I Fixed A Broken Game Boy Micro In 2024

[@SpawnWave]

Thanks to Viture for sponsoring today's video. The Premium Choice of XR/AR Glasses Now Is More Affordable For Everyone at $349: viture.com/SpawnWave.

[@BearsFanGoomba]

Hey Jon, I emailed ya. Please be on the lookout for it. Thanks!

[@tuck91]

I love my Micro. I snagged it a few years before they blew up. I just wish replacement front covers were easy to find.

[@LUNCHMONEY4numbers]

Agreed. The official ones are expensive as all hell, and 3rd party ones are cheaply made and cloudy

[@HKT-4300]

BE CAREFUL: A majority of the GBM batteries available nowadays use the wrong plug for the connector, if you force it in there's a high likelihood you break the connecor on the Gameboy Micro's board, to make it fit you can shave down the plastic on the connector or look for sites that verify they're selling them with the right connector.

[@rdizzy1]

He said this in the video.

[@hajilee4539]

@@rdizzy1 Can't hurt to have another warning in the comments though right?

[@miyakogfl]

if you mean the plastic on the sides of the makho one, makho himself said it just fits in with no cutting (and I can confirm mine has worked fine that way for years at this point with no damage). You just need a flat spudger to insert it but it comes out and goes back in just fine.

[@mikehancock1212]

I absolutely loved the micro. I remember putting every game I owned in it just to see how they looked on that incredible screen.

[@FreddPhucks]

The smallest portable console I own is the Pokemon Mini. That thing is awesome.

[@lukaskidd4621]

Almost bought that a long time ago, regret not getting it along with some games.

[@kassfoss3210]

The Legacy of Goku 2 is a good licensed game, and I'm glad to see some people notice that too.

[@jeffgreen5429]

The Micro was fantastic for what it was. I don't know where mine is anymore, sadly. I remember i could put it in a suit jacket pocket and it just would sit there comfortably.

[@SeeDeezOarTapes]

The micro is the best game boy advanced system. It’s got the best screen. Second is the gba og with a ips mod. Last is the sp which is truly uncomfortable

[@ThrillofWillReviews]

LOVED my micro back in the day. Played through so many final fantasy games when I was supposed to be sleeping with this thing.

[@ChaoticHoly]

I love my Micro. Sure, I have to wear reading glasses after all these years if I want to play it, but still...fantastic little GBA.

[@wifi961]

I grew up with this thing. My mother bought me one for Christmas. We couldn't afford a Gameboy advanced, but this was a great alternative.

[@cyber_pirate]

it literally is a GBA lol. just can’t play game boy games

[@awogbob]

What.... this was more expensive than a GBA at launch. How old are you?

[@brad.d.shoemaker]

You couldn’t afford the cheaper model, so you got the more expensive model? Huh?

[@wifi961]

@brad.d.shoemaker I mean, I assumed it was cheaper. Considering it was smaller and unknown. My mother probably got it on a sale or something.

[@alibabaschultz352]

I had one of these back in the day, and after owning it, I understood why it totally flopped. It was so uncomfortable to hold, and the screen was so small you couldnt hardly see the game.

[@L319HV]

this is like my holy grail in collecting if I can ever find one of these cheap enough to where its still working and I can fix it up myself like you i'd be a very happy man.

[@mightylink65]

I don't think it was very popular back in the day which is why it's so hard to find parts now. The novelty of it was cool but it felt strenuous to actually play on this thing for long hours, certainly not a tiny screen you want to play Final Fantasy on. I only remember some kids showing this off on the bus, it was cool to show off but not actually play on...

[@VncentValntine]

I have fond memories playing through all the FFs available on this in between classes in college.

[@dragoon1090]

I had a game boy micro back when it came out. I really like the physical size. It really fits well in your pocket. However I never really used it and went right back to the SP because the how small the screen was

[@Zudovader]

My mom got me this for christmas the year it came out. It was fine but i had an SP so i didnt use it at all and ended up giving it to a buddy who didnt have a gameboy at all.

[@Game_Bro_Advance]

Love my GB Micro! Get yourself a flash cart and you can play every GB generation game ever on it.

[@lukaskidd4621]

I forgot about that, good point.

[@TerraWare]

I found one of these about 3 years ago in a thrift store for 2 bucks lol. I love it. The screen looks surprisingly good. I more or less emulate everything on a Steam Deck these days but I still the GB Micro is a really cool piece of gaming and Nintendo handheld history.

[@edubs9828]

We demand an Outrun/Synthwave ambient music track featuring @SpawnWave as he is during 2:00

[@Nanobit84]

Expensive too apparently

[@JK-xz1lt]

It's more of a novelty at this point. I have fun with mine, but vision issues aside, I'll just keep it as a collector's item.

