GBA Single-Pak Link games - Gameboy Advance Multiplayer games from a single cartridge
137 videos • 26,410 views • by Zack “SquallSnake” G The Gameboy Advance (GBA) was the first handheld to allow multiplayer gaming through the use of a single game cartridge thanks to a small amount of internal RAM built-into the hardware. Gameboy and Gameboy Color, in comparison, required each player have a copy of the same game to play multiplayer games (think Tetris, Dr. Mario, or original Pokemon Red/Blue). Here with GBA, some games made use of this Single-Pak link functionality, often called the multi-boot function, by allowing 2, 3, or 4 players to play games by only using link cables, empty GBAs, and one copy of the game. This playlist and videos are dedicated to highlighting this unique handheld feature as GBA Single-Pak linkable modes often featured different content (modes/features/options/maps/characters) not found in the single player or multi-cart mulitplayer modes. Developers needed to specifically design these multiplayer offerings using the GBA's limited RAM and data transfer through a link cable (some even made use of the GBA wireless link adapters). The GBA multi-boot mode paved the way for DS Download Play that allowed players to play multiplayer games on Nintendo DS by only needing one cartridge. Honestly, I am going through the hassle of researching these games, these unique modes, busting out the link cables, and recording all this footage because there doesn't seem to be any detailed information out there about this really cool and special feature. Please leave a comment and a LIKE if you enjoy these videos as they take a ton of time to create. Please spread the word if you are a fan of handheld gaming and let me know in the comments if you ever played these Single-Pak linkable games. This Is Single-Pak Link!