GBA GBA Emulation Preference (Accurate Colors or Raw Saturated Colors)

[Scotty Scotty]

As we all know, the original AGS-001 Game Boy Advance model, as well as the AGS-001 GBA SP, did not have a backlit screen (EDIT: Scratch that, the AGS-001 SP had a dim front-lit screen. The AGS-101 revision just had superior backlighting). This oftentimes made it difficult to discern what is happening on screen. To compensate, many developers opted to use overly bright and saturated colors for most games.

Eventually, Nintendo would release the AGS-101 GBA SP model which featured a backlit screen. And while this seemed like a good idea on paper as it was much easier to see whatever it is you're doing in a game, it simultaneously introduced a minor issue with playing these games today—some GBA games can be an eyesore to look at due to the oversaturated visuals (Looking at you, "Golden Sun"!).

While there are a couple ways to emulate GBA games with visuals that are easier on the eyes (Like "color restoration" patches or the "Color Correction" settings in emulators like mGBA or MyBoy), I have also found a couple instances in which I prefer the raw colors (Namely, Pokemon, "Puyo Puyo Fever" and several other games with naturally bright, flashy colors).

Which brings me to the main purpose of this particular thread—to ask if you guys prefer to play GBA games with the raw saturated colors or with darker colors that are more akin to playing on an original, non-backlit GBA?

 

[bjork]

I never really thought about it, but I think ultimately it would be a case by case basis. The only example that's springing to mind are the Castlevanias since only Aria of Sorrow really found a happy medium.

 

[Boofytan]

I have no fondness for replicating the original dim screen. I didn't play too many gba games on the original ds, but the ones i did, I thought they looked fantastic.

 

[RageBurner]

As soft as possible for colors. Oversaturated screens hurt my eyes a lot.

 

[Sorion]

I absolutely hate the hyper saturated colors of the GBA, it makes me pretty hard to get into it's catalogue, I'm glad I learned it's possible to reduce the high contrast of the games and with this new information I'll give the console a second chance.

 

[Scotty Scotty]

"I absolutely hate the hyper saturated colors of the GBA, it makes me pretty hard to get into it's catalogue..."

You can thank Nintendo for their "genius" cost-effective decision of utilizing non-backlit screens on their handheld systems for 14 years straight.

 

[TruxtonTatsujin TruxtonTatsujin]

I had the SP with the front lit screen originally. While it's better than the og model it's basically the same colours. It might as well be just shining a flashlight on the screen.
More recently I got an og model with an IPS screen mod. It uses the "oversaturated" colours so that's what I'm currently used to. Sometimes I use the gameboy interface as well, it has the option to switch between the two palettes.

 

[JetPackAndButlers]

Case by case basis with the shader, but i'm a lot more fond of the color restoration patches since they allow for more "hands on" color tweaking (does that make sense? ) and as such can bring in more in-depth tweaks where a shader might overcompensate

(should mention that i never owned a GBA)