylanian2641]

@Moises Jesus instablaster =)

[@moisesjesus4000]

@Raylan Ian Thanks for your reply. I found the site through google and Im in the hacking process atm. Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@moisesjesus4000]

@Raylan Ian It worked and I finally got access to my account again. I am so happy! Thank you so much you saved my account :D

[@fatmandoubblescoop]

I remember wanting one of these so bad, bit the price was ridiculous

[@sharonbraselton4302]

chuef biy s you one

[@timothypeters7160]

More..More..please

[@marian20012]

people got it wrong...it wasn't gaming console, it was mobile phone suited for gaming. I wanted it very bad, back in those days, never had it. I ended up playing games at SEk800i and I can tell you, I would be happy to have Ngage for push buttons suited for gaming.

[@DevoutWord0]

Now who had the idea to have the game cart behind the back plate? 😂

[@shanem.2984]

Wasn’t the best idea; true. 😂 Maybe they wanted it to be really secure from the games falling out. It sort of reminds me of the original Game Boy which had a feature to block the carts from coming out. Hence the “chip” at the upper right of original Game Boy cartridges.

[@TheGameDisplay]

The QD model I show at the end fixes this by moving the cartridge slot to the side of the console, so you no longer need to take the back off to change games. It's pretty silly they didn't think to do something like that in the first place. Thanks for watching! :)

[@shanem.2984]

Great review! I had a Nokia back in the day as my phone. Man, that was early 2000s...WAY back! (Not a reference to the Wayback Time Machine haha) The N-Gage reminds me more of the original GBA in terms of design shape. The SP was a decent comparison but perhaps an original GBA would be more fair? (N-Gage had a backlight and the original GBA didn’t hence the brighter in-game colors on GBA titles.) Also, Tony Hawk music sounded similar to Action 52, imo! Haha

[@TheGameDisplay]

The only experience I have with cellphones from back in those days is when friends would let me borrow theirs. Otherwise I missed out on the earlier days of portable phones, which actually kind of fascinates me now! And the Advance SP came out in 2003, the same year as the N-Gage, so I don't think it's too unfair of a comparison. Maybe I should have used the original model instead of the 101 with the better backlight. :P Thank you for watching and commenting! :)

[@BruceProductions_OCButterfly99]

Yoy I might buy one of these this is a pretty good looking system did you know that they had a monster truck of the same name

[@olebogengthothela1191]

Brah. You really understand estimated the sound system of the ngage. Connect the headsets and play your games. Ngage was a great gaming and music console of its time. The price was the biggest problem.

[@olebogengthothela1191]

Did you know that you can use the ngage to record you CD music from your music appliances? Plus you can record from the built in radio. The original Ngage is not just a console. It's also an outstanding music device.

[@EternalLordRuby]

How bizarre that, to change the game, one would have to take out the battery - something that would turn off your mobile phone (I think?). Seems kind of antithetical to the whole point of phones, but I suppose it makes more sense if changing games is supposed to be a very rare event. Speaking of Nokia, I actually have a Nokia phone these days. It has amazing battery life and that's the thing I care the most about in a phone by far.

[@TheGameDisplay]

The QD model I show at the end remedied that blunder by putting the cartridge slot on the side of the console, thus eliminating the need to remove the battery each time. But as the N-Gage actually had a decent number of games, it's mind blowing that they would think hiding the cartridge slot in such a place was ever a good idea. I'm running on a 4 year old Samsung phone at this point, but have no sort of brand loyalty when it comes to smartphones. Thanks for that info about Nokia, I'll look into them if I ever need to upgrade! :)

[@kazpa8553]

How much did you get it for I got one that's new but don't no how much they go for

[@Seallbay]

I wonder what the battery life is like when running 3D games

[@TheGameDisplay]

That's a good question! There probably is a bit of a difference between 2D games. Thank you for watching! :)

[@Seallbay]

@@TheGameDisplay Of course! Nice video :)

[@sharonbraselton4302]

master chef has one dint remer batery pufe

[@zedpiecce6116]

It the handheld console back in the days ... emulator sega genesis and SNES, NES, some GBA too

[@blinkshadown]

I had the previous model of that. It was blue.

[@TheGameDisplay]

Huh! I don't see much about that online, but I do kind of remember the console having more of a blue tint to in back in the day. Thanks for watching! :)

[@simbiods3]

if they made this in 2021, how coud take out battery?

[@deemster4249]

Press the # key on your ngage while ingame on Sonic N and it will fill up the whole screen! Also, you can change the volume in that game with the 0 key

[@TheGameDisplay]

Thank you for the tips! With so many buttons, it can be tough figuring out which do what. I'll certainly try those next time I play! Take care. :)

[@sharonbraselton4302]

thañks did not onow tyat

[@therealseanw.stewart2071]

Wow, I've never heard of such a device, but then again, i was a baby at the time, and the GBA was the king as far as all the kids were concerned. I can see why it failed, maybe a little too ambitious for the era, I mean, playing games on your phone? What a novel concept.