[@parkerbrown5565]

Im rebuilding my Micro, with the Ez Flash carts allowing me to run my GBA and GB games as well as trade to other legit pokemon games i cant wait to use my Micro as an all in one for a my GB games :)

[@BearsFanGoomba]

Wow that’s awesome you revisited the micro I sent ya! Nice man 👍🏼

[@kringhetto]

I bought mine in high school when they came out, and played it almost every day. I even beat Mega Man Zero 2 on it, and never felt it was too small. Great handheld, highly underrated.

[@MedalionDS9]

I've never seen one of these in person... I only had the Game Boy OG and Game Boy Advance

[@jeffcon123]

Love mine, and I just got a macro as well.. someone did a full custom reshell for it and modded it to play every game.. I will say I did send my micro out for a USBC mod..

[@chrisvw352]

I don't quite remember this system but I wish I did. Hot soap and water does do the job. I worked in tons of kitchens. I have touched up some controller buttons as well.

[@broza82]

Damn that screen is small 🧐

[@leviwarren6222]

Spawn Wave: "Here's Nintendo smallest console ever!" Pokemon Mini: *exists*

[@yumyumrazon]

I am happy I still have all 3 NA released GameBoy Micro. I never got into the DS scene since I love the screen clarity of the Micro.

[@cursedkevin]

“Nintendo’s smallest handheld” Pokémon Mini: “Am I a joke to you”

[@starchazer272]

I actually got one recently, I bought a replacement shell that's still on shipping, and so far the only thing I couldn't get is another screen, I wanted an IPS one but I think nobody has done that before.

[@iSupermanCKi]

I'm glad I picked up a Micro when I did. I retired mine a few years back when I got the Anbernic RG351P. I recently replaced it with a Miyoo Mini Plus and love it.

[@juiceala]

Nintendo’s “Game Gear Micro”

[@sammyfasheezy]

This thing is super uncomfortable while playing. In my opinion, the Gameboy Advance SP had the best form factor of all the GBA models. Plus it was the first system to have rechargeable battery support and had a ton of cool shell designs like the NES one.

[@tombystander]

Genuinely the only Gameboy iv never played. I dont think iv ever even held one

[@ogre27kain]

I still have my micro and it is my preferred way to play GBA today! I've always loved the fact that it is smaller then a cell phone and literally fits in any pocket.

[@btaylor462]

The didnt include GB back compat because the switch that needs to be implemented would have increased the size of the system. i just learned about it the other day listening to DYKG

[@sshuraii]

6:56 appreciate the Golden Sun gameplay

[@ghost-type]

I still have mine in the original box I found in a used shop when I lived in Japan. I only used it once to check that it worked.

[@codyreece7080]

Love my micro, carry it on me daily. Finally upgraded to a flash cart. I've had it since launch. Quite a convoy starter too.

[@cbk12]

Just had to give a warning ⚠️ becareful when buying these batteries!! I bought one and they had the polarity switched and burned a fuse I had to replace and was a huge pain, luckily nintendo thought of that and put a fuse to the battery and a fuse to the charger port. Be careful

[@NoonDragoon]

I really love the micro, wish I had one as a kid. Would have been way easy sneaking this into middle school.

[@adriansobin6168]

It is awesome to see Golden Sun in a video in 2024. I am also surprised how nice the micros screen looks compared to a regular gba.

[@matthewhardwick8208]

Isn't it ridiculous how big Nintendo has become now with the success of the Switch? They now have a theme park dedicated to Mario and a successful movie. With a Zelda movie on the way. New hardware due out this year. Multiple franchises that are mega hit top of the sales charts globally. I guess it pays off just doing your own thing and not worrying about what Sony or Microsoft does.

[@tristanweide]

I still play my Gameboy micro with my everdrive omega! It allows me to play GB/GBC games on it as well through emulation, and I have my entite Gameboy/Color/Advance library on one cart!

[@VictorGonzalez-vj6jy]

I remember when my dad bought me one for $40 brand new. And one for my cousin. I still have mine. LOVE IT. It’s a shame I can’t find my charger. 😢

[@mazenf11]

My son and I used to play these all the time when he was young. I have 2 of them. We used to sink both of them with a sink cable which enabled u to play f zero on a single cartridge 1v1

[@blakewilliams5627]

I went to a Walmart around the time the GBA micro released, and saw all 3 GBA’s being sold. GBA micro-$99 GBA SP-$65 GBA Original-$40 Even back then, I couldn’t imagine buying the GBA micro.

[@drewbreezy5854]

I actually played and beat the minish cap on one of these for the first time. Did the whole runestone grind and 100%d it. It was that Famicon maroon and gold. A neat little system, but that was about the only thing I ever played on it for the novelty. It was so small that it was a collectors item mostly. Cool tho.

