Game Theory Admiral
By: Justin Anderson

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SPECS: Size- 5 1/2" x 3 1/2" x 1"
Power- 3 AA batteries, AC adaptor of unspecified
voltage, not included

Many collectors know of the Game Axe, a Game Gear-sized portable Famicom with its own share of problems but still desired. However, it's an old system, it's rare, and something better has come along.

China-based Mystery has released the Game Theory Admiral, a portable Famicom based almost off the Game Boy Advance. From the plastic transparent case, button layout, and even name font, this is meant to be a visual GBA clone. Though I suspect the goofy name was their attempt at combining "Game Boy Advance" with "Grand Theft Auto".

It's barely bigger than a GBA, with the same aspects. Yep, in a change of pace, no turbo buttons on this clone. The only major changes are a reset button, and two controller ports in the bottom. These, and the TV output (which I will cover in a bit) use adaptors which take off the GBA multi-cable connector (though it's a slightly different shape). A tiny quarter-sized speaker sits below the B and A buttons.

Now as to how the system functions, you should not have a power cord as one is not included. Mystery probably makes one, or will make one, though they never specify the voltage so I will not experiment. The box diagram does mention 4.5V, however, it does not specify AC or DC, the amp requirements, or output voltage, so the 4.5V info is useless. The adaptor plug jack is also tiny, I doubt I have any cords that would fit anyway.

So, insert 3 AA batteries. Unlike the Game Axe, the system does not have a Famicom cart slot, though the slot is a 60-pin. Instead, the system uses a small yellow adaptor which holds Famicom games. It simply leads each pin to the smaller connector, nothing fancy. The cart faces label-to-screen, sort of acting as a sun visor.

This seems irritating, but it isn't. In practice, this actually blocks glare, and with a backlit screen, this is important. And with few exceptions, Famicom games are small and light. Yes, a backlit screen. A backlit TFT screen. This is the same screen type a GBA uses, rather than the simpler LCD Game Axe/Game Gear screen. Now, the screen is a mere 2" x 1 1/2", smaller than the Game Axe, roughly GBA sized. Running NES games, this sounds bad.

But again, in practice, works better than it sounds. While there is some notable pixel compressing, it's not quite as bad as the smashing done by Nintendo with their NES classics GBA series.

The three batteries will last for more than 7 hours, an improvement over the Game Axe.

Compatibility is good. Tests with Lord of king, Adventure in the Otaku Galaxy, Legend of Kage, and even the Famicom Disk System went well. Though between the weight of the FDS RAM adaptor and the short cord, a portable FDS isn't really an option. However, New Ghostbusters II produced poor sound. Tests with NES games produced the same general results, using a 72-60 pin adaptor.

Generally, later-release games have sound problems, possibly due to too few sound channels and the tiny speaker. Early and middle release titles sound fine. However, there are exceptions to this. The Smurfs sounds fine and it was a 1994 release. NES support isn't bad with an adaptor though a bit weightier.

Text is readable. One issue with the Game Axe was unreadable text in some games. The brightness as well as the TFT screen no doubt help.

Controls are tight and responsive. The reset button takes effort to push down as it does not stick up, possibly to avoid accidental resets. As with the GBA, the start button sits on top of the select button. On the top left sits the volume control. the top right has the on/off switch and screen contrast knob. Between them sits the TV output, and the 2 controller extensions sit at the bottom.

Now, I mentioned TV output. The included cable has the GBA-clone connector at one end, and a mono AV cable at the other end. This system was released in both pink (NTSC) and blue (PAL) for specific TV output. How does this work? Reasonably well for a handheld. My picture wasn't too great, but I ordered a PAL unit for the blue case, and even running through a PAL/NTSC signal converter probably didn't help a great deal.

As to the 2 controller ports, these require an adaptor, which is not included. Presumably, they're for the standard 9-pin controller but the single photo of the adaptor does not make it clear. There is also no headphone jack or adaptor, which is something of a downer.

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I should mention the box and manual, now that I have covered the system. The box photos have anime art imposed over the screen, with a game cartridge photo using the same art (doesn't look like any actual game cart), with the Game Boy Advance text along the side of the art (hmm, guess they didn't catch THAT one...). Aside from decent photos, we also have no mention whatsoever of "FC game" or 'TV game" compatibility. So, they don't claim it plays anything.

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The box has Chinese on a side flap, indicating which TV output it is(with a checkmark), the rest is in English. Possibly some of the worst I've ever seen. This stuff breaks the acceptable Engrish border. It's as if it was run through Babelfish then scattered with random English words. "Relevant Crazy Warning" is the beginning of the mess. It's so bad, I can barely stand to read it. The English is a confusing mess which almost defies logic.

"Cut offing". There, I said it.

The manual is no better. While half Chinese, the Engrish side is the same muddled text, which again, gives no real info as to what TYPE of game this system plays. The system shape imples GBA carts, and even their phony cart has the GBA logo, but nothing is ever said in writing. No, it won't run any GB games. Those are one-sided chip. This is a 60-pin Famicom, if shrunken down.

Okay, while their writing needs work, the system is all around a good buy. It has decent game support, great controls, a few nice features, and is made of good plastic, good enough to rival GBA construction. they even soldered the chips. Mystery made a good product, not some half-assed glued-together pirate. They even have a metal RF shielding plate inside the system. It has a few problems, from no headphones and minor sound problems, as well as somewhat dodgy TV output, but anyone who wants one is after a portable, not a home game console.

It would be worth investing in a Game boy Advance carrying case for the system as well, as even a small one will hold the system, pin adaptor, and a game. But grab them while you can, since Nintendo is phasing out GBA cases in favor of GBA SP and DS cases.

While some sellers try to milk these, tototek.com carries them for a mere $45, which makes them quite affordable.

-info, all scanned, and camera pictures for use on NES Player only