[@TheGameDisplay]

Games on phones was a thing that was constantly trying to exist, but it wasn't until the iPhone that it really took off as a concept. It's crazy to think of just how much gaming gets done on phones these days! Thank you for watching and commenting. :)

[@sharonbraselton4302]

@@TheGameDisplay iohmmé gsme mobile

[@angelseliteautodetailing]

N Gage meaning engage

[@ResidentNotEvil5]

If only it launch with triple A sega genesis,nes console would sold millions more

[@Aaronhouston33]

I had one

[@francissantiago4110]

I remembered, i play pokémon gba

[@flamingoxebec6336]

I just bought it secondhand 2 days ago n i need tutorial

[@brendonhope]

I had one of these. The only game worth playing was The Sims

[@joaquinsimbulan4665]

I have one Of those Is from my dad

[@lettucefire]

this is like an ashens video!

[@TheGameDisplay]

Haha! I always find it funny when I hear that comparison. It's definitely not intentional, although I totally see the similarities with how I'm filming over the couch. Perhaps next time I should review some tat from Pound Land! Thank you very much for watching. :)

[@Danbo22987]

Rule #1 of handheld gaming, never try, Nintendo will always win

[@PissHead]

Except when the psp came in

[@dashady1367]

@@PissHead Nintendo still won with 154millipn copies as the psp had around 80million or something

[@PissHead]

@@dashady1367 I’m talking about the content it had to offer, the ds also had a good lineup but the psp was delivering some console quality at the time but I do agree after the 3ds came out as well as the switch lite they did win

[@retrocysper3709]

@@dashady1367 Well yes but PSP is still better in terms of content and games.

[@dinofanta222]

psp games were good enough to port to ps4 just look at kingdom hearts birth by sleep

[@leightonmees1646]

The ds did have tony hawk…

[@TheGameDisplay]

I was referring to the PS1/N64 originals. Unless those were on the DS as well, in which case I'd have to go find them right away!

[@MightyistheRCGamer]

I always wanted one of those but the price was incredible

[@TheGameDisplay]

Considering the other portable gaming options that existed at the time, it's understandable why people decided to spend their money elsewhere, but hopefully someday you get the chance to try one out! Thank you for watching and commenting. :)

[@akagami6113]

Imagine the person who brought it for me on first day and then it suddenly stopped selling in the next few months and only 4 games were available. Yeah, my dad.

[@derekporter66]

@@akagami6113 I thought they released loads of games. I can't remember exactly though

[@akagami6113]

@@derekporter66 not loads of games. About 20 games of which only 2 were available worldwide. And most were either regional only and didn't cross beyond the borders of China so even if you find one, there is 99.9% chance that it'll be in Chinese (Mandarin). I'm not saying they're bootlegs or copies, however they're maybe copies among them. So there's no way to play and experience the game if you don't understand Chinese tongue. I think there was a 007 game among them in Chinese which was banned in China as well for some reason.The N-Gage wasn't a success, it was a great idea but execution left much more to be desired. If only they'd have improved the quality of the games as well. The games are repetitive and mostly look like they're fundamentally the same with no change in setting. I own two of them, one in it's original box with accessories and vat bill while another with replaced screen and battery.

[@derekporter66]

@@akagami6113 I can't remember why I got rid of mine. I just loved a Pc phone back then. I also had a psp which was really good.

[@guitarherorye4870]

That’s the lamest complaint about having to remove the battery I’ve ever heard

[@Spookyman76]

Nokia N Nage looks like a GBA

[@sharonbraselton4302]

gba ohiné n9ntendo bé cointng n gàuge

[@francissantiago4110]

Old school sim card lol

[@rainbowdashsteve2068]

The ds did have tony hawk

[@adhambeheng9224]

u look like that guy from gold rush

[@alexanderoglesby1985]

Nokia is crazy for thinking this was gonna be a hit. Its way too small and changing the games are a pain. Then try to make a better version like people really cared. $299 is way over priced back in the day. Great review though.

[@TheGameDisplay]

I think the concept of a phone being combined with a game console is interesting, but they definitely made some mistakes along the way. I wonder if anyone has actually ever played through the entirety of an N-Gage game. The small screen is tolerable for a few minutes, but anymore than that and I'm not sure I could take it. Thank you for watching! :)

[@jockrockwell3947]

your comparing a smart phone to a switch.. it’s obvious but it’s to serve the purpose to give you an all in one gaming and mobile device to carry instead of having to carry a 3310 and a fkin game boy advance.. if you were poor you would own an original game boy and an orange Motorola brick! if you lived this eara you would know how much of a struggle it was to remember both and keep them both charged where as the Nokia you can ride the bus to school and put it in your bag and call your friends?? It’s a no brainer how this was very popular and a success of its time.

[@daveliongson27]

Bruh always say screen is vertical as if modern phones screens are horizontal

[@pigeon8864]

Banyak BACCCOOOOTTTT

[@muhd_asraf]

this fon not original first model n gage

[@crazygamingkidz3267]

3d 😂😂😂 1D

[@paladinash83]

i had the ngage QD, its better mueheheh

[@jennifermcbryde8887]

It looks great, but it became a flop

[@speaker1995ru]

This console is so uncomfortable and useless today. But, Asphalt Urban GT2, One and Resident Evil Degeneration were pretty good, but GBA games were much better.

[@mangjuan5865]

he do not even try to commend the ideas of the phone.. talking like he was a programmer.. keeps on complaining and degrading someone/something (not considering the year of that thing) .. not a healthy content

[@pigeon8864]

Banyak BACCCOOOOTTTT