[@110341]

I remember buying one straight away when I first saw it just cause it looked so amazing. However I always tended to use my SP instead so I soon sold it, which I regret now.

[@TortillaBuenoGaming]

My brother and I each got one of these back in the day for a HEAVY discount when they were one their way out. I used to play Pokemon Emerald on mine during high school, and it’s small form factor let me get away with it no problem. I’d always show my friends I could fit it in my smaller pocket within my main pant pocket haha I have a soft spot for this little guy

[@urogoth]

I still have mine, and every once in a blue moon I fire it up to see if the battery still has a charge... and yep, mine still turned on, somehow lol

[@okisub]

'Shelving' must mean something different in the US to Aus. Had me chuckling twice in the first minute.

[@pyrokamileon]

I myself have a game boy micro. back around the time when I purchased the system sharpness of display was everything for me and I thought this system was great! everybody else was scrambling for their XL version of any handheld at the time and I was happy with this. these days though I use my new 3DS XL most the time and I do think the switch screen size is pretty great 👍🏽 lol

[@TiVo2Go]

*I still have mine and it is the only handheld I own to play my GBA games, can't remember what happened to my GBA & GBASP.* *Same with my Wii.* *Once that goes dead, can't play my Wii & GameCube games.* *So once they announced the DS & 3DS were being discontinued I went crazy and bought three DS & three3DS, plus I have my original 3DS and Pokemon 3DS.* *Pulled the batteries so once I put them in the closet and pull them out years from now they won't be corroded in the machines and bought a few batteries from Nintendo Online shop.*

[@AlessandroCussino]

I bought my silver GB-Micro (new) for a couple of euros back in 2008. Today i'm still asking myself WHY i didn't bought two of them back then ... I LOVE that cute little console

[@jkinggarcia]

I remember playing emerald on this thing I loved it!! I think I was in elementary school when I had the micro and will for a little kid it was amazing!!

[@Lousan29]

It's a nice little portable to have I have two of them a regular SKU and the Famicom Mario themed SKU.

[@SonicManEXE]

I got my Game Boy Micro from used from GameStop probably around 2007/08-ish. Even as a kid, I didn’t like it. The screen is just too small and you can’t even link up with other GBAs without an adapter. I’d rather use a GBA or SP any day. I appreciate that the Game Boy modding scene is extending to the Micro because I think all of these models deserve a chance to be in working order, but unless you’re a serious collector it’s not worth dropping a bunch of money on.

[@BowsetteKoopa]

Yep, I still have mine to this very day with the backup replacement battery. Idk if the replacement battery is any good now but I still have it. incase I need it.

[@RyanIsMcCann]

I believe my buddy gave me his old one or I bought it for cheap from him back in like 05/06. Loved that thing! Playing GTA advance in middle school during class was awesome!

[@UPHENOS]

Nothing comes close to a modded Ps Vita when handhelds are concerned, but I do understand the appeal of the GBA micro and along with the PSP Go, they were incredible pieces of hardware with quite the bold design and interesting form factor. I also love my new 3DS XL, but again, the Vita reigns supreme, what a gem of a system it is!!

[@soothingmeow22]

I grew up with Gameboys, and out of them, all the micro is my favorite. I own 2 and it was a God sent on deployment

[@danielruiter1361]

Nintendo did make a smaller handheld, the Pokemon Mini. Basicly a Tamagotchi sized handheld that took cartridges. 10 games in total, and the US only got 5 of them. It may have flopped worse than the Virtual Boy, but there is no sales figures available for it that I can find.

[@lionablaze8747]

The micro is pretty cool, but the analogue pocket invalidates it.

[@N8Miniatures]

I think you had issues with those screws because they are tri-wing screws and not Phillips (at least some of them) It's probly hard to see because they are so small. (tri-wing have 3 grippy bits and Philips have 4)

[@cd5sircoupe]

My friend that isn't much of a gamer bought one of these when they were new, mostly for Castlevania & Pokemon. I have a number of memories when we were out doing dumb shit and he had that thing on him. His mom had just sold her house this past fall and he had a bunch of stuff stored out in her shed, and wouldn't you know it he found his GBA Micro along with I think 2 faceplates. Last I heard it worked, but I haven't talked to the dude in a couple months. I have half a mind to buy it off him, but I'll let him name a price, I'll take the deal if he comes in low. Dude already burned me borrowing & "losing" a bunch of my games years ago, and demanded that he got this Virtual Boy we had found in a pile of stuff we stopped to check out on the side of the road down the street from my house years ago. I reiterate that this dude is not a gamer, he could have been considered very casual back then but these days not a chance. He also owes me quite a lot for services not rendered, so I got no problem possibly buying a Micro for 50 bucks. It'd be like the kind of deals I used to get game hunting back in the day, way before the market surge.

[@kenseikc]

The gameboy micro was my first handheld ever I was 8 at the time in 2008 and Yoshi's Island and King of fighters were my first 2 games, good times

[@Mysterynovus]

Man, I really wanted one of these as a kid having missed out on the SP. Guess I wasn't missing out on much lol

[@huzcer]

SP is far better to play with

[@spamoman]

I loved my GB Micro when I got it, but eventually the screen got broken. I still have it in the closet, maybe I'll see if I can get it repaired one of these days. That'd be a cool blast from the past!

[@HumbugShow]

AliExpress has screens available.

[@hailceaser2003]

i still use mine, mainly with pokemon leaf green. it's so small that it's very easy to carry around

[@pianoman021]

Love mine. Got it before things really shot up. Don’t bring it out too often with emulation these days, but it’s great.

[@leonardohernandez9017]

I have one that i also did a shell replacement, but the middle plastic was so brittle. I still reassebled it, but i have never found 3D plans or replacement for it

[@HumbugShow]

AliExpress sells the centre plastics nowadays.

[@dirtylittleartclub]

Nice, I still have mine and it’s mint. The game boy mode is interesting.

[@simmat6419]

I love the GBMicro. It's size is really covinient and i have always kept an eye out for handhelds of a similar size since

[@ViciousFirearms]

I wanted one of these SO bad when I was a kid, never got it unfortunately

[@thecunninlynguist]

i always wanted to get a Micro. Anyone remember that one blurb in RGM about one of the Japanese devs wearing it like a nercklace

[@zachtwilightwindwaker596]

Caddicarus used his puppet as a Game Boy Micro holder. I prefer my handhelds to be an average size. Small enough to fit in my pocket. 4:28 Isn't Isopropyl alcohol helpful here? I would use some of that. It cleans well and dries quickly. 6:27 Is that a guitar pick? The only console I took apart was the PSP. There was a bunch of crud build up making the D-pad not work properly. I did have some issues because I screwed some parts in too tight.

[@demounit]

i bought a GBM the day it came out. me and a mate both got one, she got the silver and i got the black. they had opposite faceplates so we traded, so mine is all black. i barely ever used it. when i wanted to play GBA i would just use my original DS. i still have the GBM and that DS. the DS needs a new top screen, but the GBM is going strong!

[@KingsTownGaming]

I sold both my Famicom versions 10yrs ago 😭

[@FatManDude13]

I remember a guy in high school gushing about this thing, whining about how the 3ds was the complete wrong direction for Nintendo. Something about it being way to big and less portable. Always seemed like a novelty item to me.

[@Julio3324]

I LOVED this little thing, remember playing a lot of Mega Man Battle Network on it.

[@DSIrocker]

I had this for a short period of time as a kid that not long after got STOLEN at school and yeah I’ll forever think about it and CRY

[@DopenessFORlife]

The Micro is super underrated. My favorite way to play GBA Advanced games

[@yeahokdude3265]

I use to use my micro until I modded a backlight on my original GBA. Now it’s just a cool piece of tech to show off.

[@matthewLkidder]

Did I have a Gameboy Mirco in 2004? no I was playing on the Gameboy Color as a 6 year old.

[@thegundampilot01]

Always wanted a micro as a kid, and this week I found one on FB marketplace... debating on picking it up but it's $150, a bit more than I want to spend

[@suhtangwong]

Nah, just wait and find better

[@Boss_Fight_Index_muki]

It's ashamed the micro got overshadowed by the GBAsp, it's such an elegant design

[@JohnAlzayat]

I wanted to get a GB Micro when it came out, but like Diamond and Pearl became a thing so had to get a DS Lite instead.

[@LRSNRCNG309]

I bought the green euro one on ebay and cant wait to have it

[@disastermaster3K]

All those years ago.

[@carlosdesousa2172]

Got one when they launched, but I didn't use it too much. Was pleasantly surprised by the screen though. Used my DS most of the time when I played gba games though. Was just more convenient

[@nickbrushaber8747]

I’m not the Nick that sent it in but I am a Nick that’s been looking for a Game Boy Micro.

[@Dust0Bomb]

Great video as always @SpawnWave , would you mind linking the body/faceplate kit for the GBA Micro? :)

[@brockh624]

I got a black micro for Christmas as a kid with Pokemon Fire Red being my First Pokemon game it stopped working after awhile then I lost it which sucks cause now their hard to find at a good price

[@galacticgengar4378]

Loved it at the time but my crappy eyes can't make out that tiny screen anymore.

[@gundamwarrior]

I always wanted one but i missed out on getting one brand new.

[@treypop123]

I know you've seen a lot of the reverse engineered game boy pcbs I've been popping up the last couple of years the game boy micro would be the perfect one to get that treatment with how hard it is to get parts